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Essex Dogs #3
Lion Hearts
The thrilling, unmissable follow-up to Wolves of Winter by Sunday Times bestselling historian, Dan Jones, following the fortunes of ordinary soldiers in the early years of the Hundred Years' War.
Three years after the Essex Dogs battled through the Siege of Calais, the Black Death has torn through Europe.
Romford, basking in his new riches, now finds himself living as a squire in the glamorous court of King Edward III. Loveday, whose businesses have been destroyed by the plague, is desperate to avoid returning to the life he vowed to fighting. And Millstone and Thorp enlist themselves on a deadly mission to escort a princess to Castille.
Each Dog has scattered in a radically different direction. But something is about to bring them back together...
Three years after the Essex Dogs battled through the Siege of Calais, the Black Death has torn through Europe.
Romford, basking in his new riches, now finds himself living as a squire in the glamorous court of King Edward III. Loveday, whose businesses have been destroyed by the plague, is desperate to avoid returning to the life he vowed to fighting. And Millstone and Thorp enlist themselves on a deadly mission to escort a princess to Castille.
Each Dog has scattered in a radically different direction. But something is about to bring them back together...
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2025
183 people are currently reading
4200 people want to read
About the author
Dan Jones
71 books5,623 followersDan Jones is a NYT bestselling author and broadcaster. His books, which include The Templars, Henry V, The Plantagenets and Powers & Thrones, have sold more than 2 million copies and are published in 23 languages. He is the author of the Essex Dogs novel trilogy. Dan writes and hosts the popular weekly Sony Music Entertainment podcast This Is History. He has presented dozens of television documentaries, including the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles, and has executive produced and consulted on a number of films and television shows including Anne Boleyn (Channel 5/Sony Pictures Television) and Knightfall (A+E/History). His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post; for a decade he was a columnist for the London Evening Standard. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and in 2025 was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Historic Royal Palaces.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
August 11, 2025
Dan Jones strikes with this masterpiece of a finale. At times a departure to the two previous instalments, other times exactly what we have come to expect from him, Lion Hearts is a true triumph of historical fiction. Medieval cursing, high emotions, quippy dialogue and total immersion, Lion Hearts is easily my favourite of the trilogy. Please let there be more!
December 7, 2025
The Dogs Abide
A review of the Viking hardcover (September 23, 2025) combined with the Head of Zeus eBook (July 31, 2025).
The conclusion of the Essex Dogs trilogy is set in the seaside town of Winchelsea in 1350 and leads up to the naval Battle of Winchelsea by the ships of Edward III versus a Castilian mercenary/pirate fleet. The various surviving Essex Dogs were separated in the earlier books, but now all of them reunite for this final conflict.
Lion Hearts has less of the warfare that was on display in the earlier books. The final naval battle somewhat redeems it, but also gives it short shrift, e.g. the main Castilian baddie's death is a throwaway line only for instance. The heart of the story is that of Loveday, the previous leader of the Dogs, who now runs the Green Lion tavern in Winchelsea and wants to live a life of retirement. Circumstances prevent that from happening as he is drawn into the machinations of a Sergeant-at-Arms who is running a smuggling operation.
As in the earlier books, the language is often an anachronistic spew of obscenities from the nobility, the soldiers and the sailors. I don't think they actually swore like that back in Chaucer's day 🫢. As with the earlier portrayal of the Black Prince as a rather unchivalrous callow youth, the shock in Lion Hearts is from the portrayal of Edward III's cousin, Joan the Fair Maid of Kent as someone who could drink most men under the table and could also swear like a trooper. Many of the nobility are actual historical figures as in the previous books, with the fictional Essex Dogs as the leads.
A portrait of Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent. Image sourced from alchetron.com.
Although this is supposedly the last of a trilogy, there does seem to be a hint at the end that the campaigns will continue and that there are younger Essex Dogs ready to "ride unto the breach". Whether Dan Jones continues with some of these characters or starts a further historical fiction from this era, I would certainly enjoy reading him again. I also hope to read one of his non-fiction histories soon as well.
Trivia and Links
I read the earlier books of the trilogy Essex Dogs (2022) and Wolves of Winter: A Novel (2023) and reviewed them as Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War and Let Slip the Dogs of Winter respectively.
A review of the Viking hardcover (September 23, 2025) combined with the Head of Zeus eBook (July 31, 2025).
Romford stared at the back of his hands and thought of the Essex Dogs. Of those he knew had died in France: Pismire, Father, Tebbe. Of those he thought had died: Scotsman. Of those he had left behind, and of whom now knew nothing: Loveday, Millstone, Thorp.
The conclusion of the Essex Dogs trilogy is set in the seaside town of Winchelsea in 1350 and leads up to the naval Battle of Winchelsea by the ships of Edward III versus a Castilian mercenary/pirate fleet. The various surviving Essex Dogs were separated in the earlier books, but now all of them reunite for this final conflict.
Lion Hearts has less of the warfare that was on display in the earlier books. The final naval battle somewhat redeems it, but also gives it short shrift, e.g. the main Castilian baddie's death is a throwaway line only for instance. The heart of the story is that of Loveday, the previous leader of the Dogs, who now runs the Green Lion tavern in Winchelsea and wants to live a life of retirement. Circumstances prevent that from happening as he is drawn into the machinations of a Sergeant-at-Arms who is running a smuggling operation.
