Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

Renaissance
	; Graceless Heart; Author: Ibanez, Isabel; Buy at Amazon \| BookShop.org; ; Time Period: Renaissance ; Time Frame: 1478; Geographic Area: Europe ; Country: Italy; Topics:Italian Renaissance, Medici Family; Genre: Historical Fantasy ; Reading Age: Adult; Format: Novel; Published: 2026

Latest revision as of 18:12, 4 January 2026

Welcome to History Book By Book,

Reading your way through history... one book at a time...

> We are currently recommending a total of (1,100) books, divided into (65) specific booklists on this website.

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General Outline
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List of All Books (1,100) List of All Biographical Books List of All Graphic Novels List of All Historical Fantasy Books List of All Historical Fiction Books List of All Non Fiction Books Check out our Blog (5)
Why is HBBB a thing?
I am a list maker. I love organizing booklists, to-do lists, checklists of all kinds. I spend a great deal of my time researching books for my job and I’ve often found it frustrating that there isn’t one reliable resource where I can find an organized timeline of literature. So I’ve created one. I’ve set out to create a resource that will guide you on a literary adventure through history. You can find books here on just about every time period or historical topic and for any age level. I’ve done my best to research and vet each title to ensure that this list is filled with living books. I’ve noted content warnings when necessary and my daughters and I have reviewed many of the titles recommended. This has been and will continue to be a labor of love, as we continue to build this website and update these book suggestions. I hope you find it helpful! Thanks and Happy Reading, Emily Emily's Favorites

Book Suggestions Published in 2026

Women of a Promiscuous Nature (2026, by: Everhart, Donna, YA, A, eugenics, Asylums)
The Young Will Remember (2026, by: Chung, Eve J., YA, A, Korean War)
Graceless Heart (2026, by: Ibanez, Isabel, A, Italian Renaissance, Medici Family)

See also: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020

Featured Weekly Book Suggestion - 01/05/2026

World History > Renaissance

#1 New York Times bestselling author Isabel Ibañez makes her adult debut with a gorgeous, historical, and romantic fantasy perfect for fans of One Dark Window and Ever After. A lush tale full of enemies-to-lovers tension, whimsical magic, villain romance, and slow-burn desire, set in an enchanted, perilous Florence where forbidden power could ignite a war.

“Truly radiant.” Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author of One Dark Window

LOVE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS MAGIC.

As a sculptress, Ravenna Maffei has always shaped beauty from stone but she has a terrible secret. Desperate to save her brother, she enters a competition hosted by Florence’s most feared immortal family, revealing a dark power in a city where magic is forbidden.

Now a captive in the cutthroat city of Florence, Ravenna is forced into a dangerous task where failure meets certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the immortal family's mesmerizing but merciless heir. But as he draws her closer, Ravenna realizes the true threat lies beyond Florence’s walls.

The Pope’s war against magic is closing in, and Ravenna is no longer just a prisoner but a prize to be claimed. As trusting the wrong person becomes lethal, Ravenna must survive the treacherous line between a pope's obsession and the seductive immortal who might be the end of her ― or surrender her power to a city on the brink of war.

Emily's Review

This is my second book by Ibanez, and I clearly need to read more, because this was fantastic! I would never have expected to give a Romantasy novel five stars, but here we are!

The writing and pacing were perfect, and pulled me in, but it was the intrigue and romance that sucked me into the story. I was so immersed in the setting; this book was so cinematic. I think it would make a great movie, like Ever After. It has strong fairytale vibes!

Saturnino's character arc and his relationship with Ravenna was gorgeously written. Ravenna was a fascinating protagonist in that she was never entirely sure of what was going on. She reminded me a lot of Katniss Everdeen, just charge ahead and hope for the best.

I appreciated the fact that I could never be sure of anyone's true allegiance. The intrigue between factions kept me on the edge of my seat! So many twists and turns. I must have gasped at least a dozen times.

The yearning, the magic, the intrigue - I couldn't put this book down!

Other Similar Books

Other suggestions on the subject of Renaissance Italy.

Leonardo da Vinci (by: Stanley, Diane, Leonardo da Vinci, LE, MG)
Michelangelo (by: Stanley, Diane, Michelangelo, LE, MG)
Stone Giant: Michelangelo's David and How He Came to Be (by: Sutcliffe, Jane, Michelangelo, LE)
The Apprentice (by: Llorente, Pilar Molina, Art History, MG)
Along Came Galileo (by: Jeanne Bendick, Jeanne, Galileo, MG, UMG)
The Second Mrs. Gioconda (by: Konigsburg, E.L., Leonardo da Vinci, UMG, YA)
Leonardo's Shadow (by: Grey, Christopher, Leonardo da Vinci, UMG, YA)
Graceless Heart (by: Ibanez, Isabel, Italian Renaissance, Medici Family, A)

What's New:
Books. Lots of Books.

