Match BookHistorical fiction, by mood, pace and ending
Historical fiction covers sweeping wartime epics, quiet domestic lives, and dual-timeline mysteries that jump between centuries.
Each book shows how it reads, not just when it's set, so you can tell the heartbreaking from the hopeful before you begin.
69 books, best known first. New to the dimensions? Here's what each one means.
- All the Light We Cannot SeeAnthony Doerrhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Before We Were YoursLisa Wingatehistorical fiction · heartwarming · moderate · resolved and happy ending
CirceMadeline Millerhistorical fiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Book ThiefMarkus Zusakhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The HelpKathryn Stocketthistorical fiction · heartwarming · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The Kite RunnerKhaled Hosseinihistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Mists of AvalonMarion Zimmer Bradleyhistorical fiction · romantic · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The Name of the RoseUmberto Ecohistorical fiction · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
The Other Boleyn GirlPhilippa Gregoryhistorical fiction · tense · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Song of AchillesMadeline Millerhistorical fiction · romantic · moderate · bittersweet ending
Water for ElephantsSara Gruenhistorical fiction · romantic · moderate · resolved and happy ending
BabelR.F. Kuanghistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
Cry to HeavenAnne Ricehistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Drowning RuthChristina Schwarzhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
FingersmithSarah Watershistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
HamnetMaggie O'Farrellhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
Hour of the WitchChris Bohjalianhistorical fiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Immortality: A Love StoryDana Schwartzhistorical fiction · adventurous · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
- Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain HookChristina Henryhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
Necessary LiesDiane Chamberlainhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Slewfoot: A Tale of BewitcheryBromhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · dark ending
- Stone Blind: Medusa's StoryNatalie Hayneshistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The AlienistCaleb Carrhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The distant hoursKate Mortonhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Essex SerpentSarah Perryhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Feast of All SaintsAnne Ricehistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
The forgotten gardenKate Mortonhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The House at RivertonKate Mortonhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Kitchen HouseKathleen Grissomhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet endingThe Lions of al-RassanGuy Gavriel Kayhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- The London Séance SocietySarah Pennerhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Manningtree WitchesA.K. Blakemorehistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Mask of ApolloMary Renaulthistorical fiction · cosy · moderate · bittersweet ending- The MiniaturistJessie Burtonhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
The Name of the Rose (Helen and Kurt Wolff Books)Umberto Ecohistorical fiction · eerie · slow burn · dark ending
The Other DaughterLauren Willighistorical fiction · romantic · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Physick Book of Deliverance DaneKatherine Howehistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending- The SafekeepYael van der Woudenhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Silence of the GirlsPat Barkerhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
The WonderEmma Donoghuehistorical fiction · eerie · slow burn · resolved and happy ending
WeywardEmilia Harthistorical fiction · hopeful · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Alice I Have BeenMelanie Benjaminhistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending- Annie and the WolvesAndromeda Romano-Laxhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · bittersweet ending
Company of LiarsKaren Maitlandhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- Death and the SistersHeather Redmondhistorical fiction · tense · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- Doll-babyLaura Lane McNealhistorical fiction · heartwarming · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Horseman: A Tale of Sleepy HollowChristina Henryhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
Mistress of the Art of DeathAriana Franklinhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending- Red RabbitAlex Grecianhistorical fiction · adventurous · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
The Doll FactoryElizabeth Macnealhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · dark ending
The FamiliarsStacey Hallshistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Girl Who Couldn't ReadJohn Hardinghistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · dark ending- The List of Suspicious ThingsJennie Godfreyhistorical fiction · melancholy · slow burn · bittersweet ending
The Lost Future of PepperharrowNatasha Pulleyhistorical fiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Quarry GirlsJess Loureyhistorical fiction · dark · fast paced · resolved and happy ending
The Wise WomanPhilippa Gregoryhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- The Witch of Tin MountainPaulette Kennedyhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Witch of Willow HallHester Foxhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
The Wolf in the WhaleJordanna Max Brodskyhistorical fiction · adventurous · moderate · resolved and happy ending- UndoneRachel Cainehistorical fiction · dark · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- We, the DrownedCarsten Jensenhistorical fiction · adventurous · moderate · bittersweet ending
Bone HouseBetsy Tobinhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending- Clytemnestra's BindSusan C. Wilsonhistorical fiction · dark · moderate · bittersweet ending
- MagnusGeorge Mackay Brownhistorical fiction · dark · slow burn · dark ending
- The Daughter of Doctor MoreauSilvia Moreno-Garciahistorical fiction · dark · moderate · ambiguous ending
- The Devil and Mrs. DavenportPaulette Kennedyhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The Witch of NapoliMichael Schmickerhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · resolved and happy ending
- The World of TomorrowBrendan Mathewshistorical fiction · melancholy · moderate · bittersweet ending
- Winterbay AbbeyJohn Bladekhistorical fiction · eerie · moderate · ambiguous ending
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- Science fiction books, by mood, pace and tone (158)
- Thrillers, sorted by pace, darkness and ending (213)
- Mystery novels, by mood, pace and tone (125)
- Horror books, by how dark and how fast (114)
- Literary fiction, by mood, pace and weight (78)
- Young adult books, by mood, pace and tone (69)
- Contemporary fiction, by mood, pace and tone (36)
- Narrative nonfiction that reads like a story (127)
- Memoirs, by mood and weight (31)
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