#epic historical fiction

[magicalmyths]

Jorge Rivera-Herrans will be the next Lin Manuel Miranda

[just-an-enby-lemon]

"I don't like TSOA/Circe because it doesn't fit the original mythos."

So read the mythos. You can still do that.

"Actually things happened like that *source PJO*"

No. They didn't. It's okay, you can love your retelling/adaptation anyway.

"I don't like A Thousand Ships because it doesn't tell the story the way I want it to be/see it. "

Great. Try to find a story that does. Is okay.

"Epic is the new Hamilton".

Historical revisionism is diferent from mythological retellings. But hey glad you found your new fav musical.

"Wait wait so RQG is like Hamilton?"

Nope. RQG does never sell itself as a biography is not historical revisionism is historical fiction. No one EVER looked at Oscar Wilde and assumed he was a magical bard that worked as a spy for dragons. Not a single person in the world got gnome rebel from Emília Earhart and if your take on Einstein was that he can telleport honestly why? The list just goes on. And historical revisionism is necessarialy political - all art is political but historical revisionism is made with an agenda (good or bad) that silly "what if Geoffrey Chauncer was a Lich living on London's underground" doesn't.

"I don't like Disney Hercules."

It's fine, you'll be there someday, you'll go the distance.

"So you're fine with retellings."

Yes. As long as you can separete it from the actual mythos and each other. And more importantly is seing aa separated from actual pagans abd their religious beliefs.

"Why is Lore Olympus in the garbage?"

Is really bad. Not only as a retelling is just bad as a story.

[thepromisesatsundown]

Wenclair Epic: the Musical/Ancient Greece/Odyssey AU wip!

Okay so me and my friend have been brainstorming for this AU all freaking day and I started writing it (they are helping me plan and I am writing it solo)... I want to know what you guys think? Would you read?

We have it all planned out and I am so excited to write but just wanted to see if it is something anyone wants to read !!

It's going to be epic (pun intended....) >:]

[hqpoli]

I made this a year ago and still stand by it 😂🖤

Sadly, I can hardly find any shipping content (like I KNOW this man just wants his wife but that's what fanfiction is for), so I'll have to make it myself 🖤✨ ... Someday cuz I barely draw anything these days, but I can't keep letting slide the lack of ships to make this man even more miserable... Because I live for ✨Drama✨🔥

[chaos0pikachu]

saw a post that called word of honor and the untamed "historical fiction" and damn I'm not expert on Chinese history but I didn't realize there was a time when people were fighting over a piece of jewelry to access the cave of martial arts wonders whilst also summoning zombies for kicks

[moonjunio]

Excerpt from Eric Shanower’s epic comic series, Age of Bronze. I love how this sequence shows what Troy really looked like, and how it seemed like the center of the world in terms of trade.

Here we see two princes of Troy, Paris (impulsive long-lost prick), and Hektor (responsible eldest), discussing the latter’s mission to get the king’s sister back.

“Having second thoughts?”

“Hunh?”

“Hektor…no. No second thoughts at all.”

“I came to wish you good luck.”

“Thanks.”

“You aren’t overseeing the loading of your ship?”

“Aeneas is taking care of it.”

“Paris, a lot is at stake here.”

“Yeah, an aged aunt.”

“It’s more than Hesione. You’ve been in Troy for what — four months? Not very long. There are things you need to understand. Maybe I can help you see them.”

“What is there that I can’t see for myself?”

“You can see most of it — right from this tower.”

“Look south, Paris — to the seacoast where cookfires constantly burn. Do you know the bay there?”

“Of course, Hektor. I drive my chariot there sometimes. Ships are always beached along the shore.”

“Trading ships, Paris — from the richest countries of the south — Arzawa, Cyprus, Hatti, Amuru, Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Achaea, the islands…

“…each ship packed full of exotic goods — copper, gold, silver, oils, spices, cloth, perfumes — the wealth of the world — all for trade.

“Now look north to the straits, Paris. The water flows swift and strong, endlessly coursing through the Hellespont. A ship’s captain needs courage to steer against that current…

“…but that’s where the ships go — beyond the Hellespont — north to the Black Sea ports…from one half of the world to the other. Troy stands between.”

“What you can’t see, Paris, is the key to it all — the wind. It blows from the north for weeks on end. Only when it drops does any ship dare to venture up the Hellespont.

