Historical Fiction About Medieval & Renaissance England

First things first, I highly recommend the Audible audiobook version of this medieval fiction novel, which is narrated by Vanessa Kirby. I want all of the audiobooks I listen to going forward narrated by her. It was great.

Anyway, this was a freebie included with my monthly Audible membership recently and it’s easily one of my favorite books I’ve read this year — and, I would argue, one of the best medival historical fiction books I’ve ever read.

A dramatic retelling of the Arthurian tale through the eyes of Morgan, half-sister to King Arthur, who eventually becomes the Morgan Le Fay of legends.

And good news — this is the first installment of a planned trilogy!

Available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Andrew Vargas The Last Saxon King is a quick, enticing read, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell’s novels. This YA novel is delightfully multi-hyphenate, as it is truly a historical fiction novel first, but also features time travel and other sci fi and fantasy elements. I enjoyed the story and thought it flowed well.

There was obviously a lot of research that went into the book, and I enjoyed the historical aspect of the novel immensely. A great read for anyone looking for historical fiction about the English monarchy in its very early days.

The Last Saxon King is available from Amazon and Bookshop.org.

Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales Series is a must-read for anyone looking for historical fiction set in early Medieval England — that is, England before it was really England.

The series follows Uhtred, a dispossessed early Middle Ages nobleman, raised by the Danish Vikings. It covers the reign of Alfred the Great, and Uhtred’s relationship with the early English monarch and developing state.

There are 13 books in the series, so it’ll keep you entertained for quite some time!

Available through Amazon & Bookshop.

If you liked Starz’ The White Queen and The White Princess, then I highly recommend Philippa Gregory’s The Lady of the Rivers.

This particular novel follows the life of Elizabeth Woodville’s mother, Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford. Jacquetta’s upbringing, her mythical ties to the river goddess Melusina, her relationship with the ill fated Joan of Arc, and her ascension through English royalty are fascinating.

Gregory really plays up the water goddess relation in this novel, as well as the practice of alchemy and other such mystical craft. It makes me very interested to read more non-fiction on Jacquetta.

Available through Amazon & Bookshop.

When it comes to the best historical fiction books set in England, no list is complete without Hilary Mantel’s works. Hilary Mantel is a world maker when it comes to the court of Henry VIII. This novel — and series — is dense with detail. But that density is absolutely fascinating.

Mantel captures in incredible detail the rise and fall of Tomas Cromwell, left-hand man to King Henry VIII, throughout the Wolf Hall Trilogy.

Wolf Hall is the first book in the series. It covers many of the key players in the Henrician court, including Anne Boleyn, Thomas More, and Jane Seymour. It also served as the basis for the 2019 Masterpiece Classics Wolf Hall miniseries, with the indomitable Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn.

Available through Amazon & Bookshop.

I am fascinated by all things Mary Stuart, so this was one of my earliest Philippa Gregory reads. The Other Queen illustrates the doomed Scottish queen’s years of captivity in England at the hand of her cousin, Elizabeth I.

The novel is told in first person, rotating between characters: Mary and her two “hosts” (read: jailers), George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick.

The novel is definitely sensationalized, but entertaining historical fiction nonetheless. It is interesting to read into the characters’ thoughts, even if they are largely speculative.

Available through Amazon & Bookshop.

A trained and respected historian, Tracy Borman brings years of historical experience to her historical fiction writing.

Borman is currently England’s joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces and Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust. Her extensive knowledge and academic ability is readily apparent in The King’s Witch, a winding tale about a young healer woman in James I’s English Court.

If you are looking for detail about everyday life in the years following Elizabeth I’s death, The King’s Witch is for you. This one get’s bonus points because it’s part of a trilogy, so there’s even more to enjoy!

Available through Amazon & Bookshop.

A thoughtful and highly-researched work of historical fiction, In Her Own Right by Amanda Schiavo portrays Mary Tudor in a refreshingly human light. So often, Mary Tudor is known only by her later years, and the reputation she earned as Bloody Mary. However, Schiavo delves into the early years for the young royal, giving light to the traumas Mary would have experienced and the lessons she was forced to learn at young ages in the way of courtly politics.

In all, In Her Own Right was a fascinating and quick read, a great option for any lover of historical fiction with a particular interest in Tudor England!

In Her Own Right by Amanda Schiavo is available from from Amazon and Bookshop.org.