Historical Fictionistas discussion

Post your scores here.

Example:

5.1 Happy Place by Emily Henry

400 pgs - 4 pts
Book total - 9 pts

15.2 The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden (10/3)
368 pages- 4 pts
Book Total- 19 pts

5.1 Pink cover A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder #1 Lady Harleigh by Dianne Freeman
HF - 5 points
306 pages - 4 points
Book total - 14 points

15.2 NoeL. Read a book that does NOT contain the letter "L" in both the title and author's name.
Death on a Winter's Day, Verity Bright
HF - 5 pts
330 pages - 4 pts
Book total = 24 pts

5.3 Get your spooky on!! Read a book with a paranormal main character.
Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke
350 pages- 4 points
Book Total- 9 points

Challenge Total- 28 points

10.3 Call the Doctor! Read a book with the "Who" in the title A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan
432 pages=4 points
Book total=14 points

10.2 It's Fall, Y'all! Read a book with an autumn picture on the cover
by Anne Rivers Siddon
512 pages=6 points
Book total=16 points
Challenge total=30 points

5.2 - Indigenous person - Henry Standing Bear
The Cold Dish #1 Walt Longmire by Craig Johnson
HF - No - 0 points
354 pages - 4 points
Book total - 9 points

Previous challenge total - 14 points
Total challenge points - 23
Total books read - 2

10.1 In honor of Remembrance/Veterans' Day, read a HF set during World War I.
A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum
HF- 5 points
464 pages= 4 points
Book Total- 19 points

Challenge Total- 47 points

15.1 Winter Solistice. Celebrate the shortest day of the year by reading a book with a one word title.
Heresy: A Novel, Melissa Lenhardt

HF = 5 points
480 pages = 4 points
Book Total = 24

Total Points = 48 pts

5.2 Read a book featuring an Indigenous characterThe Old Cape Hollywood Secret by Barbara Eppich Struna
326 pages=4 points
Book total=9 points
Previous challenge total=30 points
Challenge total now=39 points

5.3 - Paranormal main character - R.F. Jackaby- Able to see supernatural beings.
Beastly Bones #2 Jackaby by William Ritter
HF - no - 0 points
296 pages - 2 points
Book total - 7 points

Previous challenge total - 23 points
Total challenge total - 30 points
Total books read - 3

5.3 paranormal main character
Dead to the Worldby Charlaine Harris
Sookie Stackhouse- is telepathic and can read people's thoughts.
HF-0
320pp +4
Book total :9
Challenge total:9

15.1 Winter solstice- read a book with a one word title
Valdemarby Mercedes Lackey
HF-0
544 pp +6
Book total: 21
Challenge total: 30

10.3 Call the Doctor! In honor of Doctor Who Day (November 23), read a book with "DOCTOR" or "WHO" in the title.
Doctor No by Ian Fleming
200-300 pgs = 2
Book total = 12
Challenge total = 60

10.3 Call the Doctor! In honor of Doctor Who Day (November 23), read a book with "DOCTOR" or "WHO" in the title.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes
HF- 5 points
391 pages- 4 points
Total- 19 points

Challenge Total- 66 points

15.2 NoeL. Read a book that does NOT contain the letter "L" in both the title and authors name
Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier
HF 5 points
307 pages 4 points
Book Total 24 points

F-A-L-L (placeholder)

Fire, Burn! by John Dickson Carr HF, 285 pgs

Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession by Alison Weir HF, 544 pgs

Lake County by Lori Roy HF, 311 pgs

Robin H-R wrote: "10.3 Call the Doctor! In honor of Doctor Who Day (November 23), read a book with "DOCTOR" or "WHO" in the title.
Doctor No by Ian Fleming
HF = 5..."

Hi, Robin. Unfortunately this book is not eligible for the HF bonus - written in 1958, but not set 50 years prior to that. Please edit your entry. Thanks!!

5.1 - Primarily pink cover
by Clare Pooley
337 pgs - 4 pts
Book total - 9 pts

5.2 - Indigenous Peoples Day
The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera
368 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts
Book total - 14 pts

10.1 - Veteran's Day
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles
318 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts
Book total - 19 pts

10.3 - Doctor Who Day
Who Will Remember by C.S. Harris
365 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts
Book total - 19 pts

15.1 - Winter Solstice - one word title
Soullessby Gail Carriger
357 pgs - 4 pts
Book total - 19 pts

15.3 - Let it Snow
by Melanie Benjamin
355 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts
Book total - 24 pts

Post total - 104 pts

5.3-Get Your Spooky On
The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
365 pgs- 4 pts
HF-5 pts
Book Total: 14 pts

15.1-Winter Solstice
Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne
296 pgs-2 pts
Book Total: 17 pts

15.2- NoeL
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
448 pgs-4 points
Book Total: 19 pts

