Best Historical Fantasy

Gintoki, also known as Yoroizuka, is a sprawling, episodic manga series blending samurai action with absurdist humor and social commentary. It follows Gintoki, a perpetually broke, silver-haired samur...

Nicolas E. Ouellets *Between Two Fires* offers a unique blend of historical fiction and dark fantasy set during the Black Death. It follows a disgraced priest who must escort a young boy believed to b...

Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' series blends historical fiction, fantasy, and romance in a unique and captivating way. Claire Randall, a WWII nurse, is transported back in time to 18th-century Scotland,...

Katanagatari: The Movie is a thrilling continuation of the series, blending action and mystery with historical elements. It features dynamic fight scenes, rich character development, and an engaging s...

Isabella Rossi's 'The Clockwork Heart of Prague' transports readers to a beautifully realized steampunk Prague, where automatons walk alongside humans and ancient magic lies dormant beneath the cobble...

While not strictly steampunk, The Golem and the Jinni incorporates elements of fantastical technology and Victorian aesthetics, making it a compelling gateway into the genre. The story follows a golem...

Da Vinci's Demons, while a fictionalized account, is set in Renaissance Italy and follows a young Leonardo da Vinci as he uncovers secrets and navigates political intrigue. The series blends historica...

Katherine Ardens debut is a lush, atmospheric tale set in the wilderness of medieval Russia. It follows Vasya, a young girl who can see the spirits of the forest and home, as she struggles against the...

Excalibur is a grand, operatic retelling of the legend of King Arthur. With its lush, dreamlike visuals and intense, dramatic performances, it captures the mythic quality of the story better than almo...

N.E. Glovers 'Red Sister' is the first book in 'The Holy Blood' series, a historical fantasy novel set in a world inspired by medieval Europe. The story follows a young girl who is trained to become a...

Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana is a beautifully written historical fantasy novel set in a world inspired by Renaissance Italy. The story follows a group of rebels seeking to restore the memory of their conq...

Susanna Clarkes debut is a monumental achievement in historical fantasy. Set in 19th-century England, it imagines a world where magic once existed and is now being brought back by two rival magicians....

Nghi Vos 'The Empress of Salt and Fortune' is a novella presented as a collection of oral histories recounting the rise and fall of an exiled empress. The story blends elements of Chinese folklore and...

Helene Weckers novel is a beautifully written, atmospheric story set in 1899 New York City. It follows the unlikely friendship between a golem, created in Poland, and a jinni, released from a copper f...

The Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron blends Arthurian legend with historical fantasy, creating a unique and engaging epic fantasy series. The series follows the story of Taylour, a young man caught...

Tad Williams Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn is a sprawling epic fantasy series set in a dark age world. The series follows Simon, a young kitchen boy, as he becomes embroiled in a conflict that threatens t...

Iron & Ash is a historical fantasy graphic novel set during a brutal war between kingdoms. The pencil-sketch art style conveys a sense of grit and realism. The story explores themes of war, sacrifice,...

Alix E. Harrow's The Ten Thousand Doors of January is a lyrical and imaginative portal fantasy novel. January Scaller discovers a book that leads to other worlds, and she embarks on a quest to uncover...

The Sapphire Crown is a historical fantasy romance set in a kingdom steeped in magic and political intrigue. Princess Isolde must navigate a treacherous court while battling a growing darkness and a f...

Janny Wynns The Wars of Light and Shadow is a trilogy that blends historical fantasy with elements of Byzantine history and mythology. The series follows Ain Eleon, a young woman with magical abilitie...

Catherine Fisher's 'The Warded Man' is a historical fantasy novel set in a world inspired by 17th-century Europe, where magic is tied to the wearing of wards. The story follows a young man who becomes...

The Age of the Five by Lian Hearn is a unique and captivating epic fantasy series inspired by Japanese history and mythology. The series follows Nitara, a young woman with a mysterious past, as she na...

Jasper Blacks 'The Alchemist's Legacy' delves into the world of alchemy and secret societies in Victorian London. A young apprentice discovers a hidden legacy that could change the course of history....

R.F. Kuangs debut is a brutal, military fantasy inspired by 20th-century Chinese history. It follows Rin, an orphan who tests into an elite military academy and discovers she has the power to commune...

Sleepy Hollow reimagines the classic 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by introducing Ichabod Crane to a modern-day world filled with supernatural creatures and ancient mysteries. The series blends histor...

Drifters is an action-packed series where historical figures from different eras are transported to a fantasy world to fight in a war. It features figures like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Oda Nobunaga, and Ha...

In a dystopian future, two friends dream of freedom... and gain more than they bargain for! Hothead Zed is on the run from the authorities, while his brainy pal Noah struggles with his own battered bo...

Neal Stephenson's 'Quicksilver', the first book in the Baroque Cycle, is a sprawling historical fantasy set in the 17th century. The story follows Daniel Defoe as he becomes involved in a world of alc...

Salem, while not solely focused on vampires, features them prominently within its narrative of witchcraft and historical fantasy. The series reimagines the Salem witch trials through a supernatural le...