My latest substack post explores my honeymoon adventures in the medieval old town of Rhodes and reviews a book set during its 1522 siege. #rhodes #greece #history #historicalfiction #knightshospitaller

Mythos by Stephen Fry Fry uses his comedic and witty style to bring the Greek myths alive. The myths are vivid, chaotic and entertaining in their own right, but layered with Fry’s commentary, explanations, and wicked sense of humour, they really sparkle. open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea...

Blog tour with rachelsrandomresources🧳 Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks. Set in the lead up to the Battle of Crecy, expect lots of violence, chaos and action in this thrilling start to a new series. open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea...

Wings Unseen By Suzy Susan. A true story of the women who served in the RAF in WW2. open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea... #historicalfiction #booksky #ww2 ##womenshistory

Blog tour with the @thecoffeepotbookclub 🧳 The Ballad of Mary Kearney by @katmezzacappa.bsky.social and @cathiedunn.bsky.social A beautiful ballad of love and loss. open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea... #historicalfiction #booksky

open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea... #booksky #historicalfiction

For nearly two years, we've been going to Bath for a monthly date day. Coffee and cake, book browsing (where we MUST come away with at least one new book), and maybe a cheeky tipple…. This one's our first one as husband and wife, after being married (in Bath, of course) 3 weeks ago. #booksky

open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea... #iceland #booksky

Samuel M. Sargeant's Faith of Their Fathers is set in 11th-century Iceland. He's used the old sagas to influence a story of faith, conflict and daily life in a land many of us don't know. It's fast-paced, grim, and edgy with a strong cast. Full review on Insta 👉 #booksky #Iceland #histfic

Blog Tour 🧳 My stop on Random Things Tours for The Engraver’s Secret by Lisa Medved. maddyreadsherstory.substack.com/p/the-engrav... #history #historicalfiction #art #theengraverssecret #booksky

When you think hen do, Iceland probably doesn't come up, right? 🤔 open.substack.com/pub/maddyrea... #iceland #history #vikings #booksky #sagas

The John Knox House Museum. #Edinburgh’s only surviving medieval mansion where the 16th century Protestant Reformer spent the last 18 months of his life. I'm on the hunt for a fiction book about John Knox, which seem quite rare. Do you have any recommendations? #history

Saw the Lewis Chesspieces today! #history #edinburgh

Today I saw this famous painting - ‘The Murder of Rizzio' by Sir David Allen, 1833 in The National Gallery, #Edinburgh. It shows the assassination of David Rizzio, the queen's Italian secretary, in March 1566. #maryqueenofscots #history

April's new historical fiction picks now on the blog! Featuring: dark medieval stories, Georgian settings, mystery in Elizabethan London, and tales from ancient Britannia. #newbooks #historicalfiction #booksky #booknerd#books#books #spring

substack.com/@maddyreadsh... I've just joined Substack! Subscribe for all things historical and historical fiction. Pre 1800 of course.... #booksky

Blog tour: Sword Brethren by Jon Byrne, a historical novel of the Livonian Crusade. #thecoffeepotbookclub #historicalfiction #medieval #booksky

Q: Who wrote the first autobiography in English that tells the story of a mother, a mystic and a pilgrim? Drop your guesses in the comments and swipe to reveal the answer. No cheating! Let's see who knows their literary history. #booksky #womanshistorymonth

Get ready for Spring with new #historicalfiction. #booksky #history #booknerd

maddyreadsherstory.com/2025/02/23/m... New blog post all about some 19th century historical fiction classics I've been reading. #booksky #historicalfiction

Recent book haul. No one talk to me, I've got #books to read. #booksky #historicalfiction

Historical fiction book stack for #valentinesday #booksky #histfic

The Black Tulip by Alexander Dumas is a cinematic, exciting experience. There’s romance, imprisonment, violence (quite shocking at times), a nemesis, revenge and themes of justice and freedom. Full review on Insta ☝️ #booksky

Fall in love with new historical fiction. Link in bio or head to maddyreadsherstory.com #newbooks #historicalfiction #booksky #booknerd #valentines

Book tour with the #coffeepotbookclub. The Fugitive's Sword by @emswifthook.bsky.social. Set in 1624, during The Thirty Years War, the fate of a wealthy lady, a fierce swordsman and a foundling collide. #booksky maddyreadsherstory.com/2025/01/30/t...

