The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift - a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that, armed only with the necklace, she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay.

The Bear and The Nightingale is a beautiful, fairytale-like story set around 14th Century Russia. Inspired by many Russian folklore tales, specifically the story of Morozko the Frost King, it follows the life of Vasya. It's a story of family, the rising of orthodox Christianity in a pagan land that still worships household spirits, sacrifice, and wild untameable girls. The Bear and the Nightingale perfectly weaves fairytale into reality, incorporating traditional Slavic spirits - such as the household protective spirit, the domovoi - with harsh Russian winters and the day to day life of a family living by the forest in Northern Russia in the Middle Ages. 

A quick summary of the book - Vasya is born to Marina and Pyotr, and Marina predicts that Vasya will be different, as her mother was (a woman who many believed to be dabbling in witchcraft). Marina dies giving birth to Vasya, but pleas with Pyotr to protect her, telling him that she is special. The years pass, and Pyotr travels to Moscow to find a husband for his eldest daughter Olga, and a new wife for himself. When leaving the city, a stranger threatens Pyotr's son, and in exchange for his life, bids Pyotr to give his youngest daughter (Vasya) a necklace embedded with a precious jewel. Pyotr is unwilling, and gives the necklace to the household maid, Dunya, to gift Vasya with. Dunya recognises the necklace for what it is - a gift from the Frost King Morozko - and pleads with him to let her keep the necklace safe until Vasya is grown. 

Meanwhile, the Priest Konstantin arrives in Vasya's village. Anna, her stepmother, tells the Priest that she sees demons everywhere, and Konstantin makes it his mission to rid the village of their pagan ways. In turn, Vasya discovers that she must protect these demons - actually the Russian protective spirits of the household, horses etc - in order to protect her family. As Vasya grows into a young woman, Konstantin is constantly tempted by her, whilst at the same time believing her to be a witch. What follows is a battle against darker forces than either Vasya or Konstantin expected to be up against, in the dark Russian midwinter.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I've always been a huge fan of Russian folklore and modern day novels inspired by it, and this book introduced me to a traditional Russian tale that I haven't come across before. Vasya was the perfect main character - she was elusive, brave and plucky, and as wild as the author made her out to be. In my opinion, the balance between mythology and reality was absolutely perfect; the two were expertly blended and neither felt as though it was overpowering the other. I enjoyed the relationship between Konstantin and Vasya - the way that he was drawn to her whilst at the same time almost repulsed by her, and the way she constantly felt the need to protect him even though she believed that he would cause the downfall of her village and her people. This was such a complex, magical book, and I would definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy Russian mythology or similar slow-building fantasy novels (for example, Uprooted by Naomi Novik).

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love,

Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

In the conclusion to Wolf by Wolf, set in an alternate 1956 where Germany won WWII, Yael must deal with the consequences of her mission to assassinate the Führer, Adolf Hitler. After racing over 20,000 miles across Europe, Africa and Asia whilst wearing a face that isn't hers, she must return to Germania without being caught by the SS and discovered as the skinshifter they are searching for. With resistance groups starting revolutions across the continent and SS members determined to keep control of the Third Reich, Yael must fight to see her mission through to the end, at whatever cost.

Since finishing Wolf By Wolf with it's ever so slightly evil cliffhanger, I always knew Blood For Blood would be a heartbreaker. How right I was. 

Blood For Blood kicks off immediately where Wolf By Wolf left off, with Yael attempting to flee Japan and return to Germania (the Berlin of this alternate Europe). I fould Wolf By Wolf to be a very fast paced, plot based book, and Blood For Blood is quite the opposite - the plot is much slower for the majority of the book, and focuses a lot more on character and relationship building. However, this definitely isn't a bad thing! 

Yael has always been a mysterious character, and remained so throughout Blood For Blood - I do feel as though I got to know her a lot better than I did in Wolf By Wolf though, and learning more and more details about her backstory in the labour camp was just heartbreaking. Not only did you learn more about Yael in this book, but she matured so much and learned how to control her emotions more. I adored her rash braveness in Wolf By Wolf, but the way she behaved in this book seemed much more fitting with everything that she went through in it. Although Yael faced so many challenges in Wolf By Wolf, none of them were really her facing her true fears, and in Blood For Blood she is confronted with challenges that are so much closer to her heart. Yael opens up to people so much and slowly starts to learn how to trust and love again and hey, even though she's fictional, I am so proud of her.

