The Heirs of Alexandria series, by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer. These are historical fantasies (c.1440 AD) set in an alternate universe. They are mostly set in Venice or the Eastern Mediterranean. The break point is the death of Hypatia in 415 AD; in this universe she survived and became a colleague of John Chrystostom, founding the Hypatian Order. The other thing is that magic and magical beings exist. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirs_of_Alexandria_series for more information.

1 Heirs of Alexandria, by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer​
Set in 1437+1438 in Venice. Orphan half-brothers Marco and Benito Valdosta acquire a protector and become involved in the politics of the city, saving it from a threat posed by Jagellion, Grand Duke of Lithuania (who has been taken over by a demon). They become involved with Manfred of Brittany, second heir to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles Frederick Hohenstauffen, and his Vinlander bodyguard, Eric Haakonson, who foils a plot by a religious order, the Servants of the Trinity, and their secular arm, the Knights of the Trinity.

2 This Rough Magic, by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer​
Set in 1438-1439 in Venice & Corfu. Marco stays behind in Venice, Benito is exiled to Corfu (we won't mention why). Manfred and Erik head to Jerusalem. King Emeric of Hungary decides to invade Corfu with assistance from his long-lved 'aunt', Elizabeth Bathory, and Jagellion..

2.5 A Mankind Witch, by Dave Freer​
Set in 1438-1439 in Telemark (one of the Scandinavian kingdoms). A Barbary corsair on a plundering expedition to the north is shipwrecked and taken as a thrall in Telemark. He is given to the Princess Signy, who is under the subjection of her stepmother and half-brother (who is now the king).

3 Much Fall of Blood, by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer​
Set in 1540-1541 in the Balkans and the Eurasian steppe. Following the invasion of Corfu, Benito is made acting governor and starts making feelers to Iskander Beg. Manfred and Eric continue their interrupted pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and end up escorting a Mongol ambassador from the Ilkhanate to their cousins in the Golden Horde. In Hungary, Elizabeth Bathory frees Vlad of Valachia from King Emeric - she has designs on him. Vlad escapes and falls in with a shapeshifter pack who take him back to Valachia where he raises the flag of rebellion.

4 Burdens of the Dead, by Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer​
Set in 1540-1541 in Constantinople and the Black Sea. Benito leads a fleet to invade the Byzantine Empire in order to depose Alexius (who has gone too far dealing with foreigners). The Ilkhanate are unhappy with the Baitani who have been fomenting trouble in the Black Sea.

I very much like this series; it's the sort of fantasy I enjoy. As #5 is due out later this year, I thought it best to refresh my memory (although I probably won't get it until the paperback comes out...) . Somewhat reminiscent of the Merovingen Nights sharecrop (especially the first in the series), but fantasy rather than SF. Each book is a standalone, but it helps to have read the previous to understand the politics (apart from A Mankind Witch which is a true-standalone). I do like these - they're an epic romp through early renaissance politics - it's fun spotting the historical background and wondering what could have happened to so-and-so. The glaring omission is the Medici in Florence; we see the Del Estes of Ferrara, the Visconti of Milan, and Carlo Sforza, but no mention of the Medici (Florence is mentioned, but doesn't seem to be one of the great city states in this version of history). The other thing is that there seems to be some conflation of history; partly because of the different timeline and partly because of the old magical beings still extant.

Recommended. (Similar are: The Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carey although this version has Christianity, and also the Instrumentalities of the Night series by Glen Cook. The Mongol Empire is similar to the Assassini series by Jon Courtney Grimwood.)

I've been waiting for this for a while, and I'm relatively pleased with it. Moving the venue from fantasy-history Italy to eastern Europe and central Asia was a nice change, even if I never quite bought into the Mongol culture - it was sort of danced around without ever really being brought to life. The treatment of Vlad Dracul was pretty appealing, though - I'd almost rather read a second book about him than go on with our usual band of heroes.

This was a briefer book than either of the previous ones, and it's stronger for it. We also get some actual closure in the defeat of a couple of villains - although not the big one - from previous books. (The failure of bad guys to ever actually die was beginning to annoy me.) Sadly, I do have to go tally another "the only gay sex is coercive and had by the villain" mark on the scoreboard for this one.

I'll keep reading these as they come out - hopefully the length and complexity of this one is a sign of things to come. ( )

Back in 2001, Mercedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer teamed up to create a new fantasy alternate history, The Shadow of the Lion. In this Heirs of Alexandria series, the Library of Alexandria never was burned, Christianity split along "Pauline" and "Petrine" lines. Oh, and magic works, and there are entities far older than man...and inimical to humans.

The first book had the Slavic demon god Chernobog as its main antagonist,threatening the city state of Venice.A sequel, a few years later, This Rough Magic, introduced a new antagonist, Countess Elizabeth Batholdy, better known in our universe as Countess Bathory, who bathed in the blood of young women in an attempt to stay young. In the Heirs Universe, with magic powers at her command, she is even more villainous and dangerous, most especially because she so carefully hides her villainy and plots within plots, and most dangerous magical connections.

I had thought the series dead, but much to my delight, the third novel in the series, Much Fall of Blood, continues the adventures of Prince Manfred of the Holy Roman Empire, Erik of Iceland and new allies and companions. This time, Manfred and Erik need to escort some diplomats across dangerous Balkan territory...

Batholdy is back and as treacherous as ever, Chernobog remains working behind the scenes, the Byzantines are feckless, King Emeric of Hungary is ambitious, and the complicated politics of this universe adds the Mongols and their successor states into the mix. And did I mention a certain "Drac" from Transylvania who turns up?

It's a delightful stew, in a most interesting and alternate early 16th century. There is always something interesting happening to the cast of characters, and there is character growth and development to suit fans of the series. We get resolution on plotlines going back to the last two novels in a satisfying manner, and there is plenty of room for sequels set in this universe.(There is one giant dangling plot line which is explicitly not resolved that suggests at least one more novel in the offing)

As always, though, you shouldn't start here. You should start with The Shadow of the Lion, and find for yourself why this is a rich fantasy alternate history that I am very glad that the three authors have decided to return their talents to exploring. ( )

Slow start until you get the characters sorted out, then an excellent continuation of the Heirs of Alexandria series. ( )

Another alternate-history historical fantasy set in the 1500s. The action soon moves from the Mediterranean, especially Corfu, to Hungary and the plains to the east. Mongols, holy knights, werewolves, not-quite-vampires of various ilk, and other magical and demonic creatures intermingle, as the forces of Light square off against the forces of Darkness, a captive prince fights to reclaim his land, and an ambitious upstart makes a grab for power.

Although several immediate storylines wrap up satisfactorily, the larger plot is left hanging. Not just room, but a crying need, for a sequel. ( )