Historical Fictionistas discussion

I believe we have at least 10 people who pledged to read a series. The next part is to choose a series.

Over the next 5 days suggest a series for the group to read. I will update the list every time a new series is mentioned. The reason is because it allows everyone to see the suggestions in one place. The format will be Series Name-First Book-Author -# of books in series.

After the 5 days, the great and awesome powers of the Mods will post a poll and we will vote on the series to be read. [No poll making for us regular folk.]

[The starting date can be adjusted. I used the gap between the last day for voting and reading to allow people who read the actual book some time to get the first book or series.]

Warlord Chronicles- The Winter King-Bernard Cornwell-3
King Raven-Hood-Stephen R. Lawhead-3
Welsh Princes- Here be Dragons- Sharon Kay Penman-3
The Border Trilogy- All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy-3
Temeraire -His Majesty's Dragon -Naomi Novik-8
William Marshall Series-The Greatest Knight- Elizabeth Chadwick-5
Guinevere- Guinevere-Sharan Newman-3
The D'Artagnan Romances- The Three Musketeers- Alexandre Dumas-7
The Josephine Bonaparte Collection - The Many Lives & Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.-Sandra Gulland-3
Asian Saga -King Rat-James Clavell-7
Brethren- Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar- Robyn Young-3
Boudica Series - Dreaming the Eagle-Manda Scott-4

Bernard Cornwell's Arthur trilogy: The Winter King, Enemy of God: A Novel of Arthur, and Excalibur!

Stephen Lawhead's Hood, Tuck and the 3rd one escapes me right now.

Hi Ladies, not sure where the sign up is but I would participate in a series! Also, if Lawheads book is about Robin Hood it has my vote!!!

At the moment we are just doing nominations for a series.

How about the Sharon Kay Penman series, starting with Here be Dragons, then Falls the Shadow, and The Reckoning. Goodreads calls the series the Welsh Princes.

I love the nominations so far and would like to add: The Border Crossing trilogy The Border Trilogy: All the Pretty Horses / The Crossing / Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy. The linked edition is just to tell the names of all three books; they are available in single editions. I really enjoyed the first one and would like to read and discuss all of them!

Re: Lawhead's series Hood.....I think that Tuck is the 3rd book and the 2nd is Scarlet. I can definitely recommend this series. It seems that we are doing historical fantasy by the noms since both Hood and I think the Cromwell series have magical elements.

If everyone is good with historical fantasy then I nominate: Temperaire - His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik.

If you want straight up historical fiction, I'd like to read the William Marshall series:
The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

Cornwell's series doesn't really have a lot of magical elements. Some, but I'd say it feels more like historical fiction than fantasy.

Thank you for putting all of the nominations in one place, Gabriel. Very helpful.

I was going to nominate Welsh Princes, but I see someone beat me to that one.

Instead I will go with

Guinevere - Guinevere by Sharan Newman

What is the plan for people that have already read the selected series?

Well, hmmm. If you read the series already than read the stand alone novel the group offers.

Or if you read one of the list already then pick another one so you do not have to reread it again.

Or you can reread the series again and perhaps offer insight to the rest of us and maybe find something you missed by reading it a 2nd or 3rd time.

I hoped I helped answer your question.

This is such a great idea....I do not know much about HF series.

I've read the first book in a couple of the nominated series listed, so if they are picked I plan to join in on the conversations and wait till people are ready to read the book I am on. I think that's the great thing about it being a multi book Group Read.
I'm up for the Welsh Princes series, or Elizabeth Chadwick's series William Marshall. I wouldn't mind any of the other nominated as well.

The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and the Last Great Dance on Ear

I have read the others nominated, so I will go in a slightly different direction.

These might be a good choice as well

Tai-Pan; Gai-Jin; Noble House

Just to put things on a different continent, so to speak :)

Nae wrote: "These might be a good choice as well

Tai-Pan; Gai-Jin; Noble House

Just to put things on a different continent, so to speak :)"
I love these! I am reading Noble House for a challenge - amazing book.

I will nominate Robyn Young's Brethren Series that starts with Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar

Since it is a Crusade book, it will not only take place in England and France, but the Holy Lands as well.

I'd like to nominate Manda Scott's Boudica series: Dreaming the Eagle, Dreaming the Bull, Dreaming the Hound and Dreaming the Serpent Spear.

I've been wanting an excuse to read these. However, all of the nominated series look exciting!

I seriously have no idea which series to vote for when the poll goes up - several of those nominated I want to read or have already started and this would motivate me to finish the series.

Robin wrote: "I seriously have no idea which series to vote for when the poll goes up - several of those nominated I want to read or have already started and this would motivate me to finish the series."

Me too. I have a couple of these - Manda Scott and Cornwell's Arthurs - sitting waiting on the shelves, in need of the motivation of a group read.

About 16 hours left in suggesting HF series for the group. I will ask nicely for Jackie or Becky to provide the poll after the deadline.

I like the Elizabeth Chadwick series of William Marshall. I've read 2 of the books, although out of order. I love her work!

I have read all four of this series and loved them all.

Okay guys, the poll is up: http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/69422
You will have until August 6th to vote.

Since nominations are over I'm closing this thread. Please feel free to comment under the poll section.