Hi, historical fiction fans,
It’s the second week of June, and summer is well and truly here with temperatures in my area already getting up into the 90°s. June is also Pride Month here in the U.S. I started off the month with a really cute sapphic cozy fantasy called The Honey Witch. I’m also looking forward to reading When Among Crows, The Titanic Survivor’s Book Club, and The City in Glass. All three books feature LGBTQ characters.
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Whatever you’re planning on reading this month, I hope it’s good!
Bookish Goods
Vintage Books Candle from Lostbirch Candles
Is there anything better than the smell of old books? $21
New Releases
The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar (June 11, 2024)
The Forgotten Names tells the true story of a woman who risked everything to reunite Jewish children with the names they had lost. When Valérie stumbles across a list of more than one hundred names during her thesis research, she discovers a ploy to sneak Jewish children to the French countryside right under the Nazi’s noses. She’s determined to help these people rediscover their lost names and heritage. But during a time in the 1990s when many people would rather forget—or even deny—the horrors of the Holocaust, Valérie must fight to preserve the truth.
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron (June 4, 2024)
Based on true events, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye follows the rise of one of the first female pirate captains to sail in the Caribbean. When she is forced to flee her home, she finds herself working as an indentured servant to the infamous pirate Blackhand. Along with her fellow crew, Jacquotte endures his ruthless command. But when the chance to pursue a better future for herself and her fellow pirates appears, will Jacquotte be able to secure it?
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
As most of you probably know, June is Pride Month in the U.S., where we celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ identities and history. A great way to celebrate is to try to read queer books this month. Focusing on reading LGBTQ books is something I try to prioritize every June. Here are two great historical fiction books featuring queer characters to get you started.
When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb
Uriel and Little Ash are the unlikeliest of friends as an angel and a trickster demon, but they’ve been studying the Torah together for eons. A missing girl takes them away from their studies and their little shtetl as they follow a conspiracy targeting immigrants. Even as they disagree on the purpose of their trip, Uriel and Ash’s heartfelt friendship keeps them together.
Mademoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak
After escaping violence in Haiti, Sylvie de Rosiers finds herself once again in the midst of revolution in Paris, France. But this time, Sylvie wants to be more than an unwitting bystander. As she’s swept up into the circle of the revolutionary Robespierre and his equally brilliant mistress Cornélie Duplay, she learns to question everything and everyone—including herself.
That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.
If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.
Right now I’m reading The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. What about you?