Don't get us wrong, we're pretty happy that we're living in the era of time of today. There's a lot of crap that sucks about the 21st Century, but we reckon we'll take our matcha lattes and bluetooth devices over polio and lack of indoor plumbing any stinking day, however, we can't help but a tad bit obsessed with how our historical ancestors might've spent their days. Take a gander at some historical fiction novels that are chock-full of drama, magic and heaps more. 

Lapvona – Otessa Moshfegh
Buckle up baby, this one's a doozy. Set in the fictional medieval town of Lapvona and told through the many perspectives of Lapvona's inhabitants, this dark drama is not for the weak of heart – you have been warned – but will keep you hanging on every sentence, wanting to find out more about each character's respective fate. 

Circe – Madeline Miller
This one is for all you clever clogs who get their kicks from ancient Greece. The novel follows the life of the witch-goddess Circe made popular due to the epic poem made famous by Homer, The Odyssey, with Miller reimagining her story to the greatest heights. 

The Seven Moons of Maali Almedia – Shehan Karunatilaka
Set in 1990, this magical realism novel is easily the closest to our current time than the others on this list, and follows war photographer Maali Almedia in the midst of the Sri Lankan civil war. After finding himself in the afterlife, Maali must contact his still-living loved ones and guide them towards a secret stash of photos that will rock Sri Lanka to its core – in only seven days. For any fans of fantasy that doesn't stray too far away from reality, we suggest adding this one onto your reading list. 

The Familiar – Leigh Bardugo
Another witchy-themed title in this list, this novel follows the life of Spanish maid Luzia and her scheming mistress, who exploits Luzia's magical abilities in order to influence the royal court. The story explores the intersection of fame, science, magic and truth, and makes for a ripper read. 

The Divorcées – Rowan Beaird 
This novel takes place in the '50s in Reno, Nevada, at a 'divorce ranch', where women spend six weeks soaking up the sun, riding horses and flirting with cowboys. Enter main character Lois, who escapes to Reno to escape her loveless marriage, where she becomes entranced by fellow would-be-divorcée, Greer. It's glam, fun and sizzling – so hop to it and get reading already! 

Beloved – Toni Morrison 
Known as one of the best historical fiction novels ever written, the iconic Toni Morrison wrote this in 1987 and dedicated it to "sixty million and more", in honour of those who suffered under the Atlantic slave trade. Set in 1873, this gothic novel follows the formerly-enslaved woman Sethe, whose home is haunted by an angry spirit and who is being hunted by her former master. It's harrowing and heartbreaking, but so intensely impactful. 

Outlawed – Anna North
Howdy, howdy, howdy! This novel takes place in the Wild West in 1894 and is as if The Handmaid's Tale happened to take place at the same time as True Grit, which we reckon makes for a dang fun read. To make the reading experience even better, we recommend chucking on a Willie Nelson or Dolly Parton record to really set the scene. 

The Age of Innocence – Edith Wharton
This 1920 novel was originally published as a four-part series in a magazine and won author Edith Wharton a Pulitzer Prize in 1921 – making her the first woman to ever win the award. The story follows an upper-class family in the 1870s, so if you happen to be a big fan of Bridgerton then we suggest picking up a copy for yourself. 

The Essex Serpent – Sarah Perry
Set in the Victorian era of 1893, this novel follows recent-widow Cora moving from London to Essex with her son, and she soon comes to believe that her new town is haunted by a giant sea serpent. We recommend reading this one yourself to figure out what's really hiding in the deep. 

Ninetails: Nine Tales – Sally Wen Mao
Not to be confused with the Pokémon of the same name, this collection of short stories reimagines the fantasy figure of the kitsune, a magical fox spirit found within East Asian mythology, through a feminist lens. From shape-shifting women being chased by fox hunters to a vengeful spirit avenging the death of a teenage girl, these stories all make for a wonderful time.