November SeriesCAT - Historical series

The challenge this month is to read from a historical series written by a contemporary author. Keep in mind that some authors have multiple series. Here are some author suggestions, although there are many more:

Philippa Gregory
Ken Follett
Lisa See
Jeffrey Archer
Robyn Young
C.J. Sansom
Margaret George
Lauren Willig
Edward Rutherfurd
Dorothy Dunnett
Diana Gabaldon
Sharon Kay Penman
Bernard Cornwell
Patrick O’Brian

Let us know what you’re reading - here and on the wiki

I'm not much for historicals, many series as I've currently got going, but I have enjoyed Elizabeth Amber's erotic historical series about satyrs, so I think that's as close as I'll get. Whichever title I have up next in her Lords of Satyrs series, that's what I'll go with!

I've got lots of possibilities for this, mainly I must admit historical mystery series but also Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir

Haven't checked yet, but as a big historical fiction fan, I will have plenty to choose from, I'm sure!

So many from which to choose (more than 2 dozen)..........most likely I will go with Girl Waits with Gun, which is a contemporary author, billed as historical fiction/mystery (1910's), and is book one of The Kopp Sisters series.

My cousin in Ireland strongly recommended a historical romance series by Irish author Susie Murphy. She said it was like Downton Abbey in Ireland. I bought the first book A Class Apart on Kindle, and later found out it's available on Kindle Unlimited. I don't usually read romance but will give this a try.

I started a WW I historical series last year by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. So I will be reading the second one, Keep the Home Fires Burning.

Most likely I'll read Blackwater Spirits, since I've been enjoying that series.

Forgot to mention that I'll also be reading Billy Boyle by James R. Benn a BB hit from mysterymax.

I plan to read Poison Your Grace by Peg Herring.

I have several possibilities here--maybe the newest Tasha Alexander novel or perhaps a children's book. I have an unread one in the Dear America series that is set in 1968 and is about "flower children" so that should be a fun reminiscence too, although I was still in junior high school then.

Think I found one, dusty on my shelves and in need of rescue: Viking's Dawn by Henry Treece.

I read A Christmas Vanishing by Anne Perry.

I read Mr. Darcy's Daughters by Elizabeth Aston

I've got a bunch of historical series on the go right now, so I expect to read multiple books for this CAT! First up is Lauren Willig's The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla, book #11 in the Pink Carnation series, which is set in the first decade of the 19th century.

The Porcupine Year / Louise Erdrich
3 stars

A continuation of two other books to start this series, also a children’s book, set in the mid-1800s, focusing on a young Anishinaabe/Ojibwe girl, Omakayas (Little Frog). This follows another year in her life. Initially she and her younger brother get caught up in some rapids in their canoe and are not sure where they’ve ended up. They do find their way back to their family (who has found some beads belonging to Omakayas and fear the two have died!), along with a pet baby porcupine! Other happenings include coming across a wildfire (as they travel toward more family living elsewhere) and “adopting” two white children. Later on the group is ambushed and robbed, leaving them to struggle to survive.

I didn’t like this one as much as the first two, though that little porcupine was cute! I hate that had to leave the little guy behind at one point while he slept. *sniff *sniff.. I’m not sure why this one didn’t hold my interest as well as the first two in the series, but I did lose focus a few times. (Note: I was not listening to an audio, so can’t blame it on that.) I will continue the series, however.

Voting for the 2024 CATs is now happening at https://www.librarything.com/topic/354675#8274629! Voting will take place until Thursday, November 9, at 6:30 p.m. EST, at which time the votes will be counted and the 2024 CATs officially chosen. So stop by and vote for your favorites!

(Cross-posting to a bunch of threads to reach as many people as possible.)

Starting Katherine of Aragon The True Queen the first in the Six Tudor Queens series by Alison Weir

I just read A Counterfeit Suitor by Darcie Wilde, book #5 in the Rosalind Thorne historical mystery series. This one is set in December 1819, though it's not at all Christmassy.

I read Miriam Grace Monfredo's Blackwater Spirits, set in Seneca Falls, New York in 1857. It's the third in the Glynis Tryon series.

COMPLETED Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen by Alison Weir, the first in the Six Tudor Queens series

I have completed my read of Keep the Home Fires Burning by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles in which she follows the exploits of various members, servants and friends of the Hunter family during WW I.

