Here are 100 books that Circle of Days fans have personally recommended if you like Circle of Days. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Red Rising

heidi1

From Heidi's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Heidi loves this book

I have read this entire series. Many people say the first is the weakest. It was written during the Hunger Games hype, so a lot of new readers compare it to that. I have never read Hunger Games, so for me, this was fresh and engaging. A very grown up plot, as well. Darrow is probably my favorite sci-fi protagonist. Sevro is my favorite goblin.

I will never get over the end of book 2.

By Pierce Brown ,

Why should I read it?

41 authors picked Red Rising as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, BUZZFEED, GOODREADS AND SHELF AWARENESS

Pierce Brown's heart-pounding debut is the first book in a spectacular series that combines the drama of Game of Thrones with the epic scope of Star Wars.

**********

'Pierce Brown's empire-crushing debut is a sprawling vision . . . Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow' - Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Pandemic

'[A] top-notch debut novel . . . Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field' - USA Today

**********

Darrow is a Helldiver. A pioneer…


If you love Circle of Days...

Book cover of Beyond Derrynane

Beyond Derrynane by Kevin O'Connell,

Wed in an arranged marriage to a man nearly fifty years her senior, sixteen-year-old Eileen O'Connell goes from being one of five unmarried sisters to becoming the mistress of Ballyhar, the great estate of John O'Connor, one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Ireland.

When O'Connor dies suddenly…

Book cover of The Secret of Secrets

Douglas Phillips Author Of First Ascent

From Douglas' 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Douglas' 3 favorite reads in 2025

Douglas Phillips Why Douglas loves this book

Dan Brown does it again! His books always take several years to write, probably because they're so complex. Robert Langdon's latest adventure is set in Prague, a beautiful and ancient city that was spared from the worst of WWII. Prague neighborhoods are intricately represented in dark, cold scenes, usually with someone chasing poor Robert and his female friend (this time a scientist name Katherine Solomon). The clues are there, but it takes a super sleuth to put them all together, and that's what makes every Dan Brown book fun (even if the science is over the top).

By Dan Brown ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Secret of Secrets as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The world's most celebrated thriller writer returns with his most stunning novel yet—a propulsive, twisty, thought-provoking masterpiece that will entertain readers as only Dan Brown can do.

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology, travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon—a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing an explosive book that contains startling discoveries about the nature of human consciousness and threatens to disrupt centuries of established belief. But a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, and Katherine suddenly disappears along with her manuscript.…


Book cover of Memorial Days

fran1

From Fran's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Fran loves this book

Memorial Days is of course sad, but it is also a tribute to Tony Horwitz and if you are familiar with his books you will appreciate this.

I really loved this book. It has encouraged me to finish those books of theirs which I have on my TBR.

By Geraldine Brooks ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Memorial Days as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A heartrending and beautiful memoir of sudden loss and a journey to peace, from the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse.

Many cultural and religious traditions expect those who are grieving to step away from the world. In contemporary life, we are more often met with red tape and to-do lists. This is exactly what happened to Geraldine Brooks when her partner of more than three decades, Tony Horwitz - just sixty years old and, to her knowledge, vigorous and healthy - collapsed and died on a Washington, D. C. sidewalk.

After spending their early years together in conflict zones…


If you love Ken Follett...

Book cover of Lethal Legacy

Lethal Legacy by H.R. Kemp,

Buried Secrets. A web of deceit, betrayal, and danger. Can she survive her fight for justice and truth? Laura thought she knew everything about her late husband before he died. Now, her life and the lives of those she loves are in danger. As Laura delves into his previous role…

Book cover of Heartwood

fran1

From Fran's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Fran loves this book

I love a story about walking, so Heartwood grabbed my attention.
I liked the way the book highlighted peoples comfort and discomfort in the natural world. It also had important themes of families and parents and children which I thought was presented in quite an interesting way

By Amity Gaige ,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Heartwood as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“The best thriller of 2025.” —The Boston Globe * “Genius.” —The Washington Post

“A literary thriller of the highest order” (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Couple), Heartwood takes you on a gripping journey as a search and rescue team race against time after an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.