As in the earlier books, the language is often an anachronistic spew of obscenities from the nobility, the soldiers and the sailors. I don't think they actually swore like that back in Chaucer's day 🫢. As with the earlier portrayal of the Black Prince as a rather unchivalrous callow youth, the shock in Lion Hearts is from the portrayal of Edward III's cousin, Joan the Fair Maid of Kent as someone who could drink most men under the table and could also swear like a trooper. Many of the nobility are actual historical figures as in the previous books, with the fictional Essex Dogs as the leads.
A portrait of Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent. Image sourced from alchetron.com.
Although this is supposedly the last of a trilogy, there does seem to be a hint at the end that the campaigns will continue and that there are younger Essex Dogs ready to "ride unto the breach". Whether Dan Jones continues with some of these characters or starts a further historical fiction from this era, I would certainly enjoy reading him again. I also hope to read one of his non-fiction histories soon as well.
Trivia and Links
I read the earlier books of the trilogy Essex Dogs (2022) and Wolves of Winter: A Novel (2023) and reviewed them as Cry Havoc and Let Slip the Dogs of War and Let Slip the Dogs of Winter respectively.
August 13, 2025
My favorite war band returns, though was a bit slower and less engaging for me than the last two Dan Jones Essex Dogs I’ve read, especially given how miserable the dogs were, how far and hard they’d become. The narrative—or rather, the many interwoven narratives, though never quite enough—takes us through the harsh realities of life after war: the fading of “good times,” the endless sinking into mud, and the unbearable weight of loss.
Thank you Aria & Aries via NatGalley for DRC, this is my honest opinion.
Thank you Aria & Aries via NatGalley for DRC, this is my honest opinion.
April 24, 2025
Rounded up 3
I wanted to love this book, but it just doesn’t land for me in the way I wanted it too
Book 2 was really good, the story was gritty, honest and it felt like a real story, with real consequences.
Book 3, moves so far away from this approach. I feel book 2 could have been an extra 100 pages and wrapped all the characters arc, I don’t think we needed another book.
The story is quite loose and doesn’t have any of the emotional impacts. It just felt like we were spending more time with the characters and we moved away from the historical elements of the book
Dan does write in a beautiful way and it was an easy read. I just never felt like this story was planned, it just didn’t have the emotional punches of the previous books
I wanted to love this book, but it just doesn’t land for me in the way I wanted it too
Book 2 was really good, the story was gritty, honest and it felt like a real story, with real consequences.
Book 3, moves so far away from this approach. I feel book 2 could have been an extra 100 pages and wrapped all the characters arc, I don’t think we needed another book.
The story is quite loose and doesn’t have any of the emotional impacts. It just felt like we were spending more time with the characters and we moved away from the historical elements of the book
Dan does write in a beautiful way and it was an easy read. I just never felt like this story was planned, it just didn’t have the emotional punches of the previous books
November 7, 2025
A satisfying end (or is it?) to the Essex Dogs Trilogy. Jones's first attempt at fiction gets high marks from me. He writes fiction with the same knowledge and accessible writing that has made him a favorite of mine.
Having returned from France, the Dogs that are left standing have split up and each is trying to regain some semblance of normal. Lovejoy has attached himself to an old friend, Gwen, and her child, and they run a tavern in the village of Winchelsea. Romford has landed a squire's position with a Lord in debt and, unfortunately, going through the booty he returned with from France, way too quickly. Joanie, the Lord's wife, is one of my favorite new characters. Not your typical Lady of Medieval times. Millstone and Thorp have retained their status as mercenaries and are looking for the next adventure. Another character, Rigby, has joined the two of them.
The subtle ending makes me think that Jones may not yet be done with The Essex Dogs.
Having returned from France, the Dogs that are left standing have split up and each is trying to regain some semblance of normal. Lovejoy has attached himself to an old friend, Gwen, and her child, and they run a tavern in the village of Winchelsea. Romford has landed a squire's position with a Lord in debt and, unfortunately, going through the booty he returned with from France, way too quickly. Joanie, the Lord's wife, is one of my favorite new characters. Not your typical Lady of Medieval times. Millstone and Thorp have retained their status as mercenaries and are looking for the next adventure. Another character, Rigby, has joined the two of them.
The subtle ending makes me think that Jones may not yet be done with The Essex Dogs.
June 30, 2025
Few historians can slip out of their academic garb and compose compelling works of fiction. In Lion Hearts, Dan Jones hurls off cap and gown to create a masterful tale of mostly made-up characters that pulse with realism.
It is 1348, and the Black Death has wiped out 60% of England. Loveday, Millstone, Thorpe and a few other rough men make up a group of compassionate mercenaries known as the 'Essex Dogs.' The 'Dogs', like all of Europe, are caught up in the middle of a conflict between England and Castile, a Spanish kingdom. Loveday has a violent past but now leads a peaceful existence overseeing a bar that is barely able to survive a rain storm. A new 'Dog' has joined the cast, Rigby, Thorpe’s nephew. He plays well with children but has no issue boiling an enemy alive. A mysterious stranger helps Loveday fix his leaky roof and a serpentine plot is underway.
Each chapter begins with 14th century source quotations and the reader is set up comfortably in a time machine. The book luxuriates with incredible depictions of combat and rarely is agony captured with such violent poetry.
