‘A Dowry Of Blood’ by S. T. Gibson was released in 2021. It was her third book. The novel is vaguely epistolary, a long, poetic love letter to the late Count Dracula, written after his untimely demise. It explored the complex feelings of Count Dracula’s first bride, Constanta, from her first death and rebirth into vampirism in Romania, and how her immortal life was, living under his thumb.
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
Book Review: Gentlest of Wild Things by Sarah Underwood ‘Gentlest of Wild Things’ by Sarah Underwood was released in 2024. It is her second novel and happens during the same universe as her debut, ‘Lies We Sing To The Sea’, which is set on Ithaca, Odysseus’ homeland, generations after his passing, where the Isle isContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Babel by R. F. Kuang ‘Babel’ also known as ‘Babel, Or the Necessity Of Violence’ or ‘Babel: An Arcane History’ is a novel by R. F. Kuang. It was published in 2022 and is her fourth book. It is what she describes as a piece of speculative fiction, however, this alternative history novelContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore ‘Self-Made Boys’ by Marie McLemore is a reimagining of a classic novel, in this instance, ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This book tells the story of Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby in a completely different light and it almost instantly became one of my favourite readsContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa ‘Most Ardently’ by Gabe Cole Novoa was released in 2024. It is part of the Remixed Classics series, where authors of diverse backgrounds rewrite classic fiction. Authors who have contributed to this collection include Novoa, Cherie Dimaline, Caleb Roehrig, Kalynn Bayron, Anna-Marie McLemore, Tasha Suri, Aminah MaeContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Medea by Rosie Hewlett ‘Medea’ by Rosie Hewlett was released in 2024. It tells the story of Medea, the tragic heroine who married Jason of the Argonauts, killed her brother and then subsequently murdered both of the sons she had with Jason to punish him for leaving her. She is often seen asContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Once A Monster by Robert Dinsdale ‘Once A Monster’ by Robert Dinsdale was released in 2023. It was his seventh release. It retells the story of the mythic monster, the minotaur, supposedly slain by Theseus, with the help of Ariadne, as he walks the line between man and monster. I felt that thisContinueContinue reading
‘Queen Charlotte’ is a novel set in the ‘Bridgerton’ universe, following the life of King George III and his wife, Queen Charlotte. The book was released in 2023 in the wake of the successful spin-off season of Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’, with the same name.
Book Review: Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons ‘Fair Rosaline’ is a historical fiction novel inspired by the events of the Shakespearian classic, Romeo and Juliet. The book, by Natasha Solomons was released in 2023 and was her ninth release. Her name may be familiar because she’s the author behind ‘I, Mona Lisa’. This is theContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross ‘Divine Rivals’ by Rebecca Ross was released in early 2023. It is the first book in the Letters of Enchantment duology. The second book, ‘Ruthless Vows’ is due to be released in the latter end of the month. The story followed two characters, Roman Kitt and Iris Winnow,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn Julia Quinn’s ‘Bridgerton’ series consists of eight novels, each of which tell the story of one of the late Viscount Bridgerton’s eight children. The books were released between 2000 and 2006, and are the subject of the Netflix series, Bridgerton, which has been ongoing since 2020. TheContinueContinue reading
‘Lady MacBethad’ by Isabelle Schuler was published in 2023 and tells the story of Gruoch, or Groa, to those who knew her closely. A direct descendant of Pagan king, King Coinneach, Groa is imbued with ambitions of greatness, far beyond her station. This book blends fiction, the classic Shakespearian character, and the historical details of the figure that inspired her together, through a distinctly feminist perspective.
‘Medusa’ is a novella by Jessie Burton that was published by Bloomsbury in 2021. It follows the story of mythological figure, Medusa, and offers a take on her encounter with Perseus, one of the demigod sons of Zeus.
Book Review: Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati ‘Clytemnestra’ by Constanza Casati was released in 2023. It was her debut novel. The story, follows Clytemnestra, known as Agamemnon’s wife and Helen of Troy’s sister. Having absolutely eaten up the trend of mythological retellings, I was elated to get my hands on this book. I loved reading manyContinueContinue reading
Ariadne’ is a novel by Jennifer Saint and was published in 2021. It follows the Cretian sisters, Ariadne and Phaedra during their youth, growing up above the lair of the Minotaur, and their fates after Ariadne’s coil of thread aids Theseus in his escape from the labyrinth.
‘Gwen And Art Are Not In Love’ by Lex Croucher was released in May 2023, and explores the idea of queer relationships in post-Arthurian Britain, where there are little-to-no historical records. Due to this, Croucher is able to take significant artistic license and offer a story that is delightfully funny, and devastating.
‘The Silence of the Girls’ by Pat Barker was published in 2018 and retells events that take place during the siege of Troy from the perspective of Briseis, one of Achilles’ war prizes and former Queen of Lyrnessus. Breisis tells the story of her enslavement throughout the years of war on her land.
‘The Doll Factory’ is Elizabeth MacNeal’s 2019 debut novel. It is a gripping historical fiction book which toys the lines of daydreams and obsession, making readers reflect on their past fantasies and the extent to which they manifested.
I have a reasonable amount of knowledge of Greek Mythology from watching my copy of Disney’s ‘Hercules’ on VHS, to a fleeting ‘Percy Jackson’ phase, to attending university, where we dedicated several weeks to studying myths like Eros and Psyche, Apollo and Daphne, Oedipus Wrecked, and other tales from the Iliad. I even played ‘Hades’, which was how I knew vaguely of the characters in The Song of Achilles.
Imogen L. Smiley 