Tag: HF Reading Challenge

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

Book Review – Odin’s Game by Tim Hodkinson

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About the Book

Not everyone will survive, but who will conquer all in Odin’s game? 

AD 915. In the Orkney Isles, a young woman flees her home to save the life of her unborn child. Eighteen years later, a witch foretells that evil from her past is reaching out again to threaten her son.

Outlawed from his home in Iceland, Einar Unnsson is thrown on the mercy of his uncle, the infamous Jarl Thorfinn ‘Skull Cleaver’ of Orkney, who wants nothing to do with him. With few other options, Einar joins a band of wolfskin-clad warriors, becoming a player in a deadly game for control of the Irish sea.

Together they embark on a quest where Einar must fight unimaginable foes, forge new friendships, and discover what it truly means to be a warrior. But as the clouds of war gather, betrayal follows betrayal and Einar soon realises the only person he can really trust is himself. . .

Format: Paperback (496 pages) Publisher: Head of Zeus
Publication date: 2nd September 2021 Genre: Historical Fiction

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My Review

Odin’s Game is the first in the author’s The Whale Road Chronicles series. I’ve actually read several other books in the series (The Serpent King #4, Eye of the Raven #7 and the final book The Blazing Sea #8) but, as if often the case with me, not in the right order or from the very beginning. I’d been looking for a book to match the final category for the What’s In A Name? Challenge hosted by Andrea at Carolina Book Nook – a book with a deity in the title – and was delighted to come across Odin’s Game in my TBR pile.

I wondered if going back to the first book in the series would work given I’ve read later books but in fact I really enjoyed getting to know the young Einar and finding out where his journey began. Yes, there’s no sense of jeopardy as far as Einar is concerned but the same cannot be said for other characters.

When we first meet eighteen-year-old Einar he doesn’t possess any skills with a weapon and seems consumed by doubts and fears. His mother Unn’s past is shrouded in mystery, including the identity of Einar’s father. The fact Einar’s surname is derived from his mother’s name rather than his father’s as would usually be the case, plus his mother’s Christian faith, sets them apart from the rest of the community who worship other gods.

During the Icelandic equivalent of an ice hockey game, we get the first glimpse of the sudden outbursts of rage that will overwhelm Einar from time to time. Although not the trance-like fury of a ‘berserker’, these intense periods of ferocity contribute to him becoming a formidable warrior in later years. Unfortunately, on this first occasion, his momentary lapse in control results in him being adjudged an outlaw, effectively banishing him from Iceland.

From a fairly slow start because of the necessary scene setting, the pace really picks up and then it’s action all the way. Einar finds himself embroiled in the machinations of the rulers of Norway and Ireland, none of whom have any qualms about breaking alliances or turning on those to whom they pledged allegiance. Not even connections through kinship or marriage are sacred.

There are full-on action scenes in which the Wolf Coats prove just what a ferocious and seemingly invincible fighting force they are, leaving a trail of bloody remains in their wake. Einar does his share of the blood-letting too with his newly acquired skill with sword and axe, including a memorable one-on-one battle. And then it’s back to Iceland to save a life and enact revenge. ‘The game is set and we have to play to the end.’

The book is packed with detail about every aspect of life in the period, really helping to bring the story alive and a testament to the depth of the author’s research.

If you’re a fan of Viking age historical fiction where the action comes thick and fast, I can recommend this series.

In three words: Gripping, dramatic, authentic
Try something similar: The Serpent Sword by Matthew Harffy

About the Author

Tim Hodkinson grew up in Northern Ireland where the rugged coast and call of the Atlantic Ocean led to a lifelong fascination with vikings and a degree in Medieval English and Old Norse Literature. Apart from Old Norse sagas, Tim’s more recent writing heroes include Ben Kane, Giles Kristian, Bernard Cornwell, George R. R. Martin and Lee Child. After several years living in New Hampshire, USA, Tim has returned to Northern Ireland, where he lives with his wife and children.

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