Best Historical Fiction Books Medieval England: 5 Compared

The reader who just closed a fat medieval epic and wants the next one will find the best historical fiction books medieval england has to offer span from century-long sagas to single-winter sieges. We compared five books by setting, series position, edition and what each description promises, so you can match the book to your reading mood.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd	9.7/10	Buy
2	Queens of the Conquest by Alison Weir	9.7/10	Buy
3	The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin	9.6/10	Buy
4	The Herb Knot by Jane Loftus	9.6/10	Buy
5	Plague and Rage by Paul Bannister	9.5/10	Buy

1

Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd

Edward Rutherfurd·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An epic tracing English history through five families, for readers who want one long saga; skimmers should skip it.

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Pros

• Spans centuries of English history through five families
• New introduction by the author for the thirtieth anniversary, per the listing
• Ebook supports screen reader, X-Ray and Word Wise

Cons

• No print length is stated
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• Covers centuries, so it suits readers who like long sagas

2

Queens of the Conquest by Alison Weir

Alison Weir·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A history of five medieval queens from 1066 to 1154, for readers who want real queenship; novel-only readers should skip it.

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Pros

• Five medieval queens from 1066 to 1154
• Book 1 of a 3-book series
• Draws on contemporary sources, per the description

Cons

• History and biography, not a novel, for fiction readers
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• No print length is stated

3

The Siege Winter by Ariana Franklin

Ariana Franklin·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A civil-war novel set in England in 1141, for readers who like siege stories; those avoiding violent content should skip it.

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Pros

• Set in England, 1141, during civil war
• Completed from Franklin's draft by her daughter, per the description
• 2015 reprint edition stated

Cons

• Description mentions violence and a deadly threat to a child; parents should check
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• No print length is stated

4

The Herb Knot by Jane Loftus

Jane Loftus·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A Hundred Years' War quest novel set after 1346, for readers who like adventure; series readers should note no series is stated.

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Pros

• Set after the Battle of Crecy in 1346
• 2025 publication, the newest aside from one pick
• Description centers a quest to Winchester

Cons

• Debut novel, no series is stated
• Description mentions murder and betrayal
• No reading age or grade level is stated

5

Plague and Rage by Paul Bannister

Paul Bannister·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of a medieval adventure series set in 1341 Kent, for Cornwell-style readers; the squeamish should skip it.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 2 in the Tom Thatcher chronicles
• Set in Kent, 1341, around Crecy and the plague
• 2026 publication stated

Cons

• Description is violent throughout: killing, pestilence, war
• No reading age or grade level is stated
• No print length is stated

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More picks to compare

• Uprising by Paul BannisterBook 2 of the Tom Thatcher chronicles, set in 1381.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the five listings states a reading age or grade level, so that part of the score is zero across the board. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best historical fiction books medieval england

Series or standalone

Sarum and The Herb Knot are standalones, per their listings. Queens of the Conquest is Book 1 of 3, and Plague and Rage is Book 1 of 2, with Uprising continuing the Tom Thatcher chronicles in more picks. Start with Book 1 if you want a series to follow.

Fiction or history

Queens of the Conquest is history and biography by Alison Weir, not a novel, so fiction-only readers should skip it. The other four are novels set between 1141 and 1381. For more England-set novels, see our best historical fiction books set in England list.

Before you buy

• Check the edition date: Sarum’s ebook is 2011 with a 30th anniversary introduction, The Siege Winter is a 2015 reprint, The Herb Knot is 2025, Plague and Rage is 2026.
• Confirm series order: Queens of the Conquest is Book 1 of 3, Plague and Rage is Book 1 of 2.
• Note the mature content: several descriptions mention violence, killing or murder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book should I start with for medieval England?

Sarum covers the widest span of English history, while Queens of the Conquest starts with the Norman conquest in 1066.

Are any of these part of a series?

Queens of the Conquest is Book 1 of 3 in England’s Medieval Queens, and Plague and Rage is Book 1 of 2 in the Tom Thatcher chronicles, continued by Uprising.

Which of these is not a novel?

Queens of the Conquest is history and biography by Alison Weir; the other four are novels.

Still deciding? Our top pickSarum by Edward Rutherfurd

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Related lists

See every book club books list and all fiction books lists.

More lists: historical fiction books set in England, historical fiction books about England, historical fiction with a female protagonist.