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[[Category:Historical Fiction|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove --> <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{Frontpage|author=Tananarive Due|title=The Reformatory|rating=5|genre=Historical fictionFiction|summary=Gracetown, Florida. June 1950. After a scuffle with a white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the Reformatory. It's a place with a brutal and dark reputation. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. In order to survive the school governor and his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school's ghosts – only they have their own motivations...|isbn=1803366532__NOTOC__}} {{Frontpage|author=Katherine Howe|title=A True Account|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and being made to work there from a young age. When she hears there is to be a hanging of some pirates in the town, she decides to go and watch. Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a young boy's death at the hands of two vicious pirates. She hides away, so that they don't find and kill her too, and then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, dressing as a boy and joining the notorious Ned Low's pirate ship as a cabin boy. She soon finds herself in the thick of things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the ocean waves.|isbn=0861547438}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jean TeuleSarah Marsh|title=Monsieur MontespanA Sign of Her Own
|rating=3.5
|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=The Marquis de Montespan is totally in love with his new wife Athénaïs and she with him, so much so that when she becomes After a lady in waiting at the palace bout of Versaillesscarlet fever as a child, she begs Ellen Lark loses her husband to remove her in case she falls for the charms of the famous Sun Kinghearing. The Marquis refuses because Suddenly plunged into a world of the prestige and fortune silence, everything about her position brings them – but it's a decision he quickly regrets, as Louis XIVindeed manages to cuckold himlife changes. With all of France talking about the new woman Living in a time when the king's lifeuse of sign language was seen as something only savages do, Montespan Ellen is expected sent to take the rewards offered a school where she is taught to him lip read, but physically restrained from signing. From here, she ends up in exchange for his wife another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and leave the couple aloneusing a system called Visible Speech. But many years before At the French Revolutionsame time, instead he takes the unprecedented step of standing up to the kingBell is working on other inventions and ideas, ignoring his offers and proclaiming his cuckoldry by adding horns to his coat Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a complicated tangle of armsespionage. Can the man who's become a figure of fun throughout the country win back his wife?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906040303</amazonuk>1035401614
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Claire North
|title=House of Odysseus
|rating=5
|genre= Literary Fiction
|summary= ''What could matter more than love?''
The follow-up to the excellent ''Ithaca'' picks up a few months after where we left off. In the palace of Odysseus, with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband, who sailed to war at Troy and then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the throne of the Western Isles. Having survived – politically and physical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's shores, Queen Penelope is on the brink of a fragile peace. One that shatters however with the return of Orestes, King of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra, seeking refuge.|isbn=0356516075}}{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul R Spiring and Hugh CookeB0C7J9D21B|title=Wheels of Anarchy by Max PembertonA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=This mystery-adventure book was written When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and published around 100 years agohe lives at The House of Beautiful Swallows. Will Idyllic as this might sound, it stand the test of time? The back cover blurb says confidently that this 's a bordello and Ettore' adventure story ... makes James Bond look like a stay at home .s mother died when he was born..'' Before you get into the story proper thereHe's quite a lot not been short of mothers, though - but for someone of information his background in the introductory pages. Some of late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, it I did find interesting (the page about Max Pemberton and Sherlock Holmes for instance) but some readers may feel a little bogged down before they've even started s difficult to read chapter oneobtain decent employment. Both Pemberton The stint working with the preparation of anchovies didn't work out and Holmes belonged to a small, elite criminology society in Londonbastards are considered bad luck on fishing boats. I got the impression that the two coEttore was nothing if not resourceful - and determined -compilers felt and it was not long before he had a successful business as if they had to justify themselves somehowa guide for visitors. I ploughed on ..He was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907685316</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Christina CourtenayEssie Fox|title=The Scarlet KimonoFascination
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=It's 1611 and young Hannah's life in Plymouth The Victorian era is anything but exciting. She incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for historical fiction (matched only, perhaps, by the Second World War) which has often led to more than a horrid elder sister to deal with, and is jealous of her brother Jacobfew writers mishandling it. There's career aboard such a merchant ship. Realising glut of media set in the era that the life her parents have mapped out for her as wife hallmarks we've come to associate with it are familiar to a man she loathes the point of being cliched, hackneyed even. All this is not for her, Hannah decides simply to illustrate that it would be an easy thing to take action and control of her own destinydo poorly. Soon she runs away from homeBut despite that, disguising herself as a boy something about it still grabs me – and stowing away on one of the ships under her brothersomething about this book's commanddescription did as well. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906931291</amazonuk>1914585526
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Nicole Jarvis
|title=A Portrait in Shadow