“So the wait…and pray their gods hold back the wind. And while they wait, they pay us for permission to beach their ships here. A steady flow of the world’s goods pours into our gates.

“That wealth is the lifeblood of Troy. Do you understand, Paris?”

“Of course. I’m not a fool.”

“Good because there are many who yearn to see Troy topple. Priam knows this. Every decision he makes — every term of every treaty — every word to every foreign dignitary — every family connection he arranges — is based on keeping Troy poised at the gate between one half of the world and the other.”

(Pt 2 here)

This is from volume 1, A Thousand Ships, available from Image Comics or Hungry Tiger Press 📚

[redsamuraiii]

Hollywood Posters

Japan Posters

Okay, I have to ask, why does modern Hollywood like to make every "historical epics" look pale and dark? 😂

[kizuna-the-randomix]

So one of my friends is really into history, lore, and Stuff and told me that a dude named Dr. Irving Finkel translates stuff from sumerian and he's, like, the one who learned that the Epic of Gilgamesh was like homework for scribes-in-training with said trainee scribes being, as I like to describe, 2-18-years-old rich kids. Bestie then proceeded to yeet me the mental imagery of some young noble child scribe writing GilKidu fan fiction instead of their homework [which, mood you scenario-noble child] which leads me to THIS crack shot of an idea being born when I said to them:

"Imagine one of the best scribes in the Modern Era was a 2 year old girl and the only reason she's considered the best because she lost her homework and that's the only reason why a Significant Part of The Story of Gilgamesh still exists."

Which lead me to conclude that "I can fanfic this." So really this AU (kinda) started because of bestie and because they like Kaveh and Deshret and Kaveh as Deshret, I decided to call this one The Epic of Deshret AU (shortened name) [full name of this AU would probably be Ancient Ship Fiction Survives AU]. (Below is basically copy pasting what I told them while I was running on AU juice)

Epic of Gilgamesh AU in Genshin but replace Gil and Enkidu with King Deshret and Nabu Malikata-- but its modern au with Haikaveh/Kavetham being Scribe and Archeologist respectively and they just uncovered a new site that contains ancient text that seems to hold new information about the Epic of King Deshret-- except that's not really the main plot.

So first scene is haikaveh uncovering the text and it like freezes to black and white, focusing on the Ancient text they're holding with some background dialouge going like "so you're probably wondering how I got here" with the voiceover being Nahida. Now flashback to an ancient time where The Era of King Deshret has passed but their stories told are still (kinda) accurate-- newly inducted scribe Nahida (5 years old), daughter of the late Lady Rukkadevata, has decided that she want to write about The Definitely True and Hidden Love Story of King Deshret and His Goddess of Flower Nabu Malikata that she discovered from her Late Mother's hidden books. There starts the tale of a grand adventure starting her escape from her definitely-not-power-hungry uncle Azar who definitely did not kill Rukka to going on a journey where she meets many people, asking them about what Hidden Details they could possibly know about King Deshret and Nabu Malikata to make her Definitely Hidden True Love Story more accurate.

So like the thing is that the story Nahida finds from her mom's hidden stuff is a What-If fanfiction if Nabu Malikata lived and they went on their way to Love and Procreate. Yeah she definitely still died as lore accurate to her Epic of Gilgamesh counterpart Enkidu.

--------------------------------------------------------

So yea that's all that I got for now. If anyone does decide this also tickles their plot bunny do tag me so I can see it too.

[foreverinthepagesofhistory]

~ Rumors About Our Daughter ~ (fan fiction requested by @historical-epic)

Rumors questioning Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria’s legitimacy have been circulating within the Austrian Court. What do her parents think about this? What do they do?

Characters: Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Valerie heard her mother talking to a random maid servant in the drawing room of their summer home Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl. Thought it sounded more like arguing to her.

“Don’t you dare make such treasonous accusations!” Elisabeth shouted, loud enough for 8 year old Valerie to make out what she said. 

“Y-Y-Your Majesty….I didn’t mean to…I was just implying that”

“What, that my daughter is illegitimate? That her father is not The Emperor? How dare you!”

Valerie had never heard her mother this angry before. It was quite shocking, more shocking than the rumors of her own illegitimacy. 