“The streets were echoing with screeches and wails of the sort he had not heard since before the Death. It was the rising terror of a people under invasion. Screams that rose to the highest pitch that a human voice could reach, then rose further into strangled agony. Lower yells in some other foreign tongue, savage promises of horror beyond imagination."
Not to worry, there is plenty of fun in here and humor flows naturally from irreverent characters (Joan of Kent is especially raucous). Also, altruism sprouts when we least expect. Much of the climactic scenes occur as the Spaniards threaten by sea. A massive war-vessel, The Jerusalem, is England's baddest boat and a powerful finale includes it with innovation.
This book would work fine as a stand-alone but why not start with The Essex Dogs and treat yourself to a gorgeously written piece of hyper-realistic adventure fiction. Fans of Gates of Fire must check out this trilogy.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Viking for a review copy.
It is 1348, and the Black Death has wiped out 60% of England. Loveday, Millstone, Thorpe and a few other rough men make up a group of compassionate mercenaries known as the 'Essex Dogs.' The 'Dogs', like all of Europe, are caught up in the middle of a conflict between England and Castile, a Spanish kingdom. Loveday has a violent past but now leads a peaceful existence overseeing a bar that is barely able to survive a rain storm. A new 'Dog' has joined the cast, Rigby, Thorpe’s nephew. He plays well with children but has no issue boiling an enemy alive. A mysterious stranger helps Loveday fix his leaky roof and a serpentine plot is underway.
Each chapter begins with 14th century source quotations and the reader is set up comfortably in a time machine. The book luxuriates with incredible depictions of combat and rarely is agony captured with such violent poetry.
“The streets were echoing with screeches and wails of the sort he had not heard since before the Death. It was the rising terror of a people under invasion. Screams that rose to the highest pitch that a human voice could reach, then rose further into strangled agony. Lower yells in some other foreign tongue, savage promises of horror beyond imagination."
Not to worry, there is plenty of fun in here and humor flows naturally from irreverent characters (Joan of Kent is especially raucous). Also, altruism sprouts when we least expect. Much of the climactic scenes occur as the Spaniards threaten by sea. A massive war-vessel, The Jerusalem, is England's baddest boat and a powerful finale includes it with innovation.
This book would work fine as a stand-alone but why not start with The Essex Dogs and treat yourself to a gorgeously written piece of hyper-realistic adventure fiction. Fans of Gates of Fire must check out this trilogy.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Viking for a review copy.
September 28, 2025
I have thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the past with the Essex Dogs as they swashbuckled their way during the 100 years war, the plague and the naval Battle of Winchelsea. Lion Hearts is the last of the Essex Dogs trilogy and I am sorry to say good bye to them.
Lion Hearts begins with the delivery of Princess Joan's trosseau for her marriage Pedro of Castile only to find that she has died of a mysterious illness. Thus ends the alliance with Castile and the beginning of the plague.
With the plague the Essex Dogs are separated and we follow them separately until they begin to find each other.
It is quite a satisfying ending to the series.
Lion Hearts begins with the delivery of Princess Joan's trosseau for her marriage Pedro of Castile only to find that she has died of a mysterious illness. Thus ends the alliance with Castile and the beginning of the plague.
With the plague the Essex Dogs are separated and we follow them separately until they begin to find each other.
It is quite a satisfying ending to the series.
August 11, 2025
I absolutely loved the previous two books in this series – Essex Dogs and Wolves of Winter – which is set during the Hundred Years’ War. So I was excited to be reunited with the Essex Dogs, or to be more accurate, what remain of the Essex Dogs since quite a few have fallen by the wayside over the course of the books, either confirmed dead or gone missing.
As far as the Essex Dogs are concerned, they number just four: Loveday FitzTalbot, Millstone, Thorp and their newest recruit, Thorp’s nephew, the unpredictable Rigby. The reader knows there’s one other survivor of the original crew – Romford, who’s left behind his wild drink and drug-fuelled days to become squire to Sir Thomas de Holand. But could there be another comrade out there who’s cheated death once again?
As the book opens the Essex Dogs’ erstwhile leader, Loveday, has decided his fighting days are over. He’s now landlord of the Green Lion inn in Winchelsea which he runs with the help of a woman with a young son. Unfortunately he’s bought a pig in a poke because the building is falling apart, the roof leaks and it turns out there were dodgy roofers even in the 14th century. Add to that, an ordinance passed after the Black Death forbids paying a labourer over the odds for work, even if you’ve got the money. And anyway most of the skilled craftsman are busy building ships for the Navy, England being in a longstanding tussle with the Castilians who have been intercepting English merchant ships loaded with cloth.
When Loveday is approached by someone willing to bankroll the work he has no option but to accept. We all know there’s no such thing as a free lunch though and the ‘help’ comes with some risky obligations. Fortunately his former comrades, Millstone and Thorp, have just returned from a fruitless mission and are looking for their next job. Unfortunately, Rigby’s there too, a young man who can’t help getting into trouble.
Meanwhile Romford has found himself unofficial banker to the debt-laden Sir Thomas de Holand who is still waiting for the King to pay out the ransom for the Count of Eu, the French nobleman Sir Thomas captured on the battlefield. Unfortunately for Sir Thomas, his wife has expensive tastes. Joanie is one of the book’s most colourful characters. In real life known as ‘The Fair Maid of Kent’ (although not at the time), in the author’s hands she’s a boozy, foul-mouthed flirt but utterly entertaining. I was also pleased to see the return of the Earl of Northampton, unparelled when it comes to imaginative cursing all of which are too crude to reproduce here. (Rigby learns some pretty fruity Castilian ones as well, translated at the end of the book.)
