During 2014, there were 105 reviews of 65 books labelled as Historical Fiction linked to the AWW challenge. This represents 7% of the total number of reviews, and included Adult, Young Adult (YA) and children’s fiction. (Note: these stats may not reflect the total number of books reviewed in this category, as some novels combine contemporary characters with flashbacks to earlier times and may have been labelled General Fiction.)
While contributing editor Marg wrote round-ups for January and February and a three-month wrap up in June, there were no AWW roundups for Historical Fiction for the latter half of 2014. We hope to improve on that for 2015.
There were two titles that share the honour of “most reviewed book for 2014”, both with nine reviews:
- Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, reviewed by Carpe Librum, David Golding, Whispering Gums, Mr P R Plover, Tarla Kramer, Chris White, Dark Matter Zine, and
- Amanda Curtin’s Elemental (2013), reviewed by Sonja Porter, Angela Savage, Monique at Write Note Reviews, Danielle, Bernadette at Reactions to Reading, Natalia Clara, and Jane Rawson.
Kent’s book needs no introduction. Amanda Curtin, on the other hand, is an ongoing contributor to the challenge, so we’re thrilled that Elemental is achieving recognition from our book-blogging community. Congratulations, Amanda!
While these were our most popularly reviewed books, there were four novels that each attracted three reviews; three of these were new releases for 2014:
- Nicole Alexander’s The Great Plains (2014), reviewed by Rochelle, Shelleyrae and Marcia
- M L Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans (2012), Louise Allan, Kate and Shannon
- Kim Kelly’s The Blue Mile (2014), Brenda, Shelleyrae and Emily Paull
- Christine Piper’s After Darkness (2014), Jo at Booklover Book Reviews, Linda Funnell and Jane Rawson
A total of 12 books attracted two reviews each; eight of these were released in 2014:
- Karen Brooks’ The Brewer’s Tale (2014)
- Kylie Fornasier’s Masquerade (2014, YA)
- Kate Forsyth’s Bitter Greens (2012)
- Anna Funder’s All that I Am (2012)
- Justine Larbalestier’s Razorhurst (2014, YA)
- Joan London’s Gilgamesh (2002)
- Isolde Martyn’s The Golden Widows (2014)
- Fiona McIntosh’s Nightingale (2014)
- Moira McKinnon’s Cicada (2014)
- Gillian Mears’ Foal’s Bread (2011)
- Dominique Wilson’s The Yellow Papers (2014)
- Suzy Zail’s Alexander Altman A10567 (2014; children’s)
The complete list of books reviewed in this category for the challenge in 2014 can be found on the AWW Weebly site here.
So what books should we be looking out for in 2015?
Published poet and debut novelist Robyn Cadwallader’s historical novel, The Anchoress, has created a lot of buzz and is due out in March with Fourth Estate. Lisa Chaplin, multi-published in another genre, is making her debut as a historical fiction novelist with The Tide Watchers, to be released in July by HarperCollins. New books are also expected later in the year by award-winning writers Isolde Martyn and Geraldine Brooks.
When I asked in the Historical Novel Society of Australasia Facebook group the other day, I discovered the following authors also have books due out this year: Sulari Gentill, Pamela Rushby, Kim Kelly, Lucinda Brant, Juliette Marillier, Wendy James, Elizabeth Ellen Carter, Téa Cooper, Sherryl Clark (children’s) and Sophie Masson.
Which historical fiction novels are you looking forward to reading this year?
Our CRANKY LADIES OF HISTORY anthology could probably squeak in for the AWWC! While we have two stories by men, the rest of them are by women (14 Australian ones), about women, edited by two Australian women! Due out on March 8, for International Women’s Day 🙂
Yes, I’d say that qualifies, Tehani. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. I hope it’s a great success.
Great round-up Elizabeth. You are doing a stirling round-up job this year.
Thanks, Sue. Filling some gaps!
Thank you, Elizabeth! I’m thrilled for Elemental to be recognised on this list 🙂
I’m chairing a panel with Robyn Cadwallader at the Perth Writers Festival — really looking forward to reading The Anchoress.
You’re very welcome, Amanda. I hope your panel with Robyn is a great success.
Thanks for the mention, Elizabeth. Lovely to be mentioned even before the book comes out! And looking forward to meeting you and chatting, Amanda. I do hope you enjoy reading!
My pleasure, Robyn. I’m really looking forward to your book.
Hi Robyn 🙂 The Anchoress sounds amazing — I can’t wait to read it! I’ll be in touch soon, and it will be lovely to meet you next month in Perth.
I’m surprised to realise I’ve read both of the most popularly reviewed historical novels – it seems I do sometimes read things other than crime novels 🙂 ELEMENTAL was one of my favourite books of last year. Even though it made me cry.
Will try to read more in this genre – used to read heaps of it but slacked off a bit the past few years.
I haven’t read either, Bernadette, but I aim to. I drifted inexorably towards contemporary crime over a number of years and forgot how much I loved other genres and periods. I hope to amend that this year.
Electra – the final book in Kerry Greenwood’s Delphic Women trilogy (following Medea and Cassandra) will be out in February.
Force and Fraud by Ellen Davitt – is not only an historical crime novel but was actually Australia’s FIRST mystery novel – written in 1865.
Clan Destine Press is bringing out a new eBook edition of Force and Fraud – with a forward by Lucy Sussex – in February.
The Sisters in Crime Australia Davitt Award for women’s crime fiction is named in honour of Ellen DAvitt.
Thanks, Lindy!
Great news about a re-release of FORCE AND FRAUD Lindy – went looking for a copy a few years ago but no luck
I’m excited about publishing this Bernadette. It really shouldn’t be out of print!
This is my favourite genre, so was looking forward to this wrap-up. Thanks for linking up my review of Burial Rites, I’m really looking forward to Kate Morton’s new book this year, although the title and cover haven’t been announced yet.
I’m looking forward to that one too, Tracey. Thanks for mentioning it – and for participating in the challenge.
This is one of my favourite genre’s but I didn’t read many Australian historicial fiction books last year…I hope to improve that this year!