Feminist novels are all the rage lately, but what about those with a historical twist? If you’re all for strong, powerful heroines from stories set in the distant past, read on to find out more.
They call her She-who-must-be-obeyed – dictator, femme fatale, tyrant and beauty. In She, a fantasy novel set in the 19th century, a young man named Leo and his companions set sail for Africa to ascertain the legend told by his father of a white sorceress. There, he meets Ayesha, the titular She and fearsome queen ruling over the natives with an iron fist. When she becomes convinced that Leo is the reincarnation of her late lover, she declares that she must have him – no matter what it takes. Described as a literary manifestation of male alarm over the newly empowered woman, this is a book that you will not want to miss out on.
And I Darken features a heroine who is just as strong and brutal. In this Vlad the Impaler retelling, Lada Dragwyla may be a princess, but she’s no damsel in distress. In comparison to her gentle younger brother Radu, Lada is everything that he is not – cold, calculating, and furious at having been abandoned by her father to be raised in the Ottoman courts. As she awaits the day she can return to her homeland and claim her birthright, what follows is a dark, grotesque tale of power and vengeance.
These two novels are the perfect choice for fans of historical fiction with feminist themes.
Consists of: She (Like New), And I Darken (Well Read)
