Discover new books on Goodreads
Meet your next favorite book
Sign in with Facebook
Historic fiction novels featuring a complex central character.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
|
Memoirs of a Geisha
by
4.16 avg rating — 2,091,255 ratings
score: 595,
and
6 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 2 |
|
The Chords of Memory
by
David Beckett (Goodreads Author)
4.87 avg rating — 23 ratings
score: 299,
and
3 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 3 |
|
Amarna Book I: Book of Ida
by
Grea Alexander (Goodreads Author)
3.97 avg rating — 71 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 3 |
|
Notes of Oisin: From an Irish Monk to a Skaldic Poet
by
Tamuna Tsertsvadze (Goodreads Author)
4.68 avg rating — 25 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 5 |
|
The Pack: Addison (The Pack, #1)
by
Grea Alexander (Goodreads Author)
4.21 avg rating — 38 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 6 |
|
Rebellion Book I: Book of Quay
by
Grea Alexander (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 35 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 7 |
|
The Great Gatsby
by
3.93 avg rating — 5,784,903 ratings
score: 194,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 8 |
|
Girl with a Pearl Earring
by
Tracy Chevalier (Goodreads Author)
3.93 avg rating — 772,862 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 9 |
|
The Birth of Venus
by
3.81 avg rating — 99,670 ratings
score: 190,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 10 |
|
Sacred Hearts
by
3.79 avg rating — 13,396 ratings
score: 187,
and
2 people voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
The Thorn Birds
by
4.25 avg rating — 362,332 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
Daughters of Northern Shores (Blackbird Mountain, #2)
by
Joanne Bischof (Goodreads Author)
4.35 avg rating — 1,513 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow
by
Kenneth W. Harmon (Goodreads Author)
4.25 avg rating — 116 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
Into the Unbounded Night
by
Mitchell James Kaplan (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 78 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 11 |
|
Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1)
by
4.41 avg rating — 208,718 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 16 |
|
Knight of the Purple Ribbon
by
3.58 avg rating — 38 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 16 |
|
At the Mercy of the Queen
by
3.91 avg rating — 2,574 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 16 |
|
Dread Tribunal of Last Resort (Five Star Western Series)
by
4.33 avg rating — 78 ratings
score: 99,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
The Kingmaker's Daughter (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #4; Cousins War, #4)
by
Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 49,762 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
The Queen's Promise
by
3.70 avg rating — 411 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 19 |
|
The Dream of the Celt
by
3.85 avg rating — 10,002 ratings
score: 98,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 22 |
|
Gone with the Wind
by
4.31 avg rating — 1,248,627 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 22 |
|
Fever
by
Mary Beth Keane (Goodreads Author)
3.73 avg rating — 16,161 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 22 |
|
Basi and Company
by
4.13 avg rating — 23 ratings
score: 97,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 25 |
|
Mademoiselle Chanel
by
C.W. Gortner (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 12,552 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 25 |
|
The Lost Civilization of Suolucidir
by
Susan Daitch (Goodreads Author)
3.35 avg rating — 65 ratings
score: 96,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 27 |
|
Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution
by
3.97 avg rating — 22,343 ratings
score: 95,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 28 |
|
The White Queen (The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, #2)
by
Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 181,325 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 28 |
|
In the Shadow of Lady Jane
by
3.84 avg rating — 237 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 28 |
|
Blood of a Stone
by
Jeanne Lyet Gassman (Goodreads Author)
4.03 avg rating — 75 ratings
score: 94,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 31 |
|
The Countess
by
Rebecca Johns (Goodreads Author)
3.55 avg rating — 2,565 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 31 |
|
Conqueror (Conqueror, #5)
by
4.46 avg rating — 13,191 ratings
score: 93,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 33 |
|
The Grand Duchess of Nowhere
by
Laurie Graham (Goodreads Author)
4.07 avg rating — 852 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 33 |
|
Attila (Attila Trilogy, #1)
by
3.79 avg rating — 1,996 ratings
score: 92,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 35 |
|
The Accidental Empress (Sisi, #1)
by
Allison Pataki (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 21,668 ratings
score: 91,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 35 |
|
The Death of Kings (Emperor, #2)
by
4.30 avg rating — 21,340 ratings
score: 91,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 37 |
|
In the Company of the Courtesan
by
3.80 avg rating — 25,866 ratings
score: 89,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 38 |
|
Above All Things
by
Tanis Rideout (Goodreads Author)
3.69 avg rating — 3,916 ratings
score: 87,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 39 |
|
Endurance
by
3.99 avg rating — 75 ratings
score: 86,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 40 |
|
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
by
3.98 avg rating — 34,795 ratings
score: 85,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 41 |
|
Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession (Six Tudor Queens #2)
by
4.14 avg rating — 12,314 ratings
score: 84,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 42 |
|
Tulip Fever
by
Deborah Moggach (Goodreads Author)
3.53 avg rating — 13,007 ratings
score: 83,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 43 |
|
See What I Have Done
by
Sarah Schmidt (Goodreads Author)
3.19 avg rating — 15,725 ratings
score: 82,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 44 |
|
The It Girls
by
3.01 avg rating — 1,951 ratings
score: 81,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 45 |
|
The Romanov Empress: A Novel of Tsarina Maria Feodorovna
by
C.W. Gortner (Goodreads Author)
4.29 avg rating — 8,872 ratings
score: 80,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 46 |
|
The Summer Queen
by
3.92 avg rating — 112 ratings
score: 79,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
| 47 |
|
Adeline
by
3.42 avg rating — 434 ratings
score: 78,
and
1 person voted
|
Error rating book. Refresh and try again.
Rate this book
Clear rating
|
47 books ·
16 voters ·
list created December 6th, 2015
by Jennifer Lafferty (votes) .
Jennifer
258 books
1729 friends
1729 friends
Saturday's
2229 books
67 friends
67 friends
Betina
935 books
33 friends
33 friends
Sarah
14774 books
227 friends
227 friends
Cat
2299 books
27 friends
27 friends
Rebecca
64 books
1 friend
1 friend
David
1406 books
6 friends
6 friends
August
76 books
1 friend
1 friend
More voters…
Related News
Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...
Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.
