September announces the beginning of Fall even though I’m already seeing Christmas decorations in stores. I saw a Halloween display last month announcing “It’s Spooky Season!” No. August is summer. I do have to admit that I bought a two-foot tall bear dressed as Santa–that has a ghost costume for Halloween. Way to bridge holidays!
In historical fiction, which is the point here, September plans to be a wonderful month. So many good books are coming!k Here are my picks for September’s best titles, best covers, and most intriguing.
BEST COVER
Istanbul Dreaming by Denise Derya Brandt (1950s Turkey, September 29)
“Brandt’s debut is a captivating exploration of what it means for a woman to dare to imagine a life for herself in the face of family disapproval and complicated ties. Rich with the sights, sounds, and tastes of Turkey, this novel is an ode to self-determination and the pursuit of a life of one’s own.”—Marjan Kamali, author of The Lion Women of Tehran and The Stationery Shop
I am a sucker for colors, and a good sunset always catches my eye. Although the nice florals of the other books, and the soft shades of Exalted Objects, make beautiful covers, Istanbul Dreaming causes me to gasp with delight.
The Faerie Handmaid by Louisa Morgan (ancient England, September 15)
Exalted Objects by Jane D. Cairns (1869 New Hampshire, September 15)
A Time of Witches by Madeleine Martin (1645 Suffolk, September 1)
The Book of Unwritten Stories by Helen Phifer (1680 Salem, September 10)
The French Innkeeper’s Daughter by Diane C. McPhail (18th century France, September 29)
BEST TITLE
Circus of the Vanishing Elephant by Tim Schooley (1974 America, September 15)
“A humorous, heartfelt historical novel that captures the gritty, absurd, and tight-knit world of the 1970s circus.” – Brendan McKelvy, Foreword Reviews
Three of these are “lost” or “vanishing,” which always intrigues me. The others have locations (Waverly High) or ideas (Midnight Sun, Goddess Queen) that grab me. What can beat a vanishing elephant, though?
World News From Waverly High by Linda Kass (1969 America, September 8)
Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy (1940/2001, Scotland/Norway, September 15)
The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells (France before WWII, September 8)
The Goddess Queen by Alice Roberts (ancient Egypt, September 1)
The Lost Photograph by Achana Maniar (1920s London, September 15)
MOST INTRIGUING
The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhorn (16th century Ireland, September 8)
“A thrilling story, and the fun that Lawhon clearly had with scenes of bloody mayhem, storms at sea, treacherous machinations, and low Gaelic dialect is contagious. Her pirate queen is brilliant, beautiful, and fearless; her loyal servants are adoring and capable; her male foes are sleazy scumbags and detestable boobs—all exactly as it should be. A heroic, exciting, and stormy voyage.”—Kirkus Reviews
A queen, two libraries, an heiress, a daughter, and ancient Egypt—it seems most of my interests are covered this month! Northanger Abbey is a sequel to Jane Austen’s work, and I received an early copy to review. The Pirate Queen features Grace O’Malley, the Irish pirate whose story entrances me. I read every novel about her!
Bright and Broken Things by Ryan Graudin (ancient Egypt, September 22)
The Last Library in Paris by Kerry Barret (WWII Paris, September 24)
The Heiress of Northanger Abbey by Nancy Bilyeau (Gloucester, 1920, September 1)
Library of Forbidden Books by Mario Escobar (1933 Berlin, September 1)
Daughters of the Wreckage by Stefanie Koens (1628/2018, Australia, September 15)
Need more historical fiction on your TBR? See even more new release titles at Historical Novel Society.
These links take you to Bookshop.org where your purchase supports independent bookstores.
Leave a Reply