A key characteristic of historical fiction is that it is set in the past and incorporates real-life historical events, figures, and settings into the story. The story may be fictional, but it is based on or inspired by real historical events and is often intended to give readers a sense of what life was like during a particular time period. Additionally, historical fiction often includes vivid descriptions of historical settings and customs, and may use language and writing styles that are appropriate for the time period in which the story is set.