First Century CE to 900’s CE

First Century CE to 900’s CE

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Place of Setting Author Title Notes
British Isles Surasky, Jan Rage Against the Dying Light Celtic Queen Boudicca, who led uprising against Roman Empire in 60 CE
China Larsen, Jeanne Silk Road Historical fantasy set in 700’s including Buddhist and Taoist folktales
China Randel, Weina Dai The Moon in the Palace Based on the life of Empress Wu, who lived in the 600’s
China Shan Sa Empress Based on the life of Empress Wu
England Bradley, Marion Zimmer The Mists of Avalon 400’s to 500’s – classic historical fantasy of King Arthur’s time
England Vasbo, Vibeke The Song of Hild Princess Hild and her journey to become an abbess in the 7th century
England Griffith, Nicola Hild 600’s – based on the life of St. Hilda of Whitby
Europe Cross, Donna Woolfolk Pope Joan In the 800’s, a young woman disguises herself as a man to gain education and, eventually, the papal throne
France Holland, Cecelia The Angel and the Sword A Spanish princess disguises herself as a man to fight the Vikings in Paris (800’s)
India Divakaruni, Chitra The Palace of Illusions Mahabharata (Hindu epic) re-told from a woman’s POV
India Patel, Vaishnavi Kaikeyi Inspired by one character from the Ramayana (Hindu epic)
Italy Ferri, Linda Cecilia Based on the life of St. Cecilia in the 2nd century CE
Italy Whittemore, Christine Inscription Based on the life of a female saint
Middle East Anton, Maggie Rav Hisda’s Daughter, Book I: Apprentice Late 200’s–a Talmudic sage’s daughter studies Jewish sorcery in Babylonia
Middle East Fredriksson, Marianne According to Mary Magdalene Early Christianity through the eyes of a woman
Middle East Hoffman, Alice The Dovekeepers Survivors of the Masada massacre of Jews by Romans
Middle East Weizman, Janice The Wayward Moon 800’s – the life and adventures of a Jewish woman
Portugal Hooper, Emma We Should Not Be Afraid of the Sky Five early Christian saints
Vietnam McLean, Elizabeth Imagining Vietnam Starts in the 10th century and progresses to the 20th century