Fall is perfect reading weather, in my opinion. The air is crisp, the atmosphere is energized, and the temperature is perfect for reading either outdoors or in. Thanks to the wonderful readers in the Inspy Fiction Reading Challenge group, I’ve made my way through a lot of books lately, including some excellent historical fiction. All of the titles I’m sharing with you in this list have complex plots, nuanced characters, and high quality writing. So, without any more pause, here are five historical fiction books I recommend you check out this fall (and if you do, hop on over to the Inspy Fiction Reading Challenge group and let us know what you thought!):
A Most Noble Heir by Susan Ann Mason– Mason’s book is a rags-to-riches story with a unique twist- it’s told from the male POV of stable hand Nolan Price, who discovers his father was an earl, and Nolan, by extension, is part of the aristocracy. The only problem is that this turn in fortune prevents Nolan from marrying the love of his life, Hannah Burnham, who is a member of the working class. While the historical backdrop in this one isn’t as richly detailed as in some other historicals I’ve read, the story is intriguing and is based loosely on some genealogical discoveries from Mason’s own family line. I really enjoyed the male POV (which carries through the entire book- a bit of an anomaly, but a pleasant one!) and am planning on seeking out more titles by this author soon.
Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren– In Keturah (first in The Sugar Baron’s daughters series), the oldest Banning daughter, Keturah, decides to leave England for the Caribbean in order to revive her late father’s sugar plantation and save the family fortune. The story spans several unique settings, including the Banning estate, the hulking schooner in which the Banning sisters cross the ocean, and finally, the island of Nevis. The writing is this one is fantastic, and the character development is subtle and very believable. The book also deals with faith elements as beautifully as any I’ve read.
A Refuge Assured by Jocelyn Green– I’m a Francophile, so anything to do with France interests me. In A Refuge Assured, Frenchwoman and lacemaker Vivienne flees the bloody streets of revolutionary France for America. The various settings in this one, as well as all of the sensory details, are painted with the most delicate of brushes. It’s very easy to get absorbed by the story and look up a hundred pages later, which is no small feat for a weighty historical. This novel blends believable character development with a suspense-driven plot and is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.
A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White– White’s book takes place in the space just before World War I and features a cunning heroine, Rosemary Gresham, who is a pickpocket turned high-class thief. Rosemary finds herself masquerading as a librarian to determine whether wealthy Peter Holstein’s loyalties to England ring hollow or true. The whole story is intriguing and filled with a plethora of fun keywords (Rosemary is a librarian! Peter is secretly an author! The time period is Edwardian!) to hold interest. As in her other books, White also does an excellent job crafting great characters; Rosemary is savvy, and we love her for her wit and heart, and Peter is an intellectual daydreamer with so much depth.
The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen– The first Klassen book I ever read was The Girl in the Gatehouse (if you enjoy Jane Austen, give it a whirl), and I’ve been a fan of hers ever since. The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill is the first in the Tales from Ivy Hill series and centers on a coaching inn named The Bell and the various people connected to its fate. The book starts slowly, but like most classic novels, is well worth the payoff if you stick with the story and the multiple POVs to get to the end. Just make sure you budget enough unrushed time to really savor this one, as it clocks in at well over 400 pages. Another merit of The Innkeeper is that it features some older characters (life doesn’t end at twenty-five, no matter how many publishers and tv shows would have you think so!), and a variety of ages is something I always appreciate seeing in a series like this one.
Have you read any of these books already? Are you planning to pick them up as we head into the fall season? Let me know in the comments below; I’d love to chat about them with you.
Keep reading,
Shaen
