Writing an Enchanted Past With Historical Fantasy

Dragons make aerial combat possible in the Napoleonic Wars. A young man transports slaves to freedom through the power of his memory. A maid dreaming of a brighter life in the Jazz Age accidentally frees the Mayan god of death (these things happen).

Welcome to historical fantasy, the genre that blends the realities that shaped our modern world with our wildest imaginings.

Stories like these have been around for ages, but there’s no denying they’ve skyrocketed in popularity over the last several years. 

And honestly? I’m not surprised. This genre is fun, absurd, thrilling, and—as we’ll soon discuss—an extremely effective medium for exploring the deeper themes that define our past and continue to influence our present.

If that sounds like something you’d be into, keep reading. You’re about to get a crash course in the historically fantastical: what it is, where you’ve seen it before, and how to write it yourself.

What is Historical Fantasy?

Historical fantasy is fiction that blends fantastical elements with real history.

Super vague definition, right? I could’ve just repeated the name of the genre and you’d still have the same amount of information.

But that’s because there are many different approaches to writing this type of story, all of which feature different balances of magic and history. There’s even some debate about which narratives actually count as historical fantasy.

The best way to get a clearer understanding of this genre is to explore all the different ways it shows up in literature.

Types of Historical Fantasy

First, to be clear, the “historical” in historical fiction refers to real history. Our history.

If you’ve created a secondary world—a world that is entirely made-up and bears no resemblance to your own—and the whole story is a flashback to an event that took place in this world 700 years ago, that’s not historical fantasy.

But what if you created a secondary world that strongly resembles 12th-century Japan? Does that count? Or what if it takes place in Regency-era London, but you’ve altered everything but the clothing, architecture, and the quadrille?

See, this is where it gets complicated… and where we have to start clarifying what type of historical fiction we’re talking about so readers know what they’re getting into. 

Real-World Historical Fantasy

Many of these narratives are set in the real world, meaning they're set in a region or country that actually existed during the novel's time period. For the most part, the setting is historically accurate and may even include real historical figures or events.

When an author works with this type of setting, they usually tackle it one of two ways:

Alternative history - The story centers on real events but introduces fictional characters and magic to the conflict, often leading to a different outcome or a different explanation for the real outcome.

Naomi Novik’s Tremeraire series does this by involving dragons in the Napoleonic Wars, which, I am told, is not what really happened.

Real world with magical elements - The story takes place in a real historical time or place, but the central conflict is a fictional event. 

Even Though I Knew the End is set in 1930s Chicago, but it’s about a warlock P.I. who can save her soul from the devil if she can track down a serial killer for a demon.

Secondary-World Historical Fiction

This one is more complicated: the story takes place in a completely fictional world, but the setting is clearly based on real history and/or real events.

The Poppy War is typically considered historical fantasy because its central conflict was inspired by the Second Sino-Japanese War and set in a fictional world modeled after China.

Now, you will find mixed opinions about how many historical details must be present in order for a novel to count as historical fantasy. If your story features knights and taverns but it’s set in a made-up country in a made-up year and does not significantly reflect the events, politics, or society of Medieval Europe, is it historical fantasy?

I’d say no. But as is always the case with writing and publishing, you’ll want to find books similar to your own and research how your readers and the industry categorize them. 

Historical Fantasy vs. Historical Fiction

So is historical fantasy the same as historical fiction? Or maybe a type of historical fiction?

No, neither one. Historical fiction is deeply rooted in reality, which means there’s no magic. And while there’s some room for creative license in this genre, readers set a high standard for historical accuracy.

So don’t use these terms interchangeably, especially when it's time to market your book. People will picket your launch party.

Historical Fantasy vs. Magical Realism

Now this one’s a bit trickier, because it depends on who you ask.

Magical realism is a literary genre that weaves magical elements into a realistic world and conflict. Many works of magical realism are set in the past, and because of this, they’re sometimes referred to as historical fantasy.

However, there are some key distinctions between these two subgenres.

For one thing, magical realism is traditionally considered literary fiction, not fantasy, though you will see it categorized under fantasy in certain contexts.

For another, magic tends to play a very specific role in magical realism. In this genre, fantastical elements often serve as an extended metaphor, and they don’t play a key role in the conflict. 

In historical fantasy, on the other hand, magic is usually an essential part of the external story.

Even with these distinctions, it can be hard to draw clear lines between the genres, so it’s always a good idea to see how books like yours are categorized before you pitch or market your novel.

Common Themes in Historical Fantasy

When you combine the histories that shaped our modern experience with unlimited magical possibilities, you uncover some intriguing options for driving home compelling themes. Here are a few that are particularly common in historical fantasy:

Power and corruption - We have enough distance from history to think critically about how power was claimed, lost, or abused in the past. Add fantasy elements, and you’ve got potent symbols for real-life truths.

Is there an oppressed community of magicians who are about to discover the strength of their collective power? A leader who inspires cultish fanaticism by distorting reality?

Societal and cultural change - Some of the most intriguing periods of history have come about because people dared to think differently, challenge the status quo, and even take down the institutions that had defined their society for centuries.

Now imagine taking that setup and adding forbidden magic or magical innovations. What could you say about society’s fear of the unfamiliar or the forces that challenge our values? 

