Best Historical Fiction

  A Sign of Her Own illuminates the life of Alexander Graham Bell, particularly his development of Visible Speech for deaf-mute community. The narrative revolves around the fictional character of Ellen Lark, who, after losing her hearing to scarlet fever, becomes Bell’s star pupil. Her journey, interwoven with Bell’s quest for his invention’s patent, is skillfully depicted through a dual timeline, highlighting her life and perceived betrayal by Bell. The tale commences with Bell, now an inventor, arriving in England. He seeks Ellen’s assistance in promoting Visible Speech. This request unsettles Ellen, as her husband is unaware of their full history. This complexity deepens when Ellen is asked to mediate a dispute over the rightful ownership of the Telephone patents, a testament to her close work with Bell’s work. Ellen’s auditory challenges began at age four. In an era when sign language was undervalued, her mother was adamant about her learning an alternative communication method...

 Diva weaves the story of Maria Callas, the most celebrated opera singer of her time, and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis, Greek tycoon. The story begins in 1968 with Maria trying to get over what has just happened. After a nine-year romance with Onassis, she learns about his newly announced marriage to Jackie Kennedy. The world she built around her and tried to protect for so long is crumbling now. The novel interestingly weaves the backstories. Maria was born in New York, but was taken back to the country of her parents and raised there during the Nazi-occupied Greece by her mother who exploited her miraculous voice. Later, Maria marries a man who just sees her voice which makes good money, but he doesn’t see her as a woman. When she meets Onassis, she feels seen for the first time as a woman. They meet in Italy in 1957. Onassis doesn’t like opera, but he likes Maria. She is offended by his arrogance and doesn’t accept an invitation to his yacht. But Onassis doesn’t give ...

  Of Love and Treason weaves a fascinating story based on Valentine’s legend. Rome, AD 270. Emperor Claudius Gothicus needs a bigger military, thus he puts on a new ban. Marriage was never allowed for soldiers, and with the new ban it also includes the civilians. This new ban doesn’t discourage one man, namely Valentine, who performs wedding ceremonies in secret. He worries about women’s fates if they’re not married and have children. That’s why he is brave enough to lead an underground church, where there is only one God. And it’s the time when people believe in many gods. It’s a time when you have to tread your water carefully or you can be betrayed easily. Iris is a blind young girl, who lost her sight at fourteen. She is the daughter of a Roman jailor - Quintus, who spent all of his money and even gained some debt to restore his daughter’s sight. Now, tribune Braccus is requesting repayment from Quintus, who took the loan from Praetorian treasury. There is some offer put forwar...