Historical Fiction – Page 3

Review: Lady Macbeth

Title: Lady Macbeth
Author: Ava Reid
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Del Rey
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid comes a reimagining of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare’s most famous villainess, giving her a voice, a past, and a power that transforms the story men have written for her.

The Lady knows the stories: how her eyes induce madness in men.

The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed.

The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive.

But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armor. She does not know that her magic is greater and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world.

She does not know this yet. But she will.

Review:

Roscille is a seventeen-year-old French girl who was sent to Scotland to marry Macbeth, the Thane of Glammis. Her life in Scotland is very different from what she’s used to. She doesn’t get any help from a handmaiden, and she is married to a bloodthirsty man. Roscille wears a veil over her eyes at all times because her eyes can cause madness in men. Roscille must do whatever she must do to survive in her new role as Lady Macbeth.

This was a tragic story. It wasn’t a retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It follows the true history that inspired the play, while also having fantasy elements. Women were treated badly, but Roscille had to find ways to stand up for herself and survive this brutal world.

Lady Macbeth is an intense tragedy.

Thank you Del Rey for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: death, death of parent, stabbing, rape

Have you read Lady Macbeth? What did you think of it?

Review: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4)

Title: Romancing Mister Bridgerton (Bridgertons #4)
Author: Julia Quinn
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback, Audiobook
Release Date: July 1, 2002
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend’s brother for . . . well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret . . . and fears she doesn’t know him at all.

Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can’t seem to publish an edition without mentioning him. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same—especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams. When he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide . . . is she his biggest threat— or his promise of a happy ending?

Review:

Penelope Featherington has finally accepted her status as a spinster. She’s been in love with Colin Bridgerton for years, but he hasn’t acknowledged her. Colin is sick of reading about himself in Lady Whistledown’s column. When he returns home from another trip abroad, he suddenly sees Penelope in a new light. However, her deepest secret threatens to break up their new romance. They must decide if their love can survive the biggest scandal of the ton.

Penelope is one of my favourite Bridgerton characters. Ironically, I’ve never really liked Colin. I really wanted to see Penelope’s dream of marrying Colin come true, so I was rooting for them. I listened to the audiobook for a lot of this book, and I really enjoyed it! The secret behind Lady Whistledown was threatened in this story, which made for some intense dramatic scenes. I’m curious to see how the dynamics of the series will change after this book.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is a great historical romance!

Other books in the series:

The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1)
The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgerton #2)
An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgerton #3)
To Sir Philip, With Love (Bridgerton #5)
When He Was Wicked (Bridgerton #6)
It’s In His Kiss (Bridgerton #7)
On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgerton #8)

Have you read Romancing Mister Bridgerton? What did you think of it?

Review: Meet Me at the Starlight

Title: Meet Me at the Starlight
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Bethany House Publisher
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 2, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Eighties supermodel Harlow Hayes seeks solace in a quaint Florida beach town to hide and heal from a heartbreak that shattered her entire world. To her surprise, she encounters Matt Knight–a Hollywood A-lister with a bad-boy reputation–who has returned to his hometown to help his plucky grandmother, Tuesday, save her century-old skating rink, the Starlight.The Starlight holds a special place in the hearts of the community, once acting as a refuge for Depression-era families and bringing the town together with gatherings and celebrations. Tuesday’s determination and resilience even protected her beloved rink from her husband’s shady business dealings. Yet when the Starlight is threatened with demolition, Tuesday may not be able to stop it. As Matt and Harlow plot with Tuesday to save the Starlight, they find themselves on a journey of surprises, self-discovery, and the kind of healing that leads to love. New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck weaves a heartfelt tale of romance, perseverance, and the enduring power of community.

Review:

1932: Tuesday Knight has always loved the Starlight, a roller skating rink near her house. She is struggling to raise her sons on her own, as her husband goes away for weeks at a time to a mysterious job. One day, he gifts Tuesday with the deed to the Starlight, making it her own.

1987: Supermodel Harlow Hayes moves to a small town in north Florida to get her life together. She reunites with her former costar, Matt Knight. Matt is in town to try and help his grandmother save the Starlight from being torn down by the mayor. Harlow and Matt have to overcome a lot from their personal lives that they’ve moved to Florida to escape, while helping Tuesday save the Starlight.

This was a great multi-POV historical fiction story! The story alternated between Tuesday’s life as a young adult and Harlow’s and Matt’s current POVs in 1987. As the story went on, there was a lot of suspense created from the plot points and secrets that were left out of the narrative. By the end of the story, I didn’t want to leave this world and these characters. They felt like real people.

Meet Me at the Starlight is a great historical fiction story!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com, Bethany House Fiction, and Rachel Huack for providing a copy of this book for a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: war, death, body shaming

Have you read Meet Me at the Starlight? What did you think of it?

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?