Eventually all roads lead to Winchelsea for the epic final scenes. As in the previous books, the Essex Dogs find themselves caught up in events that are rooted in historical fact. In this case, it’s the so-called Battle of Winchelsea in which an English fleet of ships took on a Castilian fleet of much larger ships. Some of the seemingly ludicrous events described actually happened. For example King Edward, his knights and nobles really did sit on the deck of his flagship listening to minstrels playing until the very last moment before the enemy fleet was sighted. And the clifftops near Winchelsea really were lined with spectators watching the battle unfold.
The Essex Dogs have always been ruthless fighters, plying their trade to whoever can pay without much consideration for the morality of their actions. Not to say that hasn’t had consequences because there are things you can’t forget you’ve seen – or done. They owe their lives to each other but you can only escape death so many times before it catches up with you. I’ll freely admit there are scenes at the end that left me tearful. (Rather inconvenient since I was on a train at the time.)
I absolutely loved Lion Hearts. It kept me enthralled from start to finish. The book is billed as ‘the unmissable conclusion to the Essex Dogs trilogy’ yet a sentence at the end of the book- no spoilers – left me wondering…
As far as the Essex Dogs are concerned, they number just four: Loveday FitzTalbot, Millstone, Thorp and their newest recruit, Thorp’s nephew, the unpredictable Rigby. The reader knows there’s one other survivor of the original crew – Romford, who’s left behind his wild drink and drug-fuelled days to become squire to Sir Thomas de Holand. But could there be another comrade out there who’s cheated death once again?
As the book opens the Essex Dogs’ erstwhile leader, Loveday, has decided his fighting days are over. He’s now landlord of the Green Lion inn in Winchelsea which he runs with the help of a woman with a young son. Unfortunately he’s bought a pig in a poke because the building is falling apart, the roof leaks and it turns out there were dodgy roofers even in the 14th century. Add to that, an ordinance passed after the Black Death forbids paying a labourer over the odds for work, even if you’ve got the money. And anyway most of the skilled craftsman are busy building ships for the Navy, England being in a longstanding tussle with the Castilians who have been intercepting English merchant ships loaded with cloth.
When Loveday is approached by someone willing to bankroll the work he has no option but to accept. We all know there’s no such thing as a free lunch though and the ‘help’ comes with some risky obligations. Fortunately his former comrades, Millstone and Thorp, have just returned from a fruitless mission and are looking for their next job. Unfortunately, Rigby’s there too, a young man who can’t help getting into trouble.
Meanwhile Romford has found himself unofficial banker to the debt-laden Sir Thomas de Holand who is still waiting for the King to pay out the ransom for the Count of Eu, the French nobleman Sir Thomas captured on the battlefield. Unfortunately for Sir Thomas, his wife has expensive tastes. Joanie is one of the book’s most colourful characters. In real life known as ‘The Fair Maid of Kent’ (although not at the time), in the author’s hands she’s a boozy, foul-mouthed flirt but utterly entertaining. I was also pleased to see the return of the Earl of Northampton, unparelled when it comes to imaginative cursing all of which are too crude to reproduce here. (Rigby learns some pretty fruity Castilian ones as well, translated at the end of the book.)
Eventually all roads lead to Winchelsea for the epic final scenes. As in the previous books, the Essex Dogs find themselves caught up in events that are rooted in historical fact. In this case, it’s the so-called Battle of Winchelsea in which an English fleet of ships took on a Castilian fleet of much larger ships. Some of the seemingly ludicrous events described actually happened. For example King Edward, his knights and nobles really did sit on the deck of his flagship listening to minstrels playing until the very last moment before the enemy fleet was sighted. And the clifftops near Winchelsea really were lined with spectators watching the battle unfold.
The Essex Dogs have always been ruthless fighters, plying their trade to whoever can pay without much consideration for the morality of their actions. Not to say that hasn’t had consequences because there are things you can’t forget you’ve seen – or done. They owe their lives to each other but you can only escape death so many times before it catches up with you. I’ll freely admit there are scenes at the end that left me tearful. (Rather inconvenient since I was on a train at the time.)
I absolutely loved Lion Hearts. It kept me enthralled from start to finish. The book is billed as ‘the unmissable conclusion to the Essex Dogs trilogy’ yet a sentence at the end of the book- no spoilers – left me wondering…
August 23, 2025
Wow! What a journey! A great conclusion to one of my new favourite trilogies.
Dan Jones writes for me, its a perfect balance of action, historical perfection (would expect nothing else), intrigue, twists and turns and the most incredible, real characters (real in the sense that they come alive off the page, not just that some of them were real).
The dialogue in the books just flows and the humour (maybe vulgarity is a better word) is 100% nail on the head for me, maybe catching a little bit of thumb with the hammer too so that you wince! By Fathers holy pintle its brilliant!
This whole trilogy has been brilliant and I really hope Historical Fiction is something he returns too as soon as possible
Dan Jones writes for me, its a perfect balance of action, historical perfection (would expect nothing else), intrigue, twists and turns and the most incredible, real characters (real in the sense that they come alive off the page, not just that some of them were real).
