24 EXCEPTIONAL HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELS YOU MUST READ ABSOLUTELY

As someone who's been reading historical romance for nearly half my life, it's true that a lot of it overlap. You know what I mean: they have the generic Regency setting, the generic rake hero, the generic wallflower hero. It takes a special author to cook these stale ingredients into an exciting new dish, and many fail. But! In my travels, I have also come across some wonderful, truly unusual historical novels that deserve special recognition.

Below are 24 books that stand out from the crowd by their plot, characters or setting.

24 PARTICULARLY HISTORICAL ROMANCES

1. Morganna from Jackie IVIE

Since the murder of her clan when she was a child, Morganna KilCreggar has wandered disguised as a boy. She has only one goal: to take revenge on the FitzHughs who killed her family. Nothing else matters, and she is perfectly willing to spend her own life in pursuit of this goal. But then she runs into charming, light-hearted Zander FitzHugh, who forces her to be his squire, and things get a lot more complicated than she expected.

Also known as Lady of the Knight, I start you off strong with one of the most uniquely tortured heroines I've ever encountered. Her look is unashamedly masculine - she's tall and bony, which is why she gets away with her disguise for so long. Morganna is also not one of those people who immediately forgets her mission because of a man. Her emotional defrost is gradual and believable - a real joy to watch. Plus, did I mention this is set in 14th century Scotland? There is a strong historical element to the presence of Robert the Bruce as a character.

See Also: 20 ROMANTIC BOOKS THAT ARE SEXY, SMART AND EVERYTHING BUT SAPPY

2. THE SUFFRAGETTE SCANDAL (BROTHERS SINISTER # 4) BY COURTNEY MILAN

Frederica Marshall is one of the early suffragettes. She owns a successful all-women's newspaper and campaigns to prove to the society of 1877 that equal rights is something that can and should happen. But when a man she once rejected tries to give up her efforts, she must enlist the help of his brother - aristocratic forger and villain Edward Clark - to keep her campaign alive.

This is a wonderful blend of romance and historical focus on the fight for women's rights. I'm going to Newnham College, which is very much linked to the issue of women's suffrage, and it was great to read a historical novel in which Voting for Women is an integral part of the plot. There's sweet F / F side romance too!

3. MIDSUMMER MOON BY LAURA KINSALE

Merlin Lambourne is an eccentric genius - and possibly England's only hope of defeating Napoleon. When Ransom, Lord Falconer arrives to meet the reclusive inventor, he is amazed to discover that she is a beautiful woman. But he's nonetheless beaten ... even as Merlin's waywardness puts him to the test at every turn.

This is a somewhat strange book, but undeniably great. Merlin is a highly unconventional heroine: extremely intelligent and obsessed with her work, but very sweet. Ransom is dictatorial and autocratic on the outside, with his own sweet core underneath. Their clashing wills lead to many humorous moments, and their love for each other may be atypical, but it's delightful.

4. THE WILD KNIGHTAGNES MOOR OF ALYSSA COLE

As a black woman at the court of the 16th-century monarch James IV of Scotland, Agnes Moor knows she is an 'exotic'. When the King kisses her the prize in a tournament, the mysterious Wild Knight is determined to be the winner.

This is a fairly short novella, but worth reading because of the depiction of an early modern woman of color. Yes, they existed! She's not a virgin either, which is another unusual aspect of this book.

5. THE SILVER DEVIL BY TERESA DENYS Felicia,

the bastard daughter of an innkeeper, knows she is destined for a quiet life. But then she attracts the attention of the Duke of Cabria - cruel, hateful and utterly obsessed with her - and becomes his mistress. Suddenly, her life is anything but boring as she enters the violent politics of Renaissance Italy.

YOU BOYS, THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE. It is (unusually) told in the first person, and the setting is described so lavishly that I really felt like I was there in 1605. It's stifling, but in the best way. If you want to enter the world of the Borgias and Medicis, this is the book to read. The silver devil himself is also a completely unique character, but probably the most faithful portrayal of a Machiavellian antihero in fiction. Warning: it was published in 1978 so there are bodice ripper elements. Denys also has another book, The Flesh and the Devil, uniquely set in the 17th century Spanish court. Tragically, she died in a car accident in the mid-80s, so these are her only two books. Enjoy it.

