Historical Fiction – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Betrayals (A Time of Reckoning #1)

Title: Betrayals (A Time of Reckoning #1)
Author: Michelle Simpson
Genre: Historical, Fantasy
Publisher: Self-published
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

It is 8th century Ireland and the land is littered with ambitious chieftains and petty kings lobbying for power and status in a time where no one leader has been duly recognized. Devin is the eldest daughter of the petty king, Attus, who dominates the vast north, called Ulaid. Favored by her influential father and having no interest in the crooked path of politics, Devin is allowed to pursue her own course. She chooses the mysterious direction of the healing arts, learning the ancient ways of her Celtic ancestors alongside the druid Oran, a trusted member of their clan and her father’s advisor. In a sudden act of vengeance by their greatest rival, Bram, tragedy befalls their great house and leaves the family shattered and grieving. Propelled onto a great seat, she must learn to honor her ancient ways in a land dominated by Christianity and men. Jealousy mounts from her sister, Una, a powerful yet petty woman who secretly plots against her. With odds stacking against Devin, she finds partnership and solace with Tristan, a soldier in her father’s army, and the man who becomes her lover. Their love is all-consuming, and distracting, as she battles enemies near and far that covet her great seat. Devin must overcome betrayals, wars and intrigue as she discovers her true strength as a woman and a warrior in a time where no one can be trusted.

Review:

Ireland, 8th century: Devin is the daughter of King Attus, one of many Kings in Ireland. Rather than playing with politics, Devin prefers to study the healing arts with the druid Oran. She’s also close with Tristan, one of her father’s most trusted soldiers who grew up alongside Devin and her siblings. After a sudden attack on her home ends in tragedy, Devin is thrust into the leadership role of her land, which she wasn’t prepared for. Devin must make some tough decisions for the good of her people, which may mean betraying her heart.

This was such a great fantasy story. It reminded me of Game of Thrones. There were royal politics as well as a steamy romance, with lots of danger in between. Devin and Tristan had friends to lovers romance, which made me cheer for them right from the beginning of the story.

Betrayals is the first book in A Time of Reckoning trilogy, which is all available now!

Thank you Michelle Simpson and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death, death of parents, blood

Have you read Betrayals? What did you think of it?

Review: Red Kingdom (Fairy Tale Retellings #2)

Title: Red Kingdom (Fairy Tale Retellings #2)
Author: Rachel L. Demeter
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Self Published
Source: Author
Format: Ebook
Release Date: April 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Little Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.

Princess Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart her castle and everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she made to her grandmother on her deathbed.

Hailed as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the capital in a quest for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at his back and his wolf, Smoke, at his side.

United by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled with loss, transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.

Can Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and spirit, tame the fabled Black Wolf?

Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a passionate, slow-burn historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the longing for a world at harmony.

Review:

When the Black Wolf of Norland invades the palace and kills most of the royal family, Princess Blanchette thinks it will be the end of her life too. Her parents, brother, and grandmother were brutally murdered by the Black Wolf’s soldiers. Rowan Dietrich, the soldier known as the Black Wolf, never intended to torture Blanchette with the deaths of her family members. He wanted revenge on the King, who he used to work for before he turned on Rowan. Rowan and Blanchette discover they share a lot of the same trauma in their pasts, with losing the people they loved most. This brings them together in a slow burn romance with unexpected twists along the way.

Red Kingdom is a dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Though it isn’t exactly like the fairytale, there were some references to the story, such as the red cape that Blanchette wore that her grandmother made for her. This story was quite dark and bloody with unexpected twists. I couldn’t help but gasp at some of the reveals in the story. It was so hard to put down this book, despite many heartbreaking scenes.

Red Kingdom is a cleverly plotted dark romance!

Thank you Rachel L. Demeter and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death, parental death, child death, suicide, murder, blood, rape, animal death

Other books in the series:

Beauty of the Beast

Have you read Red Kingdom? What did you think of it?

Review: The Emperor and the Endless Palace

Title: The Emperor and the Endless Palace
Author: Justinian Huang
Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Historical Fiction
Publisher: MIRA
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: March 26, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor—but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.

In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead.

