Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
This week’s topic is Books Set in/Take Place During X.
Pick a place, time, era, etc. and build your list! Some examples include: Books set in Europe/Italy/Australia/Chicago, books set in Regency England, books that take place during the 1900s, books set in imaginary worlds/post-apocalyptic/dystopian worlds, books set on the ocean, books set it castles, books that take place during WW2, etc.
And this is me, so allow me to ramble at you about some of my favourite books set during my favourite period in history 😂
📖 The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman
The gold standard of historical fiction on Richard III. Penman paints a nuanced, deeply human portrait of the controversial king, blending rich historical detail with a narrative that makes you both understand and feel the politics, betrayals, and battles of the age.
📚 The Hollow Crown by Dan Jones
Jones brings his trademark wit and pace to this sweeping nonfiction history of the Wars of the Roses, tracing the breakdown of the Plantagenet dynasty and the bloody struggle that followed. Perfect for readers who want the drama without getting lost in the footnotes.
👑 The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
The story of Elizabeth Woodville, the commoner who became Edward IV’s queen. Gregory infuses court politics with hints of the mystical, showing Elizabeth as both a political player and a mother trying to keep her family alive in turbulent times.
🧵 The Princes in the Tower by Alison Weir
One of history’s most famous mysteries, told in Weir’s accessible style. This book examines the disappearance of Edward V and his brother, weighing the evidence against Richard III and other potential suspects. Essential for any Wars of the Roses bookshelf.
🔀 The Kingmaker’s Daughter by Philippa Gregory
Anne Neville, daughter of the infamous “Kingmaker” Warwick, is swept along by her father’s ambitions, her marriages, and the changing tides of war. A perspective that shines a light on how women navigated — and survived — the dangers of dynastic conflict.
🏰 A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir
This dual-timeline historical novel intertwines the story of Katherine Grey in the Tudor court with Katherine Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of Richard III. Both women are drawn into the mystery of the Princes in the Tower, blending romance, danger, and political intrigue.
🌹 First of the Tudors by Joanna Hickson
The story of Jasper Tudor, uncle to Henry VII, and his role in protecting and shaping the boy who would become England’s first Tudor monarch. A tale of loyalty, family, and political manoeuvring in the shadow of civil war.
👁 The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
A prequel to The White Queen, this novel tells the story of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodville. Court intrigue, personal ambition, and touches of the mystical weave through her journey from a foreign noblewoman to one of the most influential figures in England.
🏰 Winter King by Thomas Penn (slightly post-war)
Although set after Bosworth, Penn’s biography of Henry VII shows how the legacy of the Wars shaped his cautious, controlling reign. A fascinating exploration of how a king consolidated power in the wake of decades of chaos.
🕯 Uncrowned Queen by Nicola Tallis
Lady Margaret Beaufort is often remembered as the devout, determined mother of Henry VII, but Tallis digs deeper. This biography reveals her as a shrewd political operator whose influence helped steer the course of English history.
From battlefield to bedchamber, council chamber to convent, the Wars of the Roses continue to captivate — with dynasties unraveling, loyalties fracturing, and power changing hands with dizzying speed. Whether you’re team York, team Lancaster, or just here for the scandal and scheming, these books offer a brilliant way to lose yourself in the drama.
Have I missed one of your favourites? I’m always open to recommendations — especially if they involve treachery, doomed love, or Richard III getting the justice he deserves.