10 Best Historical Fantasy Books, Ranked

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10 Best Historical Fantasy Books, Ranked

fantasy is a genre that can lend itself to any era, and historical fantasy books are especially interesting because they reimagine familiar events from the past. While Realistic fiction also grapples with different time periods and major moments in world history, Adding a fantasy element to these types of stories makes them even more fun and escapist. While many fantastic works of literature take place in societies and realms similar to Earth’s past, they are often set in other worlds, disqualifying them from being technically historical.

High fantasy novels can easily be bogged down by intricate and exposition-heavy world-building that takes away from the plot and characters.

Many of the best historical fantasy TV shows are based on books, and this is due to the breadth of the genre. Historical fantasy appeals to a wide range of audiences because it transports the reader into another world with magical aspects While rooting in a familiar piece of history that doesn’t require as much world-building. High fantasy novels can easily be bogged down by intricate and exposition-heavy world-building that takes away from the plot and characters. Setting the novels in a real part of the past avoids this problem and is an effective shorthand for authors.

10

My Lady Jane (2016)

Written by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, & Brodi Ashton

The first in The Lady Janies series, My Lady JaneRewrite the story of Lady Jane Grey, the British noblewoman who was queen for only a few short days Before they were executed during the Tudor period. however, My Lady Jane He throws in a fantastic twist and gives Jane the chance to tell her story on her own terms. In this version of the story, Jane lives in a world where certain people can turn into animals at will, but are hunted down cruelly by the monarchy. As Jane rises to power and falls in love, she realizes the injustice of it.

Politics, treason and first love all populate the story, which makes it in conversation with historical events while improving a lot of magic in the plot.

Recently, The book received a screen adaptation on Amazon Prime, Which brought the love story between Jane and her husband, Guildford, to life. Politics, treason and first love all populate the story, which makes it in conversation with historical events while improving a lot of magic in the plot. Although Amazon canceled My Lady Jane Before it might get a second season, the original book is still great to revisit when audiences are missing Jane and Guildford.

9

Outlander (1991 – present)

Written by Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon’s Abroad book series became a long-running smash hit with readers everywhere, How it combines history, fantasy and romance for exciting results. After Claire is sent back in time from the 1940s to the mid-1700s in Scotland, she meets the man of her dreams, Jamie, but she has a husband waiting for her back in her present. However, Clare was soon caught up in the conflict between the Scottish people and the British government. For many of the books, Claire and Jamie’s love story is told through major world events and conflicts.

Abroad has become one of the best romance TV shows ever made, largely due to the central relationship between Jamie and Claire. Although they are primarily motivated by their love for each other, Jamie and Claire care about the fate of the world and travel across countries to help the people of Scotland And fight for what they think is right. Although the fantasy element doesn’t go far beyond the time travel, it creates enough intrigue to sustain the story.

8

The Night Circus (2011)

Written by Erin Morgenstern


The Night Circus book cover

Two magicians battle to the death in The Night CircusBut their playing field is not a bloody battlefield but a mystical circus that brings people’s wildest dreams to life.. Celia and Marco are trained by magicians with opposing ideologies to prove whose methods are the best, Groomed from childhood to compete in the circus. However, only one of them can survive the test, and without meaning to, Celia and Marco fall irreparably in love.

Although much of the story takes place in London, the circus travels to all corners of the world, touching the lives of many other characters along the way.

Set in the Victorian era, The Night Circus Blends aspects of steampunk into his story And flesh out a beautiful world that Celia and Marco’s magic only makes more beautiful. The Night Circus is an example of a book that perfectly blends fantasy and romance, and it uses elements of Victorian society to mirror the social restrictions that keep Celia and Marco apart. Although much of the story takes place in London, the circus travels to all corners of the world, touching the lives of many other characters along the way.

7

The Monsters We Defy (2022)

Written by Leslye Penelope


The cover of the monsters we defy

A magical heist is the main plotline of The monsters we defyAs Clara Johnson, the protagonist, discovers what is targeting her community in 1920s Washington DC. The monsters we defy. Clara has the ability to speak with spirits, and while this sets her apart, it also empowers her To take action and makes you a compelling main character.

The monsters we defy Incorporates African American folk tales and history into his story And takes a critical look at the past while also using the most fun aspects of the setting. Although it takes place in DC, the story is in conversation with the exciting art, culture and innovations of the Harlem Renaissance. As Clara plans her heist and meets new people, she takes readers on a journey through a unique part of history full of vivid characters.

6

The Radiant Emperor (2021–2023)

Written by Shelley Parker-Chan


The cover of She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

She who became the sun And He who drowns the world Make up Shelley Parker-Chan’s historical duology Which takes place in a version of 14th-century China under Mongol rule where the divine right of heaven is real. With a great LGBTQ + protagonist, Zhu rises from humble beginnings as an unwanted second daughter and assumes the identity of her brother, continuing to lead an army. She claims the right of heaven as she takes her place as Emperor, but there are other people vying for the throne, just as desperate for power.

