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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Choc Lit

The Paris Resistance

By Sarah Bourne - Published 2026

Genres:

This historical romance is set in France during World War II. Miriam Renaud’s family is rounded up in Paris and taken away ...Read Review

The Nowhere Sisters

By Jan Casey - Published 2026

Genres:

Saga

The Nowhere Sisters is the latest addition to the now extensive body of work – literature, drama, TV, radio and even sculpture – inspired by ...Read Review

The Wartime Affair (Love in War Book 3)

By Victoria Cornwall - Published 2026

Genres:

Saga

The Second World War continues to offer novelists an apparently inexhaustible supply of stories, its moral extremities and personal upheavals lending themselves readily ...Read Review

The Stolen Sister (Sun-Kissed Sagas)

By Jan Baynham - Published 2026

Genres:

Saga

The Stolen Sister is a dual-timeline saga with events alternating between Crete in 1963-67 and Wales in 1984. In 1963, beautiful young artist Greta moves ...Read Review

The Thief’s Daughter

By Victoria Cornwall - Published 2016

Genres:

Cornwall, England, in the 1700s is a dreary, impoverished, and tough place to live. When Jenna was a child, she had an experience ...Read Review

The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight

By Christina Courtenay - Published 2016

Genres:

Time-slip

Coincidentally, this title came up for review while I was planning a trip to Raglan Castle in South Wales, and it turned out ...Read Review

The Lost Girl

By Liz Harris - Published 2016

Genres:

Romance Western

A moving romantic novel rooted in its social context, The Lost Girl explores themes of identity and belonging through the story of a ...Read Review

The Legend of the Gypsy Hawk: Book One of the Pirates of Ile Saint Anne

By Sally Malcolm - Published 2016

Genres:

Adventure Nautical Romance

In 1716, Zach Hazard, captain of a pirate ship, returns to the idyllic West African island of Ile Sainte Anne. A safe haven for ...Read Review

The Jade Lioness

By Christina Courtenay - Published 2015

Genres:

Adventure Romance

Japan, 1648. The only foreigners permitted to trade are the Dutch, and then only from the island enclave of Dejima, near Nagasaki. Temperance (“Temi”) ...Read Review