The dialogue in the books just flows and the humour (maybe vulgarity is a better word) is 100% nail on the head for me, maybe catching a little bit of thumb with the hammer too so that you wince! By Fathers holy pintle its brilliant!
This whole trilogy has been brilliant and I really hope Historical Fiction is something he returns too as soon as possible
October 7, 2025
Ehh not the most satisfying ending. Some points felt rushed while other’s kinda dragged. I especially feel like Rigby’s character had untapped potential. In the beginning he almost seems like Romford’s foil. Both young, scrappy sharp shooters just joining the team, yet Rigby causes trouble for the dogs in more hostile and outwardly destructive ways compared to Romford’s bad luck and self destructive tendencies. And yet… nothing is done with this! It’s never mentioned again how Rigby can pour a boiling pot of water on some guy in a bar fight and feel no remorse. And by the time we see Romford, he’s basically gotten all of his shit together in between books. We don’t get to journey much with either characters in any meaningful way. Something about it just feels so dead on arrival.
Speaking of dead I feel like what happened with Loveday was the expected conclusion to his story. He knew from the start that living by the sword usually meant dying by the sword. His character arc is complete, and I can’t complain. But even with his death endings things, I feel like this third book would’ve benefitted from a tighter story like the previous two books. Or maybe it needed more pages, who knows. But as the final act of the trilogy it’s a tad disappointing… Sorry!!
Speaking of dead I feel like what happened with Loveday was the expected conclusion to his story. He knew from the start that living by the sword usually meant dying by the sword. His character arc is complete, and I can’t complain. But even with his death endings things, I feel like this third book would’ve benefitted from a tighter story like the previous two books. Or maybe it needed more pages, who knows. But as the final act of the trilogy it’s a tad disappointing… Sorry!!
December 2, 2025
3.2
It feels like this was an unplanned #3 book. I wonder if originally DJ was going to do a duology.
Characters were great once again. Story took a big step down.
It feels like this was an unplanned #3 book. I wonder if originally DJ was going to do a duology.
Characters were great once again. Story took a big step down.
August 28, 2025
I generally like Dan Jones’s writing — not just the Essex Dogs stories, but his nonfiction as well. He has a knack for telling history in a way that makes it both entertaining and informative and his nonfiction is always thoroughly researched. This, though, just did not read well. I’m not a prude — honestly — but the vulgarity was over the top in this one. I know Jones is recounting a tale of a band of roughneck soldiers, but it often felt gratuitous and sometimes a bit anachronistic. Stepping outside of the Dogs’ circle, that carried over to other characters in a way I found thoroughly unbelievable. I can’t imagine that Joan (King Edward’s cousin) and Isabelle (his daughter) would behave and speak like they did in this story. It simply rang false to me. The story itself was alright but not very developed. It came to a conclusion that wasn’t a conclusion at all, so perhaps we should expect the next installment of the Essex Dogs next year?
August 25, 2025
This is the third and final installment in British historian Dan Jones' "Essex Dogs" trilogy and it brings everything to an end - does it ever - and if you've followed the escapades of this group of fighters in 14th Century England, you may not like the ending (it's sad). Even so, you've got a great read that wraps everything up.
It's 1348 and the Dogs have gone their separate ways, some are still going the route of mercenaries, one owns a bar, one has become a knight's squire and one has fallen on hard times, performing in a traveling carnival. By chance and circumstance, the remaining Essex Dogs - remember, some had died in a previous volume - get together for one last adventure. After all, it was a violent time and it seems like there was a war breaking out every week - or lasting a Hundred Years.
Jones takes us through 1348 - 50 when the story ends following a rather brutal battle on the sea which is described in graphic and gory detail. If you want to find out what happens and why the ending is sad (it may not be sad to everyone), you're going to have to read the book since I don't do spoilers or give away much of the plot. Doing that ruins the book, you know what's going to happen so why read it?
If you've followed the Essex Dogs through the first two volumes, this is a must read.
It's 1348 and the Dogs have gone their separate ways, some are still going the route of mercenaries, one owns a bar, one has become a knight's squire and one has fallen on hard times, performing in a traveling carnival. By chance and circumstance, the remaining Essex Dogs - remember, some had died in a previous volume - get together for one last adventure. After all, it was a violent time and it seems like there was a war breaking out every week - or lasting a Hundred Years.
Jones takes us through 1348 - 50 when the story ends following a rather brutal battle on the sea which is described in graphic and gory detail. If you want to find out what happens and why the ending is sad (it may not be sad to everyone), you're going to have to read the book since I don't do spoilers or give away much of the plot. Doing that ruins the book, you know what's going to happen so why read it?
If you've followed the Essex Dogs through the first two volumes, this is a must read.
September 8, 2025
The final chapter of the Essex Dogs trilogy didn't disappoint! plenty of medieval action, intrigue, reunions and very creative curses. Jones wraps up the trilogy on an emotional note, and I'm sad to say goodbye to this colourful cast of characters. Jones once again brings history to life and puts us in the fictional shoes of an ordinary fighting man. It's been a hell of a journey and I do feel for Loveday though. this series has been emotional and thought provoking, it's insane how much these men went through. I hope Dan writes more fiction because I'll be there in a heartbeat!
