February 2026 delivers an extraordinary slate of historical fiction—novels that span centuries, continents, and conflicts while asking urgent questions about power, survival, and voice. From the frozen edges of the eighteenth-century Arctic to the storm-battered hills of 1930s Jamaica, from covert psychological warfare in World War II to the redemptive force of music in Victorian England, these books showcase the genre at its most ambitious and emotionally resonant. Whether driven by greed, resistance, love, or collective courage, each of these stories reminds us why historical fiction matters: it doesn’t just revisit the past—it interrogates it.

Step into the past with our curated picks for the most captivating historical fiction of January 2026. From time-spanning botanical mysteries and swashbuckling pirate adventures to post-war Hollywood intrigue and intimate portraits of iconic figures, Best New Historical Fiction – January 2026 has something for every history lover. Discover your next unputdownable read today.