I like to use my first Historical Musings post of each new year to look ahead at some of the exciting new historical fiction coming in the next twelve months. The books listed below are just a few that have come to my attention and that I’m planning to read. The publication dates I’ve given are for the UK only and may be subject to change.
If there are any other new historical fiction novels you’re looking forward to in 2019 I’d love to hear what they are!
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January
Blood and Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (24 January 2019)
This debut historical crime novel set in the 18th century will be published later this month. I have a NetGalley copy which I should be starting soon.
February
The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (7 February 2019)
I’m looking forward to this one as it’s set in Iceland, which is always an interesting and atmospheric setting.
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo (12 February 2019)
This book sounds like a fascinating mixture of history, mystery and folklore set in 1930s Malaya.
The Silver Collar by Antonia Hodgson (21 February 2019)
Unsure about this one as all I can find is the title and nothing else, so I suspect the February date might be incorrect. A new Thomas Hawkins mystery will definitely be worth waiting for, though!
March
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (4 March 2019)
I loved some of Lisa See’s earlier novels. This one is the story of two girls who grow up on a Korean island in the 1930s.
The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick (7 March 2019)
A dual time frame novel set in 1765 and 1996. I enjoyed The Phantom Tree and House of Shadows so am looking forward to this one.
The Missing Sister by Dinah Jefferies (21 March 2019)
Dinah Jefferies’ books all have such interesting settings and this one will take us to 1930s Burma.
April
Sunwise by Helen Steadman (1 April 2019)
The sequel to Widdershins, a novel about witchcraft and witch-finders.
The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins (4 April 2019)
This sounds like an intriguing debut novel about a maid on trial for murder in 19th century London.
The King’s Evil by Andrew Taylor (4 April 2019)
Following the wonderful Ashes of London and The Fire Court, this will be the third in the James Marwood and Cat Lovett mystery series.
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd (4 April 2019)
A Victorian detective novel by another new-to-me author.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver (4 April 2019)
I always love the sound of Michelle Paver’s books but have never tried one. This gothic novel set in Edwardian England will be my first.
May
Anna of Kleve, Queen of Secrets by Alison Weir (2 May 2019)
The fourth book in the Six Tudor Queens series is the one I’ve been looking forward to the most as I have read so little about Anne of Cleves compared to Henry VIII’s other wives.
The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal (2 May 2019)
Another debut novel set in 19th century London, in the world of the pre-Raphaelite artists.
June
The Devil’s Slave by Tracy Borman (13 June 2019)
This sequel to The King’s Witch will continue the story of Frances Gorges and her family
August
A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O’Brien (22 August 2019)
Anne O’Brien’s new novel will tell the story of a medieval woman I know almost nothing about: Constance of York, Lady Despenser.
September
The Irish Princess by Elizabeth Chadwick (12 September 2019)
Loosely connected to her William Marshal series, this book is about William’s wife’s parents, Richard de Clare and Aoife of Leinster.
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Will you be reading any of these books? Which other new historical fiction novels do you think will be worth waiting for in 2019?
She Reads Novels 
I see some of your favorite authors here. The Night Tiger looks good and I also have the Lisa See book on my upcoming list.
The Night Tiger does look good, doesn’t it? I hope we both enjoy the new Lisa See book.
Lots to look forward to here, best bets are the new Elizabeth Chadwick, the Michelle Paver (I can highly recommend her Wolf Brother series, it’s aimed at young adults but it’s one of the best prehistoric series around), and the books by Antonia Hodgson and Andrew Taylor, both good authors.
I haven’t read anything by Michelle Paver yet, but if I like Wakenhyrst I’ll definitely investigate the Wolf Brother series.
I’ll definitely be reading The King’s Evil and probably the Alison Weir book too. I want to begin reading Elizabeth Chadwick’s books, I think I have a lot to catch up with.
Andrew Taylor’s books are always worth waiting for. I love Elizabeth Chadwick’s books – I would probably start with either her William Marshal or Eleanor of Aquitaine novels, although it sounds as if her new one could probably be read without having read any others.
I would like to read The Night Tiger, the Anna of Kleve installment and The Doll Factory–I read a debut two or three years ago about the Pre-Raphaelites, titled Ophelia’s Muse, on the tempestuous relationship between Lizzie Siddall (muse) and Dante Rosetti (Pre-Raphaelite painter). I will put them on my wishlist but won’t get to them this year as I will be catching up with past ARCs and backlist tomes from my TBR.
I haven’t read many books about the Pre-Raphaelites, so Ophelia’s Muse sounds interesting to me. Good luck with catching up with your ARCs and TBR this year!
I have The Night Tiger and Wakenhyrst and am looking forward to both. I’ve enjoyed a couple of Michelle Paver’s earlier books so have high hopes for this one. I’ll be interested to hear your though on the Jess Kyd – I read her debut and though she was very talented, but her first couple of books had a supernatural element which rarely works for me. I don’t know much about this new one, so I may be tempted…
I hope we both enjoy The Night Tiger and Wakenhyrst! The new Jess Kidd book doesn’t sound supernatural, but maybe it is – it’s hard to tell from the blurb. I’ll find out soon…
I have The Glass Woman, Wakenhyrst and The Doll Factory. I’m looking forward to The King’s Evil, having loved Ashes of London and The Fire Court – it’s a ‘must read’ for me. I’m also interested in Anna of Kleve. Plenty of reading to come this year!
Yes, I think it will be a good year for new historical fiction. The King’s Evil is one I’m particularly looking forward to as well.
I haven’t heard of any of these, but a few of them sound pretty good.
Yes, I think there are a lot of good books to look forward to this year.
I have put several of these on my Goodreads “want to read” list! The Jess Kidd looks especially interesting.
I’m looking forward to “In the Full Light of the Sun” by Clare Clark and “The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs” by Katherine Howe.
I’d forgotten that there was going to be a new Katherine Howe book this year! In the Full Light of the Sun sounds interesting – I’ll have to look out for that one too. 🙂
Helen, I am really looking forward to reading Anna of Kleve, Queen of Secrets by Alison Weir too, but I have Jane Seymour, The Haunted Queen to enjoy first. And I am very excited to hear about A Tapestry of Treason by Anne O’Brien’s, as I hadn’t heard anything about it.
I hope we both enjoy Anna of Kleve, after you’ve read Jane Seymour first, of course. The Anne O’Brien book sounds great – I’m excited about that one too.