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Newest Historical Fiction Reviews (view source)
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[[Category:Historical Fiction|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->
|rating=5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Elizabeth Pringle bequeathed her house on Arran to Anna Morrison even though she didn't actually know herGracetown, Florida. June 1950. Anna just happened to walk past and ask After a scuffle with a white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to buy six months at the house decades earlier. Elizabeth hadn't said yes but always remembered the young ladyGracetown School for Boys, walking past with the baby in otherwise known as the pramReformatory. The baby, Martha, is now an adult visiting ElizabethIt's house – Anna's house – after Elizabeth's deatha place with a brutal and dark reputation. Through But the belongings segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that Elizabeth left with ithave died there. In order to survive the school governor and his Funhouse, Martha sees glimpses Robert must enlist the help of a past life while hoping that that this refuge will now become a haven for her mother before itthe school's too late and while she still has a mind to take her back to the good timesghosts – only they have their own motivations... |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444777602</amazonuk>1803366532}} {{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=After the BombingKatherine Howe|authortitle=Clare MorrallA True Account
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=On 28th March 1942Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to live with a family who run an inn, the city of Lubeck was attacked by RAF bombersand being made to work there from a young age. The medieval buildings were reduced When she hears there is to rubble and hundreds be a hanging of innocent people lost their lives. In retaliationsome pirates in the town, Hitler decided she decides to bomb the most beautiful go and watch. Enthralled and culturally rich cities of Englandhorrified in equal measure, using Baedeker’s tourist guide as Hannah finds herself embroiled in a referenceyoung boy's death at the hands of two vicious pirates. The cities he chose were Exeter She hides away, Bathso that they don't find and kill her too, Norwichand then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, York dressing as a boy and Canterbury. 'After joining the Bombingnotorious Ned Low' follows s pirate ship as a cabin boy. She soon finds herself in the story thick of an Exeter schoolgirl things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there we are caught up in her friends in the aftermath rip roaring tale of life on the attackocean waves.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444736426</amazonuk>0861547438
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Vanora BennettSarah Marsh|title=Midnight in St PetersburgA Sign of Her Own|rating=43.5|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=Inna Feldman is in the Kiev theatre the night that Prime Minister Stolypin is assassinated in front After a bout of the Tsar. Fearing the retribution against the Jews in general and being picked out scarlet fever as a suspect in particularchild, Inna flees to St Petersburg and Ellen Lark loses her landlord's cousin Yashahearing. Her arrival causes complicationsSuddenly plunged into a world of silence, everything about her life changes. Not Living in a time when the use of sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to a school where she unexpected is taught to lip read, but Yasha is a revolutionaryphysically restrained from signing. From here, she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and using a dangerous occupation in Russia during 1911system called Visible Speech. The family that Yasha At the same time, Bell is living with takes her working on other inventions and ideas, and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in anyway, unaware that darker times are ahead for all a complicated tangle of themespionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1780890036</amazonuk>1035401614
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Claire North
|title=House of Odysseus
|rating=5
|genre= Literary Fiction
|summary= ''What could matter more than love?''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ayelet WaldmanB0C7J9D21B|title=Love and TreasureA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Jack When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and his granddaughter Natalie are both he lives at a cross roads in their livesThe House of Beautiful Swallows. She is single again after Idyllic as this might sound, it's a short disastrous marriage bordello and Ettore's mother died when he is dying. Natalie comes to stay and during her visit Jack asks a favourwas born. He asks her 's not been short of mothers, though - but for someone of his background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, it's difficult to embark on a mission for him involving a peacock pendant and some unfinished business from nearly 70 years agoobtain decent employment.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444763091</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=The Eagle Trail|author=Robert Rigby|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=The Nazis have occupied Antwerp, where Paul lives stint working with his English father and French mother. But Paul doesnthe preparation of anchovies didn't think things work out and bastards are too considered badluck on fishing boats. Life is going on pretty much as normal Ettore was nothing if you are not resourceful - and determined - and it was not long before he had a teenaged boy, Paul feels. But Paul is wrong. In the space of an afternoon, Paul's world is turned upside down. His father is shot in front of him, having been discovered successful business as an early resistance organiser. His mother is arrested. And Paul finds himself fleeing for his life, hunted by the Nazis for what his father knew. The journey is a long and dangerous one - through Belgium and France guide for the Pyrenees and Spain and then, hopefully, for Englandvisitors. Every stage is dangerous but the final one - the Eagle Trail across the mountains - is the most perilous He was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406346667</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=I Always Loved YouEssie Fox|authortitle=Robin OliveiraThe Fascination