There isn't all that much of an authentic romance in Wolf By Wolf (considering that Yael is impersonating someone else for the majority of it) but there is one in Blood For Blood, which after the events of Wolf By Wolf, does just seem to make sense. I'm so grateful that the romance was slow-burning, as well - it wasn't forced or rushed into, and it developed at the right pace considering the events going on around the characters. 

Some new alliances are made in Yael's quest to overthrow the Nazi's, and new characters are introduced. I won't say much about them so I don't slip into spoiler territory, but I love Comrade Mnogolikiy. You'll get to know them by other names once you read the book ;) 

As well as new characters, we've still got point of view chapters from characters from the previous book - Luka, everyone's favourite badboy, and Felix, the grumpy German teddy bear. Both are fighting their own moral battles throughout and I just love how each character's story played out and the way in which they all intertwined. 

I won't say much about the ending apart from this - it broke me in more than just a couple of ways. This book just wouldn't stop playing with my emotions, and I know that that ending will stick with me for a long time.

If you've read Wolf By Wolf, you need to go and read this sequel right this second - and if you haven't read Wolf By Wolf yet, what are you waiting for?

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What do you think of the Wolf By Wolf series? Let us know in the comments!

Love,

Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

Ivory and Bone is a prehistoric fantasy with allusions to Pride and Prejudice. It's Kol's story of how he met Mya - both heirs to their individual clans. However, their two clans have an uneasy history, and when Lo arrives with her clan, Mya's distain towards Kol grows - as does Kol's interest in Mya. 

2/5 stars

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Unfortunately, I couldn't get into Ivory and Bone. To begin with, I really struggled with the writing style - this book is written in second person, so it's written from Kol's point of view, but he is addressing "you" throughout (aka Mya). I've never read a book written from second person before, and now that I have, I definitely don't have any plans to pick up another anytime soon. I also found that the plot just didn't pull me in at all - it definitely picked up after the first third of the book, but by then I was very much just trying to get through it (I almost considered stopping reading after the first 30 pages or so, but I can rarely bring myself to not finish a book once I'm a few chapters in).

The characters didn't seem to do much at all, and the misunderstanding between Kol and Mya towards the beginning of the book that set the pace for the way that their relationship played out seemed very petty in my opinion. Kol's favourite thing to do in life was collect honey - which I suppose may have been accurate considering the books Neolithic era setting, but I'm sure they did more exciting things back then (plus I was very disappointed that no one had a pet mammoth, or at least rode a mammoth, or something like that). I imagine it must be a challenge to any author to write a novel set in this era, but I think a bit of artistic licence in order to make the plot better would have been fine. However, the one thing that didn't stick with the era - and that really got to me - was the frequent use of the word parka. Everyone in this book is described as wearing parkas - and from the description given of them, this obviously meant some sort of fur hood or cloak. This is not a parka. Heck, I own a parka and it is green, made from manmade fabrics, and has zips and pockets. I'm sure what Kol and Mya wore could have been described in a better way, even if it was just "furs". I'm sorry if this is a bit of a pet peeve but I just couldn't cope with it. Anyway...

Overall, I think this was a very ambitious idea for a novel, and it just didn't quite cut it for me.

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Has anyone else read Ivory and Bone? What were your thoughts? 
Let us know in the comments!
Love,

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!

And I Darken by Kiersten White

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!

And I Darken was all I wanted it to be and more. It's a deep, dark and unique alternate history novel, set in the Ottoman Empire of the 1400's, just before the fall of Constantinople. Kiersten White takes Vlad the Impaler and replaces him with Lada, Princess of Wallachia. 

Previously, I didn't know much at all about this era in history, especially from an Eastern European perspective, so the setting of this book was so refreshing. It took facts from history and brought them to life with complex characters, political intrigue, wars, and intricate relationships. 

