Books like The long ships

The long ships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson reads as epic, adventurous. These 12 books share its genome — matched by how they actually read, not just their shelf label.

The Last Kingdom

Bernard Cornwell

Both explore fate

83% genome match

River god

Wilbur Smith · 1993

Same historical feel

65% genome match

Hornblower in the West Indies

C. S. Forester · 1958

Same historical feel

62% genome match

Horus Rising

Dan Abnett

Same adventure feel

57% genome match

The Red Knight

Miles Cameron · 2012

Both explore warfare

60% genome match

Honoured Enemy

Raymond E. Feist

Same historical feel

60% genome match

The Hundred Days

Patrick O'Brian

Same historical feel

60% genome match

The First Man in Rome

Colleen McCullough · 1990

Both explore warfare

57% genome match

Action Front

Boyd Cable · 1916

Same historical feel

61% genome match

The King Must Die

Mary Renault · 1952

Same historical feel

53% genome match

Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, The

Padraic Colum · 1921

Both explore fate

56% genome match

Troy

Stephen Fry · 2020

Both explore fate

54% genome match