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=''I want all of Florence to know my name''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tim MurgatroydThomas D Lee|title=Breaking BambooPerilous Times
|rating=3
|genre=Historical FictionFantasy|summary=Summer 1266, Nancheng in Central China and Doctor Shih is struggling to cope with the monsoon season, when he gets a midnight summons to Peacock Hill: ancient palace complex and now home to the Pacification Commissioner, his wife, concubines and various officials and hangers on. Wang Ting-bo's only son and heir 'Hate is apparently dying and all the great and good path of the medical guild are unable to save him. They recommend the employment of magicians in the hope of driving out the evil spirits. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905802382</amazonuk>}}least resistance''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bernhard Schlink and Carol Brown JanewayG K Holloway|title=The ReaderIn the Shadows of Castles
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=ItWe begin after the momentous battle in 1066 and on the day of William of Normandy's West Germany, 1958coronation as King of England. A 15-year-old schoolboy, Michael Berg, William's position is suffering not secure and the new king has many challenges. Imposing authority through a long bout of hepatitiscoronation is important. When he recovers he returns And William is right to worry. While the flat of a tram conductorprevious king, 36-year-old Hanna SchmitzHarold, to thank her for taking care of him is dead and the day he fell sick. The two likelihood of them begin a secret affair that becomes a routine for months: after school and work, Michael would read to hermore pitched battles is over, the rebels are stirring and then they would make love and bathe each other. Both much of them fall in lovethe country does not wish to recognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0753804700</amazonuk>1800422466
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Berlie Doherty3949666079|title=TreasonNoema|author=Dael Akkerman
|rating=4.5
|genre=Teens|summary=Forced by his power-hungry aunt and uncle to leave the comfort of his modest family home, Will Montague finds himself utterly overwhelmed, as he works as a page to Prince Edward under the keen eye of the temperamental King Henry, just as prone to unexpected bursts of compassion as he is to brutal cruelty. Just as he begins to find his feet in this new position, Will finds himself suddenly on the run, desperately trying to clear the name of his father, convicted of treason for failing to revert to the Protestantism led by the King, and simultaneously gaining more awareness of the world he lives in and the plights of the working class. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849391211</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jan Jones|title=The Kydd Inheritance|rating=3.5|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=Nell's Kydd's father died in a hunting accident and her brother, Kit was uncontactable, seemingly lost, on his way back from India. This left her uncle, Jasper Kydd in charge of the family estate and he appeared to be doing all in his power to wreck Kydd Court and make Nell's life is a misery. Her mother coped with it all by retreating into her own world, where she couldn't be reached either. When an unwelcome offer of marriage is forced upon her, Nell knows story about some things that she has happened to take action and that's when the very unsettling Captain Hugo Derringer arrives. He's an old friend of Kitt's, but what exactly is he doing in the area and can Nell trust him?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709091710</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elizabeth Ashworth|title=The de Lacy Inheritance|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Set in England in 1192, the novel is full of details of life in this period, and resists the temptation to get overtly bogged down in excessive political detail, which makes this a very accessible read to those (like myself) who are not too knowledgeable me about this particular historical periodtwelve thousand years ago. Returning from the Crusades, Richard is forced to leave his family and atone for the sins which he believes has lead to him being afflicted with leprosy. Undertaking a quest to his grandmother's nearby cousin (who is childless, so grandmother wants Richard to present her case for inheriting his lands), Richard finds refuge here. This point struck me as odd - almost jarring in it's unlikelihood. Not only does Richard find help/support/refuge here (whilst remaining unknown to all except the cousin and his wife), but he's virtually welcomed with open arms. Would an itinerant leper be treated in this way? It did add a note of discord to the narrative - as if the quest for inheritance was more important that his trials as a leper.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905802366</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=C J Sansom1529125898|title=Dark FireGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby
|rating=5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=As soon as I read ''If it were not for the blurb on casual dereliction of the back cover I thought thereodd gentleman's duty, there would no doubting that this book is going women to be one of those delightful romps, shall we say. Carr takes the famous and muchteach well-loved and much-read detective Holmes along with his trusty, if rather dull and plodding side-kick Watson and decides to have a bit of funbred daughters at all. But will it work?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907685405</amazonuk>}}''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Christina CourtenayMelissa Fu |title=Trade WindsPeach Blossom Spring
|rating=3.5
|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It I loved the prelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''Origins''. Unfortunately it is 1731 and Killian Kinross, disgraced heir the only truly poetic part of a book that I expected more from. Covering Chinese history from 1938 to the estate is making his way 2005 as best he can viewed through one family's perspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the gambling dens of Edinburgh, trading on his skillwar with Japan, ability to hold his drink a young mother (Meilin) and the smiling fickle fortunes of lady luckher four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The Lady is smiling at the momentstory follows them on their journey across China, although she hasnand in Renshu't always done sos case eventually to America. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906931232</amazonuk>1472277538
