Books Like Pope Joan

by Donna Woolfolk Cross · about this book

Loved Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross? If its female lead, hidden identity and historical fiction hooked you, these 20 books hit the same notes — starting with The Pillars of the Earth, The Mists of Avalon and The Pearl That Broke Its Shell. Every pick is matched by what’s actually inside the book, not just its genre, and we skip other books by the same author so you find someone new.

What’s inside Pope Joan: Female Lead · Hidden Identity · Historical Fiction · Medieval Kingdom · Religion & Spirituality

The Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follett

Medieval Kingdom · Rags to Riches · Historical Fiction · Underdog · Political Intrigue

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The Mists of Avalon
Marion Zimmer Bradley

Medieval Kingdom · Feminism · Religious Identity · Tragic · Historical Fiction

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The Pearl That Broke Its Shell
Nadia Hashimi

Gender Identity · Feminism · Historical Fiction · Tragic · Religious Identity

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Menewood
Nicola Griffith

Medieval Kingdom · Historical Fiction · Religious Identity · Political Intrigue · Female Lead

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Babylonia
Costanza Casati

Rags to Riches · Underdog · Feminism · Historical Fiction · Political Intrigue

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The Seamstress
Frances de Pontes Peebles

Historical Fiction · Tragic · Feminism · Rags to Riches · Female Lead

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The Mirror & the Light
Hilary Mantel

Rags to Riches · Historical Fiction · Religious Identity · Political Intrigue · Tragic

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Corrag
Susan Fletcher

Healer · Historical Fiction · Tragic · Religious Identity · Female Lead

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The Weight of Ink
Rachel Kadish

Feminism · Religious Identity · Historical Fiction · Plague · Female Lead

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The Miniaturist
Jessie Burton

Historical Fiction · Tragic · Religious Identity · Feminism · Female Lead

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The Apothecary Diaries 10
Natsu Hyuuga

Healer · Political Intrigue · Hidden Identity · Historical Fiction · Female Lead

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The Personal Librarian
Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

Hidden Identity · Historical Fiction · Underdog · Feminism · Female Lead

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The City of Brass
S.A. Chakraborty

Healer · Religious Identity · Political Intrigue · Hidden Identity · Female Lead

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The Shadowed Land
Signe Pike

Medieval Kingdom · Historical Fiction · Religious Identity · Political Intrigue · Female Lead

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Dragonfly in Amber
Diana Gabaldon

Healer · Historical Fiction · Tragic · Political Intrigue · Female Lead

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Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte

Feminism · Religious Identity · Historical Fiction · Female Lead · Forbidden Love

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The Familiar
Leigh Bardugo

Religious Identity · Historical Fiction · Hidden Identity · Female Lead · Political Intrigue

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The Golem and the Jinni
Helene Wecker

Historical Fiction · Religious Identity · Hidden Identity · Female Lead · Forbidden Love

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Little
Edward Carey

Rags to Riches · Historical Fiction · Underdog · Female Lead · Coming of Age

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The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald

Rags to Riches · Historical Fiction · Tragic · Hidden Identity · Forbidden Love

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