The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco
A Franciscan friar investigates murders in a labyrinthine abbey where books are power.
Medieval · Mystery · Literary
Medieval · Literary · ~500–1500
Literary historical fiction books: Medieval
Looking for historical fiction in the literary lane set during the Medieval (~500–1500)? Literary historical fiction books: Medieval collects historical novels that match both filters—Knights, plague, faith, early nations. Character- and prose-forward novels set in the past HisFic is a free historical fiction discovery app: open a full reading journey with the same era and story-type filters, then add region, themes, or audience. Shelves mix curated historical fiction picks with Open Library titles so even thin combinations still have books to explore.
Shelf · 14 titles
Curated HisFic picks first, plus Open Library fills for this era + story type.
News of the Dead
James Robertson
A Highland glen’s stories across centuries of saints, strangers, and secrets (Walter Scott Prize 2022).
Medieval · Early modern · Literary · Time-slip
The Ten Thousand Things
John Spurling
A painter’s life in Yuan-dynasty China—landscape, politics, and the “ten thousand things” (Walter Scott Prize 2015).
Medieval · Biographical · Literary
Pope Joan
Donna Woolfolk Cross
In the ninth century, a canon’s daughter hides her sex, takes her dead brother’s name, and rises from a Fulda monastery to Rome as scholar, healer, and—according to the legend—pope. Donna Woolfolk Cross’s international bestseller is medieval biographical historical fiction of learning, disguise, and a woman the church spent a thousand years denying.
Medieval · Biographical · Literary
Matrix
Lauren Groff
Marie de France is sent to a failing English abbey—and remakes it into a kingdom of women.
Medieval · Literary · Biographical
Ransom
Julie Garwood
collectionID:Mbodice_ripper · Great Britain · History · Fiction
Medieval · Romance · Open Library
Warrior's Song
Catherine Coulter
Crusades · Fiction · Great Britain · Historical fiction
Medieval · Romance · Open Library
Between Two Fires
Christopher Buehlman
Historical Fiction · France, fiction · Fiction, horror · Black Death -- Europe
Medieval · Literary · Open Library
The Cloister and the Hearth: A Tale of the Middle Ages
Charles Reade
Middle Ages · Fiction · Romance fiction · Historical fiction
Medieval · Romance · Open Library
Vägen till Jerusalem
Jan Guillou
Crusades · Fiction · Historical Fiction · History
Medieval · Literary · Open Library
Damsel in Distress
Heather Graham
Fiction · Historical Fiction · Romance · History
Medieval · Romance · Open Library
The writer's guide to everyday life in the Middle Ages
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Authorship · Civilization, Medieval · Handbooks, manuals · Historical fiction
Medieval · Literary · Open Library
The hawk and the dove
Penelope Wilcock
English Christian fiction · Historical fiction, English · Monks · English Historical fiction
Medieval · Literary · Open Library
Jerusalem
Cecelia Holland
Fiction · Crusades · History · Historical fiction
Medieval · Literary · Open Library
Other story types in Medieval
Looking for a broader list? See Medieval historical fiction or literary historical fiction.