One of my new favorite genres is historical fantasy, which I have recently been getting into more and more. I love historical fiction and I love fantasy, so combining the two just makes a great mix for me! There are so many amazing books I’ve read and loved, but here are my top 5 historical fantasy books!

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The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Published: June 8, 2021
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Rating:
Goodreads
My Review

In her forest-veiled pagan village, Évike is the only woman without power, making her an outcast clearly abandoned by the gods. The villagers blame her corrupted bloodline—her father was a Yehuli man, one of the much-loathed servants of the fanatical king. When soldiers arrive from the Holy Order of Woodsmen to claim a pagan girl for the king’s blood sacrifice, Évike is betrayed by her fellow villagers and surrendered…

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The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Published: November 14, 2017
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Rating:
Goodreads
My Review

Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars, healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.

But when Nahri accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real…

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Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke
Published: June 1, 2021
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Rating:
Goodreads
My Review

MAY THE HAZEL BRING YOU WISDOM AND THE ASPEN GUIDE AND PROTECT YOU…

Samantha Knox put away her childish fantasies of archaeological adventure the day her father didn’t return home from the Great War, retreating to the safety of the antique bookshop where she works. But when a mysterious package arrives with a damaged diary inside, Sam’s peaceful life is obliterated. Ruthless men intent on reclaiming the diary are after Sam, setting her and her best friend, along with her childhood crush, on a high-stakes adventure that lands them in the green hills outside Dublin, Ireland…

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Splinters of Scarlet by Emily Bain Murphy
Published: July 21, 2020
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Rating:
Goodreads
My Review

For Marit Olsen, magic is all about strategy: it flows freely through her blood, but every use leaves behind a deadly, ice-like build-up within her veins called the Firn. Marit knows how dangerous it is to let too much Firn build up—after all, it killed her sister—and she has vowed never to use her thread magic. But when Eve, a fellow orphan whom Marit views like a little sister, is adopted by the wealthy Helene Vestergaard, Marit will do anything to stay by Eve’s side…

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The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Published: January 15, 2019
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Rating:
Goodreads
My Review

It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance…

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I decided it would be nice to have a mix of age ranges for this post, so the first two are adult fiction and the other three are obviously YA. Honestly though, all of these books are fantastic and you should definitely check them out when you get a chance! There’s a reason they’re in my top 5 lol

I honestly end up loving a lot of historical fantasy books that I read, and I think I want to start branching off more into that genre. Books like The Poppy War, The Golem and the Jinni, and obviously the rest of The City of Brass series are ones that I’ve had on my TBR for a long time. I hope I can get to them soon!

Are you a fan of historical fantasy? What’s one of your favorites?