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Margaret James1916072038|title=The Silver Locket|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is the eve of the First World War and Rose Courtenay's parents are keen to marry her off to well-bred Michael Easton. But Rose is certain a life of domesticity House in Dorset is not for her and so instead she takes the bold step of running away to London where she volunteers as a nurse for the war effort. Posted to France, Rose meets injured soldier Alex Denham who she has known since childhood, and is the only man who has ever made her blush. Romance soon blossoms between Rose and Alex, despite Rose fighting against her feelings as Alex is already married, and also disapproved of by her parents due to his dubious background. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906931283</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Simon Scarrow|title=Hollow (The Legion (Roman Legion 9Talbot Saga)|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Ajax and his crew of fellow renegade gladiators have been stirring things up in Egypt. Attacking small naval bases, merchant ships and villages along the coast, they're successfully stirring some unrest. Because Ajax isn't silly. Not only is he a skilled fighter and capable commander, he's also full of guile. The band pose as Roman soldiers when raiding, so their victims are left with anti-Roman sentiment in addition to their losses. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755353749</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Pamela Evans|title=Harvest NightsAllie Cresswell|rating=34.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1920 and London is struggling to deal with the consequences of the Great War. Unemployment is high and money is scarce. Clara Tripp, a former Land Girl has been forced to return to the city to work as a waitress, leaving behind the countryside which she loves so much. When Charlie Fenner, an acquaintance from Clara's Land Army days, comes in to the teashop where she works, Clara can't help but feel overjoyed. He offers her temporary work on his parents' orchard in Kent and she gladly accepts. Yet a serious accident forces Clara to stay longer than expected and it is then that she makes a shocking discovery which threatens to destroy the Fenner family. Back in London Clara struggles with her confused emotions and the looming prospect of her marriage to local boy Arnold. When devastating news comes from Kent, Clara realises she can no longer keep her discovery a secret. But coming face-to-face with Charlie again means Clara must acknowledge her buried feelings and make a decision between doing the right thing and following her heart.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755345452</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ross Laidlaw|title=Justinian: The Sleepless One|rating=3
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Born Uprauda Ystock, We meet part of the son of a peasant, Justinian (as he was to become known) managed to change his life around when his mother's brother, Roderic, an important general Talbot family in Yorkshire in the Roman Army, paid for his educationNovember 1811. After a series of successes, Roderic became Emperor Justin Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and then passed the mantel on to his nephew, who became known as Justinian. When he came into power, the Roman Empire was under attack her mother have travelled in some discomfort from all directions and Justinian was forced to battle for his right to remain Emperor. Fortunately, he married Theodora, an ex-courtesantheir home at Ecklington, who helped to mould him into the leader that he needed to behouse in the hollow. Was this enough to remain in power, or would it all be snatched away from him?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971586</amazonuk>}} The two women are angry with each other and Jocelyn is well aware of her mother's strengths and weaknesses:
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Julian LeesAnnabel Abbs|title=The Fan Tan PlayersLanguage of Food|rating=45
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=The story opens Eliza Acton is a poet who has never had the slightest inclination to boil an egg. When tasked with writing a vividly described cyclone in 1920s Macaocookery book, she recruits Ann Kirby, a local woman with a troubled home life. I found Lees' writing was such in Together, they test, craft, refine and reshape the opening chapter that it felt almost apocalyptic. The loss world of lifedomestic cookery, reinventing the damage to property recipe book and ... 'sounds of changing the surf regurgitating gurgling carcasses face of belly-bulging cows.' I couldn't help but think of the real-life tragedy unfolding in Pakistan. I felt a bit queasy when I was reading this, to tell you the truthcookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905207492</amazonuk>1398502227
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fiona MountainFreya Marske|title=Rebel HeiressA Marvellous Light
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Based on the life of Robin Blyth is nudged into a pioneer job in the world of butterfly collectingCivil Service, this novel was an enchanting much to his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and enthralling readlearns that the streets of London are threaded with magic. Born into Desperate to remove a rigorously devout Puritan familycurse that threatens to swallow him, young Eleanor is an anomaly both in her outlook and attitude - and her butterfly collecting interests set her further apart from Robin follows Edwin to the more traditional ladies. The prejudices of countryside, where the times are well explained, hedgegrows bristle with incantations and the level of historical detail is sufficient to give the reader people shimmer with power. There they uncover a good understanding of sinister plot that threatens the tensions lives of all magicians in the periodBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848091656</amazonuk>1529080886
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Seth HunterB09F4CTKJR|title=The Price of GloryFlights for Freedom|author= Steven Burgauer
