MASTER OF WAR

MASTER OF WAR - a 100 Years War historical adventure trilogy - is bloody and thrilling and bloody thrilling, the story of Thomas Blackstone, village stonemason and archer, and guardian to his mute brother, who at the start of the novel stands accused of rape and murder. Blackstone's evidence saves him and the two are sent off to fight with King Edward III's army in France. It is 1346: brutal lessons of war are soon learned, and a terrible secret discovered in the streets of Rouen turns brother against brother. In a defiant act of bravery Blackstone saves the life of Christiana, a young woman protected by the de Harcourts, a Norman lord's family riven by ambition and divided loyalties. Love, hate and treachery are now Blackstone's companions, but it is the most decisive battle of the war at Crécy which will change his life forever. Ahead lies knighthood, and the life of a man-at-arms who also treasures his wife and family, the bonds of friendship and soldiers' camaraderie. But a dark force known as the Savage Priest will do all in his power to inflict terror on those Blackstone most loves David's great skill at action and pacing comes from long experience as a scriptwriter and novelist. He spent a decade as principal writer on A Touch of Frost and has written for several long-running series like Dalziel & Pascoe. His YA eco-adventure trilogy DANGER ZONE (THE DEVIL'S BREATH, ICE CLAW and BLOOD SUN) is published by Puffin in the UK, Delacorte US and Doubleday Canada, and sold in 11 other languages. He has also had an impressive array of interesting jobs – from firefighter to professional photographer, from soldier in the Parachute Regiment's Reconnaissance Platoon to a Marketing Manager for Penguin South Africa. So he has experience of real action, as well as the cut-and-thrust of publishing ! Now, David is based in Devon, where he lives with his wife. ‘First in a series of historical fiction based around the Hundred Years War by an author who can compete with Bernard Cornwell and, in places, wins on points. Exciting, informative and including battle scenes that made me reach for a firm surface. Love it! [ ] In David Gilman I see flashes of brilliance that surpass Bernard Cornwell. Not only are we swept along by the story, some turns and a few jaw-dropping twists, there are also some wonderful undumbed jewels of historic context to add contemporaneous texture I'm no girly-girl but descriptions of militia can sometimes leave me reaching for the read-fast-forward button; though not here. I found myself avidly absorbing facts subtly disseminated throughout the plot, including how wars were financed, the relationship between the English and Welsh archers (not good and yet they were on the same side!), the way that archers acted as guerrilla snipers as well as a single force etc etc. It's just full of good stuff. The narrative is enriched by characters for whom we care. We plump for the Blackstones as they realise that in order to survive they need more than they learnt at their father's knee, we're grateful to Sir Gilbert and revel in the personalities they meet along the way. There's also a deviously clever plot device that enables us to live life on the French side.' – Ani Johnson, Bookbag ‘Well, to be blunt here, if you only read one historical debut this year, make it this one. The prose is sharper than a bodkin arrow, the pace faster than thought and to be honest it was a book that I just couldn't put down without being left to wonder what was next for the lead hero. The author has not only brought the time to life but also managed to give me a lead character that I not only want to spend time around but is a man of the people, coming from common stock with his skills taking him higher Add to this a great story arc, wonderful twists and of course the set up for future instalments all round make this a title that not only launched over a thousand arrows but I'm sure will launch David Gilman to a ravenous reading public to sate their historical fiction action needs. Great stuff.' – Gareth Wilson, Falcata Times ‘I can recommend MASTER OF WAR. The mix of nationalities and allegiances works well – there is almost more tension between the English and Welsh than there is between Norman and English or Norman and French. Also effectively evoked is the landscape of Normandy and France with its cities, castles, villages and abbeys. Its scenes of war are truly brutal and terrifying and mesmerising. [ ] MASTER OF WAR is an extremely exciting novel. Its pace rarely pauses. But above all else it is steeped in the blood, rage and grief of war, where death can come from every side at any time and in the most horrible of ways, where life off the battlefield can be almost as fragile as on it and where love and friendship have a price. I hope we get a sequel.' – Kate Atherton, For Winter Nights Amazon Bestseller-Rang: #167 Bezahlt in Kindle-Shop (Siehe Top 100 Bezahlt in Kindle-Shop) Nr. 1 in Englische Buecher > Belletristik > Populaere Belletristik > Historisch Nr. 1 in Kindle-Shop > eBooks > Fremdsprachige eBooks > Englische eBooks > Belletristik > Populaere Belletristik > Krieg Nr. 1 in Kindle-Shop > eBooks > Fremdsprachige eBooks > Englische eBooks > Belletristik > Populaere Belletristik > Historisch