To the historical fiction aficionado among you, here are some of the newest historical fiction novels in 2023. From witch-hunts to political shifts and family secrets, these stories are sure to capture your imagination and provide you with a lovely aesthetic reading experience.
Whether it’s a classic love story or one with a modern twist, each novel promises to bring something new to the genre. Let’s explore the 15 new historical fiction novels in 2023. [Related: Best historical fiction books of all time]
1. Time’s Undoing: A Novel, by Cheryl A. Head
Time’s Undoing by Cheryl A. Head is a riveting story of family legacy, racial injustice, and the power of community. Set in both 1929 Birmingham, Alabama and 2019 Detroit, Michigan, the novel follows two protagonists across time: Robert Lee Harrington, a master carpenter who moves to Birmingham with his pregnant wife and young daughter, and Meghan McKenzie, the youngest reporter at the Detroit Free Press who is determined to uncover her great-grandfather’s unsolved murder.
As Meghan begins to investigate Robert’s case, she discovers disturbing secrets linked to her family’s long-buried trauma as well as powerful stories of hope from the community members who rally around her search. With hauntingly beautiful prose, Time’s Undoing is a powerful tale of courage and resilience in the face of racism and hate.
2. Silver Nitrate, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Silver Nitrate, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a magical tale set in 90’s Mexico City. The story follows Montserrat, a talented sound editor and lifelong friend of Tristan, a former soap opera star.
When Tristan meets his new neighbor Abel Urueta, a cult horror director, Abel claims he can change their lives by helping them finish a Nazi occultist’s unfinished movie, “The Magic Film.” Abel believes that The Magic Film was imbued with magic made from highly volatile silver nitrate stock and that finishing it will help lift the curse that cost him his career.
Montserrat and Tristan join forces to try and finish the movie, but soon they begin to experience strange happenings: Montserrat notices a dark presence following her, and Tristan starts seeing ghosts of his ex-girlfriend.
As they piece together the mystery surrounding The Magic Film and the Nazi occultist who once roamed Mexico City, Montserrat and Tristan discover that sorcerers and magic are more than just fiction. Through the power of friendship and magical film, Montserrat and Tristan hope to break the curse and get their lives back on track.
3. The Secrets of Hartwood Hall: A Novel, by Katie Lumsden
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, by Katie Lumsden, is set in 1852 and follows the story of Margaret Lennox, a young widow who takes a position as governess to Louis at an isolated country house in the west of England. As she spends time there, strange figures start appearing in the dark and tensions arise between the servants.
Margaret gradually discovers secrets and mysteries surrounding Mrs. Eversham, Louis’s mother. She attempts to uncover the truth about Hartwood Hall with the help of Paul, the gardener who she develops a forbidden relationship with.
However, as Margaret’s own past threatens to catch up with her, it becomes increasingly difficult to find the answers she seeks. With danger lurking around every corner and a community that is deeply distrustful of Mrs. Eversham, will Margaret be able to uncover the secrets of Hartwood Hall before it’s too late? Read The Secrets of Hartwood Hall to find out!
4. River Sing Me Home, by Eleanor Shearer
River Sing Me Home is a story about Rachel and the journey she takes to find her five children, who were sold away to other plantations during a time of slavery. In 1834, after the law declared freedom for her people, Rachel embarks on a desperate search for her children.
She travels from Barbados to British Guiana and then to Trinidad, braving the danger of the rivers and the open sea. All she wants is to know their stories and find them a home.
Along the way, Rachel relies on her strength and courage to carry her through each step of her journey. She learns powerful lessons about motherly love and survival, which enable her to fight against all odds and find her freedom. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and determination in the face of adversity.
5. The Great Reclamation, by Rachel Heng
The Great Reclamation, by Rachel Heng, tells the story of Ah Boon and Siok Mei, two young people living in a fishing village in twentieth-century coastal Singapore. When Ah Boon discovers he has the unique ability to locate bountiful, movable islands that no one else can find, he is filled with a sense of obligation and possibility.
But when the Japanese army invades, their friendship is tested as they grapple with grief, loss, and the pursuit of modernity. The novel confronts the wounds of progress, the sacrifices of love, and how to define “home” in the midst of so much change. It is a powerful story that speaks to the complexities of colonialism, war, and identity.
6. When We Lost Our Heads, by Heather O’Neill
When We Lost Our Heads, by Heather O’Neill, is a captivating story that follows the journey of two friends, Marie Antoine and Sadie Arnett. Set in 19th century Montreal, it explores themes of gender, sex, desire, and class. The relationship between Marie and Sadie is passionate and intense, and as the two grow up together their games become more dangerous.
The adults around them force them apart for years until a singular event brings them back together. Through Marie and Sadie’s story, O’Neill takes readers on a journey from repressive finishing schools to vibrant brothels, revealing the harsh realities of factory life and the luxurious lifestyles of the wealthy.
7. White Fox, by Owen Matthews
White Fox, by Owen Matthews tells the story of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vasin, who is assigned to a Russian penal colony and tasked with protecting a mysterious prisoner linked to the assassination of President Kennedy.
As tensions mount within the camp and a violent revolt breaks out, Vasin is forced to flee with his charge across the Soviet Union, pursued by the deadliest spies and police in the world. With vivid descriptions of the barren Siberian tundra and stunning Catherine Palace, Matthews’s novel captures a momentous event while exploring Soviet politics and Vasin’s gripping choices between truth, justice, and all-out war.
