In this slightly alternate universe, legendary anthropologist George James Frazer travels to El Paso, Texas in 1875 as a young man, acting as the ‘advance man’ for an aeronautical angel from Liverpool with a dirigible at her command. His academic fascination with native cultures, myths, and traditions soon leads him into the secretive world of the local Apaches, as well as the investigative purview of the […]
Mask of Dreams by Leigh Grant is a huge, sprawling achievement, a marvelous historical novel that brings together elements of the romance and adventure genres with grittier realism and acutely observed period minutiae. With its addictive plotting and believable characters backed up by clearly thorough research of the era, the novel is sure to linger long in the memory as an expertly woven, richly detailed, and thoroughly gripping work of historical fiction.
The title alludes to its period setting – Venice in its golden age around the year 1500, a city that is also an empire, and a world of […]
Conor McKall is an honorable protagonist – he understands his duty, sticks up for his comrades, and acts courageously in service to his country, but surviving in a war zone takes more than humility, patience, and resilience. As McKall moves up the chain into squad leader, he must navigate the day-to-day trudge of an ever-changing battlefield, including petty challenges to his leadership and explosive […]
A narrative clash of mysticism, science, geopolitics, and biblical lore, Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson is a unique piece of historical fiction, exploring the religious sects, governments, and individuals who likely played a part in the star-driven journey to the birthplace of Jesus.
Rassan is a young military officer and friend to Prince Phraates, heir to the Parthian Empire. When a rogue magi embarks on a secret pilgrimage to Jerusalem, through Parthian lands, Rassan is sent to meet him on the road, only to find that his caravan has been attacked by bandits. The magi’s final wish sends Rassan […]
A touching tale of brotherly devotion and the life-altering consequences of war, In the Shadow of the Sun by Poli Flores Jr. is an outback California drama that echoes across small-town American life.
In the shifting cultural landscape of the Vietnam era, a young man named Curt leaves for war as a musclebound titan, but returns as a troubled and broken soul, unprepared for the very different battles that still lay ahead. When a respected member of the community is bludgeoned to death shortly after his return, the clues and suspicions all seem to point toward Curt.
With corrupt law […]
An instantly immersive story of innocence lost and justice miscarried, Karl Myers by Jeff Lee is a patiently profound piece of 1950s fiction – a visceral, dark, and poignant drama, which offers a snapshot of a sinister time that America has yet to fully escape.
Karl Myers is a melancholic ex-Marine police chief with a stack of regrets, an unwavering hunger for justice, and a raised eyebrow at the backwards beliefs that still flourish in the town he calls home. Jerry Peterman is a scarred veteran with a quick temper and no tolerance for weakness, let alone disobedience, from either […]
An empowering and dramatic story of romance in deeply troubled times, Her Own Revolution by Debra Borchert is an authentic period novel with a fearless female lead. From the novel’s bold opening line to the heartwarming final proposal, this book is carefully crafted by a master of relationships and emotional tension, for a tightly written, heart-pounding twister of a tale.
Genevieve is a precocious and daring young protagonist who refuses to bow to the gender norms of the time, hiding her gender in order to seek out her education. Terrified at being found out, she has a single person to […]
Celey by Susan Diane Black Blackmon is the second book in the Heritage Series, a collection of historical novels based on real-life characters and events. Standing between fact and fiction, Celey is a heartwarming novel about hardship, family, and the hopes and dreams of a town in 19th-century Arkansas, for an engrossing and evocative work of historical fiction.
Waldron is a place on a difficult journey from wilderness to civilization, and Celey, a young woman of sixteen, experiences what it means to live in an unsafe environment, where women cannot go around town unaccompanied and bullies seem to go […]