5 Book Action Scenes I’d Love to See On Screen

A good action scene in a book can really get your blood pumping. Sometimes, I’ve even had to put the book down to absorb the awesome factor of what I just read. There are so many amazing scenes of conflict in books. Movies and television have brought many book series to life. The degrees of quality vary but we have seen our favorite book battles acted out. I am still impressed with the Battle of Helm’s Deep from The Two Towers. Battle and fight scenes can be difficult to pull off; however, when they are done right they are great to watch. Here are some of my picks of action scenes that — if done right — would be great on the big screen.

Contains spoilers!

1. Isidore D’Aiglemort’s final charge (Kushiel’s Dart)

Art by mialythila

A battle where the traitor turns hero and helps to save the realm. This battle still gets me whenever I read it. Isidore initially teams up with Melisande to overthrow the queen of Terre D’Ange. Too bad he gets double crossed in the bargain. Isidore is able to redeem himself during the fateful battle at the end of the book. He charges his force straight for the leader of the enemy. A fierce battle is waging all around him and his cavalry is getting cut down until he is the last one left. I won’t spoil the whole scene but it’s written in such a way that you feel like you are actually watching the battle.

2. Harry Dresden riding Sue (Dead Beat)

Art by DSillustration

What is not cool about a wizard riding a reanimated skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex? This is one of my favorite scenes out of the whole Dresden Files series. I was woefully disappointed that the TV series omitted this. I mean, can’t you imagine a T-rex running through the streets with Harry battling necromancers and joining the fae wild hunt? I would so like see that. Take my money!

3. Kylar Stern vs. Durzo Blint (The Way of Shadows)

Art by Lascarus

This scene plays out like the battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker — master and pupil fight each other to the death (or almost in the case of Anakin). Durzo fights Kylar to obtain the kakari so he can give it to the bad guy to save his daughter. Kylar thinks that is a bad idea. An intense and emotional fight plays out involving getting thrown out a window and two great wet boys duking it out. The crux of the battle is that neither one of them actually wants to kill the other. It’s probably one of the saddest action scenes I’ve ever read.

4. Final Battle in A Clockwork Princess

Art by cinash

There is so much going on during this fight. You have a small band of Shadowhunters fighting the automaton army. One of those Shadowhunters was carrying a child! Then add Magnus and a few Silent Brothers joining the fight. There are plenty of emotional revelations during the fight as well. They are horribly outmatched and losing until Tessa makes a desperate move and saves the day. I will admit I like The Infernal Devices series more than The Mortal Instruments. I would love to see this fight, if done well, on a big screen.

5. Claire vs. the Wolf (Outlander)

Art by KatePfeilschiefter

Now, there is a good chance I will actually see this play out in the Outlander TV show. I will be very disappointed if the writers cut it out. I mean, you have a woman thrown out in the snow in a ditch full of dead prisoners. To make it worse, this ditch is a buffet for the roaming wolf packs. Claire, being the badass lady she is, fights and kills a wolf with her bare hands. Claire understands it’s either her or the wolf. The scene never fails to raise the hair on the back of my neck.

This list was really hard to make. There are so many good action scenes in books. Feel free to share your picks in the comments!