Ladies, gentlemen and anything in between I need a book that is a historical fiction with some fantasy, but not like game of thrones, nothing where when I read it I might need therapy afterwards. Preferably a book that hasn't been made into a movie or show
by Lazy-Ease1721
8 Comments
I’m not sure what you’re looking for since game of thrones is not historical fiction. Do you want a fantasy world inspired by an historical period?
Temeraire / His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman (Practical Magic was made into a movie, but TBH I didn’t like it or the book. But Magic Lessons is one of my favorites! And it has not been adapted for screen.)
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
*Doomsday Book* by Connie Willis is a scifi book where future historians time travel to learn about the past and the protagonist gets stranded in Medieval England during a plague outbreak. Might he what you’re looking for.
So, as someone else mentioned, calling *Game of Thrones* historical fiction is like calling *Star Trek: Enterprise* a NASA documentary. Not only is it not historical fiction, it bears only the most trivial resemblances to any actual history. (IIRC GRRM claims he bases his stuff on extensive research, but if so he’s either lying or a really crap researcher).
For secondary world fantasy that feels historical, is well-researched, and is heavily based on a real historical time and place, try *The Curse of Chalion* and *Paladin of Souls* by Lois McMaster Bujold and Guy Gavriel Kay’s *Lions of El-Rassan) (setting equivalents: Iberian peninsula ca. 1470s), Harry Turtledove’s *Videssos Cycle* (Equivalent place, Eastern Roman Empire ca. 500s AD)
For mostly real world history, but there’s magic, Bujold’s *The Spirit Ring*, Naomi Novik’s *Temeraire serie, John M Ford’s *The Dragon Waiting* and *The Heirs of Alexandria* series by Flint, Lackey, et al. In order of divergence from real history caused by magic.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue?
Idk if that’s even remotely close to what you’re looking for but, I loved it. Starts in 1700’s France and spans 300 years of a girl’s “life”
Deed of Paksenarian by Elizabeth Moon. My family is on our 3rd copy as it’s thick paperback.
Basically a military book with a bit of fantasy.
My oldest and I read it every couple of years.