6. BUTTERFLY SWORDS (TANG DYNASTY # 1) JEANNIE LIN

Princess Ai Lee is forced to flee home for her wedding, armed only with a pair of delicate butterfly swords. When she meets Ryam, a jaded, blue-eyed warrior, she hires him to help her return to her family and warn them of the impending danger.

Set during China's infamous Tang Dynasty, this book features a sweet romance set against a backdrop of intrigue and the conspiracy of royalty.

7. BEAUTIFUL CONFIDENCE BY STELLA RILEY

Caustic, dashing Cavalier commander Justin Ambrose is sent to Bunbury, Oxfordshire, to cool his heels after insulting one of the King's favorites. He expects to be bored. But he didn't count on meeting Abby, the sister of a fanatic Roundhead, whose softness is slowly beginning to touch his heart.

What we have here is a long, slow yet sexy romance set in 1644, during the Civil War. There are shades of Romeo and Juliet with the whole Cavalier and Roundhead conflict. The book is strong on the historical detail, which is AMAZING as there aren't many stories set in the 17th century! Riley also has other unusual historical romances during this period.

8. THELADY IN LONDON HAPPIEST(LONDON TRILOGY # 1) SHERRY THOMAS

Louisa Cantwell is a mercenary. The daughter of a fortune-seeker and his impoverished bride, she is all about getting married for money and she is not shy about it. Enter Felix, Lord Rivendale. Underneath a layer of good-natured idiocy is a master manipulator who has no intention of letting the most interesting woman he has ever met out of his hand.

The setting of Victorian England is nothing special, but the characters are beautiful. Louisa is an ordinary heroine without impressive looks or impressive brains. But her willpower and determination are what endears her to Felix, who is kind of an antihero and an asshole, but very enjoyable.

9. THE DELILAH OF THE DEVIL (REGENCY NOBLEMEN # 2) BY LORETTA CHASE

In the eyes of the city, Delilah Desmond is the daughter of the devil. Her dad is the kind of criminally bad rake we love to read about in other books, and it was great to see what kind of kids such a man would raise (think Lisa Klepyas' learned Devil's Daughter, where we see Sebastian as a father) ). Her father's character is actually the whole reason this book is on this list. Delilah is lively, somewhat materialistic, and quite willing to pull a gun on anyone who rubs her the wrong way. Meanwhile, the innocentLangdon stumbles on her path of destruction ...

10. Jackbeta hero JEZEBEL BY KOKO BROWN

Celeste Newsome is a notorious girl. As a dancer in 1938 New York, she uses men and alcohol to stun her demons. Then comes Shane Brennan, a budget fighter determined to come under her defense.

This book was not only a cute romance, but also a very interesting look at the racial situation of the time. Celeste is black while Shane is white, and his attempts to take her to 'white only' establishments open his eyes to what life is like for her.

11. THE TATTOO: A REGENCY ROMANCE OF LOVE AND REVENGE, ALTHOUGH NOT IN THAT ORDER OF THE DUKE (HORSES OF THE APOCALYPSE # 1) BY MIRANDA DAVIS

This looks like an average noble regency, complete with duke, but ... it has the craziest plot ever. Unusual historical romances, here I come!

Jeremy Maubrey, tenth Duke of Ainsley, wakes up one morning with a curious itch down there. He is shocked to learn that someone has shaved him and gave him a humiliating tattoo. He won't rest until he finds the culprit - who turns out to be a delightful young woman named Prudence Haversham, who actually intended to tattoo the previous Duke's revenge. Oops?

12. WHAT THE EARL REQUIRES (RAKES AND ROGUES # 1) ALIYAH BURKE

A few English women hire Najja, an African hit man, to protect them. During her duties, she meets Colin Faulkner, Earl of Clifton. But they can never be together, because it is 1811, and an entire continent - plus her loyalty to her father - lies between them.

Najja is a great heroine and Burke writes excellent sexual tension between her and Colin. The whole concept of her education and profession makes this one of the more unusual historical romances!

13. 'S POSITION JUDITH IVORY

Victorian Pied Piper Mick Tremore may be handsome, but Lady Edwina Bollash is not interested in his appearance. No, as a philologist she is fascinated by his clearly subordinate diction and Cornish accent. A bet occurs. Can she turn a poor working man into someone who passes for a viscount in six weeks?

