20 Historical Fiction Books To Read

Historical I'm intending on reading this year:
All the light we cannot see by Anthony doerr (current read)
Brooklyn by colm toibin
More of the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis
World without end by Ken Follett
The betrayal by Kate Furnival
The pale horseman by Bernard Cornwell (and more in the series)
Shuggie bain by Douglas Stuart
Between shades of gray by Ruta sepetys
The boleyn inheritance by philippa gregory
Shogun by James clavell
Fingersmith by Sarah waters
Hell fire by cj sansom
Atonement by Ian mcewan

We'll see how I get on!!

The Cicero Trilogy is amazing!! My favourite books ever!

Thank you good recommendations

Jerusalem by Cecelia Holland is a great historical novel. Glad to see Aztec on the list - one of my favorites!

Ben Hur.

Reading War & Peace at the moment. Would like to read Wolf Hall too someday

Thanks for mentioning Yellow Sky Revolt in this video guys! I hope you'll enjoy it as well as the following ones. And you're right, the Shu characters are the best.

My tbr grew so much with this video! I read Birdsong a long time ago and loved it but I'd like to reread it at some point because I think I'd appreciate it even more now that I'm older, I'd also like to read more by Sebastian Faulks.

Recommend sword and scimitar by Simon scarrow. Really good stand alone about the great siege of Malta.

Also hurry up and read the wars of the roses by conn Iggulden

Imperium was fantastic. I’m mildly ashamed I got it as a gift when I was 16 it stayed on my shelf 16 years before reading. Just bought Lustrum.
Also the influence it had on Richard swan and justice of kings is clearly visible

Always enjoy your historical fiction recommends guys, whether they would be rereads or brand new for me. Conn Iggulden was one of my first author introductions to historical fiction, yet I haven't read any of the Ancient Athens books yet. Also I keep meaning to read Wolf Hall Trilogy too, I even have the first on my shelf still waiting. Cheers gents!

I hope to try one or two by Amy Harmon, who has a really nice prose style, as well as The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I told my dad you recommended Dan Jones and so he’s enjoying one by him

What a list.
I've just bought Boudica cause you two keep saying how good it is, so I'm looking forward to starting that later in the year. Hard to beat a good bit of historical fiction.

Added Boudica to my ever growing list.
Sounds awesome. Thanks, guys.

I LOVE the variety on this list, you guys keep being absolute terrors for my TBR and I don't even mind hahah. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on all of these, they all sound fascinating.
Also, thank you so much for keeping in all the side tangents and quibbling, your videos are just top tier entertainment 🤩
Happy reading!

A nice and varied list! I'm in the middle of the 1st Law with "Best Served Cold", but have decided to get back to historical fiction after a long while with Günter Grass' epic classic "The Tin Drum, so I'll be squeezing that one in right after BSC.

Audio is a bit rough

Historical I'm intending on reading this year:
All the light we cannot see by Anthony doerr (current read)
Brooklyn by colm toibin
More of the Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis
World without end by Ken Follett
The betrayal by Kate Furnival
The pale horseman by Bernard Cornwell (and more in the series)
Shuggie bain by Douglas Stuart
Between shades of gray by Ruta sepetys
The boleyn inheritance by philippa gregory
Shogun by James clavell
Fingersmith by Sarah waters
Hell fire by cj sansom
Atonement by Ian mcewan

We'll see how I get on!!

Shogun was a huge priority for me this year, almost done with it (been reading it over three months as part of a readalong). The Cicero books are excellent (I've read the first two so far in Allen's readalong), would love to read more from that time period.

Currently reading The Troy series by David Gemmell, great read so far. Also started a Roman series by Angus Watson. 1st book Age of Iron.

I wondered if you fine chaps had/planned to read any books by Alfred Duggan: "The Little Emperors", "Conscience of the King", "Winter Quarters" etc. ? Can recommend checking out "The Templar Trilogy" by Swedish Jan Guillou. Currently enjoying "The Winter King" by Bernard Cornwell!

Oh man what a throwback. Loved playing dynasty warriors on ps2 back in the day. Gan Ning has always been my favourite. Will have to check out yellow sky revolt!

I'm looking forward to joining Will's Boudica readalong starting in March. I'll be heading over to the discord to suggest Ed host a readalong for the True History of the Kelly Gang.

Shogun is the first book in a 6 book series. It’s so well written that I found myself flying through it. Same with the Ken Follett historical fiction books.

I didn't read Panther in the Sky, but I did read From Sea to Shining Sea by the same author, James Alexander Thom. I thought it was fantastic and made me want to read more of his books. Another of his I just purchased recently was Follow the River

What if I´m from the city? Do you still want my ears?

I got introduced Bernard Cornwell through one of your previous videos and I honestly can’t thank you enough. I’ve become obsessed. This is by far one of the most underrated YT channels! 💪

Well now I have to go buy all of these books lol

All is fair in love of books 😘

I like Renaissance Italy, though the first time I played Assassin's Creed 2, I didn't care for it. Then I couldn't stop playing it. I looked up Niccolo Rising the first time you mentioned it, Ed, but I couldn't find the audio for it 🥲.

I had been trying to remember which historical fiction series I had that was napoleonic except for Sharpe. Thanks, Ed! I haven't gotten to it yet, but I have the audio!

Will is choosing the short western? Lonesome Dove will fly by, Will! True Grit has been known to elicit some giggles.

And I have the audio for The Searchers. The True History of the Kelly Gang is on audible (looks interesting). I have found an Australian author named Peter FitzSimons that does nonfiction, history & military/war. I have multiple audiobooks of his to get to.

The Cicero trilogy is fantastic, in my opinion, boys. I am midway through the final book & I'm already considering what other books by this author I want to get to.

I've been feeling like a yapping chihuahua, jumping up and down, in the comments trying to make sure you knew about Shelby Foote, Ed, and you already knew 😂. You might look into Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson, too.

That was a very varied list. As for historical fiction that i would like to read this year, aside from the Boudica readalong which i do plan to participate in, I'm extremely interested in The New Achilles by Christian Cameron.

So,
No Pillars of the Earth
😭

The four winds is really great definitely one of kristen best books

I finished today my current read and I will start Boudica - Dreaming the Eagle. Hmm, which Booktubers are responsible for that?

I was just about to look for some videos for Historical Fiction recommendations then this video pops up! Perfect timing!

Also the Century trilogy by Ken Follett was very good. The first book was amazing. Made me tear up a few times.

I will start my historical fiction journey with Warlord Chronicles in the next few days and will be moving on to Saxon Stories afterwards. The Last Kingdom is probably my favorite TV show ever and I can’t wait to experience it in written form! Based on all I’ve heard, I’m certain Cornwell will click with me!

I'm planning on reading the Knightsbridge books again. And re reading the Sharpe novels.
I can recommend Tim Willocks - Tannhauser trilogy. Although he hasn't finished the trilogy yet

Great list of books.
Very interested in the one written by the Lakota dude.

Great content as always!