8. Loyalty, by Lisa Scottoline
Loyalty, by Lisa Scottoline, is a sweeping historical novel set in Sicily. The story follows Franco Fiorvanti, a handsome lemon grower who dreams of owning his own grove. When the baron he works for asks him to kidnap a boy named Dante, Franco is forced to make a decision that will have a lasting impact on his life and the future of Sicily.
Gaetano Catalano, an idealistic young lawyer and member of the Beati Paoli, sets out to find the boy and bring justice to Franco’s crime. Along with Mafalda Pancari, a new mother who experiences disaster at the birth of her daughter Lucia, and Alfredo D’Antonio, a reclusive goatherd under constant threat of being discovered as a Jew, these characters’ lives collide in an epic tale of good versus evil.
Scottoline brings her decades of thriller writing to this novel, weaving an unforgettable story that takes readers from the ruggedly beautiful Italian countryside to the deep and tumultuous history of Palermo.
9. The Cuban Heiress, by Chanel Cleeton
The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton follows two women, Catherine Dohan and Elena Palacio, onto the Morro Castle cruise ship. Catherine is a wealthy New York heiress who is living a lie. Her past catches up with her as soon as she boards the ship and she finds herself in danger. Elena is thought to be dead and her return to Havana is her last hope.
She joins forces with Catherine in order to discover the truth of who wants them both dead and why, while avoiding danger on the ship. As their lives become intertwined, they must risk everything to achieve justice in the end.
10. The White Lady: A Novel, by Jacqueline Winspear
The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear is an intriguing story about a former spy, Elinor, who is living out her life in a small village in rural Kent, England. Although she appears to be nothing more than an enigma to the villagers, Elinor is actually haunted by her past and carries the weight of secrets she has kept for years.
When the powerful Mackie crime family comes to claim their prodigal son, Elinor risks her own safety to protect those she cares about. She embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the truth and ultimately discovers the path towards her freedom.
11. The Curator, by Owen King
The Curator, by Owen King, is a novel set in an unnamed city known as “the Fairest”, filled with mysterious museums, theaters and the Morgue Ship. The protagonist is Dora, a former domestic servant at the university who is searching for the truth behind the death of her brother who used to work at The Museum of Psykical Research.
As the city is engulfed in a revolutionary upheaval and Robert Barnes, her lover and student radical, is now in power, Dora manages to receive the curatorship of the forgotten museum only to find it completely destroyed.
Robert offers her another museum, The National Museum of the Worker. As Dora explores this new museum, she discovers a mysterious conspiracy that is linked to her brother’s death. She must unravel the secrets of this mystery and discover the truth in order to survive.
The Curator follows Dora on her journey of self-discovery as she embarks on a thrilling adventure filled with secrets, conspiracies, and monsters.
12. Hang the Moon, by Walls Jeannette
Hang the Moon, by Walls Jeannette, tells the story of Sallie Kincaid, daughter of Duke Kincaid, a rich and powerful man in a small town. After her mother dies in a violent argument with her father, he remarries and has a son named Eddie.
When Sallie attempts to teach Eddie how to be more like their father, an accident forces her out of the house. Nine years later, Sallie returns and finds herself in a world of conflict and lawlessness.
As she faces the secrets hidden within the Big House, Sallie uses her wit and resilience to navigate family factions and become a bootlegger. Despite her fears, Sallie refuses to be caged and is determined to reclaim her place within the family. Hang the Moon is an inspirational story about a young woman’s courage and strength against all odds.
13. Weyward, by Hart Emilia
Weyward by Hart Emilia is a captivating novel that follows the stories of three women, spanning five centuries. It begins with Kate in 2019, who flees her abusive partner and takes refuge in Weyward Cottage, which was inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. As she investigates more about her great aunt’s past, she finds that the cottage has a hidden history tied to the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
In 1619, Altha is on trial for murder and must prove her innocence by using her powers, rooted in knowledge of the natural world. Even though she is facing great danger if found guilty, she must find a way to maintain her freedom.
In 1942, Violet is stuck in her family estate and is longing for the same education that her brother has been receiving. The only traces of her mother are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
14. Stars in an Italian Sky, by Jill Santopolo
Stars in an Italian Sky, by Jill Santopolo, is a story about two couples whose lives are deeply intertwined. Set against the backdrop of Italy in 1946 and New York in 2017, the novel follows Vincenzo and Giovanna, a couple who fall madly in love despite their vastly different backgrounds. Despite societal pressures, they continue to love each other passionately until political shifts force them apart.
In 2017, Luca and Cassandra are a modern-day couple that face their own struggles in both family relationships and societal expectations. When they agree to have their grandparents sit for a painting, past and present collide, revealing secrets that change everything. From politics to love, Stars in an Italian Sky is a beautiful story about the power of family and understanding one another.
15. The Shadow of Perseus, by Claire Heywood
The Shadow of Perseus, by Claire Heywood, follows the interwoven paths of three powerful women as they each face their own struggles in life. Danae is a princess from Argos who has been banished from her homeland due to a prophecy which foretells of her unborn child’s involvement in the death of her father, the king.
Medusa is a member of a reclusive group of women known as the Gorgons living deep in the woods, and Andromeda is from a desert tribe that faces destruction from an ominous sandstorm. When each woman meets Perseus, his heroic journey casts a shadow of violence and destruction across their lives.
But as Perseus becomes increasingly obsessed with his own destiny, these three women must challenge themselves to reclaim their voices and fight for the better future they deserve. Will they be able to lift each other up and defy the prophecy of their destinies? Find out in The Shadow of Perseus!