Other Links:
HistoryBookByBook on Facebook History_BookByBook on Instagram History_BookByBook on Twitter Arrrghschooling on YouTube BuildYourLibrary.com BuildYourLibrary on Facebook

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+{{#ask: [[Category:Books]] [[PubDate::2026]]
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-See also: [[Recently_Published#2021|2021]] | [[Recently_Published#2020|2020]]
+See also: [[Recently_Published#2025|2025]] | [[Recently_Published#2024|2024]] | [[Recently_Published#2023|2023]] | [[Recently_Published#2022|2022]] | [[Recently_Published#2021|2021]] | [[Recently_Published#2020|2020]]
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-! <h2 id="mp-otd-h2" style="margin:0; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Featured Weekly Book Suggestion - 5/23/2022</h2>
+! <h2 id="mp-otd-h2" style="margin:0; background:#cedff2; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold; border:1px solid #a3b0bf; text-align:left; color:#000; padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Featured Weekly Book Suggestion - 01/05/2026</h2>
 |-
 |style="color:#000;"| <div id="mp-otd">
 {| class="infobox bordered" style="font-size:95%; width:25em;"
-! style="font-size:120%; background:lightblue; text-align:center; padding:5px 0;" | Modern Age
+! style="font-size:120%; background:lightblue; text-align:center; padding:5px 0;" | Renaissance
 |-
-| style="padding:15px;" | [[File:Yonder.jpg|250px]]<br>
+| style="padding:15px;" | [[File:GracelessHeart.jpg|250px]]<br>
-'''[[Yonder]]'''<br>
+'''Graceless Heart'''<br>
-'''Author:''' Standish, Ali<br>
+'''Author:''' Ibanez, Isabel<br>
-'''[https://amzn.to/3wHOpev Buy at Amazon] | [https://bookshop.org/a/15682/9780062985682 BookShop.org]<br><br>'''
+'''[https://amzn.to/4jt5hgW Buy at Amazon] | [https://bookshop.org/a/15682/9781250376695 BookShop.org]<br><br>'''
-'''Time Period:''' Modern Age <br>
+'''Time Period:''' Renaissance <br>
-'''Time Frame:''' 1939-1943<br>
+'''Time Frame:''' 1478<br>
-'''Geographic Area:''' North America <br>
+'''Geographic Area:''' Europe <br>
-'''Country:''' United States<br>
+'''Country:''' Italy<br>
-'''Topics:''' World War II}<br>
+'''Topics:'''Italian Renaissance, Medici Family<br>
-'''Genre:''' Fiction<br>
+'''Genre:''' Historical Fantasy <br>
-'''Reading Age:''' Middle Grade, Upper Middle Grade<br>
+'''Reading Age:''' Adult<br>
-'''Format:''' Chapter Book<br>
+'''Format:''' Novel<br>
-'''Published:''' 2022
+'''Published:''' 2026
-|}
-{| class="infobox bordered" style="font-size:95%; width:25em;"
-! style="font-size:120%; background:#fb607f; text-align:center; padding:5px 0;" | Content Warning
-|-
-| style="padding:15px;" | child abuse
 |}
-'''''[[American History|American History]]''' > [[Modern Age Booklist|Modern Age]] > [[World War II Booklist|WWII]] ''
+'''''[[World History|World History]]''' > [[Renaissance Booklist|Renaissance]] ''
-'''From Ali Standish, award-winning author of The Ethan I Was Before, August Isle, How to Disappear Completely, and The Mending Summer, comes a captivating historical fiction middle grade novel about a boy on the home front in World War II who must solve the mystery of the disappearance of his best friend. Perfect for fans of Alan Gratz and Lauren Wolk, this riveting adventure explores what true heroism means.'''
+'''#1 New York Times bestselling author Isabel Ibañez makes her adult debut with a gorgeous, historical, and romantic fantasy perfect for fans of One Dark Window and Ever After. A lush tale full of enemies-to-lovers tension, whimsical magic, villain romance, and slow-burn desire, set in an enchanted, perilous Florence where forbidden power could ignite a war.'''
-'''"Multilayered, moving, and tremendously powerful.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)'''
+'''“Truly radiant.” Rachel Gillig, New York Times bestselling author of One Dark Window'''
-'''“Standish’s uplifting mystery tackles big themes of abuse, bullying, heroism, mental health, and prejudice.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)'''
+LOVE IS THE MOST DANGEROUS MAGIC.
-'''“A heartfelt tale about what it means to be a hero and take a stand against injustice.”—Booklist (starred review)'''
+As a sculptress, Ravenna Maffei has always shaped beauty from stone but she has a terrible secret. Desperate to save her brother, she enters a competition hosted by Florence’s most feared immortal family, revealing a dark power in a city where magic is forbidden.
-Danny Timmons has looked up to Jack Bailey ever since Jack saved two small children from drowning during the Great Flood of 1940. Now, with his father away fighting in World War II and his mother about to have a new baby, Danny relies on Jack’s friendship and guidance more than ever.
+Now a captive in the cutthroat city of Florence, Ravenna is forced into a dangerous task where failure meets certain death at the hands of Saturnino dei Luni, the immortal family's mesmerizing but merciless heir. But as he draws her closer, Ravenna realizes the true threat lies beyond Florence’s walls.
-So when Jack goes missing without a trace from their small Appalachian town, Danny is determined to find him. He wonders if Jack’s abusive father could be behind his disappearance, or if it has anything to do with Yonder—a hidden magical town Jack once spoke of, where flocks of rainbow birds fly through the sky and they’ve never heard of war. As answers elude him, Danny begins to fear that he didn’t know Jack as well as he thought.
