Twisted History!
Books that are set in an alternative historical timeline. A list of books with the "could have been" Please also leave in your recs and suggestions . The more the merrier!
created by Elfundertheshelf
last updated November, 2025
Comments
I feel you make lists especially for me. Rude, I know. ehehehehh
This was supposed to be our secret đ But a thousand times yes
I love this! I immediately saw Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon and ran over (I really need to finish this series). Oh would Babel by R.F. Kuang or Circe by Madeline Miller fall into this? (Sorry if you're still adding books as well, just got excited)
Babel I think yes , though I haven't read it. Circe would be more Greek mythology retellings. I made this one to specifically include actual world history told with twists or alternative endings of elements. I'll add Babel ! Thank you đĽšâ¨
Oh gotcha gotcha! Thank you ⨠I'm definitely going to be taking a bunch of these books to my 2026 TBR, you're a gem for making this!
Always! I'll be doing the same đđ I think that's also why I make half of these things, so I don't forget half of what is on my Tbr
Love this list!! Not sure if it's exactly the vibe but one of my favorite alternate histories is Sarah Gailey's River of Teeth which is set in a version of America that passed the (real) early 1900s proposed bill to introduce hippos into the bayous of Louisiana
I have never heard of this one , goes to the list and my TBR thank you so much. I love that we are adding all of world history because a majority of what i find is based on European history.
the peacekeeper by b.l. blanchard! first book in an alt history series where north america was never colonized
Thank you ! I have so many new books to read on this topic now . I'll check this out too
thank you for putting together this list!! since falling in love with the show for all mankind i've been desperate for more alt history but it feels like the most prominent ones are "what if the nazis won?" which i don't care for. but this list seems like a life saver
I am so glad to hear this I just had the idea on a whim! I think historical reimagining can be so much fun I myself would like to read more in the sub genre. Most of these are companion novels series so you'll get more from each one. Hope you enjoy
May I suggest In the Balance by Harry Turtledove? Basically first contact during WW2. He has other alt histories as well, but not sure how many you want from a single author. There's a Southern Victory line that starts with How Few Remain, The War that Came Early (Chamberlain doesn't sign the accord), and The Hot War (Cold War goes hot).
I haven't read any of these yet. He was suggested to me after I watched The Man in the High Castle. I still haven't read PKD's book it was based off of. đ
Suggest away my friend! I have no limits I also want to explore more in this sub-genre single authors are not a problem they do write several books !
would A Song of Ice and Fire count? Westeros being based on medieval Britain
Ummm what if mediaeval britain had dragons and crazy dragon rider rulers why not! Count it in !!
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