Identity and belonging - Conveniently enough, history comes with cultures, subcultures, clubs, societies, and organizations already built in, no worldbuilding required. We already know—or at least we can research—what it meant to have a specific identity in a specific place and time.

And fantastical elements can serve as powerful symbols for the deeper implications of identity and belonging, like when a character is visited by a creature right out of the fairytales they heard growing up in their long-lost homeland.

If these themes aren’t inspiring any new ideas for your historical fantasy novel, maybe this will help:

Historical Fantasy Tropes

Tropes vary a lot depending on the type of historical fantasy you’re writing. Once again, you want to read a lot of books similar to your own so you can understand reader expectations.

But for now, here’s a quick look at tropes you see frequently across the genre:

The cost of magic - Magic comes at a price in any good magic system. But historical fantasy tends to place a particularly heavy emphasis on what a person must sacrifice to access extraordinary powers.

The Quest - This is that thing where your protagonist has to go on a whole big journey to complete a task. In this genre, it’s especially common for the protagonist to be someone who has only just become aware of the magical elements in their world.

Culturally appropriate mythology and folklore - Many historical fiction authors create magic, creatures, and beings inspired by the folklore of their real-life setting or the culture of their protagonist. This often enhances cultural themes and creates a more immersive experience for the reader.

How to Craft Your Own Historical Fantasy Novel

Now that you know what a historical fantasy novel is, how do you go about writing one?

First, I recommend checking out Doug’s article on writing fantasy for any fantasy subgenre. He’s our resident fantasy expert and has loads of great advice on everything from character development to magic systems.

That said, here are some handy tips for writing historical fantasy specifically:

Choose a Setting That Inspires You

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to work with a real-world setting or create a secondary world inspired by a historical time and place?
• What historical setting am I drawn to?
• What’s drawing me to this? Is it a major event? The culture? Historical figures? Inherent themes?
• What fantasy elements would be particularly interesting to see in this time and place? How might magic, creatures, or supernatural beings shape or challenge the world?

Even if you already have a specific setting in mind, these questions will help ensure you’ve found a world you’ll be excited to explore for months (or years) to come.

Determine your Fact-to-Fantasy Ratio

Which aspects of your story should be historically accurate and which will be shaped by your imagination?

Will this be an alternative history where you take a real event and alter major details or outcomes? Will you tell a completely fictional story set within a historically accurate world? Will you base a fictional world and conflict on real historical events?

The answer will help you determine how much research you need to do. Speaking of which…

Research Your World

My best tip for historical research is to turn to several different sources—books, articles, documentaries, photographs, artwork, music of the era, journals, letters, and anything else that clarifies what life was like in this time.

Also be aware of potential bias with each source. Factoring in the perspectives of authors helps you avoid dangerous stereotypes and gain a more nuanced understanding of attitudes and relationships in this world.

Check out this article for more tips on historical research.

Add Fantasy Elements Strategically

What type of magic system will you use? Are there any magical creatures? Will you pull from myths or folklore?

Keep your world in mind as you make those decisions. Refer back to the questions you answered in the first step when you identify the themes, events, or ideas that drew you to this setting in the first place. Make sure your magic aligns with those details.

How does it highlight a theme? How does it match the tone of this era? How does it impact the conflict? On that note…

Dream Up Conflict and Characters That Align With Your Setting

Or vice versa. In most other genres, this is almost always the first step, but when you’re working in speculative fiction, it’s not unusual for the world to come first.

Either way, you need to make sure all these elements work together to create one cohesive, compelling story. Your setting, conflict, and characters should all impact and change one another. 

It often helps to start by asking yourself: 

• What type of character is likely to struggle the most under the conditions of this world?
• What type of conflict would arise naturally from this setting?
• How would that conflict challenge the character to their very core and force them to grow?

Then you might want to read this article on conflict and this article on character development. 

Popular Historical Fantasy Books

Authors learn their craft best by reading. If you’re serious about getting to know this genre, here are some ideas for where to start: 

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - This famous historical fantasy novel is a retelling of the Arthurian legends from the perspective of female characters.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - A British Army nurse touches a magic stone that transports her back in time to 18th-century Scotland.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - Set in Medieval Russia and inspired by Russian folklore, this novel centers on a young woman who must use her secret powers to protect her home from evil spirits.

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty - A djinn introduces a swindler to the magical realm in 18th-century Cairo.

The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - This fantasy of manners features telekinetic powers in a Bell Époque-inspired world. 

How to Write in This Genre Without Losing Your Mind

If it’s starting to feel like writing a historical fantasy book is a lot of work, you’re getting the idea. The genre combines the real-life intrigue of historical fiction with the magic of fantasy, and that’s lovely…

…but it also demands both the extensive research of historical fiction and the complex worldbuilding of fantasy.

Two complicated and time-consuming planning steps in one little project. It’s fair to feel overwhelmed.

It’s also a really good reason to consider writing your novel with Dabble. Story Notes make it really easy to organize research and create a worldbuilding bible, both of which are always a click or two away from your manuscript. You can even get a head start on the planning process with our free fantasy template.

Better yet, you can try Dabble free for 14 days (no credit card required!) so you can make sure it’s the right fit before you commit. Click here to get started today.

History’s not going to rewrite itself.