Buying a book for a history lover is easy. Buying the right book is where most people hesitate.

Some readers want battles and strategy. Others want big ideals and hard choices. Some want to disappear into a fully realized world. And some want the classics that shaped how we understand history in the first place.

This quick quiz will help you identify what kind of historical fiction reader you’re shopping for, and exactly what to gift them from Master Wings Publishing, including New York Times bestselling author Harold Coyle’s two epic novels: A Savage War of Empire and No Small Thing.

How it works

Answer the five questions below. Jot down your letter choices (A, B, C, or D). Whichever letter you pick most often reveals your recipient’s reader type. Each reader type has a book recommendation, supplemental reading to pair it with, and ideas on how to wrap in a cohesive theme.

The Quiz

1) If they had to cross a river, your gift recipient would:

A. Study the current, map the best crossing point, and talk through the plan
B. Build a bridge so everyone can cross safely
C. Watch how others do it first, then take the proven route
D. Charge across and figure it out as they go

2) At a historic battlefield, they are most likely to:

A. Sketch the terrain and explain what the commanders were trying to do
B. Talk about what the moment meant, and who paid the price for it
C. Notice the sounds, weather, and details, and imagine being there
D. Quote something they read years ago and compare interpretations

3) When they pick up a new historical novel, they care most about:

A. The logic of the conflict: strategy, politics, and cause-and-effect
B. The moral questions: loyalty, freedom, sacrifice, and conviction
C. The lived experience: voice, setting, and characters that feel real
D. Historical grounding: accuracy, classic sources, and “getting it right”

4) Their ideal gift would feel like:

A. A campaign map and a plan
B. A story that makes them reflect and talk about it afterward
C. A doorway into another time
D. A timeless classic they’ll keep and reread

5) After finishing a great book, they’re most likely to:

A. Look up what really happened and debate decisions
B. Bring up a quote or scene that captured the human stakes
C. Immediately start the next book that keeps them in that world
D. Recommend it, then pull a classic off the shelf to compare

Your Results

Mostly A: The Strategist

They love the architecture of history: tactics, turning points, and the chain reaction of decisions.

Gift pick: A Savage War of Empire
A sweeping French and Indian War epic filled with ambushes, sieges, and impossible choices, and the brutal reality of empire building.

Pair it with: Braddock’s Defeat (David L. Preston)
A smart companion for readers who want the campaign-level view and the human consequences.

Wrap idea: A waxed-canvas map case and a brass compass bookmark for a “scout the frontier” reading adventure.

Mostly B: The Idealist

They read for the “why.” They want conviction, sacrifice, and the moral tension that shapes people under pressure.

Gift pick: No Small Thing
A sweeping American Revolution novel told through multiple perspectives, from the slopes near Bunker Hill to Washington’s crossing of the Delaware in December 1776, with choices that feel urgent and personal.

Pair it with: Crucible of War (Fred Anderson)
For readers who want to connect ideals of freedom to the forces that made independence necessary.

Wrap idea: A red, white, and blue ribbon bookmark (simple, meaningful, and very on theme).

Mostly C: The Immersive Reader

They want to live inside the story. They love deep character work, atmosphere, and the feeling of being transported.

Gift pick: The two-book journey: A Savage War of Empire + No Small Thing
Prelude and payoff. Empire and independence. Two complete stories that speak to each other and build a bigger portrait of early America.

Pair it with: Wilderness Empire (Allen W. Eckert)
A people-first companion that helps extend the world beyond the novels.

Wrap idea: A cozy “reading kit” bundle: a candle, tea, and a frontier-inspired bookmark (no gimmicks, just immersion).

Mostly D: The Traditionalist

They love the classics and the “foundation texts,” and they respect historical storytelling that feels anchored and enduring.

Gift pick: No Small Thing (or the two-book set, if you want to go bigger)
It’s historically grounded, emotionally resonant, and built to spark discussion.

Pair it with: Montcalm and Wolfe (Francis Parkman)
A classic narrative voice that complements modern historical fiction beautifully.

Wrap idea: A simple leather bookmark and a gift note that frames it as “a classic-meets-contemporary pairing.”

Want a Quick, No-Fail Gift Option?

If you’re unsure, you cannot go wrong with the two-book set:
Start with A Savage War of Empire (French and Indian War), then follow with No Small Thing (American Revolution).
It’s the cleanest “From Empire to Revolution” arc, and it works for almost every reader type.

Go Deeper: Supplemental Reads for the History Buff

If your recipient loves stepping beyond the novel into the wider historical landscape, these pair beautifully:

  • Francis Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe
  • Allen W. Eckert, Wilderness Empire: A Narrative
  • David L. Preston, Braddock’s Defeat
  • Fred Anderson, Crucible of War

Ready to Gift

Find author spotlights, study guides, and book-club resources via our blog. Bundle a novel with one of the supplemental histories above to create a gift that informs, inspires, and lasts well.