These rumors were swirling in and out of Kaiservilla for months now, mostly the fancy talk of lower servants. When the imperial family arrived, the servants had to be more careful about their gossiping and shut out their willful thoughts as these thoughts could imprison them for life, or even worse, death.

Emperor Franz Joseph I was married to Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria, who later became Empress Elisabeth of Austria by marriage. But everyone close to her called her either Mother or Sisi. 

Together they had four children. Archduchess Sophie, who died young, Gisela, Rudolf, and Marie-Valerie. They all lived somewhat happy lives although there were problems in all.

Franz and Sisi had to bear the burden of ruling an all powerful Austro-Hungarian empire, Rudolf had to bear the burden of being heir, Gisela had to bear the burden of being unloved by her parents (it was very complicated), and Valerie now had to bear the burden of various rumors spreading about who her real father was.

There are plenty of servants and nobles who live at Kaiservilla and that means that there are various mouths to blab whatever they want about whoever they want. 

A few months ago, the topic of Empress Sisi and her lover Count Andrássy was being spoken about and somebody must’ve put together that Valerie might not have been her father’s daughter.

These were obviously just nonsensical rumors because Valerie was Franz’s child. She was legitimate. 

But Valerie herself didn’t know that and neither did all of the servants who had been blabbing their mouths off for months. 

“Get out of my sight! Sisi practically screamed at the frightened chamber maid who unfortunately gossiped at the wrong time to a footman.

The maid scurried off and Sisi sat down on the nearest chair and was trying to hold in tears.

“Mama..” Valerie walked in from the other room. “Was that maid talking about me?” She asked.

“Oh darling” Sisi held out her hands to embrace the trembling young girl who started to cry.

“Don’t pay any mind to what that filthy servant said. It was all lies and it wasn’t true at all.”

Sisi stroked her daughter’s unruly dark brown hair and continued to do so until Valerie broke the embrace.

“But Mama…I heard it all…I don’t know what this all means.” Valerie was on the verge of hysterics. 

Seeing her mother so upset ignited something in her that is usually hidden away. It made her angry and confused and utterly upset.

“Valerie darling” Sisi soothed. “All you have to believe is that you are your father’s daughter, you are my daughter. If somebody said that you aren’t then shame on them!” 

Sisi gave her youngest daughter a little playful slap which turned the sad frown on Valerie’s face into the wide smile that would be seen playing outside with her dogs or drawing pictures with her mother.

“You are Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria, youngest daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, King of Hungary. That is who you are and you can’t listen to anybody if they say otherwise, especially the nasty servants who gossip.” Sisi softly placed a hand on Valerie’s face.

“Okay Mama, I love you very much.” The two hugged firmly again.

“Next time Valerie, don’t eavesdrop okay?” Sisi said strictly, but with a laugh.”

“Okay Mama!” Sighed smart Valerie as she skipped out of the room.

~

Later that night, when Valerie was doing her nighttime prayers, Sisi was informing Franz about the events of the day.

“Franz, darling,” Sisi spoke to her husband who was sitting calmly on the bed taking his boots off.

“Many people are questioning Valerie’s legitimacy, today I caught a maid servant gossiping with a footman. I’m greatly concerned.” Sis went over to sit next to Franz who wrapped his arm around her.

“Darling, you know those rumors are false. I remember the night we conceived. It couldn’t possibly be anyone else. What makes you so worried?” Franz said

Sisi wanted to say that the rumors were specifically stating that Count Andrássy was the suspected father and that she never did anything with him except one small kiss, but she couldn’t say that to her husband. 

She loved Franz and Andrássy’s kiss brought her no affectionate feelings, minus disgust and anger, but this was just not the right time.

That was a story for another day.

Sisi decided to tell Franz the truth about half of the worries about this situation.

“I’m worried because Valerie was in the other room and she could hear me yelling at that maid.” Sisi was close to tears.

“She has never heard me that angry before and she came up to me afterword and was quite distressed...” Sisi wept into Franz’s arms while he gently stroked her back.

They might not have been passionate soulmates, but after all these years of marriage, Franz still loved Sisi, and the feeling was mutual.

“Sisi darling hush now, I will talk to her, I promise.” Franz stated his wife in the eye and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

He then exited the room and let Sisi undress peacefully.