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Mary Cassatt was an anomaly among The Victorian era is incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for historical fiction (matched only, perhaps, by the Impressionists: she was one of very Second World War) which has often led to more than a few women, and also the only American-born member. A Philadelphia native, she made Paris home for nearly five decadeswriters mishandling it. OliveiraThere's novel opens such a glut of media set in 1926, the era that the hallmarks we've come to associate with Cassatt (now nearly blind) searching for it are familiar to the letters Edgar Degas wrote her in the 1870s-80spoint of being cliched, hackneyed even. Degas and Cassatt had been subjects of Parisian gossip; no one knew for sure whether their friendship shaded into romanceAll this is simply to illustrate that it would be an easy thing to do poorly. Even Mary herself seems confused But despite that, something about what they meant to each other; 'she it still didngrabs me – and something about this book't understand…whether there was room for love in two lives already consumed by passion of another sorts description did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670017191</amazonuk>1914585526
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sally WraggNicole Jarvis|title=LoxleyA Portrait in Shadow|rating=34.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Harry, the eleventh Duke of Loxley, fell in love with Bronwyn and they married. It wasn't the match that his mother would have chosen - Bronwyn was, after 'I want all, nothing more than the daughter of the local doctor and even Harry and Bronwyn wondered whether or not they'd done the right thing as they struggled to come to terms with married life. Katherine, the dowager Duchess, didn't make Bronwyn's life any easier - I mean, the girl wasn't above starting Florence to clear the breakfast dishes when there were servants to do know my name''that'' sort of thing. And - to cap it all - she still wasn't pregnant and an heir for Loxley was of paramount importance.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B00EHMH5XC</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Thomas D Lee
|title=Perilous Times
|rating=3
|genre= Fantasy
|summary= ''Hate is the path of least resistance''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rebecca HuntG K Holloway|title=Everland|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=There have been two expeditions to the Antarctic island of Everland a century apart. The ill-fated 1913 trip of Dinners, Napps and Millet-Bass is primitive by today's standards. The 2012 expedition is better equipped, better prepared and arrives at a better time of year so all bodes well for Decker, Brix and Jess. But despite In the differences both expeditions have things in common. Both groups carry secrets, some become obvious but others ''remain behind waiting to become discovered''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905490658</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Eva Stachniak|title=Empress Shadows of the NightCastles|rating=34.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Russia, 1796 We begin after the momentous battle in 1066 and on the ruler day of William of Normandy's coronation as King of England. William's position is dying from not secure and the new king has many challenges. Imposing authority through a strokecoronation is important. As each new symptom hits and her life recedes a little further she remembers how she came this farAnd William is right to worry. Her recollections begin when she was SophieWhile the previous king, Harold, Princess is dead and the likelihood of Anholt-Zerbstmore pitched battles is over, sent the rebels are stirring and much of the country does not wish to young Russian Grand Duke Peter as recognise a marriage prospect. The wedding plans go through and her new life is accompanied by a name change: Princess Sophie becomes Catherine Alekseyevna but history will christen her Catherine the Greatoverlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>B00J8KYE14</amazonuk>1800422466
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=3949666079|title=A Love Like BloodNoema|author=Marcus SedgwickDael Akkerman
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Twins Isis and Osiris are now in their 90s, living together in Little Egypt, the English manor house where they were born and brought up. Their names are ''This is a clue story about some things that happened to their parentsme about twelve thousand years ago.' near fetish for everything Egyptian. In fact this near fetish leads their parents to Egypt itself, in search of a big discovery back in the 1920s, demonstrating more enthusiasm than savvy. Having left the twins in the care of the housekeeper, they never return. Isis and Osiris are now bound to the house, tied not by love or memories but dark secrets that won't let go.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>190777372X</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Juliet Greenwood1529125898|title=We That Are LeftGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby|rating=45
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Hugo and Elin are settling down to life at home in Hiram Hall now Hugo is back from the Boer War. He refuses to speak about his experiences in Africa but carries the psychological effects. However, appearances count ''If it were not for a lot so they both continue to run the house, gardens and staff while Elin tries to ignore the deficiencies in their marriage. She succeeds as well but then two things change her outlook: casual dereliction of the arrival of daring adventurer Lady Margaret ('Mouseodd gentleman' to her friends) and the less welcome outbreak of World War I. Both will leave their indelible mark so that, for Hugo, Elin and many others around that times duty, there'll be would no going backwomen to teach well-bred daughters at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>190678499X</amazonuk>}}''
