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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Reviews

Reviews of some 25,000+ historical fiction books

Three Queens

By Rebecca Connolly - Published 2026

Genres:

What if Abigail Adams, Marie Antoinette, and England’s Queen Charlotte struck up a friendship? This is the premise behind Three Queens (Abigail ...Read Review

The Case of Princess Schwarzenberg 1757: Part Two (The Archduchess Investigates Book 2)

By Martina Grenze - Published 2025

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

Some time ago, I had the pleasure of meeting the Archduchess Maria Anna—Marianne to her family—in Ms. Grenze’s first book ...Read Review

The Center of the Earth

By Darlene P. Campos - Published 2025

Genres:

Children/Young Adult

Excellent YA historical fiction based on real experiences by Jews and Ecuadorians in Germany and Ecuador. The daughter of an Ecuadorian diplomat in ...Read Review

The Sister Behind the Berlin Wall

By Cynthia Anderson - Published 2026

Genres:

Saga

Are you ready for the latest in that blossoming subgenre of books about women in Occupied France? Orphaned young adult sisters Léa ...Read Review

In the Spirit of French Murder (An American In Paris Mystery)

By Colleen Cambridge - Published 2026

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

Tabitha Knight attracts death, as the tarot reader tells us, in this fourth installment of Cambridge’s An American in Paris mystery series. ...Read Review