About
- Established in 1997, the Historical Novel Society is an international literary society devoted to promotion and advocacy for the genre of historical fiction.
Membership
- Historical Novel Society members include authors, readers, librarians, editors and industry professionals – membership is entirely open, and anyone enthusiastic about the genre is welcome.
Events
- Our worldwide membership loves to meet. Many travel thousands of miles to attend our conferences in person; many more enjoy our virtual options from home. Others form member connections in their area through regular Local Chapter meet-ups. Discover what’s on with conferences, Local and Virtual Chapters, and more.
Book Reviews
- Our exclusive, members-only print magazine, the Historical Novels Review, publishes reviews of hundreds of historical fiction books each quarter, in addition to features and columns. Become a member to receive the magazine and enjoy all our other benefits.
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Articles
- We publish articles in our members-only print magazine, Historical Novels Review, as well as web features exclusive to this site. All are original pieces, commissioned by our Features Editors based on topics of interest to members – interviews with historical fiction authors, publishers, and agents; explorations of novels and subgenres; guides, and regular columns on historical fiction market news, debut authors, and more. Articles are written by vetted contributors, most of whom are Society members. If you’re a member interested in joining the team, Contact Us.
Awards
- HNS Awards have helped discover authors and launch their careers (e.g., Michel Faber, Ruth Downie, Nikki Marmery, Hilary Green, Elizabeth Macneal, and many more) and provided vital support for others. Our ARA Award is one of the most generous of all literary prizes. If you’d like to partner to sponsor an award, Contact Us.
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17th Century

Fire Sword and Sea

By Vanessa Riley - Published 2026

Genres:

Vanessa Riley explores the storied history beneath the Caribbean sands, bringing to brimming life the chaotic nature of the 17th-century Golden Age of ...Read Review

The Secret Courtesan

By Kerry Chaput - Published 2026

Genres:

The Secret Courtesan is an engrossing dual timeline novel featuring two remarkable and finely crafted protagonists: Sofia Rossi and Dr. Mia Harding. Sofia, ...Read Review

The Water Lilies of Mishipeshu

By Karla Cruise - Published 2026

Genres:

Historical Fantasy

Set on the edge of Lake Michigan, the novel spans 1685 to 2017. Built around the legend of a Native American river goddess, Mishipeshu, this ...Read Review

The Tombstone Maker’s Daughter

By Amanda Taylor - Published 2024

Genres:

This is an ambitious, emotionally freighted novel set in Cornwall in the uneasy years following the Civil War and during the recurring plague ...Read Review

The Sun Rising: King James I and the Dawn of a Global Britain, 1603-1625

By Anna Whitelock - Published 2025

Genres:

Nonfiction

The ascension of Scottish King James VI to the English throne as King James I in 1603 ushered in a new, global empire known ...Read Review

Anneke Jans in the New World

By Sandra Freels - Published 2026

Genres:

Anneke Jans arrives in the New World from Europe in 1630 with her husband Roelof and their children. They are part of a group ...Read Review

Savage: Armed Strength for Peace

By Jeff Kelly - Published 2025

Genres:

The hero, Robert Savage, a tall, handsome printer’s apprentice and pikeman, serves on the side of Parliament in the Gentlemen of Arms ...Read Review

Love in the time of the Medici

By Pnina Shinebourne - Published 2025

Genres:

Genoa, 1602: Twelve-year-old Livia Vernazza, daughter of an ailing mattress-maker, threatens to jump out of a window rather than marry her father’s choice ...Read Review

Salt People of the Cloud Houses: The Story of Sarah Rapalje and Dutch Manhattan

By Fawn Brokaw Doyle - Published 2025

Genres:

Biographical Fiction

Doyle’s debut is a fine introduction to the life and times of a lesser-known American foremother: Sarah Rapalje (1625-85), considered the first ...Read Review