Biographical Fiction
Bluebird, or the Invention of Happiness
Editors' choice
Upon occasion a reviewer is familiar with the source material for a fictional biographical novel, and therefore dreads the transformation…
Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead
Queen Nefertiti, wife of the heretic pharaoh Akhenaten, has disappeared right before the all-important Jubilee celebration. Theban detective Rai Rahotep…
The Garden of Ruth
In the small town of Bethlehem, Osnath, niece of the prophet Samuel, finds an old scroll purporting to be written…
The Assassins of Isis
This is the fifth Egyptian murder mystery starring Lord Amerotke, the Pharaoh’s chief judge. It is a quick- paced adventure…
Brothers
This Toby Press thirtieth anniversary edition of the novel first published in the seventies may be appearing to take advantage…
Fifth Seal
This is an interesting retelling of the Nativity from the points of view of Joseph and Mary, but also of…
Gone with the Windsors
Written in diary form covering the years 1932 to 1946, these entries document the life of the fictional, recently widowed…
The Longing Season
Editors' choice
This is the most compelling novel about slavery that I have ever read, not because of horrific details, but because…
Mozart’s Sister
Nannerl Mozart, a talented musician in her own right, is used to being overshadowed by her brother, Wolfgang. Nonetheless, she…
The Rose of York: Fall from Grace
While Worth’s ambitious novel offers a sympathetic representation of King Richard the Third, she also depicts him as humanly flawed…
About our Reviews
Over the last 15 years The Historical Novels Review (the society’s print magazine for our members) has published reviews of some 12,000 historical fiction books. We plan to upload them all and make them searchable here.
