There’s a reason we’re drawn to the past. History is inescapable. Decisions are made on the back of past events, and lives are affected by the stories of those that came before us. Historical fiction books resonate with modern readers because they give us the chance to immerse ourselves in another time.
Historical Fiction Subgenre List
Biographical Fiction
History is full of fascinating people who led fascinating lives, but sometimes, we’re not always in the mood to learn about those lives from textbooks. That’s where biographical fiction comes in! These books are based on the lives of real people throughout history with some fiction and literary elements thrown in for your reading pleasure.
Historical Epics and Sagas
These stories are works of Historical Fiction that cover many eras, often in several settings.
Historical Fiction
There’s a reason we’re drawn to the past. History is inescapable. Decisions are made on the back of past events, and lives are affected by the stories of those that came before us. Historical fiction books resonate with modern readers because they give us the chance to immerse ourselves in another time.
Historical Mystery
Historical mystery is simply a mystery story set in a historic time period. This genre puts its emphasis on solving a puzzling event – often a crime or murder but not always.
Historical Romance
Historical romance novels take a deep dive into the history of the era or time period the book is set in, but they often offer rich character development and such descriptive prose that you’re immediately transported back in time and feel as though you are interacting with the story’s characters yourself.
Historical Thrillers
History is filled with terrors, both real and imagined, that create the subgenre of historical thrillers. There is something about a historical thriller, grounded in a bit of both truth and myth, that makes it read all the more bone-chilling.
War
Few events have such a profound and devastating impact on society and individuals as war. Authors have drawn inspiration from conflicts throughout history, using fiction as a powerful means to share, honor and learn from the experiences of those who were there.