Best Biographies of Saints (2026): 5 Saints Compared

The new year reading list is empty and the past feels more interesting than the present, so the best historical fiction books recent list starts with the novels that bring history to life. The short version: Act of Oblivion is the strongest recent historical thriller, Where the Sky Begins covers the WWII home front, The Rose and the Thistle brings 1715 Scotland, and Christmas at Carnton is the short seasonal pick. Our book club picks cover more discussion-friendly fiction. All four novels below are ranked by our scores.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Act of Oblivion	9.7/10	Buy
2	Where the Sky Begins	9.6/10	Buy
3	The Rose and the Thistle	9.6/10	Buy
4	Christmas at Carnton	9.6/10	Buy

1

Act of Oblivion

Robert Harris·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

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 ›

Robert Harris's 1660 manhunt novel, 480 pages, in a 2023 Harper Paperbacks reissue.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• An epic manhunt for Charles I's killers in 1660 New England, per the listing
• 480 pages, the longest novel here
• 2023 reissue by Harper Paperbacks

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• Dense historical thriller, not a light read
• The reissue is the 2023 edition, not a first edition

2

Where the Sky Begins

Rhys Bowen·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

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 ›

Rhys Bowen's WWII London novel, 399 pages, published August 2022.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• A gripping WWII novel of danger and second chances, per the listing
• 399 pages of Blitz-era London and the English countryside
• Published August 2, 2022 by Union Publishing

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• A romance-heavy war story, not military history
• The 2022 edition, not the newest printing

3

The Rose and the Thistle

Laura Frantz·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

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 ›

Laura Frantz's 1715 Scotland romance, 416 pages, published January 2023.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• A 1715 Scotland story of Jacobite intrigue and romance, per the listing
• 416 pages with a starred Booklist review, per the listing
• Published January 3, 2023 by Revell

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• A romance first, history second
• The 2023 edition, not a first edition

4

Christmas at Carnton

Tamera Alexander·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

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 ›

Tamera Alexander's Civil War Christmas novella, 256 pages, first edition 2017.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• A Christmas novella set at Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee, per the listing
• First edition from Thomas Nelson, October 3, 2017
• At 256 pages, the shortest read here

Cons

• No warranty term applies to books
• A novella, not a full novel
• The 2017 edition, the oldest printing here

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs historical-fiction fit, writing quality, value, safety and warranty. For books, safety means a stated reading age; none of the four listings states one, and no book listing states a warranty. Act of Oblivion leads on the strength of its 480 pages and the epic true-story premise. 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 recent

Pick the era first

The four novels span four centuries: 1660 New England in Act of Oblivion, 1715 Scotland in The Rose and the Thistle, 1940 London in Where the Sky Begins, and the Civil War in Christmas at Carnton. Pick the century that interests you before anything else.

Thriller, romance or novella

Act of Oblivion is the thriller: a manhunt across colonial America. Where the Sky Begins and The Rose and the Thistle are romances with history around them. Christmas at Carnton is a 256-page novella, the shortest read here. Match the shape of the book to the time you have.

Check the edition

Editions matter for recent fiction too. Act of Oblivion here is the 2023 Harper Paperbacks reissue, and Christmas at Carnton is the 2017 first edition. Where the Sky Begins is the 2022 Union Publishing edition and The Rose and the Thistle is the 2023 Revell edition. Match the listing to the edition you want.

Before you buy

These are all adult historical fiction with war, romance and dark themes; none of the listings states a reading age. Check the print length against your reading plans: 480 pages is a longer commitment, 256 pages is a weekend. None of these listings states a warranty, which is normal for books. For more recent historical picks, see our best historical fiction books set in World War 2 list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest recent historical fiction novel here?

Act of Oblivion at 480 pages. Then The Rose and the Thistle at 416, Where the Sky Begins at 399 and Christmas at Carnton at 256.

Are these books part of series?

Christmas at Carnton launches the Carnton Novels series, per the listing. The other three listings describe standalone novels.

Which pick is best for a book club?

Act of Oblivion has the most discussable true-story premise, and Where the Sky Begins has the romance and renewal arc.

Still deciding? Our top pickAct of Oblivion

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every book club list and all fiction lists.

More lists: historical fiction Rome, historical fiction England and historical fiction World War 2.