Your Next Reads After The Diamond Eye
If you just finished Diamond Eye and you’re sitting there wanting to read about more badass women in history… same. I swear, if Kate Quinn wrote my history textbooks in school, I probably would have been a star student. I love historical fiction that teaches me something while simultaneously sucking me into a story I can't put down. If you're looking for more of those page-turners, here are a few I’d recommend:
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Two sisters in WWII France who fight in completely different ways. One is quiet and cautious. One is bold and reckless. Both are brave as hell. This book will absolutely punch you in the feelings, but in a way that reminds you why women’s stories matter so much. It’s emotional in the best way.
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
This one feels like The Diamond Eye’s cousin, who’s equally intense but in a different way. It follows women spies during WWI and WWII, weaving timelines together until everything snaps into place. Quinn has a way of writing flawed, fierce women who feel so real you feel like you know them.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Multiple POVs, real historical women, and writing that hits in that “I cannot believe this actually happened” way. You follow three women whose worlds collide because of Ravensbrück. It’s heavy at times, yes, but it’s beautifully done, and the character development is incredible. If you love historical fiction that shows both the resilience and complexity of women - this is your book.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Three women working at Bletchley Park during WWII, breaking German codes while also dealing with friendship drama, secrets, and a little “excuse me, WHO betrayed WHO?” energy. One of the characters is locked in a mental institution as an adult, and you spend the book piecing together how she ended up there. It’s gripping, emotional, smart, and everything I love about Quinn’s writing.
If you're still thinking about Mila days later (same), these stories will scratch that same itch - smart women, impossible circumstances, and the kind of bravery that makes you want to straighten your posture a little. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres for a reason - the women in these books remind me why storytelling matters in the first place.
