Top Ten Tuesday is hosted over at the other blog I write for, The Broke and the Bookish.
This week we’re talking about our favorite historical settings in books! I love a good historical novel, and have found a few settings I just LOVE. I’ve also got a few settings on my list that I haven’t read about yet, but really want to.
1. The High Seas – Seriously, I’m a sucker for a pirate romance set on a rickety old ship in the middle of the ocean. This is definitely my favorite historical setting of all.
2. The Scottish (Medieval) Highlands – #1. The setting itself is beautiful. #2. The men that live in this setting are beautiful (love me some highlanders). #3. The accents.
3. Italy – Italy is beautiful, past and present. I love reading about ancient Rome, Venice (YES VENICE), Florence, etc. Take me away.
4. The South – This is a new one for me within the last 3-4 years or so. I love all those historic southern gothic novels! Super atmospheric.
6. Paris, France – The city of lights was shining bright back then, too!
7. Regency England – SUCH an elegant time. “World, I bestow upon you Pride & Prejudice.” – Jane Austen. What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long is my favorite, plus I love Tessa Dare’s Castles Ever After series.
8. The American West – “Hey, cowboy. *wink*”
9. Atlantis – I want this. Anyone have any recs, or is this a rare setting?
10. WWII Europe – I don’t read as many books set during this time period, but I’ve read some pretty sweeping love stories of people on opposing sides falling in love, and I love those. I’ve also read some pretty inspirational stories from this time as well. It’s one we should never forget.
5. Victorian England – I’ve got a few books on my TBR that fit this category: the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas and The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas.
What are some of your favorite historic settings? Do you have any recommendations for books you love that are set in any of my favorites?
We have three in common – the Old West, Regency England, and WWII! And I totally forgot about the high seas! I love a good pirate tale!
Ah, love the pirates. Do you have any favorites you could recommend?
I’m reading The Passenger right now, which really isn’t a pirate novel but it’s on the high seas. So far, it’s really good! And of course Treasure Island! I loved it as a kid. :) Oh, and I just finished Tiger Lily which is a Peter Pan retelling that focuses on Tiger Lily, but there is Captain Hook and his pirates too. It’s such a great book!
I have been thinking about reading more American West historical fiction, for the same reason :p
PS. I love your site! Super cute :)
My TTT.
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Thank you, Allyson! And woo hoo cowboys! :P
I have a huge problem trying to read historical fiction. It’s almost like my brain wants no part of it and shuts down. I am a sucker for most books on the high sea though. Those darn pirates are hard to resist.
I have a hard time reading most historical fiction unless there’s a strong romance plot. Then I’m ok. But just fiction with nothing else pretty much makes me shut down as well. Unless it’s a memoir. Then I’m good.
Pirates are SUPER hard to resist. What are some pirate books you’ve read and loved?
I drew a giant blank as soon as I saw that question. The only thing coming to mind are 2 short stories by Rachel Caine and they’re in 2 different anthologies. My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding and My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon are the 2 anthologies and Rachel Caine’s pirate short stories are easily my favorites. For the record, I went through a phase where all I would read were anthologies.
Victorian England was on my list, but now I want to read books from those time periods you listed! Hope you find books that fit those time periods.
Thanks! I hope you find some in your wanted time periods, too! I saw you mentioned ancient Egypt and the Viking Age. Couldn’t agree more!
I love Medieval Scotland. That’s one of my most favorite settings. I also love Regency England. Like you said, Pride and Prejudice!!!! Victorian England is fun too. I love The Wallflower series (especially books 2, 3, 4) but I wasn’t a fan of The luckiest Lady in London. But I know lots of people who did like it.
I remember you not loving The Luckiest Lady in London. That’s actually why I’ve put it off for a while. Hmm.
Do you have any recs for Medieval Scotland? I looked over the ones on your TTT, but do you have more? I added Never Seduce a Scot to my TBR. :)
We have a couple in common and you mentioned some that I completely forgot about! Atlantis, yes please! Italy, Scottish, and PIRATES! <3
Great list, Jana!
PIRATES. Hehe. I definitely agree with your mentioning of Egypt on your TTT. Yes please!
I love WWII Europe based books, there’s some brilliant WWII fiction books out there.
There really are! What are some of your favorites?
I’d love to read books set in Italy I can’t actually think of one *embarrassed face* >.<
I do enjoy a good War book, Two Brothers by Ben Elton is meant to be good so I'm gonna try that soon :-)
Here's my TTT @ Emma’s Bookery if you would like to check it out, have a great day :-) xo
Two Brothers sounds good! I might have to check it out as well!
I want Atlantis too!!!! Written like Troy or something, as an actual historical setting, not a mermaid metropolis… haven’t found anything yet :/ I love lots of the rest of your list too, especially Regency England and Scotland! And Italy, especially ancient Rome and the Renaissance period :) The high seas is a good one, I didn’t think to put that! Pirates are great. Did you ever read the Avon True Romance series? They’re sort of proto-YA. One of my faves was Catherine and the Pirate.
Yay Atlantis! Someone needs to get on this! There’s clearly a demand for it. lol.
You’re the only person I’ve ever run into who has even heard of the Avon True Romance series! I own all of them, and DEVOURED them as a teenager! Catherine and the Pirate was the first one I read, and still one of my favorite books today. It’s also the reason I still search high and low for great pirate romances. lol
I’d second the West and pirates for sure. I love Victorian and Regency England as well. And there really isn’t a whole lot of Atlantis. Definitely need more of that. I can’t think of one.
Great list! I don’t even care if there’s any romance – just give me more pirate and Medieval Scottish books! :)
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Haha. I’ve never read either type of book that didn’t have a romance in it! What are some of your favorites?
I also really adore a well written high seas setting, have you heard of the upcoming release Blackhearts? It’s an origin story of Blackbeard that I think is going to be pretty amazing. As far as the Atlantis goes the only book I can think of is Atlantia by Ally Condie, which earned mixed reviews. Nice wrap-up!
I have an ARC of Blackhearts that I plan to read soon! It does sound awesome. I read and really enjoyed Atlantia, but it doesn’t take place in Atlantis, sadly. Thanks for your comment. :)