As Franz was walking to Valerie’s rooms, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking more deeply about the rumors.

Why would anyone think that Valerie is not my daughter?

Valerie heard a sudden knock on her bedroom door.

“Valerie, darling, it’s Papa, can I come in?”

“Enter.” Valerie spoke softly as her nanny calmly put the book away and exited the room.

Franz came in and slowly sat down on Valerie’s bed.

“What’s wrong Papa?” Valerie noticed the solemn look on her father’s usually joyful face. At least he was joyful when she was around.

“Valerie…” Franz spoke in a nervous but fairly calm tone. “Mother told me about what happened today.”

Valerie’s face fell into a sad frown.

“Does everyone think like that maid thinks?” She said desperately. “Mama says that I shouldn’t listen to them…but I did.”

“Oh Valerie my dearest,” Franz wrapped his daughter in a tight embrace and rocked her around like he did when she was a baby. 

“Look in my eyes, Valerie, you are my daughter. Nothing can or will ever change that.” Franz was disgusted by these ugly rumors. His heart knew that Sisi could’ve and would’ve been unfaithful at times, and he could’ve been too. But he knew deep down in his heart that Valerie was his child, nothing could convince him otherwise.

“Papa is that really the truth?” Valerie asked longingly.

“Darling,” Franz cooed. “It will forever be the truth.”

“Oh Papa I love you so much!” Valerie gave her father a kiss on the cheek and a tight squeeze before hopping under her covers.

Franz kissed the little girl goodnight and exited calmly.

He knew that everything was going to be okay, and if not, he would take care of it.

~

[qbdatabase]

Themed List: Warrior Women

Warrior Women: Butches on the Battlefield Welcome, warriors and squires! The theme of this month’s list is Warrior Women–from the classic sword-and-shield knight, to a werewolf superhero, to mecha-piloting soldiers, these these women are here to kick ass and kiss girls 💪⚔️💋

[ahalliance]

i should read more historical fiction to run stats on how many partake in the mcu-disney-girlbossification-sanitisation of women and how many are normal*

[thequeereview]

TV Review: Fellow Travelers ★★★★★

Created by Oscar-nominated Philadelphia screenwriter Ron Nyswaner, based on the novel by Thomas Mallon, the eight-episode Showtime miniseries Fellow Travelers is an exquisitely crafted work of queer historical fiction. With a nuanced gay love story at its centre, it is a captivating, sweeping, and deeply moving epic that takes in the Lavender Scare of the 1950s and follows its repercussions in…

[lou-wilham]

I've seen some people switching from found family to chosen family, and I raise you. . . Forged Family.

Family that you would go into battle with. Family that you would hunt ghosts, slay vampires, and topple corrupt governments with.

Here are some of the forged families in my series.

[sinclair-enterprises]

The historical accuracy of Enemy At The Gates might as well be on par with The Mummy but at least the bisexual love triangle somewhat makes up for it lmao

[sforzesco]

Cardinal! just popping up randomly in your askbox to say that i'm OBSESSED with your portraying of della Rovere, especially in the latest comic. he looks so menacing, sinister even, yet he traces Ascanio's scar so so tenderly?? jbfbvkjvd i'd give my right arm for a scene like that in the Borgias season 4!

thank you!!

originally, that scene was supposed to be a lot more weird and hostile, but I didn't want to draw. hallways. for it. so I'll be revisiting it again someday when I do feel like drawing hallways lmao

also, they're so weird! every now and then I'll read something, and I'm like. hey, della rovere. did you fuck that vice chancellor.

once, della rovere asked for the absolute humiliation of ascanio sforza, and then jump cut years later and he's re establishing ascanio's wealth and visiting him every day just to talk. okay guys!!!

[eggcatsreads]

I recently added MJ Pankey's Epic of Helinthia to my giant pile of books involving Greek myth!

I was lucky enough to review Epic of Helinthia as an ARC reader, but this story was so phenomenal that I had to grab a physical copy for my own! ❤️

If you love books on Greek myth, but wanted something fresh and new with an original story - one that works so well you'll forget it's not an actual myth retelling - I cannot recommend this book enough!

(Also, don't ask me how many of these books I've actually read - my tbr is between me and Goodreads 😅)

I have an actual review here and on Goodreads as well ❤️