I've just finished Death of Kings by Bernard Cornwell, book 6 of the Saxon Chronicles which takes place in 9th century England.

Starting Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brien, the first in the Aubrey-Maturin series, set in the Napoleonic Wars

I read Hasty Death by Marion Chesney.
In an attempt to earn their own living Lady Rose and her maid get jobs as typists without much success, although they learned shorthand and typing in no time at all. A fun story, and a quick read.

A couple more for this CAT: The Tiger in the Well by Philip Pullman is book #3 in the Sally Lockhart series, set in 1880s London. And Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd is book #2 in the Kurland St. Mary series, set in Regency England. Both good reads, though the Pullman has a lot more historical detail.

I read Slightly Married by Mary Balogh, the first book in a series of Regency romances. I really enjoyed it!

Starting Deadly Inheritance, the first in a duology of Edwardian mysteries by Janet Laurence.

I just finished Never Wager with a Wallflower by Virginia Heath, the third and final book in her Merriwell Sisters trilogy. The book (and the whole series) were just OK -- there's much better historical romance out there!

Finished Dominic by Elizabeth Amber today. I'm so glad this challenge took me back to the series--I'd forgotten how much I adore the way Amber bridges paranormal romance and historical romance. And this fourth book in the series had two stories in it rather than one, which I hadn't realized going into it but ended up loving. From the covers of her Lords of Satyr series, you wouldn't think they contained much more than sex, but her story-telling is fantastic! I'm going to search out the next one sooner than later. (And, full review written, of course.)

I finished book # 1 in The Kopp Sisters, which took place in the 1890's-1910, Girl Waits with Gun, by Amy Stewart. Quite amusing! Won best historical fiction in 2015.

>31 Tess_W: That was supposed to be our community book club selection for November and I was the discussion leader. Unfortunately, the multiple copies from the Humanities book collection were not delivered, so another book was substituted. I was looking forward to the discussion of Girl Waits with Gun.

And here's my book:


Viking's Dawn by Henry Treece

This was an engaging tale of a young man on his first voyage with vikings. It was well-written, not stereotypical, with some character development of the individuals within the diverse crew. While there was violence and killing the author kept it from being unnecessarily graphic.

COMPLETED Deadly Inheritance by Janet Laurence, first in a duology of murder mysteries set in Edwardian Britain, Ursula Grandison Mysteries, but not good enough to make me want to read the other one.

I realized that I've finished a book set in Regency-era London that is a historical mystery. The first in the Sebastian St. Cyr series, What Angels Fear was a fascinating look at the machinations behind the Regency throne and the overall character of London in early 18-teens.

Starting, Execution, the next in S. J. Parris's Giordano Bruno series, set in Elizabethan England.

I have finished Sharpe's Assassin, set immediately after the Battle of Waterloo. It's hard to believe I've been following this series for forty years now...

Over the weekend I devoured Cadenza, book #6 in Stella Riley's Rockliffe series set in Georgian England. I love the whole series, and this is one of my absolute favorite installments!

I started the first in the Billy Boyle series by James. R Benn that was recommended by @mysterymax. It's a lot of fun! Billy is a likeable but not so bright 22 year-old cop from Boston who finds himself working for Uncle Ike's efforts in London 1942.

>39 VivienneR: - I took the same BB for my husband from mysterymax. He's made it through a few which reminds me that I should get another one from the library for him.

>40 dudes22: Our library system only has one or two so I'll have to buy the rest if I am to follow the series.

COMPLETED Execution by S. J. Parris, the 6th in her Giordano Bruno series

I just finished Mary Balogh's More Than a Mistress / No Man's Mistress, the first two books in a trilogy of Regency romances. I didn't love either of these, but I do plan to read the third book!

Finished Billy Boyle by James R. Benn mentioned in >39 VivienneR:. It was excellent, thoroughly enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

I read To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins, 3rd in a historical romance series set in late 19th century America.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Historical Series CAT. I hope you found some titles/authors that will add to your reading. Billy Boyle was a big winner for me.

>46 VivienneR: you're welcome!

On to December...

I'm a little late with my reviews, but I did finish a book for this challenge in November. While vacation in Madrid, I'd read Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, a swashbuckling adventure set in that city in 1623. I really enjoyed the book and plan to read the next books in the series.