Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay

February 22, 2026

Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay

Thierry Villar is a tavern poet. University educated, he prefers to spend his nights in Orane's shadowy underworld, drinking, improvising poems, and associating the city's less savory citizens. One night as he slips out to commit a minor robbery, he is picked up by the city's provost, who require's Thierry's specific skill set for a specific job.

Not sure if this should be called historical fantasy or alternate history. In this fantasy of medieval France, there is a strong Game of Thrones vibe, with many characters, political machinations, high born/low born worlds, and frequent crossing and double-crossing. The Henry V character is a brutal jerk and he loses at Agincourt. The author also saves Joan of Arc (here called Jeannette of Broche). He develops his characters really well - even brief characters get a backstory, even if only a few sentences long. The most heart wrenching is the woman who takes Jeannette's place of the pyre after Jeannette's brothers spirit her away. Other readers have complained that this novel doesn't measure up to the author's other books, but this is the first book by the author that I've read, so I don't have anything to compare it to, and I enjoyed it. A good read for a winter afternoon, a good escape.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Last White Rose by Alison Weir

May 23, 2024

The Last White Rose by Alison Weir

Elizabeth of York was the oldest daughter of Edward IV, and the wife of Henry VII at the end of the War of the Roses. Elizabeth was a sweet, beautiful girl, beloved by her family, who became the heir to the throne when her two brothers (aka the Princes in the Tower) disappeared. Henry VII became king by right of conquest when he overthrew Richard III, but he needed to marry Elizabeth to solidify his claim to the throne. Surprisingly, it was a successful marriage and Henry was devoted to Elizabeth. When she died at age 37 after the birth of their last child, he mourned her deeply for the rest of his life.

Most books about the Tudors focus on Henry VIII and his six wives (which is really the only thing he is remembered for - he was actually a very mediocre king), but this novel is about his mother, Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth had a large and complicated family: she herself had nine siblings, while her mother Elizabeth Woodville had over a dozen siblings, and her father Edward IV had at least seven siblings. There is a certain amount of confusion at some points regarding which Edward, Richard, Elizabeth, Katherine or Margaret we are talking about. There is also a lot of crying. Alison Weir has written extensively about the Tudors and the Plantagenets, and she brings her nonfiction research to this novel. Recommended for readers of historical fiction and about the Tudors in particular.

Elizabeth of York

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

May 11, 2024

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

Biographical fiction about Joan of Arc. Very well written. Joan was an independent, autonomous young woman who went against the prevailing beliefs and expectations about how women should act - reminded me of Anne Boleyn whose only crimes were being smart, educated, and not taking crap from men. Will appeal to readers of well-researched historical fiction about strong women.

Miniature of Joan of Arc, which may or may not be accurate

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

June 5, 2023

Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

In 15th century China, Tan Yunxian grows up in a wealthy prestigious family. Raised largely by her grandparents, Yunxian studies to be a doctor from childhood, following in her grandmother's footsteps. Since male doctors are forbidden to touch or examine female patients, after her marriage, Yunxian focuses on illnesses that trouble women, particularly in their reproductive systems. Working in conjunction with a midwife, she treats not only the women in her household but also working women who come to her for help. But her work is not without controversy and she is criticized by the predominant male culture that she lives in. 

Based on an actual woman healer who wrote a book of her cases and remedies that are still used today, this is a fascinating look at life in the extended family of an upper class medieval Chinese household during the Ming dynasty, also of medieval medical practices and beliefs. Warning: the descriptions of foot binding are horrible, especially Yunxian's mother dying of blook poisoning after her feet become infected. I love See's books: wonderful descriptions, well-resesearched, highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Drawing of Tan Yunxian

The Tudor Crown by Joanna Hickson

March 30, 2021

The Tudor Crown by Joanna Hickson

Most books written about the Tudors focus on either Henry VIII or Elizabeth I. The Tudor Crown is about the rise and reign of the first Tudor king, Henry VII, father of Henry VIII.

During the 15th century, the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York raged over which house had the right to the English crown. Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) and his mother Margaret Beaufort had a close relationship, and Margaret was the driving force behind Henry's quest for the throne. Both Henry and Margaret are portrayed more positively here than in most books about the 15th century. Henry is usually one of the likely suspects responsible for the murder of the two child princes in the Tower of London, while Margaret is usually depicted as a scheming bitch.

Joanna Hickson has written other books about the Tudor line from the time of Owen and Jasper Tudor through the reign of Elizabeth. Very readable historical fiction.

                   

Henry VII and Margaret Beaufort

In the Name of the Family by Sarah Dunant

August 20, 2019

In the Name of the Family by Sarah Dunant

Before there were the Sopranos and the Lannisters, there were the Borgias, the original family syndicate.  Pope Alexander VI (formerly Rodrigo Borgia:  womanizer, businessman, politician) is returning from taking his daughter Lucrezia to marry her third husband in Ferrara (she's 22 years old and on husband #3).  His son Cesare (also known as Duke Valentine) was the basis for the prince described by Niccolo Machiavelli in his political treatise The Prince.  Although Cesare was generally considered to be a decent ruler, he was also mentally unstable at times and ordered the murder of Lucrezia’s second husband for political reasons.  Although she resents being used as a political pawn by her family, Lucrezia fulfills her duty for the Borgia clan and sets out to charm her new husband’s family and the court and produce the necessary heirs.

Entertaining and overall historically accurate, like “Lifestyles of the Renaissance Rich and Famous” or “Bedroom Secrets of the Borgias.”  The characters are fully fleshed, ruthless, cruel, loyal to the family.  The narrative is told predominantly from three alternating viewpoints (Pope Alexander, Cesare, and Lucrezia), with Machiavelli occasionally chiming in to comment on Borgia politics.  This title is the sequel to Blood and Beauty by the same author.