+The Pope’s war against magic is closing in, and Ravenna is no longer just a prisoner but a prize to be claimed. As trusting the wrong person becomes lethal, Ravenna must survive the treacherous line between a pope's obsession and the seductive immortal who might be the end of her ― or surrender her power to a city on the brink of war.
-Ultimately, Danny’s investigation forces him to reckon with even larger questions: What is America fighting for in this war? What role do each of us play in stopping injustices, big and small? And is there such thing as a true hero?
+==Emily's Review==
-A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
+This is my second book by Ibanez, and I clearly need to read more, because this was fantastic! I would never have expected to give a Romantasy novel five stars, but here we are!
-'''“Both timely and historical. An exploration of what it means to be brave and do good.” —Tae Keller, Newbery Medal–winning author of When You Trap a Tiger'''
+The writing and pacing were perfect, and pulled me in, but it was the intrigue and romance that sucked me into the story. I was so immersed in the setting; this book was so cinematic. I think it would make a great movie, like Ever After. It has strong fairytale vibes!
-'''"A thoughtful, eloquent, and honest examination of prejudice, loyalty, and what it means to be brave." —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee and Ground Zero'''
+Saturnino's character arc and his relationship with Ravenna was gorgeously written. Ravenna was a fascinating protagonist in that she was never entirely sure of what was going on. She reminded me a lot of Katniss Everdeen, just charge ahead and hope for the best.
-'''“A beautiful and important novel that explores what it means to be a hero and the role of each of us to stand up for what’s right.” —Karina Yan Glaser, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanderbeekers series'''
+I appreciated the fact that I could never be sure of anyone's true allegiance. The intrigue between factions kept me on the edge of my seat! So many twists and turns. I must have gasped at least a dozen times.
-==Emily's Reivew==
+The yearning, the magic, the intrigue - I couldn't put this book down!
-This is a definite contender for my favorite book of the year. I admit, I'm a sucker for World War II stories, and I'm always excited to find stories about life on the American homefront.
-Stanish has written a beautifully layered story about friendship, what it means to be a hero, coming-of-age and realizing the world isn't as rosy as you'd once believed. Danny has looked up to Jack Bailey as a hero for years. But in the small Appalachian town of Foggy Gap, Jack is an outcast. But Danny longs to be as brave as him. Only it takes Jack's disappearance to show him that being brave doesn't mean not being afraid.
-Danny is a wonderful protagonist. I loved seeing him grow and change over the course of this story. The author wove so many important lessons into this story - it's about how to stand up to bullies, and how to fight against injustice in the world in both small ways and big. What it means to have courage, how to use it, and what war does to people.
-The way the story unfolds, in both the current time and flashbacks, was masterful. I was riveted from beginning to end, and I didn't want to leave Danny and Foggy Gap behind when I closed the book. I could tell the author put a lot of effort into her research for this book because it really feels like you are there in the 1940s south. I loved reading about what life was like on the American homefront. I wondered, as I read about rationing and collecting scrap metal for the war effort if we could ever rally behind a cause like that today.
-Finally, I really appreciated that the author brought attention to the fact that America was aware of the Holocaust while it was happening, but chose not to do anything about it. I think it's important to understand that there are many ways to be a hero, and while America did help to liberate the camps at the end of the war, it could have happened sooner if more people had been brave enough to stand up against that injustice.
-All in all, I thought this story was beautifully told and I highly recommend it!
 ==Other Similar Books==
-Other suggestions on the subject of '''World War II (US Home Front)'''.
+Other suggestions on the subject of '''Renaissance Italy'''.
+{{#ask: [[Category:Books]] [[Time Period::Renaissance]][[Country::Italy]]
-{{#ask: [[Category:Books]] [[Topic::WWII]][[WWIIcat::USHome]]
   | ?Author = by
   | ?Topic =
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 * [https://www.Twitter.com/History_BookByBook/ History_BookByBook on Twitter]
 * [https://www.youtube.com/arrrghschooling/ Arrrghschooling on YouTube]
-* [https://www.BuildYourLibrary.com/ BuildYourLibrary.com]
+* [https://buildyourlibrary.com/ BuildYourLibrary.com]
 * [https://www.facebook.com/BuildYourLibrary/ BuildYourLibrary on Facebook]

Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

Latest revision as of 18:12, 4 January 2026

General Outline

Other Booklists

Why is HBBB a thing?

Book Suggestions Published in 2026

Featured Weekly Book Suggestion - 01/05/2026

Emily's Review

Other Similar Books

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