August 6, 2025
The third in the Essex Dogs series, this deals less with battle/death/plotting/battle/death and takes to the respective Dogs in their new lives, which made for a pleasant change, although battle still features in it. Loveday is a potbellied, greying tavern owner, Romford, an aspiring knight’s squire, and the other remaining living Dogs eke out a living as best they can. After the threat of the Black Death, the world has been upturned, but the threat from the Castilian empire grows with the death of the intended bride to the court of Castile. As they do best, the Dogs reband and fight for what they know, and who they love. As you may note from the quick read time, this book grabs you into the world of what we called the Dark Ages.
September 30, 2025
Great conclusion to a really enjoyable trilogy. The characters are distinct and well developed; Dan Jones has made me I care about them. Historically grounded well paced adventure with a human heart. I wish all my favorite periods of history had novelization like this.
October 6, 2025
Perhaps my favorite of the three books, Lion Hearts kept me engaged the entire time. I'm always a sucker for separate story lines and how they interlink (interlink). Big time "hijinks ensue" vibes when the story lines start to cross. A nice end to the trilogy, this makes me want to start them all over again.
November 2, 2025
Fantastic!
December 10, 2025
Historical fiction, hard to believe it’s not fantasy. Great end to a great series. Felt good to be back with the Essex Dogs.
October 2, 2025
Hope Dan Jones keeps the fiction coming, a masterful combination of military history and the story of the actual boots on the ground.
November 23, 2025
4.25. Great series.
June 24, 2025
The epic conclusion of the Essex dogs trilogy. I probably would have dismissed this book as a man’s book if I saw it in a bookstore but we read the first book at my local bookshop book club and from the first chapter I was invested in this uncouth band of characters. I was super excited to read the final instalment on NetGalley it was an instant download when I saw it . The book didn’t disappoint finally we get to know what happens to each character since their years fighting has come to an end along with some new characters and more epic adventures. Like the other two in the series it’s bloody and grisly and not for the feint hearted . I found the language in this third book a little too much at times it distracted from the story . Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC a great conclusion but is it ? Read on kindle for NetGalley
August 24, 2025
I am really conflicted about this review and the book itself.
I am a MASSIVE Dan Jones fan. I have read all of his books and if I am honest, I struggle to say a bad word about this man. But this book has just let me down.
The book is written incredibly well. Dan is a brilliant writer and I have no criticism about the writing itself. I love the characters, the descriptions, I really love so much about this book. Joanie was brilliant I loved her. Rigby was also a great new addition as was little Sammy! (Side note: I do wish the black prince would have returned though as he is the most interesting character for me given how Dan has portrayed him in the previous book). Until the last 30 pages this was 5 stars and felt like it was going to be the perfect end to the Essex Dog’s story.
However, it felt like it ended half way through! As I got to the final few chapters I felt a sense of dread realising it was going to be rush and probably a bit disappointing. The pacing completely died. I actually can’t believe it was published with that ending. Did no one say “err Dan you need to flesh out this last bit by at least 100 pages”. We spend 100 plus pages of this book at one feast coming up with a kidnapping plot (I loved this btw and wouldn’t make any changes) but then 30 pages on the final battle?!!?! It doesn’t make sense to me. Why introduce the evil Castilian man only to give him no satisfying ending? Romfords big character arc ending is shoved into a single page. Lovedays storyline ends so disappointingly for the MAIN CHARACTER, it’s disrespectful. I am honestly so upset and disappointed by the end. It felt cheap and not up to Dan’s usual standard.
Based off where this book has ended and the hints in the historical note it sounds like Dan may write another Essex Dogs book. Part of me hopes so because I am not happy with this as the ending of their story. However, the other part of me feels like this is now a money grab for writing more books and I thought he was honestly better than that.
Would I recommend this trilogy? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book? Also yes. Just be prepared that the ending will let you down but who knows in a year or two I may have to pay another 20 quid to get the ending we all deserve and know Dan is capable of writing.
I am a MASSIVE Dan Jones fan. I have read all of his books and if I am honest, I struggle to say a bad word about this man. But this book has just let me down.
The book is written incredibly well. Dan is a brilliant writer and I have no criticism about the writing itself. I love the characters, the descriptions, I really love so much about this book. Joanie was brilliant I loved her. Rigby was also a great new addition as was little Sammy! (Side note: I do wish the black prince would have returned though as he is the most interesting character for me given how Dan has portrayed him in the previous book). Until the last 30 pages this was 5 stars and felt like it was going to be the perfect end to the Essex Dog’s story.
However, it felt like it ended half way through! As I got to the final few chapters I felt a sense of dread realising it was going to be rush and probably a bit disappointing. The pacing completely died. I actually can’t believe it was published with that ending. Did no one say “err Dan you need to flesh out this last bit by at least 100 pages”. We spend 100 plus pages of this book at one feast coming up with a kidnapping plot (I loved this btw and wouldn’t make any changes) but then 30 pages on the final battle?!!?! It doesn’t make sense to me. Why introduce the evil Castilian man only to give him no satisfying ending? Romfords big character arc ending is shoved into a single page. Lovedays storyline ends so disappointingly for the MAIN CHARACTER, it’s disrespectful. I am honestly so upset and disappointed by the end. It felt cheap and not up to Dan’s usual standard.
Based off where this book has ended and the hints in the historical note it sounds like Dan may write another Essex Dogs book. Part of me hopes so because I am not happy with this as the ending of their story. However, the other part of me feels like this is now a money grab for writing more books and I thought he was honestly better than that.
