There’s a special magic in escaping the routines of modern life and stepping into the immersive realms of historical fantasy. Whether it’s exploring the mysteries of 1885 Egypt, dancing through the Jazz Age in 1920s Mexico, or diving into the hidden depths of the ocean with the descendants of African slaves, these stories offer readers a chance to time travel through rich and wondrous worlds. Each tale is filled with enchantment and historical insight, creating an unforgettable blend of fantasy and reality.

Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

In this captivating sequel to What the River Knows, Inez Olivera continues to grapple with the truth behind her parents’ deaths. After a perilous and life-changing journey through Egypt, she now faces an ultimatum from her uncle: marry her enemy, Whitford Hayes, or forfeit her inheritance. However, the British soldier has his own hidden agenda in Egypt—one that could spell Inez’s downfall.

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

On a fateful evening in the French countryside in 1741, a girl makes a deal that curses her to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Three hundred years later, Addie La Rue has witnessed centuries of history and traveled the world, desperately trying to leave a trace of her existence. That is, until the day she walks into a hidden New York bookstore and meets a man who does the impossible—he remembers her.

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Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

In 1920s Mexico, Casiopea Tun would rather be enjoying the excitement of the Jazz Age than scrubbing her wealthy grandfather’s floors. But when she accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death from a wooden box hidden in her grandfather’s room, he offers her a chance to escape her mundane life, but at great risk. If she accompanies him to the Mayan underworld to help reclaim his throne from his brother, all her dreams could come true but if they fail, her fate may be far worse than the life she longs to leave behind.

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She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

In 1345 China, greatness is something impoverished peasants believe only exists in fairy tales. That is until the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is declared destined for greatness, while his sister is fated for nothing. When Zhu dies after being orphaned by a bandit attack, his sister steals his identity to escape her fate. She becomes an apprentice at a monastery, only to have it destroyed. Determined to fulfill her brother’s destiny and forge her own, she risks everything to defy the limits placed upon her.

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

A circus mysteriously appears without warning, only at night, and is filled with wonders that leave its visitors spellbound. What the audience doesn’t see is the deadly competition lurking behind the scenes between magicians Celia and Marco. Since childhood, the two have been groomed for a duel with fatal stakes they did not anticipate. Their secret romance threatens to complicate the game, turning the competition even deadlier and putting everyone’s lives in danger.

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Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

As the only daughter of the kingdom, Kaikeyi is well-versed in the legends of the gods and their infinite power. However, as she bears witness to the follies of her existence she asks the gods for their wisdom and is left unheard. When she discovers an ancient power she decides to take control of her destiny, reclaiming her autonomy and becoming a formidable warrior with a vision to create a better future for the women of her kingdom. But as the god’s plan rivals her own, she must decide whether the revolution she desires is worth the destruction it may bring.

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Babel by R.F. Kuang

After being orphaned by cholera in 1828, Robin Swift is brought to London to be trained in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for his enrollment at Oxford’s most prestigious institute of translation and magic, Babel. Britain has risen to power through silver-working, a magical art that draws from the translation of enchanted silver bars and has used this knowledge to fuel its colonial ambitions. As Robin delves deeper into his studies, he becomes increasingly aware of the injustices of the ongoing war and begins to struggle with his Chinese heritage and British upbringing. This inner conflict forces him to question whether change can be achieved through peaceful means—or if violence is the only answer.

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The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Vasya lives in a small village on the edge of the Russian wilderness, where winter lingers nearly all year. She and her siblings have been raised on the fairy tales told by the fire during cold evenings and the rituals that protect them from the evil lurking in the forest. But when her father brings home a new wife determined to destroy those rituals, the village begins to unravel. To protect those she loves, Vasya must embrace the dangerous gifts she has long kept hidden, as a growing threat closes in on the village.

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The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

The Exposition Universelle World Fair is set to take place in Paris, showcasing a powerful Babel fragment that grants its wielder control over the elements. Driven by a desire for revenge after being cast out of the elite, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie assembles a team to steal the fragment, including Laila, a master of espionage and the woman he secretly loves. As the dangers of the heist escalate, Séverin grapples with the consequences of a crime that could not only change the fate of his team of outcasts but also reshape the world itself.

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The Deep by Rivers Solomon

Yetu is the historian and keeper of memories long forgotten by her underwater people. She alone carries the weight of her African ancestors—enslaved women thrown overboard from slave ships—who forged new lives deep beneath the ocean’s surface. Overwhelmed by the power of these memories, Yetu returns to the surface and encounters the world her people left behind. To ensure her people reclaim their identity and future, Yetu must help them confront the painful legacy of their past, even if it risks unraveling everything they’ve built in the shadows of the deep.

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