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Here is an archive of my historical fiction book reviews. Although I read broadly, I primarily enjoy reading historical fiction that is set in a period over 50-100 years ago. The traditional “cut off” point for historical fiction is 50 years or more, but to me, “historical” fiction should be older than I am.

Image of the Alchemy Thief by R. A. Denny, a historical fantasy novel

Historical Fantasy Book Review: Alchemy Thief by R. A. Denny

Be careful of what you ask of God … as you just might get it.

“…The vastness of the ocean that stretched to meet the sky filled her with a longing to reconnect with the God of the universe. She wanted to feel that closeness and security again. ‘Here I am, God, she prayed. ‘But what am I here for?’”

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Sic Parvis Magna Image: Historical Fiction of Paul Jariabek Halberdier overlaid onto an antique map of the Tavistock Area

Sic Parvis Magna Update and Opening Scene

Had nothing happened, the 8-year-old, ruddy-haired Francis might have followed 300 years of family tradition. He lived in Tavistock, a small village in southwest England. He might have become a tenant farmer, tending to the land and husbanding the animals, or would have followed his father’s footsteps, becoming a preacher, living out his life in quietude and never venturing outside of the village. And history would not have taken a second glance.
But as it pleased the Almighty, the events of 1548 thrust his life in a very different direction. Little did he know that in mere six years, he would be on his way to become one of the greatest mariners, a legendary English admiral, and a feared pirate ‘El Draque,’ the sworn enemy of the Spanish Crown.

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The cover of historical fiction novel The Heretic Wind by Judith Arnopp

Historical Fiction Book Review: The Heretic Wind By Judith Arnopp

In The Heretic Wind, author Judith Arnopp introduces us to Mary Tudor, the daughter of Henry the VIII of England and Catherine of Aragon, and the first English Queen in her own right. The book is a fictionalized biography of Mary I (Mary Tudor, whom John Foxe dubs “Bloody” Mary). The historical character is easy to hate… which is why this book is so wonderful—as Arnopp puts us into Mary’s head, we discover…

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First Scene from Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna, using Habeldier by Jacopo Pantoromo

Character Sketch of Francis Drake

The historical fiction novel Sic Parvis Magna introduces us to a very young Francis Drake—long before his pirate raids in the Caribbean, his circumnavigation of the world, Cadiz, the Spanish Armada, and the fame (or perhaps infamy) that those actions brought him. This character sketch is part of the research for the book. While I base it on history, this is not a historical retelling. I attempt to imagine Drake’s early formative experiences to understand what he may think and do, as well as why. I then incorporated this research to carry forward the story, both in the novel Sic Parvis Magna and the rest of the naval historical fiction series Adventures of Francis Drake. 

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Historical Naval Fiction of Paul Jariabek

Art in the Historical Fiction Short Story Retribution

A historical fiction book allows the reader to experience what it could have been like “back then.” Vivid descriptions are one way to start this experience for the reader. Theme-appropriate artwork is another. Read about the artwork in the historical fiction short story Retribution.

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Adventures of Francis Draks - Retribution Short Story Header

Retribution – Short Story

This is the first scene from Retribution, a short story in the Adventures of Francis Drake series. Focused on a cutting out raid in a French harbor, young Francis Drake gets a first-rate education on attack tactics that will serve him for the rest of his maritime career.

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