This reverse spin on the Pygmalion story is carried by the heroine who (after troubled times) works as a linguist, as well as the refreshing non-tortured hero. Ivory doesn't skim the grim realities of working-class life in the 1890s.

14. FORBIDDEN (OLD WEST # 1) BY BEVERLY JENKINS

Rhine Fontaine is a successful saloon owner with political aspirations. But he has a huge secret: he's actually biracial, with a black slave mother. He has passed on as white and is even engaged to a wealthy white woman. There is no way he can risk everything he has built for Eddy, a young black woman whom he rescues from death in the desert.

The setting completes the book. It's 1870 Nevada, and there's a lot of debate about the black and white dynamic now that the Civil War is over. The book also goes deep into the implications of Rijn's decision to go white (both for himself and for the black community). A great addition to the world of unusual historical romances!

15. FALL OF GRACE BY MEGAN CHANCE

Lily was 12 years old when the Sharpe gang killed her parents and adopted her. She's been a criminal for the past 12 years, just like any other gang. But she's never forgotten what they did to her, and even her marriage to Texas Sharpe - the sweet son of their charismatic leader - hasn't turned her back on her revenge. It's a shame that the man she left for dead is determined not to let her go.

The heroine of this western is very similar to Morganna (first book in this list). Both are intensely reserved, struggling to express their emotions, and end up with charming heroes strong enough to withstand their ice. Lily is much more ruthless, however. On more than one occasion, she proves that she is willing to kill those she loves, and it takes a long time for her to accept the atrocities inflicted on her. In terms of unusual historical romances, you don't get much more unique than this.

16. WHAT THE PARROT SAW (HIGH SEA # 4) BY DARLENE MARSHALL

Captain Mattie St Armand isn't just a woman: she's the bastard daughter of a pirate and a freedman, so she needs a naive white man to clear the authorities while she smuggles slaves from Florida to freedom in the Bahamas. This is where Oliver Woodruff comes into play. A naive white man who needs to be rescued from a whorehouse, he's the perfect man for her job.

Although the novel is set in a fairly standard 1839, it is filled with subtle humor and intriguing characters. Oliver is a beta male, while Mattie is definitely an alpha.

17. THE SHERWOOD RING BY ELIZABETH MARIE PAUS

This interweaves three separate romances, in two different periods. First we have Peggy Grahame, a 17-year-old girl who is going to live with her Uncle Enos. It soon becomes apparent that her home is filled with the ghosts of her colonial ancestors. As they relate their own humorous, frustrating, and romantic life stories to her, Peggy develops a flirtation with a local scholar whom her uncle has a mysterious grudge against.

With a publication date of 1958, this is the second oldest book on my list and one of the absolute best. It's YA, but the characters are so vibrant and their banter so sizzling that it's better than many adult novels. My personal favorite character is Barbara Grahame (one of Peggy's ancestors) who has a wonderful cat-and-mouse relationship with a wickedly humorous English soldier. I only wish this book was longer! Pope's other book, The Perilous Gard, also deserves your attention. It is a retelling of Tam Lin's ballad set in 1558 under the rule of Mary I. One of the most unusual historical romances out there!

18. UNCOMMON VOWS (BRIDE # 1) MARY JO PUTNEY

Lady Meriel de Vere is a noble Norman native, but circumstances force her to pretend to be a Welsh citizen. All the better for Adrian, Earl of Shropshire. A former monk, he takes her to his castle and imprisons her until she agrees to be his mistress. Nor does he take advantage of an accidental attack of amnesia on her part.

The writing in this book is beautifully poetic - my description really doesn't do the plot or characters justice. It takes place during the 12th century anarchy, the period of the English Civil War when Matilda fought Stephen for the crown. There are some great facts about that. Adrian is a very interesting character: he is tormented by lust, but also by an extreme religiosity, which is woven into the fabric of his personality. Trigger warnings for attempted rape scenes.

19. SEE, HERE IS POISON (INSPECTORS HANNASYDE & HEMINGWAY # 2) GEORGETTE HEYER

When unpopular businessman Gregory Matthews dies suddenly, the police immediately suspect his entire family. Chief among the suspects is Randall, a lovable, elegant snake. But he won't go to jail - not if his cousin Stella has something to say about it.

