Big Historical Fiction

Kate Mosse , Labyrinth series.

Have you tried the Ken follet trilogy-epic!

Another massive vote for the Spoils of Time trilogy. Only of my favourites series ever.

The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer is a 7 book series that spans 3 or 4 generations and is completely engrossing - heads up to make sure you have the next book ready when you get near the end of each one as there are cliff hangers.

Also worth looking at the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. Again 7 books in the series and they go back and forth between past and present. Just finished book 5 today and they have all been 5 star reads.

Haven't read the whole thread, sorry, but if not already mentioned, I recommend London by Edward Rutherfurd, which is a great epic following the history of the city through generations of an ordinary family from an early settlement to modern times.
Also The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, about the building of a cathedral in an English city, in the 12th century.

The Niccolo books are very good, read them all many times but they aren't a patch on Lymond for a good story, in my opinion. Dunnett got into a sort of war with her readers who were constantly trying to outwit her and the books suffered, I think, as a result. She also wanted to use every single bit of her extensive research which does bog it down a bit in places.

Her Niccolo books are also highly recommended but I tried twice and just couldn't get into the first book.

Another vote for the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett.

I'd add Queen of Silk by Vanora Bennett - genuinely fascinating look at the lives of tradeswomen in the City of London during the Wars of the Roses.

The Bronze Horseman - total epic of Russia before and during WW2.

Non-fiction but hilarious - Agrippina: Empress, Exile, Hustler, Whore by Emma Southon

The Netherwood series by Jane Sanderson - in the mode of A Woman of Substance but nothing wrong with that!

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

And technically YA but I love them - A Sky Painted Gold and A Snowfall of Silver by Laura Wood.

I remember Doomsday Book! I recently found out that she wrote a couple of sequels too.

I've just ordered the Ann Baer book. She was in her 80s when it was published and apparently did all the illustrations herself!

One of my favourite novels is Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Time travel back to medieval times.

Some more contemporary, well researched historical fiction is written by Louis de Bernieres (absolute marmite, but I am a lover). Everything he has written is historical pretty much.

Elif Shafak also has a couple. Her latest one is about the 1974 war in Cyprus.

There are lots of my favourite authors here but would add Winston Graham's Poldark series, which the TV series was based on. There are 12 books set around Napoleonic times and very well written.

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I can't believe no one has mentioned Forever Amber by Kathleen Windsor.
It's a romp through the English civil war, interregnum and restoration. Includes the plague of 1666 and the Great Fire of London. Really epic and funny.
Also I highly recommend Shogun by James Clavell, absolutely fascinating look at Japanese culture and v exciting.

The Man on a Donkey is incredible. It is biiiig and detailed and all enveloping, about the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the Pilgrimage of Grace in Henry VIII's reign.

What a glorious thread. A few I would second:
Ahdaf soured, the map of love. I'd forgotten about this beautiful book.

Ann Baer - Medieval Woman (sometimes to be found as Down the Common). I re read this on a regular basis.

Norah Lofts - the House at the old vine trilogy. Like a comfort blanket. Also enjoyed her Knights Acre one

I know.... can't decide which ones to order 1st, what a lovely dilemma to have.

I liked Daughter of Fortune and it's sequel Portrait in Sepia.

To suggest a few alternatives from authors who aren't really thought about as 'historical fiction' authors what about Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende, Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, Beryl Bainbridge did several historical novels mainly Victorian or early 20th century, Arthur & George by Julian Barnes, An Icecream War by William Boyd, The Children's Book by AS Byatt, Peter Carey's novels are often set in the past, Roddy Doyle's A Star called Henry, The Cost of Sugar by Cynthia McLeod, Ingenious Pain by Andrew Miller, The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif, all of Sarah Waters are historical novels.

Definitely Dorothy Dunnett.

Is that The Regency @blackberriesaretheonlyfruit? It has possibly the most surprising twist of the entire series!

Cynthia Harrod Eagles - Moreland Dynasty the first is only 99p on Kindle. I'm completely addicted and on book.13 of 35

if you are interested in war time novels. The Cazalet Chronicles (4 books) by Elizabeth Jane Howard are a delight to read. I watched the drama series on TV, then got the books because a friend recommended them to me.

I would say the first 3-4 Outlander books are worth reading but the most recent 3-4 are farrrrrrrr too long. Gabaldon's editor should have chopped 150 pages out at least. I don't think I can be bothered with the new one.