📚 Rebellion by Richard Cullen Set during the Baron’s Rebellion and the signing of the Magna Carta, this has knights, battles and politics. Following a young, bumbling squire on his journey to knighthood, it has an engaging plot with a rich historical setting. Full review on Insta 👉 #booksky

Roadtrip with Mater and Pater to see the 1225 Magna Carta display at The Weston Library, Oxford. #history #medieval #booksky

After some short and gritty #historicalfiction? #booksky

Review of The Sword of the War God. Gritty #historicalfiction set in the fifth century, as the Roman Empire crumbles. #bookreview #booksky

Hellmouth by Giles Kristian. Based on a real tower with dark and horrifying tales, this novella starts punchily and brutallym It's set against the background of the 14th century Bohemian Reformation. At times, the story verges on sickening, but I couldn’t stop reading. #historicalfiction

Blog Tour: Arden by G D Harper. A gripping novel exploring Shakespeare's early years and the murder that inspired his first play. #booktour #historicalfiction #booksky #randomthingstours

Looking for #histfic set before 1800? Here for all your needs. Follow me on my blog or insta. Links in bio. 👆 #booksky

Beat the January blues with new historical fiction #newbooks #historicalfiction #booksbooksbooks #booksky #booknerd

Monthly date with the fiancé on a freezing winter day. #booksky

How to survive winter weather.

The Lay of Sir Launfal by Marie de France. Set in the Arthurian court, it is the tale of a knight at the mercy of two women, a fairy queen and Queen Guinevere. Marie gives women powerful voices in the story to challenge attitudes of her time... #kingarthur Full review on Insta 👉 #booksky

The Idylls of the King is a collection of 12 poems based on Arthurian legend, written by Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate during Queen Victoria’s reign. They are stories of love and jealousy, guilt and revenge.  Full review on Instagram 👉 #kingarthur #booksky

Bliss and Blunder by Victoria Gosling, a retelling of Arthurian legend, set in the modern day.  A twisty, clever and original read, from The Green Knight pub, Arthur as a tech billionaire, and the Wiltshire village of Abury. Full review on Insta 👉 #booksky #arthuriantalesforwinterknights

Marcia Williams I remember pouring over Williams's beautiful images and stories. Her style is cartoonish and bursting with colour and fun. I have really fond memories of reading these. She’s great for everyone! #kingarthur #booksky #arthuriantalesforwinterknights

Reading Idylls of the King from a 1911 book once belonging to Henry Shaw of Liverpool.

Chuffed at this. Since starting my bookstagram just over a year ago, I've been reading more than ever. I've also started writing again in the form of reviews. And I'm absolutely loving it. So, if you write histfic set before 1800 and want a reviewer, pick me! #booksky #bookreviewer

My stop on the @TheCoffeePotBookClub book tour for On a Sword's Edge by J R Tomlin. Set in 1263, the story of a young squire who gets caught up in the Norse invasion of Scotland. #OnASwordsEdge #HistoricalFiction #ScottishHistoricalFiction #BlogTour

Honestly, a cats cuddle is just therapy.

It's that time again. Monthly date day in Bath with the fiancé. This month featuring Christmas markets and bookshops.

📖 Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keetch A powerful, compelling take on a misunderstood sorceress of Arthurian Legend. Full review on my Instagram 👉 #arthuriantalesforwinterknights #kingarthur #booksky #fantasy

Join The Coffee Pot Book Club on #WriterWednesday: 🔥Designer Cathy Helms talks AI in Cover Art🔥 Today, Cathy is sharing insights into practical use of AI during cover art creation. Well worth a read! thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/12/join... #CoverDesign #WritingLife @cathelms.bsky.social

Chose not to go to my staff christmas party tonight. A recent eczema flare up is all over my face, and I think I've got SAD. And I'm exhausted. So, not feeling very partyish. Instead, cuddling up with my cats and books and a cheeky glass of prosecco.

Giveaway! To mark Mary, Queen of Scots’ birthday yesterday, I’m giving away two signed copies of THE TOWER (your pick of the UK or US edition), addressed to whomever you like — just in time for Christmas gifting! Follow, like and re-share for a chance to win one of the copies! (1/2) #BookSky

My second choice for #arthuriantalesforwinyerknights is The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman. It's a wild, imaginative and exciting fantasy that brings the Arthurian legend to all readers. Full review on my Instagram 👉 #kingarthur #booksky #fantasy