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=This is the final book in Seth HunterIt's trilogy about the naval adventures later stages of World War I and the United States has just entered the conflict. Petrol Petronus is a young American who has signed up and private life of Captain Nathan Peakejoined the 17 Aero Squadron. While This company was the other two books, The Time of Terror and [[The Tide of War by Seth Hunter|The Tide of War]], were fairly self-contained stories first US Aero Squadron to be trained in themselvesCanada, the running thread of Nathan's private life continues over first to be attached to the three books RAF and isn't really resolved until the final few paragraphs first to be sent into the skies to fight the Germans in The Price of Gloryactive combat. But before that can happen, Petrol has to master flying the notoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755343115</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Daisy GoodwinChristophe Medler|title=My Last DuchessMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=There's plenty to enjoy Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, a secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in this debut novel by Daisy Goodwinthe summer of 1642. And first up As a loyal servant of the King, and Head of the Secret Service, it is the elegant cover. I wanted Robert's duty to read uncover the book as soon as I saw details of the photograph: a beautiful girl with great presence about her. The thoughtful look on her face plan and lack follow the clues to uncover one of ring on her finger hinted at an intriguing story. It was also a fair bet that this historical fiction, set the most guarded secrets in history—especially since the nineteenth century, was about a romance, suitable or unsuitable. So the cover complemented plot could affect the story – a quite unusual feat, judging by other offerings I have seen recentlyKing.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755348060</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James Forrester1471187179|title=Sacred TreasonA Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=In London, Minnie is an 'ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in a leafy provincial suburb. The book is set in December 1563, the herald William Harley (known 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to everyone as Clarenceux) had no intention of becoming involved in one of the many Catholic plots against the young Queen Elizabeth, but heher mother's unwittingly drawn into one when his friend expectations and fellow Catholic, Henry Machyn, gave him find a chroniclenice young man to marry, telling him that it hid a secret which could cost Machyn his lifeproduce children and spend the rest of her days looking after her husband and their home. Clarenceux was sceptical until he was visited by Francis WalsinghamUnfortunately, this isn's brutal enforcers t what she wants to do at all and within neither does she want to continue working as a matter secretary. As a result of a few hours he turns from chance meeting, she finds herself drawn into espionage, working for the secret service and effectively living a lawdouble life -abiding citizen into a man on attempting to infiltrate the run in search Communist Party of clues which will tell him why Great Britain. Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the friends she has made - and likes - whilst working for the chronicle is so importantCommunist Party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755356012</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ron RashAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=Serena|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The reader is introduced to one of the two main characters straight away. George Pemberton. But everyone (even his new wife) calls him simply Pemberton. HeKokoschka's faced with an awkward and at the same time delicate situation and deals with it - with violence. No one seems too bothered, not even the local sheriff.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674887</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|title=The Complete Brigadier Gerard StoriesDoll|rating=2.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=Meet Brigadier Etienne Gerard. An officer in Napoleon's armyWell, this looked very much like a book I could love from the get-go, he which is a boastful womaniser with a significantly higher opinion why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of his own intelligence than anyone around him – notably Napoleon himselfit. He's also brave, resourceful, fiercely loyal I found things to his emperor and any woman he finds himself potentially delight me each time – a weird section in love withthe middle on darker stock paper, and above alla chapter whose number was in the 20, utterly000s, totally heroic.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847679196</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ben Kane|title=The Road to Rome (Forgotten Legion Chronicles)|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=After years of wondering if their twin were still aliveletters used as narrative form, Romulus and Fabiola happen to catch sight of each other so on . It intrigued with the docks at Alexandriasubterranean voice a man hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of it mentioned, too. Their meeting isnBut you't to last longve seen the star rating that comes with this review, as Fabiola is being rushed to safety by her lover, Brutus, one of Caesar's most trusted generals and Romulus has just been press-ganged into an army about to go into battle. Howevercan tell that if love was on these pages, this chance meeting gives it was not actually caused by them additional strength, which they are certainly going to need to survive the struggles ahead. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848090153</amazonuk>1529402697
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Margaret MuirChristina Hammonds Reed|title=Floating GoldThe Black Kids
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=The Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel opens with a description is set against the backdrop of the rotting remains of 1992 Los Angeles riots, a human being battered by the waves on reaction to the beaches absolution of four police officers for beating a black man, Rodney King, nearly to death. Told from the Isle perspective of Wight. I cannot recall any book I have ever read starting on a more depressing noteAshley Bennett, but this is far the novel follows her evolution from a depressingsilent bystander when confronted with matters of race, or disappointing, story.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>070909051X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=E V Thompson|title=No Less Than The Journey|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary= ''No Less Than The Journey'' concerns to a young Cornish miner seeking a new life in America. He makes many interesting acquaintances woman finding her voice and some rather arduous journeys in his quest to find a family memberembracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709087551</amazonuk>1471188191
}}