Book Total=50 pts

5.1 In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, read a book with a primarily pink cover- It Girl by Allison Pataki
HF-5pts
416 pages- 4 points
Book Total- 14 points

10.2 It's Fall, Y'all!! Can't Help Falling in Love by Sophie Sullivan
304 pages- 4 points
Book Total- 14 points

15.3 Let it Snow. The Winter Guest by Pam Jenoff
HF- 5 points
333 pages- 4 points
Book Total- 24 points

5.2 In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day
Maud's Line by Margaret Verble
HF- 5 points
294 pages- 2 points
Book Total 12 points

Challenge Total- 130 points

15.2 A book with no "L" in the title or author's name Red Stefan by Patricia Wentworth
226 pages=2 points
Book total=17 points
Challenge total=56 points

Cheryl A wrote: "Robin H-R wrote: "10.3 Call the Doctor! In honor of Doctor Who Day (November 23), read a book with "DOCTOR" or "WHO" in the title.

So then, according to your post, the current group read, 11/22/63 is not historical fiction? It's only 48 years before publication (2011). Guess I don't understand your definition?

5.1 In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, read a book with a primarily pink cover.
A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder by Dianne Freeman

HF +5
306 pages +4
Book Total = 14

Challenge total = 74

100.1 - Honor Mods

a. Becky - An Unlikely Spy by Rebecca Starford
HF - 5 points
Pages - 352 - 4 points
Total book points - 9

b. Gretchen - The Devil Take Tomorrow by Gretchen Jeannette
HF - 5 points
Pages - 553 - 6 points
Total book points - 11 points

c. Jasmine - The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
HF - no - 0 points
Pages - 320 - 4 points
Total book points - 4

Task points - 124
Previous challenge points - 30
Total challenge points - 154
Total books read - 6

5.1 In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, read a book with a primarily pink cover.

368 pgs-2 pts
Book total- 7 pts

5.2 In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, read a book that features an indigenous person/people or by an indigenous author.
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land
Book pages-352 pgs- 4 pts
Book Total- 9 pts

Challenge Total- 66 points

5.2 In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, read a book that features an indigenous person/people or by an indigenous author.
Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison

276 pgs +2
Book total = 7

Challenge Total = 81

50.1 - Out with old - In with new

a. Published 2025 Dear Miss Lake #1 Emily Lake by A.J. Pearce - Published July 3, 2025
HF - 5 points
Pages - 304 - 4 points
Total book points - 9

b. "New" - Emily of New Moon #1 Emily by L.M. Montgomery
HF - no - 0 points
Pages - 324 - 4 points
Total book points - 4

c. "Year" - Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
HF - 5 points
Pages - 400 - 4 points
Total book points - 9

Task points - 72
Previous challenge points - 154
Total challenge points - 226
Total books read - 9

25.1 Fall Reading: Read 4 books where the title of each corresponds with a letter in FALL

Fire, Burn!,John Dickson Carr
HF +2
265 pgs +2

Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession,Alison Weir
HF +2
544 pgs +6

Lake County, Lori Roy
HF +2
311 pgs +4

The Last Detail: A Novel, Darryl Ponicsan
218 pgs +2

Prompt total = 45
Challenge total = 126

25.1 Fall Reading: Read 4 books where the title of each corresponds with a letter in FALL.

F- Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki (12/2)
HF-5
416 pages- 4
Total Book Points- 9

A - A Gladiator's Oath by Tanya Bird (11/27)
HF-5
330 pages- 4
Total Book Points- 9

L - Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford (11/1)
HF-5
321 pages -4
Total Book Points- 9

L - Last Summer at Maine Chance: A Novel by Jessica Everett (11/29)
HF-5
320 pages- 4
Total Book Points- 9

Task Points- 61 points
Previous Challenge Points- 130

Challenge Total- 191

15.3
Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop #2 Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
HF - No - 0 points
312 pages - 4 points
Book total - 19 points

Previous challenge total - 226 points
Total challenge points - 245 points
Total books read - 10

50.1 Out with the Old and in with the New. Read 3 books that meet the following prompts:

a. Published in 2025 (OLD) The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang (10/4)
HF-5
400 pages- 4 points
Total- 9 points

b. Title or author contains the word NEW The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale (12/7)
HF- 5
324 pages- 4 points
Total- 9 points

c. Title or author contains the work YEAR The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner (10/10)
HF- 5 points
389 pages- 4 points
Total- 9 points

Task Points- 77 points
Previous Challenge Points 191

Challenge Total- 268 points

10.3 - "Who" in title
Who Slays the Wicked #14 Sebastian St. Cyr by C.S. Harris
HF - 5 points
Pages 349 - 4 points
Toal book points - 19

Previous challenge points - 245
Total challenge points - 264
Total books read - 11

15.2 - Not Letter "L" - Title or Author
Evans to Betsy by Rhys Bowen
HF - No - 0 points
Pages 240 - 2 points
Total book points - 17

