Top Ten Books Set in Europe

This week's Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by the Broke and Bookish, is ten books set outside of the US. Since we couldn't find ten books that we've read set in the UK (which is crazy) we chose to look at ten books set in Europe that we love!

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Asking For It by Louise O'Neill 

Setting: Ireland

Asking For It is the story of Emma, and what happens when she wakes up one morning unable to remember what happened at a party she was at the night before. It's set in a small town in Ireland, and the rural small town mentality is a key plot point within this book.

We'll be reviewing Asking For It soon! 

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Setting: Iceland

Burial Rites is based on the true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, a woman who was sentenced to death in Iceland for murder. This is an amazing crime thriller novel, and being set in Iceland, has such an interesting and unique setting. The author also included lots of letters and documents from the actual case, showing how crime and women were treated in the 1800's in Iceland.

Read our full review of Burial Rites here.

The Ballroom by Anna Hope

Setting: Yorkshire, UK

The Ballroom takes place in the Yorkshire moors during 1911. It follows the story John and Ella, two people locked up in an insane asylum. We also hear from their doctor, Charles. However, once a week  the men and women are allowed to come together in the grand ballroom. It is here that John and Ella meet and their story begins.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein 

Setting: Stockport, UK 

So I may be exaggerating a bit here - Code Name Verity is set in a few parts of the UK and mainland Europe, but Maddie, one of the main characters, is from Stockport - and since that's my hometown, I'm gonna be proud of this book for including it! Code Name Verity is the story of two girls volunteering during WWII.

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Setting: Wallachia/Ottoman Empire (modern day Romania and Turkey)

And I Darken is a gender-swapped retelling of the story of Vlad the Impaler - with Vlad becoming Lada, possibly the most badass heroine in the world of historical fiction. 

Read our full review of And I Darken here.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Setting: France

The Nightingale tells the story of two sisters during World War II - Vianne and Isabelle. It spans from 1939 and continues until the end of the war, documenting the events that occurred in a Nazi-occupied France.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Setting: Prague, Czech Republic

Daughter of Smoke and Bone is set in many places around the world (and there may be one scene set in the US, but shh, it's not the biggest scene) but anyway, the majority of this book is set in Prague - where Karou, the main character, lives. 

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak 

Setting: Munich, Germany

I think the entire world knows the plot of The Book Thief (and if you don't, go and read it) but it's a book about Liesel, a girl who is fostered during WWII. It's set in Germany, which is, naturally, an interesting perspective for a WWII based book.

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Setting: Berlin, Germany

Wolf by Wolf spans a few countries, across from Europe into Asia, but is mostly set in Berlin. It's about Yael, and her mission to win the Axis Tour and assassinate Hitler - who, in this alternative history, survived and won the war.

Read our review of Wolf by Wolf here.

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

Setting: Russia

Marya is from Petrograd, or Leningrad, or St. Petersburg - depending on what time era you're visiting the city in. Deathless is the story of her and Koschei the Deathless, a dark character from Russian folklore. 

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What are your favourite books set in Europe or outside the US? Let us know in the comments!