Top 15 Historical Fiction Novels 2016 (so far)

joriestory: This was a biographical sketch on our First President from an interesting POV where we truly were up close & personal with Washington in quite an intimate way to better understand his life's path and the choices he made.

joriestory: An origin tale on behalf of the Bronte siblings; I was so taken by her vision of this story! It was so fully encompassing that you simply did not want to 'step outside' the world the author created! First reading of this kind for me and I was properly enchanted!

joriestory: Truly gutted me to read, but it's important history for all women to know; started my unplanned journey into 'Feminist Historical Fiction' which I'm maintaining! This novel changed my entire viewpoint on the historical journey we've taken (as women) to achieve equality.

joriestory: Second Feminist Historical Fiction story I read this year which truly led the way for me to see Suffragette (film) starring Meryl Streep. Very emotional to read this novel and yet so aptly needed to better understand Women's Rights & Equality.

joriestory: Heart-pulsing war drama with such a breadth of conviction you simply become entrenched inside the life of Gillian Pugsley. Cleverly this was a biographical historical novel due to the ancestral link the character had with the author. I could not put it down; it captured me so!

joriestory: Loved her take on an after canon glimpse into Guinevere, Camelot and the entire lore behind King Arthur! I went into this without reading re-tellings from other authors which I think helped my enjoyment. It was so incredibly original.

joriestory: Incredible depth of a character's journey during war; nursing POV which pulls your heart straight through the needle of how war can not only challenge your bravery but can determine the way in which fate can affect your life. Beautifully centred and told.

joriestory: I ached to have read this trilogy in sequence as I truly loved this installment! I decided right then and there to earmark a moment where I could go back & fully immerse myself in Robson's series!

joriestory: This one just took me by wicked surprise! It was extraordinary how strong her female lead is inside this story - as she's fighting her own battle for equality & the rights of women that are simply being overlooked. It has humour but at the heart is a compelling dramatic narrative against a layer of suspense!

joriestory: So enraptured and guilty had no time to read the first in series! I simply found myself moving so quickly inside this story, I regretted I could not entreat into the first novel before I laid eyes on this one! Look forward to my re-reading, definitely!

joriestory: Incredible visionary historical set in Japan; so beautiful! I was moved by the grace of how this multicultural romance was told and how the history of Japan was interlaced throughout the backdrop of where the drama led us.

joriestory: My first by this INSPY author & I adored it! I sometimes like to read lighter historicals as I have the tendency to read a lot of gutting story-lines. Whitson simply gave my heart a lot of joy dissolving into this river queen's tale!

joriestory: Honestly it broke my heart to read this biographical histfic; so tragically sad and yet it's a story that deserved to be told, read and understood. It's one of those stories that doesn't quite leave you after you finish it, especially due to the ramifications of what is revealled.

joriestory: I had been reading & reviewing all the Lady Darbys; this one stood out from the pack! The reason is quite simple, I became so attached to the building romance between Lady Darby & Mr Gage, this is the installment where all of that took centerstage!

joriestory: Love this series & this one broached where it's going to dynamically change course! You cannot help but soak inside this 16th Century Japan series and feel as if your living through a time portal to where Father Mateo & Hiro will greet you with a cuppa tea!