I absolutely loved Lada as a heroine, and the way that Kiersten White slotted her into the history of Wallachia and the Ottoman empire was flawless. The secondary characters - especially Lada's brother, Radu, and Mehmed, the sultan's son, also added so much to the story and I think the third person narrative worked so well in this book, as it meant that these characters thoughts and feelings weren't overlooked. The plot constantly kept me on the edge of my seat with its twists and sudden revelations, as well as the culturally relevant issues that it presents throughout, such as the way that Lada is constantly overlooked by everyone just because she is a woman. 

And I Darken is definitely one of my favourite books of this year so far - I loved it so much that, despite having the ARC on my kindle, I had to order the hardback today - and the only negative thing I can say about it is that I almost wish I hadn't read it so fast, as now I have to wait even longer for the sequel!

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Based on a true story, 'Burial Rites' tells the story of the last days of Agnes, a woman charged with the murder of her former master. Upon waiting execution, Agnes is sent to live with a family on an isolated farm in Iceland. At first, her only friend is Tóti, a priest she has chosen to be her spiritual guardian. We follow her story as she goes from being feared to understood and the truth that is eventually unsurfaced.

Becky's thoughts -
It isn't often that I read crime fiction, but the idea of a Scandinavian crime novel based on a true story definitely appealed to me. I'm currently in Iceland, and chose to read Burial Rites leading up to and during my trip here to see the full perspective of the book, and I'm so glad I did! Burial Rites gives a lot of interesting cultural facts about Iceland, and being immersed in that culture definitely made me read this book in a different light. I was immediately drawn in to Agnes's story and the mysteries surrounding it that were unfolded as the book went on. The narrative didn't move too fast which perfectly built up the tension as you got closer towards the end, and the letters and records (all from real archives from the events) at the beginning of each chapter really helped to keep the facts straight, as well as inform you what was happening outside of Kornsà, where Agnes was staying. I loved how Agnes's story was told through her telling it to the priest sent to absolve her before her execution, rather than the book beginning at the crime scene - it really helped to develop Agnes as a character, as well as developing her relationships with the priest and the family she was staying with. The ending was sudden, perfect, and heartbreaking all at once. I also really enjoyed the section at the end of the book in which Hannah Kent explains how she discovered Agnes and her story. The conversations she describes having with Icelandic locals who believed Agnes to be a witch or an evil woman really showed how awful the unfair prejudices against her were during her sentencing. I really did enjoy this book and would thoroughly recommend it - just be prepared to have your heart broken.

Angharad's thoughts -

Right, this book? Wow.

Upon starting it, realising that it was based on a true story (and a story I wasn't aware of), I automatically became 10x more fascinated. I haven't read a lot of books based in Iceland so diving into a new country and learning new traditions was truly an amazing experience (especially with the help sheet at the start.) I like that the author included actual documents taken from the event and included them throughout the book. Not only does it add authenticity, but it also allows you to have knowledge of old Icelandic beliefs.

I loved Agnes as a character and knowing her fate from the start really allowed you to connect to her and the fear she must have surely felt. Seeing her relationship with the family grow was equally heartwarming and heartbreaking and I love that Agnes chose to reveal different parts of her past to different people. I like how everything moved slowly but surely to the end which yep, tore my heart out. 

I like how the end was recorded (as a fact rather than fiction) because it made it all the more real. It's one of those novels that although you know what is going to happen, you still wish it didn't. Following Agnes as she went from being feared and hated to eventually respected and understood was so important and needed to happen in order for you to feel empathy at the end of the book.

I would definitely recommend this. It's informative, heartbreaking and an atmospheric read.

Angharad's Top 5 Favourite Books

In no particular order:

1. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater 

“She wasn't interested in telling other people's futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.” 

This is one of those series that no matter how much hype it has, I will never stop loving. It actually involves Welsh history! Every person in this book is my child. Gansey especially. It is interesting and funny and beautiful. No romance is cliche, the friendships are so important and it just makes me happy to feel at home in Henrietta and Cabeswater and Monmouth Manufacturing. Please read it and SAVEGANSEYSK16!

