Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2025 Wrap-Up #histficreadingchallenge

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Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2025

Another year over and time to revisit the books I read for the 2025 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader. Reading historical fiction is not really a ‘challenge’ for me as it’s my favourite genre. However, I always enjoy taking part because it allows me to discover books I might not otherwise have come across. Once again I aimed for ‘Prehistoric’ level, meaning reading 50 or more works of historical fiction.

By my reckoning I read 65 historical fiction novels in 2025 meaning I am officially ‘Prehistoric’. (No sniggering at the back please.) They are listed below with links to my reviews. Those in bold I awarded 5 stars. I read a further five historical novels that I haven’t yet reviewed so I may ‘cheat’ and include them in this year’s challenge.

I already have my eye on some books in my TBR for this year’s challenge. If you enjoy historical fiction or would just like to read more, why not join me?

  1. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
  2. The Draughtsman by Robert Lautner
  3. Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
  4. Another Man in the Street by Caryl Phillips
  5. The House with Nine Locks by Philip Gray
  6. The Endeavour of Elsie Mackay by Flora Johnston
  7. The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O’Connor
  8. A Cold Wind from Moscow by Rory Clements
  9. The Cafe with No Name by Robert Seethaler
  10. The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner
  11. Agricola: Warrior by Simon Turney
  12. The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss
  13. Mrs Hudson and the Capricorn Incident by Martin Davies
  14. A Death in Berlin by Simon Scarrow
  15. The Mouthless Dead by Anthony Quinn
  16. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
  17. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
  18. Devotio (Legionary #10) by Gordon Doherty
  19. Defender of the Wall by Chris Thorndycroft
  20. Viper in the Nest by Georgina Clarke
  21. Sister Rosa’s Rebellion by Carolyn Hughes
  22. Days of Light by Megan Hunter
  23. My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende
  24. Traitor’s Legacy by S. J. Parris
  25. Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
  26. The Book of Days by Francesca Kay
  27. The Surgeon’s House by Jody Cooksley
  28. Kane by Graham Hurley
  29. Queen Macbeth by Val McDermid
  30. One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter
  31. A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacou
  32. Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
  33. The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
  34. The Last Apartment in Instanbul by Defne Suman
  35. Green Ink by Stephen May
  36. There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
  37. The Best of Intentions by Caroline Scott
  38. Lion Hearts by Dan Jones
  39. The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel
  40. The House at Devil’s Neck by Tom Mead
  41. Cairo Gambit by S. W. Perry
  42. The Summer House Party by Caro Fraser
  43. Evil in High Places by Rory Clements
  44. The Body in the Ice by A. J. MacKenzie
  45. The Two Roberts by Damian Barr
  46. The Predicament by William Boyd
  47. The Blazing Sea by Tim Hodkinson
  48. A Gentleman’s Murder by Christopher Huang
  49. All the Lives We Never Lived by Anuradha Roy
  50. Venetian Vespers by John Banville
  51. Tombland by C. J. Sansom
  52. Dominion of Dust by Matthew Harffy
  53. Andropov’s Cuckoo by Owen Jones
  54. For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain by Victoria Mackenzie
  55. A Pretender’s Murder by Christopher Huang
  56. Mrs Finnegan’s Guide to Love, Life and Laxatives by Bridget Whelan
  57. Transcription by Kate Atkinson
  58. Swan Song by Kelleigh Greenberg-Jephcott
  59. The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly
  60. Rage of Swords by David Gilman
  61. The Assassin of Verona by Benet Brandreth
  62. Agricola: Commander by Simon Turney
  63. The Mare by Angharad Hampshire
  64. Small Acts of Resistance by Anita Frank
  65. Odin’s Game by Tim Hodkinson

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