Previous challenge points - 264
Total challenge points - 281
Total books read - 12

100.1 Honor the MODS. Thanks go out to Becky, Jasmine and Gretchen for keeping the Historical Fictionistas fun!! Give them a tip of the hat by reading a book with the following author name:

a. Becky (or Rebecca) A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly (11/25)
HF-5
320 pages- 4
Total- 9 points

b. Gretchen Always & Forever by Gretchen Craig (12/14)
HF-5
353 pages- 4
Total- 9 points

c. Jasmine Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas (12/9)
496 pages- 4
Total- 4 points

Task Points- 122 points
Previous Challenge Points- 268 points

Challenge Total- 390 points

15.1 Winter Solistice. Celebrate the shortest day of the year by reading a book with a one word title.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
396 pages = 4
HF =5
Previous Total 24
Challenge Total 48 points

15.1 Winter Solistice. Celebrate the shortest day of the year by reading a book with a one word title. Homecoming by Kate Morton (12/24)
HF-5 points
547 pages- 6 points
Total- 26 points
Previous Total- 390 points

Challenge Total- 416 points
Challenge Completed- 12/24

15.1 - One Word Title
Bluebird by Genevieve Graham
HF - 5 points - dual time line - more then 50% in 1910's and 1920's
Pages 384 - 4 points
Total book points - 24

Previous challenge points - 281
Total challenge points - 305
Total books read - 13

This will be my last book for the Mini Fall Challenge as the books I have lined up for end of year reading won't qualify for the challenge.

Congratulations to all the participants:)

Cheryl, Thanks so much for setting up this challenge. It was fun!

Robin H-R wrote: "Cheryl A wrote: "Robin H-R wrote: "10.3 Call the Doctor! In honor of Doctor Who Day (November 23), read a book with "DOCTOR" or "WHO" in the title.

So then, according to your post, the current gro..."

Sorry for the late reply, Robin. Usually, this group has defined historical fiction as being set 50 years prior to publication. Since I did not add that to the initial post, no worries.

5.3 Paranormal Character
The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness
444 pgs - 4 pts
Book total - 9 pts

15.2 No L
Die Around Sundown by Mark Pryor
320 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts
Book total - 24 pts

25.1 FALL Reading by
French Exit by Patrick deWitt
256 pgs - 2 pts

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner
336 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts

Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen
288 pgs - 2 pts
HF - 5 pts

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas
294 pgs - 2 pts
HF - 5 pts

Page bonus total - 10 pts
HF Bonus total - 15 pts
Task total - 50 pts

50 - Out with the Old, in with the New
Published 2025
The Eights by Joanna Miller
384 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts

NEW
New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan
336 pgs - 4 pts

YEAR
Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
390 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts

Page bonus total - 12 pts
HF bonus total - 10 pts
Task total - 72 pts

Post total - 155 pts
Previous total - 104 pts
Challenge total - 259 pts

25.1
FALL
Force of Nature by Jane Harper
335 pages = 4 points
A Great Act of Love: A Novel by Heather Rose 384 pages = 4 points
HF 5 points book total 9 points
Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor384 Pages = 4 points
HF 5 points
Book total 9 points
Loot by Tania James 304 pages = 4 points
HF 5 points
Total 56 Points
Previous Total 48
Challenge Total 104points

100.1 Honor the MODS

Gretchen
The Book Haters' Book Club by Gretchen Anthony
3552 pgs - 4 pts

Jasmine
Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik
401 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts

Becky
Peggy by Rebecca Godfrey
384 pgs - 4 pts
HF - 5 pts

Page bonus - 12 pts
HF bonus - 10 pts
Task total - 122 pts

Previous total - 259 pts
Challenge total - 381 pts

Last chance to post your challenge progress. I'll post a final reckoning tomorrow around noon Central time. Thanks to all that participated!!

A new challenge for the spring has been posted as well as a year long Around the World challenge.

Robin H-R wrote: "25.1 Fall Reading: Read 4 books where the title of each corresponds with a letter in FALL

Fire, Burn!,John Dickson Carr
HF +2
265 pgs +2..."

Hey, Robin! The HF bonus was 5 points per book, so the total should be 54 points for the task. I used that total in the final tally.

Thanks, everyone, for participating. Hope you had fun!!

Final tally!

Congrats to Monica for completing all tasks for 416 points!!

Cheryl - 11 of 12 for 381 pts
PeggyZ - 9 of 12 for 305 pts
Robin - 5 of 12 for 135 pts
Maureen - 3 of 12 for 104 pts
Jasmine - 5 of 12 for 66 pts
Linda - 4 of 12 for 56 pts
Jayme - 2 of 12 for 30 pts

Monica, Congrats on completing this challenge!

Cheryl, Thanks for setting up this challenge!