In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to…


Book cover of The Pillars of the Earth

James Zwerneman Author Of Uruk

From my list on books that mix elements of historical fiction and fantasy.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve loved both history and fantasy since I was a child. The first book I can remember reading at all was The Hobbit. The first historical novel I fell in love with was The Killer Angels. I visited the battlefield of Gettysburg with my family, and currently teach the movie every year to my high school film class. (I’ve never visited Middle Earth, but plan to visit New Zealand as soon as possible). I’ve been reading both genres ever since—and quite by accident my first novel contains a mix of both genres.

James' book list on books that mix elements of historical fiction and fantasy

James Zwerneman Why James loves this book

I was living in Madrid, Spain, when one of my friends and fellow English-language teachers, Heather, nudged me and said, “James, you have to read this.”

I was in my “James only reads highbrow literature” era, so I told her that the cover looked too pulpy (yes, I was guilty of judging a book by its cover). Thankfully, my respect for Heather forced me to overlook my biases and give Pillars a shot. I’m so glad I did.

The prose style is simple and accessible (obeying Animal Farm author George Orwell’s advice to write prose as transparent as a “windowpane”). And that’s good, because the content draws you in completely.

A village in Medieval England decides to build a cathedral. The characters range from evil knights to noble monks to savvy businesswomen to scheming clerics. The world is rich with detail and the pages are addicting, almost turning themselves. It’s…

By Ken Follett ,

Why should I read it?

24 authors picked The Pillars of the Earth as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 New York Times Bestseller

Oprah's Book Club Selection

The "extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece" (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett's already phenomenal career-and begins where its prequel, The Evening and the Morning, ended.

"Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner," extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett's unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal.

The…


Book cover of Eye of the Needle

Kim Pavy Author Of Love Amongst the Fear

From my list on suspense thrillers that feature "true grit" strong women.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m passionate about reading books in which three-dimensional female heroines are put into situations where they are challenged to reach their full potential, along with being capable of looking after themselves and facing their fears. A great, suspenseful thriller allows me to delve into that dangerous part of the world, which is frightening but strangely enticing.

Kim's book list on suspense thrillers that feature "true grit" strong women

Kim Pavy Why Kim loves this book

I loved this book because its story is fast-paced, suspenseful, and thrilling.

I enjoyed the thrill of the main male character trying to outrun the spy that could alter the course of history. It is so well written that at times you wish the spy wouldn’t get caught!

The danger is interwoven with passion, and the heroine is a mix of vulnerability and strength.  

By Ken Follett ,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Eye of the Needle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The worldwide phenomenon from the bestselling author of The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, A Column of Fire, and The Evening and the Morning

His code name was "The Needle." He was a German aristocrat of extraordinary intelligence-a master spy with a legacy of violence in his blood, and the object of the most desperate manhunt in history. . . .

But his fate lay in the hands of a young and vulnerable English woman, whose loyalty, if swayed, would assure his freedom-and win the war for the Nazis. . . .


If you love Circle of Days...

Book cover of The Exiled Queen

The Exiled Queen by Roxana Arama,

She spent years following the path reserved for highborn men. When she’s thrust back into a subservient role, how will she forge her own destiny?

When Princess Andrada tries to become the heir to her father’s throne, she fails and is sentenced to death. To avoid execution, her father marries…

Book cover of Shogun

Herp Derp

From Herp's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Unknown Author Why Herp loves this book

Great character development over the course of the story, with multi-faceted heroes and villains.

By James Clavell ,

Why should I read it?

17 authors picked Shogun as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Clavell never puts a foot wrong . . . Get it, read it, you'll enjoy it mightily' Daily Mirror

This is James Clavell's tour-de-force; an epic saga of one Pilot-Major John Blackthorne, and his integration into the struggles and strife of feudal Japan. Both entertaining and incisive, SHOGUN is a stunningly dramatic re-creation of a very different world.

Starting with his shipwreck on this most alien of shores, the novel charts Blackthorne's rise from the status of reviled foreigner up to the hights of trusted advisor and eventually, Samurai. All as civil war looms over the fragile country.

'I can't…


Book cover of A Column of Fire

G.J. Williams Author Of The Conjuror's Apprentice

From my list on tempestuous times and crimes of the Tudors.

Why am I passionate about this?

