20 of the Best Historical Novels in 2021

As much as the genre of historical fiction consists of rage-fueled warfare and political intrigue, there is also an important place for romance. It is often what fuels conflict, supports character development, and heals our protagonists' injured view of the world. Plus, there's nothing quite as satisfying as seeing a stoic protagonist wobble when they meet that special someone.

From the rules-bound Regency era to legendary tales of ancient Greece, below is a beginner's guide to the historical romance genre, featuring beloved classics, favorite tropes, big hits, and quirky must-reads.

1) Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

Jenkins is a beloved icon within the novelist community, whose detailed research reveals stories 'forgotten' throughout history about awesome black women, slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. Indigo introduces us to Hester, a member of Michigan's Underground Railroad, who helps African Americans escape slavery in the South. The risks are high and compounded when she agrees to hide an injured man wanted by law. Jenkins offers a masterclass in characterization, combined with a simmering romance and a captivating pace.

2) Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

The reader is entrenched in a Dickens-esque plot when he delves into Fingersmith. This novel takes place in a Victorian setting, where two women from different backgrounds are connected. Sue, an orphan from a London slum, is tied up to cheat on a wealthy lady. However, she soon finds herself falling for the person she has to cheat. Waters' work is not a conventional romance, as it combines gothic elements with raw sensuality and an unforgettable ending.

3) Outlander / Cross Stitch (Outlander series) by Diana Gabaldon

Historical novels with a time-slip element can be a wonderful introduction to the genre, with the Outlander series in the lead (in part because of its popular television adaptation). Claire, a veteran WWII nurse, falls through time and finds herself in 1743. Her fate - and her hand in marriage - is soon linked to a Scottish outlaw named Jamie Fraser, despite the husband she left behind in 1945 .

4) The Good Knight (The Gareth & Gwen Medieval Mysteries) by Sarah Woodbury

If you love your romance with some mystery, Woodbury has you covered. After a gruesome murder threatens to destabilize the 12th-century Welsh court, Gwen, the daughter of a Bard and Gareth, an honorable knight, team up to uncover the truth. When Gareth is blamed, Gwen must save the day (as well as the man she's become attached to). Woodbury has an accessible writing style that has earned her a dedicated readership, holding regular meetings in rural Wales.

5) Friday's Child by Georgette Heyer

Getting into a Heyer romance is like drinking hot chocolate on a stormy night. The author wrote her novels during the Blitz and said, "It is undoubtedly good escapist literature, and I think I would rather be in a bomb shelter or recovering from the flu." Friday's Child combines tender affection with a sharp wit and wicked fun, all in a Regency setting. Our story begins when the crafty Lord Sherry promises to marry the first woman he sees in order to claim his inheritance. Indeed, he does just that, saving a naive hero from her dire future as a governess. Mistakes are made, comic chaos ensues and De Ton is bursting with talk while a marriage of convenience changes in the direction of true love.

6) A Night to Surrender (Spindle Cove Series) by Tessa Dare

For a guaranteed happy ever after, look no further than Dare. Her Regency stories represent themes such as communication, mutual respect and sexual freedom without shame. A Night to Surrender kicks off her Spindle Cove series, which revolves around a seaside retreat for sophisticated young ladies, run by the ever-determined Miss Finch. There is no suitable man in sight (just as it should be) until the militia, led by the Earl of Rycliff, set up camp. The pair immediately clash and the battle lines are drawn, resulting in a blush-worthy read that blends humor with heart.

7) The Saxon Outlaw's Revenge by Elisabeth Hobbes

Hobbes writes action-adventure medieval romances with a historian's passion for detail, and The Saxon Outlaw's Revenge is a prime example. Imprisoned by lawless Saxons, Constance is reunited with her first love, Aelric, in the process. The sweet and caring youth she once knew is replaced by a vengeful brute who believes Constance abandoned him years ago. Now Aelric is after blood (Norman blood, to be exact) and nothing, not even Constance, will get in his way.

8) My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas

Victorian England meets Chinese Turkestan when former lovers Catherine Blade and Captain Leighton Atwood reunite. Deceit and espionage force the duo back together in My Beautiful Enemy, where trust must be earned and love rekindled. Thomas delivers an exciting book, in which well-crafted characters meet truly emotional writing.

