Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2025 Wrap-Up #histficreadingchallenge

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