Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on the high-quality historical novels published by History Through Fiction—and on the HTF community of readers, writers, and history lovers. Read on to learn more!
A Community of Historical Fiction Lovers
- Readers can learn about recent releases like the three titles featured below (including two free e-books!), join the Historical Readers Club, follow the HTF blog (including a post today about forthcoming releases), subscribe to the HTF Podcast, read short stories and novel excerpts, and more.
- Writers will find a short story contest, advertising opportunities, workshops (including a free Write. Revise. Repeat. session on July 3), and learn about the 2026 Historical Fiction Conference for writers and history enthusiasts.
South of Sepharad by Eric Z. Weintraub
Genre: Historical Fiction4.6 stars, 38 ratings on Amazon.com
From $0.99 (Free via Smashwords)
Fleeing death by the Spanish Inquisition, a Jewish doctor makes an impossible choice between home and faith, then struggles to lead his family on a journey for a new life.
GRANADA, SPAIN, 1492. Vidal ha-Rofeh is a Jewish physician devoted to his faith, his family, and his patients. When Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand order all Jews to convert to Catholicism or depart Spain, Vidal and his family leave their their oldest daughter with her Catholic husband and join a caravan of 200 Jews to start their lives anew across the sea in Fez.
On the caravan, Vidal struggles to balance his physician duties and strained family relationships. At the same time, his daughter finds herself exposed to the Spanish Inquisition. Presenting readers with a painful but important part of Jewish history, South of Sepharad is a heroic, heart-breaking story of a father who holds tightly to his faith, his family, and his integrity.
Praise for South of Sepharad
"An epic, historical novel." ~John W. Jarrett, author of The Dark Prairie
"Insightful, compelling, and poignant." ~Teofilo F. Ruiz, author of Spain's Centuries of Crisis: 1300 - 1474
An End of Troubles: An Anthology
Genres: Historical Fiction Anthologies, Short Story Anthologies4.56 stars, 9 ratings on Goodreads
From: $6.99 (Free via Smashwords)
Discover stories where diverse characters confront pivotal historical moments, challenging their resilience and sparking transformation.
Step into a world where history and fiction intertwine in a collection that features ten stories that showcase the power of storytelling to illuminate the past. Each story was a winner in the History Through Fiction short story contest, including the story of a young wife who finds her artistic voice during the Great Depression via a union's musical; a former British soldier who seeks redemption by returning a cursed diamond to India; a soldier in Thebes who must choose between avenging his father and preserving his home as Spartans march to reclaim the city; a servant woman at a Scottish castle who reflects on her encounter with Mary Queen of Scots; and more
Praise for An End of Troubles
★★★★★ "A great collection of short stories about various historical events." ~Amazon Review
★★★★★ "Well-written and evocative of their respective periods." ~Goodreads Review
The Porcelain Menagerie by Jillian Forsberg
Genres: Historical Fiction, Women's LiteratureNew Release: Aug. 1 from History Through Fiction, Oct. 21 from online retailers
From: $9.99
In a world where ambition is as fragile as porcelain, two lives are shaped by a king's dangerous obsessions.
In 18th-century Dresden, the dangerous whims of King Augustus the Strong shape the court and the lives of those held captive, both people and animals.
Johann Kändler, a talented young artist, is drawn into the world of King Augustus, whose relentless desire for a lifelike porcelain menagerie could make or break Johann's future. As Johann works to meet the king's impossible demands, he finds unexpected allies in former royal mistress Maria and her daughter Katharina.
Decades earlier, another story unfolds. Fatima, a Turkish handmaiden, is chosen to replace Augustus's discarded mistress. As she tries to create a menagerie of exotic animals and navigate the intrigues of an unpredictable court, Fatima must learn to survive in a world that values beauty and power above all.
Two timelines, bound by a king's obsessions...art and survival intertwine in a world where ambition can be as fragile as porcelain.
Praise for The Porcelain Menagerie
"Plumbs the depths of possession, resistance and survival." ~Jess Armstrong, author of The Curse of Penryth Hall
"Historical fiction at its most evocative." ~Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Blue
About the Publisher
History Through Fiction seeks to provide readers with compelling narratives that also act as valuable historical resources, enabling readers to enjoy a fictional narrative while also examining the historical foundation upon which that narrative is based. By combining elements of fiction and nonfiction, HTF authors provide readers with an immersive experience that is both entertaining and educational.Learn more at HistoryThroughFiction.com, where you can also sign up for HTF's newsletter. And be sure to follow History Through Fiction online:
