ABOUT OUR REVIEWS
Who We Are & What We Do
The Historical Novel Society offers the foremost website for historical fiction, providing 25,000+ searchable, browsable reviews. The majority of our reviews were originally published in our magazine, the Historical Novels Review (est.1997), available solely to Society members. It is the only print magazine in the world devoted to historical fiction. If you'd like to subscribe to this magazine, we invite you to join the Society.
After publication in the print magazine, the Society publishes its reviews to the website. Given the ever-increasing number of historical fiction titles reviewed by the Society, some reviews are published web only as online exclusives.
SCOPE, SELECTION & EDITORIAL PROCESS
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What Novels Do We Review?
In order to be considered for review, a novel must have been published for the first time within the past six months. We also consider ARCs (advanced reader copies) of forthcoming titles. Our scope encompasses all works of historical fiction, and our definition of historical fiction is intentionally broad. For us, this means novels set at least 50 years before the time of writing.
As well as traditional and literary historical novels, we also feature reviews of historical mystery, historical fantasy, historical romance, sagas, alternate history, Christian historical fiction, time-slip novels, multi-period novels, novel-length collections of historical short stories or novellas, children’s and young adult historicals, and a small number of relevant nonfiction titles.
Selection and Editorial Process for Reviews
All of our reviews go through a selection process and a three-stage editorial process before publication. For traditionally-published novels, we consult catalogues to choose titles for review and keep an eye on press releases and book prizes.
For independently-published novels, we look to commercial sites such as Amazon, Goodreads and Bookbub, and monitor competitive shortlists and award winners on Indie promotional sites.
We do not offer comment or feedback on selection judgments. All selection is at the discretion of our editors. Editorial decisions are final.
REVIEW PROCESS
How to Submit a Book for Review
Our Submit A Book For Review form allows authors, publicists or friends to alert us to new releases.
The Review Process
We request print copies (if available - e-galleys are also accepted) of selected titles. If they are accepted for review by our editors, we then offer the books to our reviewers. While this guarantees placement of the majority of titles selected, there are sometimes ‘orphans‘. These are books that the editors attempt to place, but no reviewer agrees to read.
Reviews are edited and copy-edited, and some are selected for publication in our print magazine, the Historical Novels Review. All our reviews are published online in quarterly batches on the first of February, May, August and November. Our lead time varies but is typically at least 3-5 months.
REVIEWS FAQS
OUR REVIEWERS
Reviewer Background & Selection
Reviewers for the Historical Novels Review are drawn primarily from the Society's membership, and are all well-read, knowledgeable enthusiasts of historical fiction. Reviewers volunteer to serve, and they choose which books they wish to select for review from lists sent to them each quarter. Potential reviewers are vetted by the editorial board through previous work product, writing samples, etc. before being selected for our reviewer team.
How to Become a Reviewer
If you're a Society member and would like to volunteer to be a reviewer, please Contact Us to request a copy of the guidelines. Include details on your reading interests in historical fiction, and we will provide details and may request writing samples or other information from you. If you're not a Society member but would like to become one, we invite you to join.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Historical Novels Review Editorial Staff
- Managing Editor: Bethany Latham
- Book Review Editor: Sarah Johnson
- Features Editor: Lucinda Byatt
- New Voices Column Editor: Myfanwy Cook
- Reviews Editors (UK): Ben Bergonzi, Alan Fisk, Ann Lazim, Aidan Morrissey, and Adele Wills
- Reviews Editors (US): Tracy Barrett, Karen Bordonaro, Kate Braithwaite, Bonnie DeMoss, Peggy Kurkowski, and Janice Ottersberg
Learn more about the individuals who make up our Editorial Board.
All views expressed in our reviews are those of the reviewer, not the editorial staff.
