Epic
Paris
Editors' choice
Rutherfurd, an author known for his multigenerational epics set in some of the world’s most storied locales, tackles the City…
The Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai
There’s nothing like fiction set in 12th-century Buddhist Japan to shake up one’s notions about feminine strength and bravery. Kozaishō,…
Temple of a Thousand Faces
In 1177 in Angkor, Khmer (now Cambodia), Prince Jayavar and his chief wife, Ajadevi, stand on a causeway gazing at…
Spartacus
Historical novels, especially those dealing with well-known events, lack suspense. As we watch the slave army of Spartacus defeat one…
1812
Written in epic style (third person omniscient), Nevin’s book sprawls across North America from Canada to Washington to New Orleans…
The Gates of Troy
Upon reading the back blurb, my husband quipped, “Another book about that guy.” Here comes Wise Odysseus again, this time…
Song of the Flutist
When the leaders of two city-states in ancient Etruria battle each other for dominance—in ways both subtle and otherwise—the common…
The Song of Achilles
Editors' choice
Whether you are fascinated by the history and the people of The Iliad, or you’re looking for an achingly good…
A Moment in the Sun
This epic work tells the stories of several men and women caught up in the violent end of 19th-century America.…
The War That Came Early: The Big Switch
In the third volume of the alternate history series The War That Came Early, Harry Turtledove brings us to 1940.…
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.