Throughout Zhu’s story it becomes clear that the most important thing is her inner belief that she is destined for greatness and is the ruler the country has been waiting for.

in The Radiant Emperor Series, political alliances and resources are just as important, if not more, than the heavenly proof that someone is capable of assuming the throne. Throughout Zhu’s story, it becomes clear that most of all is her inner belief that she is destined for greatness and is the ruler the country has been waiting for. Revenge is also a huge motivator for every character in the books, How degrees do not disappear when the fate of his family and home is on the line.

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5

The Adventures of Amina El-Sirafi (2023)

Written by SA Chakraborty


The cover of The Adventures of Amina El-Sirafi

SA Chakraborty first wrote these Daevabad TrilogyWhich is also a historical fantasy, but many of the novels take place in the world of Jean, and the real world is easily forgotten. however, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi see Amina, the protagonist, travels across the vividly imagined ocean and resumes her pirate life For the opportunity of gold and glory. Chakraborty excels at writing great female characters who defy the expectations of both the reader and the other characters in the story.

Although Amina was used to throwing herself headlong into danger, She came too close to the supernatural and retired from the sea for good for the opportunity to raise her daughter. in peace Fate, however, has other plans, and she has retreated into a dangerous world full of deadly enemies, and the magical world has not yet passed away with her. The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi Delivers a pirate story with enough magic to satisfy the bravest adventurer.

4

The Winternight Trilogy (2017–2019)

Written by Katherine Arden


The cover of The Bear and the Nightingale

Catherine Arden The Winternight Trilogy Start with The Bear and the Nightingalewhich takes place in medieval Russia and involves Russian folklore and fantasy in its history. The novel is about the experiences of the Vladimirovich family, especially of the youngest daughter, Vasya, who has the ability to see creatures and feels a connection to the stories she heard as a child. It eventually falls to her to save her village from the evils of an evil monster and embrace her powers, although they cost her a lot in the city.

As the novels progress, Vasya becomes more powerful and becomes involved in larger plots that threaten all of Russia.

The conflict between the rise of Christianity in Russia and the traditions of folklore and paying tribute to spirits play a large role in The Winternight Trilogy. As the novels progress, Vasya becomes more powerful and becomes involved in larger plots that threaten all of Russia. Torn between the politics of court life and Moscow and her real life as a witch And connection to the spiritual world, Vasya is forced to make difficult choices over The Winternight Trilogy.

3

Temeraire Series (2006–2016)

Written by Naomi Novick


The cover of the first book of the Temeraire series

Naomi Novick uses these Temeraire Series To put what history and the great wars of the past would look like, dragons are real and an essential part of a nation’s army. Start with His Majesty’s Dragon, The books take place during the Napoleonic Wars, and the first installment focuses on the relationship between Will Lawrence and his dragon. In the story, dragons and their handlers form deep bonds, as dragons are just as capable of complex thoughts and emotions as humans are.

Although Will is hesitant to bond with his dragon, Temeraire, They grow extremely close while being trained to fight in the war for Britain against Napoleon. However, this is only the beginning of the adventures of Will and Temeraire, as they travel the world and are sent on incredible quests that bring them into contact with intriguing aspects of world history. With a total of nine volumes in the primary series, Temer is a fantasy series of epic proportions.

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2

Babel (2022)

Written by RF Kuang


Babel book cover

RF Kuang has become one of the best and most relevant fantasy writers of the 21st century, and it is certain that she will continue to expand her work with time. Her latest historical fantasy, BabelReflects the true story of our world with a small caveat: there are magic silver bars that are fueled by the power of language. In the latest version, Oxford University has a department, Babel, which is dedicated to training students to create these bars And holds their magic for the rich and powerful.

Robin, the protagonist, is brought to England from Canton at a young age and trained to be part of Babel, but as he gets older, he begins to see that working within the system won’t change anything.

Robin, the protagonist, is brought to England from Canton at a young age and trained to be part of Babel, but as he gets older, he begins to see that working within the system won’t change anything. Kuang uses the fantasy element to fuel her metaphor and exploration of colonialism And the idea that assimilation is the only way to survive prejudice. Although it was established hundreds of years ago, Babel Feels as if it could be written about the present time, because of the urgency and relevance of its message.

1

The Once and Future King (1958)

Written by TH White


The Once and Future King by TH White

TH White The once and future king is considered the definitive adaptation of the Le Morte d’Arthur and chronicles a period of British history that has been revisited many times. While Arthur’s existence could not have been real and Weiss fabricates certain elements of England’s history, there are recognizable pieces of that history. Which puts it in the canon of historical Fantasy. The once and future king is as much a coming-of-age tale as it is an epic, as it touches on much of Arthur’s early life.

Read about his training with Merlin and his eventual rise and fall from power The once and future king As tragic as it is rich, warm and funny. Even reading the book today, knowing that Arthur and his golden court are doomed, it feels just as important and exciting To witness him go through his trials and take his rightful place as king. Every King Arthur movie owes a lot to The once and future kingBecause his influence was far-reaching in the entire genre.

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