Category Archives: historical fiction
Unsheltered – Barbara Kingsolver
Willa thought her life was finally in order. Her husband, Iano, had tenure, and she had a job she loved with a magazine. But of course, that was not to be. The college closed, the magazine failed, and it was … Continue reading
The Sea Queen – Linnea Hartsuyker
Svanhild likes the feel of the steering oar, the feel of the water. Her son Eystein has six summers and is a tall frail boy. Unlike his parents, he has no love of the sea. He hates the sea and … Continue reading
The Dante Chamber – Mathew Pearl
Dawn in London’s public gardens. The January wind is fierce. A hunchback slowly plods along. Then there is a loud crack and he falls to the ground. A crowd begins to gather, and then notices that the man was not … Continue reading
To Die But Once – Jacqueline Winspear
It is spring, 1940, and England is full of fear, full of uncertainty, waiting, waiting for something to happen. Young men had gone abroad to fight a war as had their fathers. The country was on edge. Phil Coombes should … Continue reading
A Dangerous Crossing – Rachel Rhys
The government assisted-passage scheme designed to meet the needs of Australians for domestic help seemed heaven sent to Lily, an excellent way to leave her past behind. And Lily wasn’t the only one trying to escape the past. Her shipboard … Continue reading
The Outcasts of Time – Ian Mortimer
December, 1348. John and William are slowly making their way home through a Devon countryside devastated by the black plague. Death is everywhere. The world is dark, bleak, without hope. John and William are infected and are without hope. They … Continue reading
A Column of Fire – Ken Follett
To say that Margery was upset would have been an understatement. She was livid and angrily refused to marry Bart Shiring. Sure, he was the son of the Earl, but he was also was a stupid bore. She loved Ned … Continue reading
The Hidden Light of Northern Fires – Darren Wang
Hiding in the luggage car, hungry, cold, bone tired, Joe Bell was told by the porter to jump off at Alden, because the next stop was Town Line and it was filled with Copperheads. Not good news. He felt he’d never get … Continue reading
The Last Tudor – Philippa Gregory
Jane, Katherine, Mary, the Grey daughters, were very unlike. Jane was quiet, religious, very intelligent. Katherine was the beauty, happy, loving life and wanting to experience everything it had to offer. Mary, the lovely little dwarf, stayed carefully in the … Continue reading
The Half-Drowned King – Linnea Hartsuyker
Ragnvald knew he would drown, and it would not be a terrible death, better than dying from the wound in his face. The cold had penetrated his body. It would not be long now. Then he felt something pull on … Continue reading
The Painted Queen – Elizabeth Peters, Joan Hess
After a long and tiring trip, Amelia and Emerson are at last in Cairo, settling into their usual rooms at Shepheard’s. At least Amelia is settling in. Emerson has been summoned to the presence of Maspero, director of the Service … Continue reading
One for Sorrow – Mary Downing Hahn
From the publisher, “Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Annie, a new girl at school, is claimed as best friend by Elsie, a classmate who is a tattletale, a liar, and a thief. Soon Annie makes … Continue reading
Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York – Francis Spufford
The merchants of New York didn’t know what to make of Mr. Smith, a handsome young man who appeared out of the rain and fog at the door or Lovell & Company on Golden Hill Street. He was bearing an … Continue reading
Midnight at the Electric – Jodi Lynn Anderson
Future Earth has been ruined by past generations so a project to create sustainable life on Mars was begun. Adri has been selected for this next group of colonists. She lost her parents in a flood and was raised in … Continue reading
The Unquiet Grave – Sharyn McCrumb
The Unquiet Grave – Sharyn McCrumb You have to admit that Zona and Trout made a beautiful couple. She with her hazel eyes and strawberry blond hair, him with his crinkly black hair and sculptured face. But their hasty marriage … Continue reading
YA Lit Ramblings 
You must be logged in to post a comment.