Would I recommend this trilogy? Absolutely. Would I recommend this book? Also yes. Just be prepared that the ending will let you down but who knows in a year or two I may have to pay another 20 quid to get the ending we all deserve and know Dan is capable of writing.
October 5, 2025
A worthy ending to a great trilogy. Entertaining and extremely well researched. I hope Dan Jones keeps going with fiction in addition to his history books.
July 22, 2025
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
LION HEARTS concludes this often brutal but accurate examination of the Hundred Years' War with some naval action.
This book is very different to the others in the series, both structurally and in terms of what it is focusing on. Structurally, it is in three parts. The first follows Loveday, then the second part switches across to Romford in Windsor and his new employment as a squire. There is no in-story link between these two parts as they are untouching events, but they come together in the final part. This is quite different to the more linear story telling of the previous books, following the band who are largely together and interacting more.
This difference in structure gives the book a bigger scope to examine England in the aftermath of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. Edward III has won his victories in France but the black death has now plagued England and finances are tight. From the commons - trying to get higher wages given their labour is in demand, but forced into a more informal economy thanks to rules aimed at restricting wages - to the wealthy who are in debt from the war and struggling to keep up appearances thanks to reduced revenues from their labourer-reduced land, this book shows the bad state England was in at this time. I appreciated the look at both ends of society.
Of course, in the middle of all this, the Essex Dogs are trying to survive. They've gone on quite different paths and their usual bad luck is with them again. Their reunions were so nice; having spent several books getting to know them, it was satisfying to see them come back together. And, naturally, they get caught up in the conflict with the Castillians.
The ending is a little abrupt, the entire climactic sequence over pretty fast and seeing them all caught up in battles again - despite some of their members' attempts to get free after < a href = https://sifaelizabethreads.wordpress.... OF WINTER. I sat with it for a bit before deciding I liked how it reflected the reality of life for common folk with a background in war at this point; what else were they to do when the nobles were often fighting?
In all, I have enjoyed this trilogy about ordinary fighters in the first phase of the Hundred Years War and appreciated its attention to historical accuracy.
LION HEARTS concludes this often brutal but accurate examination of the Hundred Years' War with some naval action.
This book is very different to the others in the series, both structurally and in terms of what it is focusing on. Structurally, it is in three parts. The first follows Loveday, then the second part switches across to Romford in Windsor and his new employment as a squire. There is no in-story link between these two parts as they are untouching events, but they come together in the final part. This is quite different to the more linear story telling of the previous books, following the band who are largely together and interacting more.
This difference in structure gives the book a bigger scope to examine England in the aftermath of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. Edward III has won his victories in France but the black death has now plagued England and finances are tight. From the commons - trying to get higher wages given their labour is in demand, but forced into a more informal economy thanks to rules aimed at restricting wages - to the wealthy who are in debt from the war and struggling to keep up appearances thanks to reduced revenues from their labourer-reduced land, this book shows the bad state England was in at this time. I appreciated the look at both ends of society.
Of course, in the middle of all this, the Essex Dogs are trying to survive. They've gone on quite different paths and their usual bad luck is with them again. Their reunions were so nice; having spent several books getting to know them, it was satisfying to see them come back together. And, naturally, they get caught up in the conflict with the Castillians.
The ending is a little abrupt, the entire climactic sequence over pretty fast and seeing them all caught up in battles again - despite some of their members' attempts to get free after < a href = https://sifaelizabethreads.wordpress.... OF WINTER. I sat with it for a bit before deciding I liked how it reflected the reality of life for common folk with a background in war at this point; what else were they to do when the nobles were often fighting?
In all, I have enjoyed this trilogy about ordinary fighters in the first phase of the Hundred Years War and appreciated its attention to historical accuracy.
July 27, 2025
Historian and novelist Dan Jone returns to the world of 14th Century Britain for the third of his Essex Dogs books – Lion Hearts. This series, which started with Essex Dogs and continued with Wolves of Winter, followed a misfit group of archers as they fought in France in the early years of the 100 Years War. In Lion Hearts, Dan Jones revisits these characters after three tumultuous years which included the first outbreak of the Black Death.
After a brief prologue, Jones takes readers to the small coastal village of Winchelsea in 1350 where Loveday Talbot, former leader of the Essex Dogs, has purchased a tavern. But Loveday is not particularly good at peacetime life and soon finds himself in debt and working for a local smuggler. The only upside is that this brings him back in touch with some of his old crew. Meanwhile, young archer Romford has become a squire to a high powered knight and this book finds them on their way to a celebration at the under-renovation Windsor Castle. Meanwhile the threat of Castilian raids and piracy grows.
The Essex Dogs series has been characterised by its ability to conjure a time and place but to do so through the eyes of a bunch of likeable rogues. Lion Hearts is no exception as Jones paints a picture of post-plague Britain (during which 60% of the population died) that is also still under threat from European warmongering. He does not spare the hard scabble or the violence of these characters but he also leavens this with warmth, camaraderie and humour. While there is a battle to cap off this novel, it paints a very different picture to the previous two which were both spent on the battlefield in France.