And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they’ve met before.

Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them.

As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love—a power that transcends time itself…but one that might consume them both.

An unpredictable roller coaster of a debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a genre-bending romantasy that challenges everything we think we know about true love.

Review:

In 4 BCE, a commoner moves to the Endless Palace to seduce the Emperor, which begins a love affair that lasts centuries. In 1740, an innkeeper agrees to help a visitor and his ill grandmother but unleashes a powerful trickster. In the present day a college student meets a beautiful stranger who takes him on a journey across the world to find his true self. Each of these POVs is a reincarnation of the one before as these lovers keep finding each other.

This was a thrilling queer romance that spanned millennia. Each POV had the same set of characters but they weren’t always arranged in the same way. I really enjoyed each of the storylines. Many of the chapters ended on a thrilling cliffhanger, so I had to keep reading to get to the next POV. There were some surprising twists at the end that I didn’t see coming. This story also shows how queer romance is universal throughout time, not a modern idea like some people think.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a beautiful romance!

Thank you Frenzy Books for providing a physical copy of this book!

Content warnings: death, blood

Have you read The Emperor and the Endless Palace? What did you think of it?

Review: Yours from the Tower

Title: Yours from the Tower
Author: Sally Nicholls
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: January 30, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Bridgerton fans rejoice! This epistolary confection—told in letters among three school friends—is perfect for devotees of gossipy costume drama.

Tirzah, Sophia, and Polly are best friends who’ve left boarding school and gone back to very different lives. The year is 1896, and Polly is teaching in an orphanage, Sophia is scouting for a rich husband at the London Season, and Tirzah is stuck acting as an unpaid companion to her grandmother. In a series of letters buzzing with atmosphere and drama, the friends air their dreams, hopes, frustrations, and romances. Can this trio of very different young women—one industrious, one artful, and one in exile—find happiness and love near the dawn of the Edwardian era? From the award-winning author of the Carnegie Medal–nominated historical romance The Silent Stars Go By comes a playful, feel-good story of friendship and aspiration pitched just right for fans of Jane Austen and her contemporary disciples.

Review:

1896: Tirzah, Polly, and Sophia are friends from boarding school who keep in touch through letters after they’ve finished school and moved on in their lives. Tirzah is living with her strict grandmother. Polly is working at an orphanage. Sophia is staying with her wealthy aunt and uncle for the season to find a husband. All three girls have to deal with tough problems as they move away from their teenage years and become young women.

This was a great epistolary novel. The short letters made the story fly by. It was easy to differentiate the three storylines since the girls were each leading such different lives. Polly was working, Sophia was looking for a husband, and Tirzah was still being treated like a child at home. They all had serious issues to deal with, such as a parent with alcoholism and a parent who abandoned their children. Despite these hardships, the story had a happy ending.

Yours From the Tower was a great coming of age story.

Thank you Walker Books US for sending me a copy of this book.

Content warnings: alcoholism, parental abandonment, death of parent

Have you read Yours from the Tower? What did you think of it?

Review: Fatal Throne

Title: Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All
Author: Candace Fleming (editor)
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Ember
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 18, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Perfect for anyone fascinated by the Royal Wedding, Netflix’s The Crown , or Wolf Hall , this is a pitch-perfect reimagining of the romance and tragedy of Henry VIII and his six wives, told from multiple points of view by some of your favorite authors.

If you were one of King Henry VIII’s six wives, who would you be? Would you be Anne Boleyn, who literally lost her head? Would you be the subject of rumor and scandal like Catherine Howard? Or would you get away and survive like Anna of Cleves?

Meet them and Henry’s other queens–each bound for divorce or death–in this epic and thrilling novel that reads like fantasy but really happened. Watch spellbound as each of these women attempts to survive their unpredictable king as he grows more and more obsessed with producing a male heir. And discover how the power-hungry court fanned the flames of Henry’s passions . . . and his most horrible impulses.

Whether you’re a huge fan of all things Tudor or new to this jaw-dropping saga, you won’t be able to get the unique voices of Henry and his wives–all brought to life by seven award-winning and bestselling authors–out of your head.

