What are the best historical fantasy novels to start with?

One of the best is 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss. It's set in a fictional world with a rich history. The main character, Kvothe, has a captivating story filled with magic, mystery, and his own personal journey of growth.

I would recommend 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms'. It's a classic that vividly depicts the political and military struggles during the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. It's full of interesting characters and strategies.

One of the best is 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' by Susanna Clarke. It combines the historical setting of early 19th - century England with a world of magic. The story follows two magicians and their attempts to revive magic in England. It's full of richly detailed descriptions of the era and complex magical systems.

Another good choice is 'Code Name Verity' by Elizabeth Wein. It's about female spies during World War II. The friendship between the two main characters is beautifully portrayed and it's full of suspense.

For beginners, 'City of Bones' from The Mortal Instruments series is a good start. It has a mix of love, action, and a complex fantasy world full of demons and shadowhunters. Then there's 'Shiver' by Maggie Stiefvater. The love story between a girl and a werewolf in a cold, small town is really engaging. Also, 'The Hunger Games' has some elements of love and is set in a very imaginative post - apocalyptic fantasy world.

One great one to start with is 'I, Claudius' by Robert Graves. It offers a vivid look into the Roman Empire. Another is 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco which combines mystery and medieval history. And 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel gives a detailed view of Tudor England.

When writing a fantasy novel, it was best to create a unique worldview and background at the beginning to make the reader interested in the story's world and setting. This world view and background should be in line with the theme and plot of the story, and at the same time, provide the background and world view for the development of the story. When creating a world view and background, one needed to consider the details of the setting, including the geographical environment, historical background, myths and legends, magic, and superpowers. He needed to let the readers feel the uniqueness and depth of this world view, and at the same time, he needed to ensure the credibility and rationality of the setting. In a fantasy novel, the characters, experiences, and settings of the main character and supporting characters, as well as the plot and development of the story, needed to be set. These elements needed to resonate and interact with each other to provide the reader with a fascinating story world. To write a fantasy novel, one needed to create a unique world view and background. At the same time, one needed to pay attention to the setting and development of the plot and characters to attract the interest of the readers and create a fascinating story world.

You can start by choosing a period that interests you most. For example, if you like ancient Rome, look for novels set in that era from the list. 'I, Claudius' is a good choice.

I would recommend 'Ivanhoe' by Walter Scott. It gives a good sense of the chivalric code and the political and cultural aspects of medieval England, like the relationship between the Saxons and Normans.

The 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman is also quite popular. It has a unique take on a multi - world concept, with elements of theology and history. The main character Lyra's journey through different worlds and her fight against the oppressive Magisterium is very engaging.