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” 

This book will change your life. No kidding. It will. It makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about humanity and love and friendship and freedom. Having it narrated by Death and having it take place during an awful time in our history and yet still showing the humour and compassion that humans are capable of is so important.

3. Before I Die by Jenny Downham

"I realise that life is made up of a series of moments, each one a journey to the end.” 

This book, despite breaking my heart and staying with me for years later, has sentimental value to me. Not pictured is the amount of dog-eared pages and notes I have littered it with. It was the last gift my grandmother ever got me. It's poetic and heartbreaking and really will make you happy to be alive.

4. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
"Slowly, very slowly, he sat up, and as he did so he felt more alive, and more aware of his own living body than ever before. Why had he never appreciated what a miracle he was, brain and nerve and bounding heart?"

Pretty obvious choice but I couldn't do this list without including the books that made me the reader (and probably person) that I am today. This series taught me about happiness, bravery, hope. It made me appreciate the importance of family and friends. Most importantly, it taught me that happiness is possible even in the darkest of times. I will always be thankful.

5. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

“Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living.” 

I think even if this book had an awful plot (which it doesn't), it would still be one of my favourites just for the beautiful writing. Every sentence is quote-worthy. It will break your heart but it will also make you smile and will teach you a few things. It even has a few amazing photographs on the pages. It is truly mesmerising. 

Wolf by Wolf - Ryan Graudin

“Once upon a different time, there was a girl who lived in a kingdom of death. Wolves howled up her arm. A whole pack of them--made of tattoo ink and pain, memory and loss. It was the only thing about her that ever stayed the same.”

Wolf by Wolf takes place in 1956 and is a book set in an alternative history in which Hitler won the war. The story follows Yael, a girl with the unique gift, she can shape shift as a result of being experimented on in a death camp as a young child. She accepts a mission to compete in the annual Axis Tour: a motorcycle race across the continents but in order to do so, she must impersonate Adele Wolfe, last year's only female winner. Armed with her ability and a mind filled with revenge, she sets out to win the race and ultimately, kill Hitler.

Angharad:

I was immediately drawn to this book as I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, however, I've never really read any alternative history. The premise was amazing, what would have happened if Hitler and the Nazis had won the war? What would become of the world and its people? Yael for me is one of my favourite characters. She is strong and clever and uses her tragic past and her reminding ability to achieve good. She doesn't let anything get in the way of her goal, not even Adele's twin brother, Felix and fellow competitor and former love interest, Luka.

The story switches between 'then' and 'now.' We learn of Yael's past and all the people she lost along the way who are symbolised by the wolf tattoos on her arm, the only part of her appearance she can't change.

The race itself has you on the edge of your seat. It is filled with obstacles and plot twists and moments that make you stare and whisper, "shit." I love that Yael constantly has to be on guard and she isn't afraid to do what needs to be done in order to win. The ending had me shocked but ten times more excited for the sequel.

Overall, I loved this book. My only criticism is that I wish the ending hadn't of been so quick but it did make it all the more sudden. Read this book if you are a fan of historical fiction, especially with a twist and a love for action-packed journeys. If neither of those things grab your attention, read it for Yael.

Becky:

I loved this book so much that I started and finished it in just a couple of hours. As soon as I was recommended it, I knew it was just my sort of thing - a WWII era setting but with a twist on what we know actually happened after the war and an amazing, badass girl for a protagonist with an interesting back story. 

The book begins with Yael's experiences as a young girl, which allows you to be plunged into her world straight away. Graudin takes Josef Mengele, Hitler's infamous Angel of Death, and creates from him the nightmare that will both haunt Yael's dreams and will change her into the weapon for the resistance that she becomes. Obviously, there are so many books and films that portray the awful things that happened inside Auschwitz and other death and labour camps during WWII. However, I've never read or seen anything that focuses on a character inspired by one of Mengele's victims, and although Yael's story is fictional, it really did bring to mind the horrifying reality that real people actually went through the things that Yael experiences, to an extent. The "Then" chapters of the book, which focus on Yael's past and her path to where she is in 1956, really are chilling and at times left me on the edge of my seat. 

