Best Historical Fiction

  The Painter’s Daughters brings the story behind so many paintings of Thomas Gainsborough, renowned 18th century English painter. The story explores the close bond between two sisters, Peggy and Molly Gainsborough. Molly is older, but Peggy knows she needs to protect her sister, who occasionally experiences mental confusion. They both enjoy roaming barefoot through the fields surrounding their home in Ipswich, but the mother stops it. She feels that the daughters need to be raised as proper ladies. Thus, the family moves to Bath, where Molly’s bouts progress and Peggy continues to cover it up as much as she can. When a man by the name Johann Fischer enters the scene, the sisters’ bond gets under fractured. This story has a feel of a build up until the end, and the mystery aspect continues to linger to the very last pages. The story is told through the eyes of sisters and a young woman named Meg Grey. It is not clear what her connection is to the family, but Peggy questions the mystery

  Neferura offers an intimate look into her world of being Egyptian priestess with great Pharaoh mother, and half-brother trying to overrule them. The story begins with introduction of the most powerful priestess of Kemet – Neferura. Her mother is the most powerful Pharaoh – Hatshepsut. Their surroundings are threatened by arrival of Neferura’s half-brother – Thutmose. At the palace, he is plotting to accuse his step-mother of murder of their father. Neferura tries to stop Thutmose’s lies. The story is woven with beautiful prose and the characters are interestingly presented. I enjoyed how their backstories were revealed. The first third of the book is more character driven, building up to action. The remaining part is more plot-driven. There is no proof that Neferura married her half-brother. This story imagines it. Alliances among the trio shift. There is one who pays the price for the truce between two others. There are spies, murders, revenges, scheming and more in this intriguing