Tudor
Shakespeare Unbound: Decoding A Hidden Life
“May” and “might” are words without which this book would not be possible. Nevertheless, the author, a professor of English…
Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times
1587. England is on the brink of war. Philip of Spain has vowed to kill Elizabeth and restore Catholicism under…
The Queen’s Secret
Telling the fascinating story of Katherine of Valois, the mother of England’s mighty Tudor dynasty, The Queen’s Secret opens with…
Murder Most Royal
I first read Murder Most Royal as a teenager. On re-reading this spending looking reprint I found the writing still…
Portrait of an Unknown Woman
Editors' choice
In this, journalist Vanora Bennett’s first novel, Meg Giggs, adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More, springs brilliantly to life. Surrounded…
The Thistle and the Rose
Plaidy’s eighth Tudor novel vividly reconstructs the dramatic life of Margaret Tudor, from the time of her early marriage to…
The Sixth Wife
Plaidy’s retelling of the story of Katharine Parr is masterly. Those who know little more of Katharine than that she…
Innocent Traitor
This riveting, richly descriptive novel chronicles the life of Lady Jane Grey. For those unfamiliar with British royal history, fifteen-year-old…
The Lady Grace Mysteries: Gold
1578. Lady Grace Cavendish is maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I in this, the seventh Lady Grace mystery. The…
The Rebel Heart
Editors' choice
This is the fourth outing for Stephen’s charismatic anti-hero Sir Henry Gresham. It is 1598, and Elizabeth I is getting…
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.
