As we dive into 2025, a fresh wave of historical fiction is here to sweep us across continents, centuries, and conflicts. From the bustling streets of 19th-century London to the shadowy intrigue of ancient Egypt, these gripping new releases promise stories of rebellion, resilience, and rediscovery. Here are ten must-read historical novels that will keep you flipping pages well into the new year.
1. The Jackal’s Mistress, by Chris Bohjalian
Set against the harrowing backdrop of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, The Jackal’s Mistress follows Libby Steadman, a woman torn between loyalty to the Confederacy and her own moral compass. When she discovers a gravely injured Union officer, Captain Jonathan Weybridge, she faces a life-altering choice: let him die or risk treason to save him. This novel vividly explores the boundaries of love, humanity, and the brutal consequences of war.
2. A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner
Set in 1956 Malibu during the Cold War, A Map to Paradise intertwines the lives of a blacklisted Hollywood starlet, an immigrant with a hidden past, and a grieving widow. Their unlikely bond forms amid the chaos of a devastating wildfire, forcing each woman to confront her own identity and sense of belonging. This novel is a poignant exploration of displacement, resilience, and female solidarity.
3. Fagin the Thief, by Allison Epstein
Before Oliver Twist, there was Jacob Fagin—a master pickpocket navigating the dark alleys of 19th-century London. Fagin the Thief reimagines Dickensian lore, offering a soul-stirring look into the life of one of literature’s most infamous rogues. Epstein’s layered storytelling introduces us to Fagin’s found family, including the volatile Bill Sikes and the clever Artful Dodger, in a tale brimming with wit, ambition, and heart.
4. The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
Dual timelines converge in The Stolen Queen, taking readers from a 1936 archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings to the glamorous 1978 Met Gala in New York. When a priceless artifact vanishes, Charlotte Cross, an associate curator obsessed with the rare female pharaoh Hathorkare, teams up with Annie Jenkins to solve the mystery—a journey that leads them back to Egypt and into the heart of danger.
5. Harlem Rhapsody, by Victoria Christopher Murray
Step into the heart of the Harlem Renaissance with Harlem Rhapsody, where Jessie Redmon Fauset rises as the literary editor of The Crisis, discovering talents like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen. As Jessie navigates the complexities of race, sexism, and her forbidden affair with W.E.B. Du Bois, this novel paints a rich tapestry of Black excellence, ambition, and the cost of success.
6. The Listeners, by Maggie Stiefvater
In 1942 West Virginia, the luxurious Avallon Hotel becomes a front for wartime espionage when it houses captured Axis diplomats. June Porter Hudson must manage the delicate balance between hospitality and patriotism, while FBI Agent Tucker Minnick listens for whispers of treachery. The Listeners masterfully blends historical tension with personal sacrifice, set against the haunting backdrop of a nation at war.
7. My name is Emilia del Valle, by Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende returns with My Name is Emilia del Valle, the story of a fierce young journalist in 19th-century San Francisco who defies societal norms to pursue her passion for writing. Emilia’s journey takes her to war-torn Chile, where she confronts her family’s past and discovers her true identity in a tale rich with love, loss, and self-discovery.
8. Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel
Ten Incarnations of Rebellion chronicles Kalki Divekar’s underground resistance against British colonial rule in an alternate history where Kingston emerges from the ashes of Bombay. Inspired by the ten avatars of Vishnu, Patel weaves a speculative, empowering narrative about friendship, self-determination, and the high stakes of rebellion.
9. The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Bewitching spans three generations, linking the supernatural encounters of a Mexican great-grandmother, a 1930s horror writer, and a 1990s academic. As Minerva uncovers dark secrets tied to her family’s past, the novel blends historical horror with folklore, crafting an eerie, multigenerational saga of witchcraft and obsession.
10. The Pretender by Jo Harkin
The Pretender brings to life Lambert Simnel, a forgotten figure from British history, who was thrust into a plot to claim the English throne in 1487. Raised from obscurity to royalty, Lambert navigates political intrigue, alliances, and betrayal in a thrilling tale of ambition and identity, set against the turbulent backdrop of the Wars of the Roses.
