Genre: Historical Fiction

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: A Slow-Burn Exploration of Secrets, Sacrifice, and Self-Discovery

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Daughter of Doctor Moreau takes us into the heart of 19th-century Mexico, blending historical fiction with sci-fi and gothic romance in a reimagining of H.G. Wells’ classic tale. Set against the sweltering backdrop of the Yucatán Peninsula during the Caste War, the story unfolds through the eyes of Carlota, a young woman…
Uptown Oracle Reads… A Riveting Saga of Espionage and Redemption in Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

If you’re a fan of rich character development, intricate plots, and historical settings infused with supernatural elements, Chloe Gong’s Foul Lady Fortune might just be your next obsession. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Shanghai, this novel weaves together espionage, romance, and themes of identity and loyalty, creating a narrative that is as emotionally resonant…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes | A Fresh Perspective on Medusa’s Myth

In Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes breathes new life into the age-old myth of Medusa, offering readers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on one of mythology’s most misunderstood figures. Published in 2022, this novel delves into the story of Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, whose life is irrevocably altered by the whims of the gods. Unlike…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Sistersong | Celtic Magic in the Time of Constantine of Dummonia

As the titles alludes to, Sistersong is about Sisters in medieval England (around Devon and Cornwall by today’s geography) and relies a bit on old Celtic myth and Magic. Set in around 500 AD as the Saxons are slowly taking over Briton, I enjoyed how the historical setting was written whilst keeping a sense of…
Uptown Oracle Reads… The Sin Eater

So I thought this was going to be a fantasy book from what I’d read about sin eaters before but it’s more historical fiction. Sin Eaters are women who have been given the task to hear all the sins of a person before they die, and eat all the coresponding food over their coffins. They’re…
Uptown Oracle Reads… City of Girls

City of GirlsElizabeth Gilbert (Affiliate Links) In 1940, nineteen-year-old Vivian Morris has just been kicked out of Vassar College, owing to her lackluster freshman-year performance. Her affluent parents send her to Manhattan to live with her Aunt Peg, who owns a flamboyant, crumbling midtown theater called the Lily Playhouse. There Vivian is introduced to an…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Retribution Road

Sergeant Arthur Bowman, a sergeant in the East India Company, is sent on a secret mission during the Second Anglo-Burmese War. But the expedition is foiled – his men are captured and tortured. Throughout their ordeal, a single word becomes Bowman’s mantra, a word that will stiffen their powers of endurance in the face of…
Uptown Oracle Reads… Nothing But Sky

Grace Lafferty only feels alive when she’s dangling 500 feet above ground. As a post-World War I wing walker, Grace is determined to get to the World Aviation Expo, proving her team’s worth against flashier competitors and earning a coveted Hollywood contract. No one’s ever questioned Grace’s ambition until Henry Patton, a mechanic with plenty of…