Historical Fiction
Book Review: Eight Pointed Cross by Marthese Fenech
In this historical fiction book review of Eight Pointed Cross by Marthese Fenech, I look at a sixteenth-century Malta caught between the Ottoman world and the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of Saint John. The novel follows ordinary families living under corsair raids, social inequality, and competing religious powers. It stands out as a memorable work of historical fiction because of how it explores power, survival, and moral complexity.
Book Review: Poinsettia Girl by Jennifer Wizbowski
Jennifer Wizbowski's Poinsettia Girl is a historical fiction novel set in 18th-century Venice, inspired by the real singer and composer Agata de la Pietà. If you enjoy historical fiction and want a quiet and thoughtful book, you'll enjoy this story about resilience and finding your voice.
The Blade of Milan by Warren Basla: A Historical Fiction Review
Warren Basla's The Blade of Milan is a gritty medieval historical fiction novel set in 13th-century Milan, following Rebecca Guarna from exploitation to becoming an assassin.
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey: The Last Knight of a Dead Age
My upcoming historical fiction short story, A Fool's Errand, is set in the summer of 1544. As the English cannons thundered against the walls of Montreuil-sur-Mer, the drama and death of the external conflict masked the head-on collision of two visions of duty and honor---between the romantic chivalry and the harsh realities of a Tudor war. The principal tragic antagonist of the story is the brilliant and volatile Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, whose virtues, twisted by pride and circumstance, nearly destroyed him and catalyzed another man's awakening.
Sic Parvis Magna Update and Tudor War Story News (Sept 2025)
The September 2025 edition of the Historical Fiction Newsletter shares updates on my Tudor-era projects, including progress on the Adventures of Francis Drake novel Sic Parvis Magna and the launch of a new short story, A Fool's Errand, set during the Siege of Montreuil. You'll also find a historical fiction book recommendation about the epic Siege of Malta.
A Tudor Character Sketch: Gregory Trelawney
Gregory Trelawney, a fictional younger son of a Tudor gentry family, takes center stage in an historical fiction short story set during the 1544 Siege of Montreuil. The story explores themes of honor, mortality, and loyalty in the brutal reality of Henry VIII's last campaign. Alongside historical figures like the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Surrey, Trelawney confronts both the folly of command and the cost of survival. His journey becomes not just a tale of battle, but of how war strips away illusion and forces a reckoning with purpose.
Historical Fiction Guest Post Submission Guidelines
These historical fictoin guest post guidelines outline the vision, submission process, and standards for contributing historical fiction content to jariabek.com. They detail accepted content types, rights and licensing terms, editorial requirements, and responsibilities. The page explains how to query, what happens after acceptance, and contributor responsibilities post-publication.
Learn More about the Historical Fiction Novel Sic Parvis Magna
Sic Parvis Magna is a historical fiction novel set in the early years of Francis Drake, an ship's boy during the perilous world of Tudor-era seafaring. Against a backdrop of religious upheaval and maritime danger, young Drake must navigate stormy seas, moral dilemmas, and ruthless enemies to find his place in a world on the brink of transformation. Richly detailed, complex characters and a coming-of-age arc that mirrors England's rise as a naval power, this is a gripping tale for fans of high-seas adventures.
Learn More About Sic Parvis Magna
Read a sample chapter from Sic Parvis Magna, a historical fiction novel about young Francis Drake, Tudor seafaring, ambition, danger, and the making of a legend.
Best Historical Fiction Books: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Why Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace (1869) remains a defining historical novel: five families, the 1812 invasion of Russia, and Tolstoy's quiet argument against the way history is told.
Best Historical Fiction Books: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Why Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (1878) remains one of the defining historical novels: love, adultery, conscience, and social judgment in imperial Russia, read closely.
Historical Fiction Novel Nova Albion Adventure By Paul Jariabek
In 1577, Francis Drake leads a voyage cloaked in deception—its true aim hidden even from his captains. Hunted by Spain across two oceans, Drake battles storms, mutiny, and Spanish warships to strike deep into the Pacific and push north in search of the fabled Northern Passage. The mission's outcome will ignite England's imperial ambitions and earn Drake a place in history as Spain's most feared enemy.