The Dark Island, Henry Treece. A savage, affecting story of British tribal king Caratacus' defeat at the hands of the Romans. Treece's historical fiction is quite idiosyncratic, verging on fantasy and written with a compelling bardic sensibility. His Iron Age Britain is wild, vibrant and richly textured; touched with mythic undertones and shadowed by dark, bloody shamanic magic.
Christian Cameron,
1) Poseidon’s Spear, latest in Cameron’s Long War series set during the Peloponnesian War. Loved hero Arimnestos' travels around the ancient world (travelling galley-slave class), including a side trip to Britain.
2) God of War. Cameron’s take on Alexander the Great – plenty of admiration but not so much hero worship.
Crowbone, Robert Low. Great storytelling skills honed on the sagas plus a deep understanding of the Viking psyche make this an excellent addition to Low's Oathsworn series. A no-holds-barred tour around Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Mann and parts further afield during the 10th century in the wake of ruthless Olaf (Crowbone) Tryggvason, who’ll do anything to reclaim his patrimony, the Kingdom of Norway.
Splintered Kingdom (sequel to Sworn Sword). Further adventures of a Norman knight who settles in England following the Battle of Hastings. Thumbs up for Aitcheson, who stands out among the blood ‘n’ guts HF brigade as a writer with excellent literary skills and a genuine sense of story. A prime candidate to take on Bernard Cornwell’s mantle in the future.
The Seven Wonders, Steven Saylor. Cleverly takes the premise of the 18th century Grand Tour of Europe and transposes it to the ancient Roman world. This prequel to the Roma sub Rosa mystery series sees Gordianus the Finder as a smart but rather naive 18 year old touring the Seven Wonders of the World with his Greek tutor and learning a lot about life along the way.
The Flower Reader. Elizabeth Loupas. Murder, dark shadows and dangerous secrets in an appealing story set during the early years of Mary QOS’s reign. A particularly engaging heroine - strong without being anachronistically feisty.
Wallace Breem
I read Breem’s classic Eagle in the Snow many years ago, but somehow never got to his other two historical novels till now. I personally believe Breem to be one of the finest historical novelists ever and feel it was a tragedy that he was discouraged from writing any more historical fiction.
1) The Legate’s Daughter
2) The Leopard and the Cliff
Robert Lyndon, Hawk Quest. Set in the 11th century, this is a cracking return to old-style epic historical adventure.
Woe to Live On Daniel Woodrell. A powerful, deceptively simple coming of age novel set during the US Civil War.
Merivel: A Man of his Time Sequel to Restoration, featuring an older and more thoughtful Merivel suffering the fashionably 17th century malaise of melancholia as he contemplates his future.
John Saturanall’s Feast by Lawrence Norfolk. Hard to categorize, this sumptuous cross between HF and fable set around the start of the English Civil War is about food, love, religion and keeping alive the spirit of joy and gratitude for life’s blessings during the dark times as well as the good. The tale of a young boy who rises from scullery boy to Master Cook brings to vivid life the bustling bureaucracies and tyrannical hierarchies of a 17th century manor house. You’ll be filled with an irresistible desire to go out and cook up a storm after reading this one!
Cloud Cuckoo Land, Naomi Mitchison. Athens in decline towards the end of the Peloponnesian War - lyrical and evocative, and with a strong message about the perils of totalitarianism.
And its counterpart
The Fox by M N J Butler. The decline of Sparta following the Peloponnesian War is the subject of this haunting novel. Although in theory the winner of the lengthy conflict with Athens, it proved in the end to be a Pyrrhic victory.
Timeslip
River of Destiny, Barbara Erskine. One of the best Erskine’s written to date. Bags of eerie atmosphere to get the hair lifting at the back of your neck, and the balance of interest between the present-day story and the one from the past is more evenly weighted than is usual with her work.
YA
Icefall by Matthew Kirby - wise and warm-hearted Viking-era coming of age story.
Non HF fiction
The Yellow Birds, Kevin Powers
Compelling, intense and poetically written little story about a young soldier who returns home from the Iraq War suffering from post-traumatic stress.
On a similar subject and also excellent, though more satirical in tone, Billy Lynn’s Long Half Time Walk, by Ben Fountain.
No room for the many excellent non-fiction, mystery and fantasy titles I've also read this year