This is an intimate look at the royals during one of the most treacherous times in history. Who will you root for and who will you love to hate?

Review:

This book is a collection of stories about the six wives of King Henry VIII. Each short story about one of the wives was also accompanied by a passage from Henry’s perspective.

I liked that each story told the wives stories from different times in their lives. Some of them told how they became his wife, while others showed the women at the end of their lives. Each story was told from the perspective of the wives, so they can finally let their story be heard.

Fatal Throne is a great story for fans of Henry VIII’s wives!

Content warnings: death, adultery, miscarriage

Have you read Fatal Throne? What did you think of it?

Review: Marvel 1602

Title: Marvel 1602
Author: Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert, Richard Isanove
Genre: Graphic Novel, yHistorical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Marvel
Source: Library
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 29, 2003
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Marvel 1602, award-winning writer Neil Gaiman presents a unique vision of the Marvel Universe set four hundred years in the past. Classic Marvel icons such as the X-Men, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and Daredevil appear in this intriguing world of 17th-century science and sorcery, instantly familiar to readers, yet subtly different in this new time. Marvel 1602combines classic Marvel action and adventure with the historically accurate setting of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign to create a unique series unlike any other published by Marvel Comics.

Review:

England, 1602: Queen Elizabeth I is the ruler, and she works with her spies Nicholas Fury and Doctor Strange to uncover a mysterious artifact being sent to England. Fury and Strange also work with Marvel superheroes such as Daredevil, Fantastic Four, and the X-Men to save the world from Doctor Doom and other dangers.

This was a fun adaptation of the Marvel comic characters. They were slightly different without all of their powers in this setting of Elizabethan London, but the characters were the same people. There were a lot of characters to keep track of throughout the story. I liked that even though some seemed to be original characters, they were later revealed to be part of the Marvel universe in disguise.

Marvel 1602 is a fun graphic novel for Marvel fans!

Have you read Marvel 1602? What did you think of it?

Review: The Secret in the Tower

Title: The Secret in the Tower
Author: Andrew Beattie
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sweet Cherry Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

1485. Richard III is King of England. Henry Tudor’s invasion looms.

Jack Broom thinks that war and politics have nothing to do with him. He is a simple apothecary’s boy dreaming of becoming a surgeon – until soldiers mistake him for a boy of noble birth.

Narrowly avoiding being dragged to the Tower of London, Jack sets out on a perilous mission to find out who he truly is. With the help of his new friend Alice, he uncovers conspiracies, treason, and the deadly lengths people will go to for power.

Review:

1485: Jack Broom is just an ordinary boy who works at his aunt’s apothecary shop. He dreams of being a surgeon one day, so he studies hard at school. When he meets a soldier from the Tower of London who could introduce him to the famous surgeon, Dr. Argentine, Jack goes against his gut feeling and follows the soldier. However, Jack is in danger when he gets to the Tower. The Tower holds conspiracy, treason, and secrets about Jack’s past.

This was a thrilling children’s novel about the Tower of London. In the 15th century, when Richard III became King, he imprisoned two boys, who were the rightful heirs of the crown, in the Tower of London. They were never seen again, so they were thought to be murdered. This story imagines what happened if they were living in secret in the Tower. I loved the suspense of the secrets in Jack’s past, that even he didn’t know about. It kept me guessing until the end. I loved this reimagining of history.

The Secret in the Tower is a great middle grade historical story!

Thank you Sweet Cherry Publishing for providing a digital copy of this book.

Content warnings: child death, parental abandonment, death of parent, blood, vomiting

Have you read The Secret in the Tower? What did you think of it?

Review: Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals #4)

Title: Patience, Princess Catherine (Young Royals #4)
Author: Carolyn Meyer
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Clarion Books
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 1, 2004
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur’s betrothed—the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon’s fate becomes uncertain. Will the king and Catherine’s parents arrange a marriage with Arthur’s brother, Henry, or will she return to Spain a widow? Through all this turmoil, the young princess’s resolve remains unshaken. She will one day be England’s queen . . . no matter how long it takes.

