Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2022

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2022

Host: The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2022

Guidelines:

• Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)
• There will be a monthly link-up for reviews.
• You don't need a blog to participate; you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish.

Levels:

1. 20th Century Reader - 2 books
2. Victorian Reader - 5 books
3. Renaissance Reader - 10 books
4. Medieval - 15 books
5. Ancient History - 25 books
6. Prehistoric - 50+ books

I'm signing up at the Victorian Reader level.

● See my original post about the challenge HERE. 

● See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE. 

● See the monthly review link-ups: 

• January.
• February.
• March.
• April.
• May.
• June. 
• July. 
• August. 
• September. 
• October. 
• November. 
• December. 

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. The Christie Affair. Nina de Gramont (2022; set in 1920s) 
2. 
   

..........

2021 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

 
HOST: Marg @ The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader.

DATES: January - December 2021

Guidelines:

• Read historical fiction. Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)
• Anyone can participate. A blog isn't necessary - you can post your reviews on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section of the review link-up page.
• Monthly review link-ups will be posted. Add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky.

Levels:

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

I'm signing up at the "20th Century Reader" level. 

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.  

MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

1. An Extravagant Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries #14). Charles Finch (2021; set in 19th Century London and Newport, RI)
2. Dead Dead Girls (Harlem Renaissance Mystery #1). Nekesa Afia (2021; set in Harlem, NYC, 1920s) 
3. Castle Shade (Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes #17). Laurie R. King (2021; set in 1920s Romania) 
4. The Hollywood Spy (Maggie Hope #10). Susan Elia MacNeal (2021; set during WWII, in Hollywood, California) 
5. The Return of the Pharaoh: From the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D. (Holmes Pastiche #5). Nicholas Meyer (2021; set in 1911 Egypt) 

......

2019 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Host: Amy @ Passages to the Past
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2019

Guidelines:

• Choose your level.
• Read any sub-genre of historical fiction (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• There will be a monthly link for reviews.

Levels:

1. 20th Century Reader - 2 books
2. Victorian Reader - 5 books
3. Renaissance Reader - 10 books
4. Medieval - 15 books
5. Ancient History - 25 books
6. Prehistoric - 50+ books

My goal: "Victorian Reader" (5 books).

● See my original post about the challenge HERE. 
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the pages for linking reviews: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC .
● See the page for linking wrap-ups and recaps HERE.


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

1. O Pioneers! Willa Cather (published 1913; set in late 19th/early 20th Centuries)
2. Mrs. Everything. Jennifer Weiner (published 2019; set primarily in mid-20th Century)
3. Lady in the Lake. Laura Lippman (published 2019; set in 1960s) 
4. Sorry for the Dead (Josephine Tey #8). Nicola Upson (published 2019; set between WWI and 1950s)
5. Old Baggage. Lissa Evans (published 2018/2019; set in 1920s)

POSSIBILITIES (some books I'd like to knock off my TBR pile):

• Alias Grace. Margaret Atwood 
• The Alienist. Caleb Carr 
• The Children's Book. A.S. Byatt 
• The Conjurer's Bird. Martin Davies 
• The Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga #1). Mary Stewart 
• The English Patient. Michael Ondaatje 
• Flora. Gail Godwin 
• The Fountain Overflows. Rebecca West 
• A Gentleman in Moscow. Amor Towles 
• Girl in Hyacinth Blue. Susan Vreeland 
• The Glass Room. Simon Mawer 
• The House of the Spirits. Isabel Allende 
• I Am Madam X. Gioia Diliberto 
• The Last Painting of Sara de Vos. Dominic Smith
• Los Alamos. Joseph Kanon 
• Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper. Harriet Scott Chessman 
• A Mercy. Toni Morrison 
• The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley 
• Number the Stars. Lois Lowry 
• Remarkable Creatures. Tracy Chevalier 
• Rules of Civility. Amor Towles 
• The Secret Keeper. Kate Morton 
• The Summer Before the War. Helen Simonson 
• The Virgin in the Garden. A.S. Byatt 
• When We Were Orphans. Kazuo Ishiguro 
• Wide Sargasso Sea. Jean Rhys 
• The Women in the Castle. Jessica Shattuck 

...

2018 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete. See my challenge wrap-up post HERE.**

Host: Amy @ Passages to the Past
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2018

Guidelines:

• Choose your level.
• Read any sub-genre of historical fiction (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• There will be a monthly link for reviews.

Levels:

1. 20th Century Reader - 2 books
2. Victorian Reader - 5 books
3. Renaissance Reader - 10 books
4. Medieval - 15 books
5. Ancient History - 25 books
6. Prehistoric - 50+ books

My goal: "Victorian Reader" (5 books).

● See my original post about the challenge HERE. 
● See my challenge wrap-up post HERE. 
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the pages for linking reviews: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December .