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Simon Sebag MontefioreMelissa Fu |title=One Night in WinterPeach Blossom Spring |rating=3.5|genre=Crime (Historical)Fiction |summary=In June 1945 two school students are shot dead in MoscowI loved the prelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''Origins''. These aren't just any school students; they attended Josef Stalin School 801, Unfortunately it is the academy only truly poetic part of a book that taught StalinI expected more from. Covering Chinese history from 1938 to 2005 as viewed through one family's own children and the current educational establishment of choice for the offspring of many government and army grandeesperspective. Why did they die? Did When their home city is set ablaze during the seemingly innocent Fatal Romantics Club have anything to do war with it? For the children the club is Japan, a way of living young mother (Meilin) and her four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The story follows them on their love of Pushkinjourney across China, and in Renshu's literature but case eventually to others it seems a little differentAmerica. Stalin himself is determined to have it investigated and what Stalin wants, Stalin gets no matter how wide the ultimate spider's web of suspicion is cast and no matter whom it catches.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099580330</amazonuk>1472277538
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christopher Rush1916072038|title=WillThe House in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=It's March 1616 We meet part of the Talbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and William Shakespeareher mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, not having long to live, sends for his lawyer and old friend Francis Collins to draw up his willthe house in the hollow. While Francis works (at both the will The two women are angry with each other and eating Shakespeare out Jocelyn is well aware of house her mother's strengths and home) Williamweaknesses: ''s mind meandersShe is practiced at subterfuge, at concealing, regaling Francis with stories and opinions from beneath a life well-lived in a nation in turmoil. After allfacade of respectability, Mr S could never resist an audiencethe deplorable truth''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846972787</amazonuk>}}Hester is furious about Jocelyn's refusal to do as she was asked, which has precipitated ''this violent and unexpected removal''.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Valerie MartinAnnabel Abbs|title=The Ghost Language of the Mary CelesteFood
|rating=5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=On 5th December 1872 Eliza Acton is a poet who has never had the merchant brig Mary Celeste was found devoid of human slightest inclination to boil an egg. When tasked with writing a cookery book, she recruits Ann Kirby, a local woman with a troubled home life (or death). Together, floating aimlessly in the Atlantic. Manythey test, including Sherlock Holmes author [[:Category:Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]]craft, are intrigued by refine and reshape the mysterious absence world of all crew domestic cookery, reinventing the recipe book and Captain Benjamin Briggs' family (keeping the Captain company for the trip). Meanwhile investigative journalist Phoebe Grant wants to reveal the charlatans behind changing the popularity face of spiritualist mediums and chooses Violet Petra as her study sample. Does Violet have the powers she claims and why is she getting so upset about Conan Doyle's Mary Celeste story? Phoebe is determined to find out and, in doing so, will be pulled into a maritime conundrum that may never be completely solvedcookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0297870327</amazonuk>1398502227
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=James ScottFreya Marske|title=The KeptA Marvellous Light|rating=54
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Elspeth Robin Blyth is nudged into a job in the Civil Service, much to his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and her 12 year old son Caleb have been beset by one of learns that the worst types streets of tragedyLondon are threaded with magic. As Desperate to remove a resultcurse that threatens to swallow him, Robin follows Edwin to the countryside, fuelled by Caleb's need for revenge where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and Elspeth's motherly love, the people shimmer with power. There they set out on uncover a journey sinister plot that brings them to threatens the small Lake Erie town lives of Watersbridge. With their new setting comes a greater understanding of their past which is a mixed blessing that must be met head on before they have to face their futureall magicians in the British Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0091944503</amazonuk>1529080886
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn= B09F4CTKJR|title=The Three MusketeersFlights for Freedom|author=Alexandre Dumas and Will Hobson (translator)Steven Burgauer
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Leaving his home to try It's the later stages of World War I and join the famous musketeers in Paris, United States has just entered the conflict. Petrol Petronus is a young Gascon d'Artagnan encounters troubles on American who has signed up and joined the 17 Aero Squadron. This company was the way but quickly falls first US Aero Squadron to be trained in with title characters Athos, Aramis and Porthos. SoonCanada, the quartet are caught up in a diabolical plot of first to be attached to the wicked Cardinal Richelieu RAF and his accomplice Milady de Winter - can they save the Queen's honour?