I studied the Tudor era in high school and have been hooked ever since. It was an era of enormous change. The world was opening up, science was advancing, religion was losing its grip over people, and new ideas were challenging every level of society. Discovery was everywhere–new planets, lands, theories, foods, and trading routes. Society was changing, and women were beginning to have a voice and education. It was also an era of characters–men and some women who made a mark on the world through their wit and wisdom–and some just by being rogues. There are no dull moments in Tudor times.

G.J.'s book list on tempestuous times and crimes of the Tudors

G.J. Williams Why G.J. loves this book

I love this because Ken Follett is a master storyteller. It spans the Elizabethan era and captures the intrigue, international conspiracies, horrors of religious persecution, and the opening up of the world through trade and exploration.

Yet again, Follett takes you to the town of Kingsbridge and into the world and lives of the characters who live there. You are engaged and invested in them and even feel you know them. I loved the reality, the emotion, the highs of joy, and the lows of sadness. 

By Ken Follett ,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked A Column of Fire as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Absorbing . . . impossible to resist." -The Washington Post

As Europe erupts, can one young spy protect his queen? #1 New York Times bestselling author Ken Follett takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with his magnificent new epic, A Column of Fire.

In 1558, the ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love.

Ned Willard wants nothing more than to…


Book cover of The Winter King

Murray Dahm Author Of Finis Britanniae: A Military History of Late Roman Britain and the Saxon Conquest

From my list on thinking about King Arthur.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have always loved stories about King Arthur–what’s not to love–Arthurian stories are about the underdog triumphing, destiny, knights and quests, swords (and stones, or lakes), great heroes and villains, and magic. My university studies made me into a military historian (among other things–including an opera singer and a historian of film), and I loved revisiting my love of Arthur in various guises. I have sung him on stage, played him in roleplaying games and miniature wargames, and I have written articles and books about him in film and history. I hope my list of recommendations provokes you to think about King Arthur in new ways!

Murray's book list on thinking about King Arthur

Murray Dahm Why Murray loves this book

There have been too many novels featuring the story of King Arthur to count; this is my favorite. I found it (and the following two books in the series) really captured the idea of who Arthur was, why he was needed, and why he did what he did at the time for me.

It was the first Cornwell novel I read, and he has become my favourite novellist. I think he writes battle scenes better than anyone–he puts you in the middle of the action and makes you feel the visceral nature of combat (especially in his Arthurian and medieval books). If anyone is looking for a place to start with Arthurian fiction but doesn’t know where to begin, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book and series. 

By Bernard Cornwell ,

Why should I read it?

14 authors picked The Winter King as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Uther, the High King of Britain, has died, leaving the infant Mordred as his only heir. His uncle, the loyal and gifted warlord Arthur, now rules as caretaker for a country which has fallen into chaos - threats emerge from within the British kingdoms while vicious Saxon armies stand ready to invade. As he struggles to unite Britain and hold back the Saxon enemy, Arthur is embroiled in a doomed romance with beautiful Guinevere.


If you love Ken Follett...

Book cover of The Losing Role

The Losing Role by Steve Anderson,

A German actor conscripted into WWII will play the role of his life as he makes a daring escape in this espionage thriller inspired by true events.

When the SS orders banned entertainer Max Kaspar to impersonate a US officer during the Battle of the Bulge, Max devises his own…

Book cover of The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

Steve Herman Author Of Where the Bones Lie

From Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Steve's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Steve Herman Why Steve loves this book

This writing style is gritty and realistic. A welcome relief from all that James Bond nonsense. And the ending is stunning.

By John le Carré ,

Why should I read it?

20 authors picked The Spy Who Came in From the Cold as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the New York Times bestselling author of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Our Kind of Traitor; and The Night Manager, now a television series starring Tom Hiddleston.

The 50th-anniversary edition of the bestselling novel that launched John le Carre's career worldwide

In the shadow of the newly erected Berlin Wall, Alec Leamas watches as his last agent is shot dead by East German sentries. For Leamas, the head of Berlin Station, the Cold War is over. As he faces the prospect of retirement or worse-a desk job-Control offers him a unique opportunity for revenge. Assuming the guise of an embittered…


Book cover of Red Rising
Book cover of The Secret of Secrets
Book cover of Memorial Days

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