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):
1. Holmes Entangled. Gordon McAlpine (2018; set in early 20th Century)
2. The Cottingley Secret. Hazel Gaynor (2017; set in early 20th Century) [review linked up 10/04/2018]
3. Pale Horse, Pale Rider: Three Short Novels. Katherine Anne Porter (1939; pre-WWI setting)
4. When You Reach Me. Rebecca Stead (2009; set in 1970s) [review linked up 7/09/2018]
5. A Morbid Taste for Bones (Brother Cadfael #1). Ellis Peters (1977; set in Medieval Wales)
6. A Shadow on the Wall. Jonathan Aycliffe (2000; set in Victorian England)


POSSIBILITIES (some books I'd like to knock off my TBR pile):

• Alias Grace. Margaret Atwood 
• The Alienist. Caleb Carr 
• The Children's Book. A.S. Byatt 
• The Conjurer's Bird. Martin Davies 
• The Cottingley Secret. Hazel Gaynor 
• The Crystal Cave (Arthurian Saga #1). Mary Stewart 
• The English Patient. Michael Ondaatje 
• Flora. Gail Godwin 
• The Fountain Overflows. Rebecca West 
• A Gentleman in Moscow. Amor Towles 
• Girl in Hyacinth Blue. Susan Vreeland 
• The Glass Room. Simon Mawer 
• The House of the Spirits. Isabel Allende 
• I Am Madam X. Gioia Diliberto 
• The Last Painting of Sara de Vos. Dominic Smith
• Los Alamos. Joseph Kanon 
• Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper. Harriet Scott Chessman 
• A Mercy. Toni Morrison 
• The Mists of Avalon. Marion Zimmer Bradley 
• Number the Stars. Lois Lowry 
• Remarkable Creatures. Tracy Chevalier 
• Rules of Civility. Amor Towles 
• The Secret Keeper. Kate Morton 
• The Summer Before the War. Helen Simonson 
• The Virgin in the Garden. A.S. Byatt 
• When We Were Orphans. Kazuo Ishiguro 
• Wide Sargasso Sea. Jean Rhys 
• The Women in the Castle. Jessica Shattuck 

...

2017 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Host: Passages to the Past

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2017

Click here for rules and sign-ups

I'm signing up at the Victorian Reader level (5 books).

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See the challenge review pages: JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC .

MY READING LIST (books I've read for the challenge, with links to reviews):

1. As Good as Gone. Larry Watson (pub. 2016, set in 1960s)
2. Magic by the Lake (Tales of Magic #3). Edward Eager (pub. 1957, set in early 1900s)
3. An Echo of Murder (William Monk #23). Anne Perry (pub. 2017, set in 19th Century England) 
4. See What I Have Done. Sarah Schmidt (pub. 2017, set in 1890s and early 20th Century Massachusetts) 
5. Our Spoons Came from Woolworths. Barbara Comyns (pub. 1950, set in 1930s London) 

...

2016 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Link to challenge announcement/sign-up post

***See my wrap-up post***

Host: Amy @ Passages to the Past
Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2016

Guidelines:

• Choose your level.
• Read any sub-genre of historical fiction (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
• You don't need a blog to participate.
• There will be a monthly link for reviews.

Levels:

1. 20th Century Reader - 2 books
2. Victorian Reader - 5 books
3. Renaissance Reader - 10 books
4. Medieval - 15 books
5. Ancient History - 25 books
6. Prehistoric - 50+ books

My goal: "Victorian Reader" (5 books).

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up post HERE.
● See the pages for linking reviews: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December .


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

1. Dreaming Spies (Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes #13). Laurie R. King
2. A Christmas Escape. Anne Perry
3. A Fine Imitation. Amber Brock
4. The Port-Wine Stain. Norman Lock [linked to review page 12/22/2016]
5. Good As Gone. Larry Watson (reading now)

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2015

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2015

***Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.***

Hosted by: Amy Bruno @ Passages to the Past

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2015

Guidelines:

• Choose your level.
• Read any sub-genre of historical fiction (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, etc.)
• You don't need a blog to participate.

Levels:

• 20th century Reader - 2 books
• Victorian Reader - 5 books
• Renaissance Reader - 10 books
• Medieval - 15 books
• Ancient History - 25 books
• Prehistoric - 50+ books

✹ My goal: "Victorian Reader" (5 books)

● See my original post about the challenge HERE. 

● See the announcement/sign-up page HERE.
● See the review link-up pages: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December .
● See my wrap-up post HERE.

MY READING LIST (Books I've read, with links to reviews):

1. As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust (Flavia de Luce #7). Alan Bradley (published 2015 / set around 1950)
2. The Witch of Painted Sorrows. M.J. Rose (published 2015 / set in 19th Century France)
3. A Fine Summer's Day (Inspector Ian Rutledge #17). Charles Todd (published 2015 / set in 1914)
4. The Silence of Ghosts. Jonathan Aycliffe (first published 2013 / set during World War II)
5. The Angel Court Affair (Charlotte and Thomas Pitt #30). Anne Perry (published 2015 / set in Victorian England) 
6. Newport. Jill Morrow (published 2015 / set in 1921) 
7. The Quick. Lauren Owen (published 2014 / set in late 19th Century England) 
8. A Man of Some Repute. Elizabeth Edmondson (published 2015 / set in 1953) 

2014 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

**Challenge completed**

See my wrap-up post HERE.

Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2014
Hosted by: Historical Tapestry

Guidelines:

• Challenge is open to anyone, even those who don't have a blog
• Any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)
• There will be a monthly link-up for reviews

Levels:

1. 20th century reader - 2 books 
2. Victorian reader - 5 books 
3. Renaissance Reader - 10 books 
4. Medieval - 15 books 
5. Ancient History - 25 books 
6. Prehistoric - 50 books

✷ I'm signing up at the second level, Victorian reader (5 books).

● See my original post about the challenge HERE.
● See my wrap-up post HERE.
● See the challenge announcement/sign-up page HERE.

~ Review link pages:  January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, (no review page for September), October, (no review page for November), December. 


MY READING LIST (books I've read, with links to reviews):

1. Coup de Grâce. Marguerite Yourcenar (first published 1931; set in the last years of the first World War)
2. Midnight in Europe. Alan Furst (first published 2013; set mostly in France during 1937) 
3. The Two Hotel Francforts. David Leavitt (first published 2013; set in Portugal in 1940) 
4. The Mist in the Mirror. Susan Hill (first published 1992; set in England, early 20th Century)
5. The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce #6). Alan Bradley (first published 2014; set in England in 1951) 

2013 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

**Challenge complete. See my wrap-up post HERE.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2013
Hosted by: Historical Tapestry

Guidelines (quoted from challenge announcement page):

"The challenge will run in the same way as it has over the last couple of years that we have hosted the challenge. The only thing that has changed is the names of the categories....Each month, a new post dedicated to the HF Challenge will be created. To participate, you only have to follow the rules:

• everyone can participate, even those who don't have a blog (you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section if you wish) 
• add the link(s) of your review(s) including your name and book title to the Mister Linky we’ll be adding to our monthly post (please, do not add your blog link, but the correct address that will guide us directly to your review) 
• any kind of historical fiction is accepted (HF fantasy, HF young adult,...)"

Levels:

1. 20th century reader - 2 books 
2. Victorian reader - 5 books 
3. Renaissance reader - 10 books 
4. Medieval - 15 books 
5. Ancient History -25+ books 

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here. 
See the Challenge announcement/sign-up page here.

** I'm signing up at the second level ("Victorian reader"), so I'll be reading five books.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):  

1. The Heat of the Sun. David Rain
2. The Flamethrowers. Rachel Kushner 
3. Clea. Lawrence Durrell (review to come)
4. Is This Tomorrow. Caroline Leavitt (review to come)
5. A Fatal Likeness. Lyn Shepherd (review to come)
6. The Shooting Party. Isabel Colegate  
7. The 13 Clocks. James Thurber 

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012

***Challenge Completed***

 
Hosted by: Historical Tapestry
Dates: 1 January - 31 December, 2012

Guidelines:

• Anyone can join, and you don't need a blog to participate.
• Any kind of historical fiction is accepted.
• There will be a monthly link-up for reviews.

Levels:

1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
3. Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

✸ I'm signing up at Level 4 ("Daring & Curious"), so I'll be reading at least 5 books.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See the challenge announcement/sign-up page here.
See my challenge wrap-up post here.

MY READING LIST (books read, with links to reviews):

1. A Month in the Country. J.L. Carr
2. The Solitary House. Lynn Shepherd
3. The Dovekeepers. Alice Hoffman
4. The House at Riverton. Kate Morton
5. The Little Stranger. Sarah Waters 

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2011

**Challenge completed. See my wrap-up post here.**

Dates: 1 January - 31 December 2011
Host: Historical Tapestry

Guidelines:

• The challenge is open to everyone. You don't need a blog to participate.
• If you do have a blog, there will be a monthly link for reviews.
• Any kind of historical fiction is acceptable.
• Overlapping with other challenges is allowed.
• Choose from one of five Levels:
  1. Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
  2. Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
  3. Struggling (with) the Addiction: 10 books
  4. Daring & Curious: 5 books
  5. Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books
  

✸ I'm signing up at level four ("Daring & Curious"), so I'll be reading five books.

See my original post about the challenge here.
See my wrap-up post here.
See the challenge announcement page here.

MY READING LIST (Books Read):

1. The Anatomy of Ghosts. Andrew Taylor (Review to come)
2. The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead. Paul Elwork
   
3. Mr. Chartwell. Rebecca Hunt
   
4. Picnic at Hanging Rock. Joan Lindsay
   
5. The Winter Ghosts. Kate Mosse (Review to come)
   
6. The Seance. John Harwood
7. Alice I Have Been. Melanie Benjamin (Review to come)
   

POSSIBLE CHOICES:

A Morbid Taste for Bones. Ellis Peters
Alice I Have Been. Melanie Benjamin
The Children's Book. A.S. Byatt
The Dante Club. Matthew Pearl
The Glass Room. Simon Mawer
The Heretic's Daughter. Kathleen Kent
The House at Riverton. Kate Morton
The Lady and the Unicorn. Tracy Chevalier
The Little Stranger. Sarah Waters
Los Alamos. Joseph Kanon
Loving Frank. Nancy Horan
The Mercury Visions of Louis Daguerre: A Novel. Dominic Smith
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Alan Bradley
World's Fair. E.L. Doctorow