Historical fiction is one of the most popular genres in the book world. They’re among my favorite books to read for their blend of entertainment, atmospheric tone, and informative takes on real events. But not everyone is a historical fiction fan. YET! I believe there’s historical fiction out there for everyone. It’s a huge, versatile approach to storytelling, and it often crosses over with other genres.
If you don’t think historical fiction is for you, perhaps you haven’t found the right time period or author. Or maybe you’ve only read WWII historical fiction, which has taken up a lot of space in the book world for a while now.
There’s so much more out there to explore! This list of 20 historical fiction books is designed to help you find the perfect fit for your reading preferences.
What is historical fiction? Well, that’s actually up for debate. Opinions vary on how far back a book must be set to be considered historical. One rule of thumb is that a story must be set at least 50 years prior to when it was published to be considered historical, but some argue that 25 years or even less is sufficient.
While historical fiction often deals with real events and people, that isn’t necessarily required, and it sometimes includes revisionist or alternate histories.
Fantasy and fantastical elements can bring fresh twists to history, but historical fiction must have some basis in our real world and documented past.
To help reluctant historical fiction readers explore the genre, I’ve collected these recommendations into five categories: historical fiction for literary fiction, mystery/horror, romance, and sci-fi/fantasy readers, plus a few recommendations that are simply so good that even haters will find something to enjoy.