Review:

Spanish Princess Catherine was sent to England to marry Princess Arthur Tudor, the future King. A few months after their wedding, Arthur died, but Catherine stayed in England. For many years, her future remained uncertain. Will she go home to Spain or marry Arthur’s younger brother Henry? Catherine must be patient while she waits, determined to one day be Queen of England.

This is a great middle grade adaptation of Catherine of Aragon’s life. It told her story leading up to her marriage to Henry VIII. Each chapter began with a passage about what Henry was doing at the time and what his feelings were towards Catherine. The story focused on the big events that happened over the eight years that Catherine was left waiting to be Queen.

Patience, Princess Catherine is a great middle grade story for readers interested in history.

Other books in the series:

Mary, Bloody Mary (Young Royals #1)
Beware, Princess Elizabeth (Young Royals #2)
Doomed Queen Anne (Young Royals #3)
Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine De Medici (Young Royals #5)
The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie Antoinette (Young Royals #6)
The Wild Queen: The Days and Nights of Mary Queen of Scots (Young Royals #7)

Have you read Patience, Princess Catherine? What did you think of it?

Review: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord (Lady Petra Inquires #1)

Title: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord (Lady Petra Inquires #1)
Author: Celeste Connally
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Bridgerton meets Agatha Christie in Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, a dazzling first entry in a terrific new Regency-era mystery series with a feminist spin.

When Lady Petra Forsyth’s fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, she makes the shocking proclamation—in front of London’s loosest lips—that she will never remarry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life has passed, nor does she intend to become confined to her country home. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations.

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper—uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Lady Petra has reason to believe her friend is not dead, but a prisoner, her own headstrong actions and thirst for independence are used to put her own freedom in jeopardy.

Review:

Lady Petra Forsyth declares that she will never marry following the tragic death of her fiancée. She has independent wealth, but her announcement still sent a shock throughout society. While attending a ball, Petra learns that a close friend died suddenly of “melancholia” following treatment by an unusual doctor in an asylum. Petra is suspicious of this news, especially when her friend’s former footman says he has seen the woman alive. Petra uses her status in society to find out what is happening to the women who are sent to the asylum by their husbands or male relatives.

I really enjoyed this story. It started out a little humourous. Petra was a strong, independent woman, who questioned a lot of things that were assumed to be true in society. The story became quite dark as Petra investigated the asylum. Many of the women who were there were tested on with horrific treatments, just because they were women who didn’t do what the men in their lives expected of them. Those parts were hard to read, but I’m sure they were based on real experiences of women. The story ended on a cliffhanger so I can’t wait to read what happens next.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is a great Regency mystery!

Thank you Minotaur Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: misogyny, murder, surgery, sexual assault (off page)

Have you read Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord? What did you think of it?

Review: Gwen and Art Are Not in Love

Title: Gwen and Art Are Not in Love
Author: Lex Croucher
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Romance, LGBT, Fantasy
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: November 28, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale in this queer medieval rom-com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history.

It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run-up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen’s childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom’s only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.

Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, Gwen and Art make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight, and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen’s royal brother. Lex Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.

Review:

Hundreds of years after King Arthur’s death, his descendant, Arthur, is betrothed to Princess Gwendoline. However, they can’t stand each other. They are forced to spend the entire summer together leading up to their eventual marriage. Soon after Arthur arrives at the palace, Gwen catches him kissing a boy. After she confronts him about it, Arthur finds Gwen’s diary where she fantasizes about kissing the only lady knight. Since they both like people of the same sex, they know they aren’t meant for each other, so they decide to work together. Gwen gets to spend more time with her lady knight, while Arthur gets closer to Gwen’s brother Gabriel. They eventually have to figure out a way to get around their future marriage and be with the ones they love.

This was a fun historical romance! It isn’t a retelling of the King Arthur story. Some of the characters are descendants of King Arthur, and most of them have been named after people from that era. Gwen, Arthur, and Lancelot were some of the names that were popular in the time period in the story. Though there were some serious moments, with the characters dealing with homophobia, there were also a lot of laugh out loud moments as well. It was very entertaining.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is a fun queer historical romance!

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a finished copy of this book!

Content warnings: homophobia, death of parent

Have you read Gwen and Art Are Not in Love? What did you think of it?