Okay, let me explain my choice here. This wouldn't have been historical to Heyer herself - it is one of her contemporary detective stories. But the 1930s life it portrays is certainly long gone, so I'm confident to include here. The romance is between the first cousins, but again, the 1930s! Randall is an extremely underrated Heyer hero, and he's definitely one of my favorites. While the book is more murder mystery than anything, the romance is satisfying enough and is a must-read for Heyer / Christie fans. I would also like to give a shoutout to Cotillion here, because of his unconventional approach to romantic heroes.

20. EMBRACING AND CONQUEST BY JENNIFER BLAKE

Felicite lives in New Orleans, a tense place to be as France moves its colony of Louisiana to Spain (1770). The French who live there feel that their motherland has betrayed them and tempers are running high. When the Spanish authorities arrest Felicite's father, she agrees to become Irish mercenary Captain Morgan McCormack's mistress to free him.

This is excellent historical fiction, perhaps even better than historical romance. The setting is relatively common and Blake has scrutinized the subject - she makes it clear that she knows her stuff here.

21. THE CONQUEROR (DEWARENNE DYNASTY # 1) BRENDA JOYCE

As Saks, Ceidre is determined to resist the Norman invasion under William the Conqueror. The most offensive of them is Rolfe, a gentleman who, in return for his good service, becomes the owner of the family castle of Ceidre. When her rebel brothers ask her to spy for them, she realizes that establishing herself as Rolfe's mistress is the easiest way to do that - even if she falls in love with him against her will.

This book does not attempt to obscure some of the realities of life in the 11th century; both Ceidre and Rolfe are in marriages of convenience with other people, and he has many illegitimate sons whom he happily leaves behind in Normandy. But despite all that, I really felt the love between them, and I liked that it wasn't crazy anachronistic. I would also like to draw your attention to Joyce's novel The Game, which features a romance between an Elizabethan pirate and an Irish loyalist noblewoman.

22. HIGHLAND FIRE ELIZABETH THORNTON

Caitlin Randal is a passionate Scottish woman, devoted to the Highlands in which she grew up. Her (very) distant cousin Iain, Lord Randal couldn't be more different: he's a sophisticated, urban Englishman who essentially treats Scotland just a hunting chest, although his ancestors are from there too. But when they are forced to marry, he soon discovers that there is nothing sophisticated and urban about the way he loves her. It's a shame all she'll ever love is Scotland ...

While this is technically just a regency novel, its setting in the Highlands really brings Scotland to life. Very few other books are so intrinsically linked to a place like this. There is also a heartbreaking doomed love between a gay man and the oblivious object of his affection, which is straight. Thornton has some wonderful historical romances (my favorites are To Love an Earl and Dangerous to Kiss) and the emotion and sensuality in them always knock me over.

23. THE DUKE OF SHADOWS BY MEREDITH DURAN

India, 1857: The English Emmaline Martin falls in love with Julian Sinclair, the future Duke of Auburn. In India they call him a traitor. In London they think he's a savage. His multi-ethnic heritage makes him struggle to fit into both worlds, and only Emmaline makes him feel whole. But when India revolts, it tears the lovers apart, and their reunion in England four years later is filled with betrayal and heartbreak.

The Duke of Shadows is not only notable for its in-depth look at India under the British Raj (although it does an excellent job of that too). It is also absolutely full of emotion - it is so well written that I find reading some parts of it physically painful, because of how deeply it affects me.

24. THE GROUND SHE WALKS BY MEAGAN MCKINNEY

Niall, Lord Trevallyan is an Anglo-Irish aristocrat living in Ireland at the time of Protestant predominance. Tragedy beats his life; he leaves a trail of dead women and children. Then he falls in love with Ravenna, a stubborn young woman who is twenty years younger than him.

The characters in this one are passable at best, but I love the background. The conflict between the Ascendant English aristocrats, many of whom oppressed their native Irish dependents, and the Irish loyalists who strove to expel the English is well looked at. I also recommend McKinney's Lions and Lace, which takes place in New York during the Gilded Age.

Editor's Note: This post previously contained 25 books - we removed one because we learned that one of the main characters is an ex-Nazi. The editorial staff did not notice the recording and we apologize for this and for any damage the recording caused.

What unusual historical novels have you read? I need more recs - I know I've left a ton of options off this list! I also have for you this list of great Regency romances.