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849907498</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Wake|author=Anna Hope|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Wake: 1 Emerge or cause first to emerge from sleep<br>2 Ritual for the dead<br>3 Consequence or aftermath We often hear be sent into the term ''Broken Britain'' in reference skies to modern society, but fight the Britain presented Germans in ''Wake'' epitomises the term completelyactive combat. This is a country reeling from the aftermath of the Great War. Unemployment is rifeBut before that can happen, food scarce and every family Petrol has been touched and scarred forever by to master flying the events of the preceding yearsnotoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857521942</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Keane's CompanyChristophe Medler|authortitle=Iain GaleMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=There is one fictionalised character that straddles recent historic fiction set during Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars like English Civil War, a Colossus and that man secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpediscovered by Sir Robert Douse in the summer of 1642. To take on this level As a loyal servant of success is no easy taskthe King, but with Sharpe books no longer being releasedand Head of the Secret Service, there it is room for a new man. Is that man James Keane, star Robert's duty to uncover the details of Iain Gale’s ‘Keane’s Company’? This is a book that forgoes some the plan and follow the clues to uncover one of the deeper literary elements most guarded secrets in favour of action and thrillshistory—especially since the plot could affect the King.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782064524</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James McBride1471187179|title=The Good Lord BirdA Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Henry Minnie is an 'The Onionordinary' Shackleford lives as Henrietta (or just plain Onion) until he's 17 due to girl living an unexciting life in a misunderstanding that may prove too dangerous for him to correctleafy provincial suburb. The reason book is that set in the person under this misapprehension 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to her mother's expectations and find a nice young man to marry, produce children and spend the fiercely well-meaning slavery abolitionist (with the emphasis on the 'fiercely') John Brownrest of her days looking after her husband and their home. As Onion accompanies him on his quest to free every slave they encounterUnfortunately, he discovers that Brownthis isn's philanthropy only stretches so fart what she wants to do at all and neither does she want to continue working as a secretary. Meanwhile it's that time As a result of the 19th century when a shadow spreads over Americachance meeting, she finds herself drawn into espionage, one that will cause working for the secret service and effectively living a historic scar almost as great as that double life - attempting to infiltrate the Communist Party of slavery but Brown is oblivious to thisGreat Britain. He doesn't; want to start a civil war, just an armed slave revoltMinnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the friends she has made - and likes - whilst working for the Communist Party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594486344</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Custard Tarts Afonso Cruz and Broken HeartsRahul Bery (translator)|authortitle=Mary GibsonKokoschka's Doll|rating=2.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=In Well, this looked very much like a book I could love from the tinderget-dry summer go, which is why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of 1911 the factory workers of Bermondsey are about it. I found things to ignite potentially delight me each time – a weird section in the flame of changemiddle on darker stock paper, leading to a chapter whose number was in the great ''Summer of Unrest''. Inspired by the dock workers’ strike20,000s, scores of dissatisfied female workers take to the streets in protestletters used as narrative form, demanding better working conditions and equal payso on. Nellie Clark, who works in Duff’s custard factory, is entranced by It intrigued with the charismatic revolutionary Ted Bosher and is swept along subterranean voice a man hears in the fervourwartorn Dresden that what little I knew of it mentioned, enthusiastically joining her workmates in the protesttoo. When But you've seen the heat of the day dies downstar rating that comes with this review, howeverand can tell that if love was on these pages, she is reminded of the stark reality that her wages are needed to feed her starving siblingsit was not actually caused by them. How will her drunken, violent father react when he finds out So what she has donehappened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781855773</amazonuk>1529402697
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sue Monk KiddChristina Hammonds Reed|title=The Invention of WingsBlack Kids|rating=4.5|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=On her 11th birthday Sarah Grimké is given a special present. It walks towards her decorated with a purple ribbon for 'itChristina Hammonds Reed' s debut novel is Hettyset against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Sarah's new personal slave. They grow up together on a reaction to the Grimkés' Charleston plantation separated by conventions thought to be set in stone. However each in their own way will rebel; Hetty empowered by her seamstress mother's ancient African tales absolution of resistance and Sarah (alongside her sister Angelina) empowered by defiant dreams.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472212754</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Linda Mitchelmore|title=Emma|rating=3.5|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Emma Le Goff was determined that she and her childhood sweetheartfour police officers for beating a black man, Seth JagoRodney King, would get married but the vicar seemed strangely reluctant nearly to obligedeath. Their pasts were against them. Seth’s brother had been hung and his father and brother were in prison. No one could - or would - quite believe that Seth had kept himself above the criminality. Then there were Told from the deaths perspective of Emma’s mother and brotherAshley Bennett, which might not have been an accident. To top it all Emma had lived the novel follows her evolution from a silent bystander when confronted with Matthew Caunter - the vicar wasn’t prepared to accept that she was simply his housekeeper. No - there was no question matters of his marrying themrace, but Emma came up with to a novel solution to the problemwoman finding her voice and embracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781890935</amazonuk>1471188191
}}