Historical Fantasy

Historical fantasy takes elements of fantasy fiction like magic or mythical creatures and places them into a historical setting or features a fictional world which closely resembles a specific historical period. These books often contain elements of Celtic or Arthurian legend like Bernard Cornwell’s Excalibur or classical myth like Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Song of Achilles. V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic is set in 18th Century London while George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones book series is famously inspired by the real-world events of the War of the Roses. If you enjoy a more realistic type of fantasy fiction, you’ll find lots to appeal among these historical fantasy books.

New Historical Fantasy Books for 2024