I think many people who didn't experience WWII first hand have been told the stories of how our lives could have been today if Hitler had won the war, and Wolf by Wolf plunges you straight into those imagined horrors. What I really love about this premise, besides how unique and fascinating it is, is how the horrors really are hidden at times. Yael, the main character, will be walking down the street and be stopped by some German officers. All seems fairly average, until they make some throwaway comments that truly set the scene:

"Stray bitches make good target practice. Almost as much as commies and Jews." The soldier laughed and slapped the butt of his Mauser.

It was, in a way, parts like this that really topped the book off for me. 

Wolf by Wolf was definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far - everything about it from beginning to end was action packed and completely drew me in. The ending took a huge, unexpected twist, leaving everything in the balance. 

I honestly can't think of anything I disliked about this book - the one "problem" I had with it was that I wished it could have been longer, and although there was a lot of back story in there, I definitely wouldn't have complained if there had been more! 

Top Ten Tuesday: ten books for historical fiction fans

*Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and the Bookish*

So this is our first top ten Tuesday post, and we thought we'd kick it off with a list of ten books that every fan of historical fiction should read! 

In no particular order, here are our top picks:

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” 

Our blog's namesake, The Book Thief is a game changer when it comes to historical fiction, narrated by Death and set in Nazi Germany during WWII. If you haven't read it yet, we both recommend that you go and pick up a copy right now and get reading!

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2. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
“And who decided which people wore the striped pajamas and which people wore the uniforms?” 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is definitely targeted more at children, but is still a classic historical fiction book, focusing on Bruno (the son of a Nazi officer) and his friendship with Shmuel, a Jewish boy who is in Auschwitz, which Bruno lives next to due to his Father's work. The truly heartbreaking aspect of this story is the innocence of Bruno (e.g. his belief that Auschwitz is a farm called "Out-With" or the Führer is "The Fury"), and the way that WWII destroyed the innocence of the two children. 

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3. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
"The War is always going badly."

Deathless has, for a few months now, been Becky's favourite book - and this is coming from a girl who doesn't like to choose one specific favourite. It is a historical fantasy set in WWII era Leningrad (St. Petersburg), filled with Russian mythology whilst also showcasing the horrors of living in Russia during the war. A definite must read. 

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4. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin 
“The wolves of war are gathering. They sing a song of rotten bones.” 

We will be posting a full review of Wolf by Wolf shortly, so we won't give too much away here! It is an action packed book based around an alternate post-WWII setting, in which Hitler has won the war.

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5. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

"Careless talk costs lives."

Another book with a WWII setting, Code Name Verity is the story of two British girls during the war. Their plane has been shot down over France, and one of the girls has been captured by the Nazis and given two weeks to tell them everything she knows about the British war effort. 

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6. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent 

“To know what a person has done, and to know who a person is, are very different things.”

Burial Rites is inspired by the true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, a woman who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Iceland, 1829. The novel showcases Agnes's last days leading up to her execution, and the alternate sides to her tragic story.

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7. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 

“War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost.” 

Salt to the Sea, inspired by true events, follows four refugees seeking freedom towards the end of WWII. A poignant read that is still so relevant to what is happening in our world to this day.

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8. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

“There are no bargains between lion and men. I will kill you and eat you raw.” 

The Song of Achilles is a bit different from the previous books we've mentioned - it's a historical fantasy set in Ancient Greece, filled with mythology, and is a retelling of The Ilyad.

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9. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
“Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?” 

Between Shades of Gray follows Lina, a young Lithuanian girl, and her journey to a Siberian work camp during Stalin's rule of the Soviet Union - a journey based novel unlike any other, and inspired by what many would have had to go through during WWII.

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10. His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers 
“There is no shame in scars."

The His Fair Assassin trilogy, consisting of Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph and Mortal Heart, is a historical fantasy series set in Brittany (France) in the 1400's. It focuses on the convent of St. Mortain, where Death's handmaidens are trained to be assassins. Each book follows a different girl from the convent and their missions to the royal courts of Brittany, killing those who Death has marked. It is a thoroughly enjoyable series with just the right amount of history and mythological elements thrown in! 

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We hope you enjoyed our selection! Are there any other historical fiction books you'd add to this list of must-reads? Let us know in the comments!