9) A Duke, the Lady, and a Baby (Rogues and Remarkable Women series) by Vanessa Riley

Patience lost everything after her husband's inexplicable suicide, including her son. Fortunately, fate offers her a position as a nanny for the Duke of Repington's new ward. And who would that department be than Patience's own child? She risked everything to gain access to her son and is now at risk of losing her heart as she navigates an uncertain world and complicated feelings for her deceiving employer in this regency.

10) The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Miller's poetic prose makes for a captivating reading in The Song of Achilles. A young Greek prince named Patroclus is banished to the court of King Peleus, where he meets the golden-haired demigod Achilles. The pair form a painful bond that begins in their boyhood and continues as they grow up together, sharing in joy, woe, and inevitable love, while war - and a terrible prophecy - threatens their happiness.

11) A Virtuous Ruby (Migrations of the Heart series) by Piper Huguley

After giving birth to an illegitimate child and undeserved shame, Ruby is determined to fight the injustice that raged in her small American Georgian town in 1915. This decision sets her up. the path. from Adam Morson, a physician who has thus far managed to hide his mixed-race heritage. Activism, tenacity and courage battle gruesome prejudice in a faithful story that begins an immersive series.

12) 's The Shogun's Queen Lesley Downer

Downertakes us to 1850s Japan in The Shogun's Queen, where we meet our heroine, Okatsu. She is ordered to leave her home among the Satsuma Clan and enter Edo Castle, where she takes on a new title: Princess Atsu. Conspiracies plague the palace, entangling Okatsu in a plot that draws her head - and heart - in torturous directions.

13) The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite

Science and sensuality come together in The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics. In this delightful Regency tale, heartbroken Lucy and recently widowed Catherine find themselves united by a shared interest in astronomy. "We thought we were separate satellites, but we are not," Waite writes. "We are stars, and while we may burn separately, we will always be in each other's orbit."

14) Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

Wealth and power are rampant in the Tang Dynasty in China. Ai Li discovers she is engaged to a man who plans to plot her father's death. She flees with hired mercenaries and is particularly attracted to one of them; a blue-eyed barbarian with his own tumultuous past. In this action-packed novel, Ai Li's husband-to-be won't give up on his bride so easily, forcing our loved ones into an exciting adventure that combines lavish court intrigues with breathtaking passion.

15) Banishment (The Daughters of Mannerling Series) by Marion Chesneyfun

This ironic Regency tale pokesat all of our favorite Austen tropes, for a quick, light-hearted read. Isabella's father loses the family fortune - and their estate - after a bad night with cards. Our heroine plots to reclaim her home by seducing the new owner, but her efforts are thwarted by the arrival of a boisterous Irish aristocrat. You may recognize Chesney by another name, MC Beaton, from Agatha Raisin.

16) An Extraordinary Union (Loyal League Series) by Alyssa Cole

An Extraordinary Union is the first in a series set during the American Civil War. Elle, a former slave, ventures back south to spy for the Union army. During her mission, she meets Malcolm, an unknown ally who is seeking information about a rebel stronghold in Virginia. Atmospheric prose, rich detail and well-timed suspense have earned Cole impressive accolades that are well deserved.

17) Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier

In Frenchman's Creek , the impudent Lady Dona flees the Restoration Court and merges with her husband's Cornish estate. While exploring her scenic surroundings, she encounters a rugged French pirate. Finally, our obnoxious heroine has the adventure she longs for, all thanks to a mean criminal. This novel is one of du Maurier's lighter works, with a commercial tilt that is a good introduction to the author's atmospheric style.

18) Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

Adventure calls on the high seas in 1819, when a celebrity chef is kidnapped by Mad Hannah Mabbot. The terrifying pirate captain orders him to cook her a gourmet meal once a week and in return, she lets him live. Salt-soaked combat, unshakable bloodshed, and a slow romance make Brown's story a captivating read with a delicious twist: "It's no big secret that cooking is essentially seduction."

19) The Duchess War (The Brothers Sinister series) of Courtney Milan

Minerva's scandalous past threatens to unravel her quiet life in The Duchess War, when the Duke of Clermont looks her way. This light-hearted 1863 novel also delves into deeper issues relevant to the era, challenging the peer system and the role of women in a polite society. Milan is a writing power for romance, and for good reason he combines keen insight with sparkling sensuality.

20) Katherine by Anya Seton

Katherine depicts the famous 14th century romance between Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt. Noble knights and forbidden passion are at the center of this classic novel, based on a true story, which has captivated readers since its first publication in the 1950s.