Once again the two central characters of this story are Loveday and Romford, both facing very different challenges to those they have faced before. Loveday is trying to put his wartime past behind him and be an innkeeper but is not too good at it and yearns for the time he spent in battle with his crew. Romford meanwhile is essentially financially supporting the knight for whom he works while also getting as deep understanding of the problematic way in which the British aristocracy works
It feels like Lion Hearts may be the final volume in this series (although the historical note suggests that more exploits of the Essex Dogs may be in the works). Either way Jones continues to build out and illuminate a fascinating time and place through a cast of loveably flawed and often dangerous characters.
After a brief prologue, Jones takes readers to the small coastal village of Winchelsea in 1350 where Loveday Talbot, former leader of the Essex Dogs, has purchased a tavern. But Loveday is not particularly good at peacetime life and soon finds himself in debt and working for a local smuggler. The only upside is that this brings him back in touch with some of his old crew. Meanwhile, young archer Romford has become a squire to a high powered knight and this book finds them on their way to a celebration at the under-renovation Windsor Castle. Meanwhile the threat of Castilian raids and piracy grows.
The Essex Dogs series has been characterised by its ability to conjure a time and place but to do so through the eyes of a bunch of likeable rogues. Lion Hearts is no exception as Jones paints a picture of post-plague Britain (during which 60% of the population died) that is also still under threat from European warmongering. He does not spare the hard scabble or the violence of these characters but he also leavens this with warmth, camaraderie and humour. While there is a battle to cap off this novel, it paints a very different picture to the previous two which were both spent on the battlefield in France.
Once again the two central characters of this story are Loveday and Romford, both facing very different challenges to those they have faced before. Loveday is trying to put his wartime past behind him and be an innkeeper but is not too good at it and yearns for the time he spent in battle with his crew. Romford meanwhile is essentially financially supporting the knight for whom he works while also getting as deep understanding of the problematic way in which the British aristocracy works
It feels like Lion Hearts may be the final volume in this series (although the historical note suggests that more exploits of the Essex Dogs may be in the works). Either way Jones continues to build out and illuminate a fascinating time and place through a cast of loveably flawed and often dangerous characters.
October 7, 2025
Dan Jones takes us back to the 14th Century and the world of the Essex Dogs in his latest novel. The novel starts with Millstone, Thorp and Thorp's nephew, the remnants of the Essex Dogs on a ship entering Bordeaux to help guard Princess Joan of England as she journeys to Castile for her marriage to the Infante. But the Black Death has beaten them to the English port and Princess Joan is one of the victims. There will be no alliance between England and Castile. The rest of the novel is really reuniting the Essex Dogs for the Battle of Winchelsea between the fleets of King Edward III and a Castilian pirate/merchant fleet.
Of the surviving Essex Dogs, Loveday has retired from fighting and is living in Winchelsea as the proprietor of a small and none-to-prosperous inn, with a new wife and her young son. The Death had reached England and killed off around 60% of the population, which leaves few people to drink at the inn...and fewer skilled workers to make the necessary repairs on it. Romberg is a squire to Sir Thomas Holland...and using up his spoils of war from the Calais siege supporting Holland and his extremely expensive wife Joan of Kent...the King's cousin. Holland has the prospect of money to come from a ransom for the Count of Eu...money that seems to be very unlikely to be forthcoming.
The book is in three parts. The first, set in Winchelsea, follows Loveday's life and his reunification with Millstone and Thorp. The second part is mostly set at Windsor and brings us up to date with Romberg and another lost Essex Dog. The Third part finds the Dogs participating in the Battle of Winchelsea.
I really liked the first book. I thought there was more than a bit of a sophomore slump with the second, so I wasn't sure what I was going to get here. And, at first, I though this one was going to be kind of weak as well. But as I kept reading it just kept me going. And a lot of it is that Jones really knows this era and is thus able to convey the period with great skill. This is a good look at the aftermath of a devastating pandemic and some of the effects on everyday folk. And it's an interesting look at the tightrope that even nobles have to walk when you're at the whim of a what is, for the most part, an absolute monarch, and where almost any minuscule slight can be treason.
A solid book that could easily close out the series, though it seems clear from the ending that Jones has more in store for at least some of the Dogs.
Of the surviving Essex Dogs, Loveday has retired from fighting and is living in Winchelsea as the proprietor of a small and none-to-prosperous inn, with a new wife and her young son. The Death had reached England and killed off around 60% of the population, which leaves few people to drink at the inn...and fewer skilled workers to make the necessary repairs on it. Romberg is a squire to Sir Thomas Holland...and using up his spoils of war from the Calais siege supporting Holland and his extremely expensive wife Joan of Kent...the King's cousin. Holland has the prospect of money to come from a ransom for the Count of Eu...money that seems to be very unlikely to be forthcoming.
The book is in three parts. The first, set in Winchelsea, follows Loveday's life and his reunification with Millstone and Thorp. The second part is mostly set at Windsor and brings us up to date with Romberg and another lost Essex Dog. The Third part finds the Dogs participating in the Battle of Winchelsea.
I really liked the first book. I thought there was more than a bit of a sophomore slump with the second, so I wasn't sure what I was going to get here. And, at first, I though this one was going to be kind of weak as well. But as I kept reading it just kept me going. And a lot of it is that Jones really knows this era and is thus able to convey the period with great skill. This is a good look at the aftermath of a devastating pandemic and some of the effects on everyday folk. And it's an interesting look at the tightrope that even nobles have to walk when you're at the whim of a what is, for the most part, an absolute monarch, and where almost any minuscule slight can be treason.
A solid book that could easily close out the series, though it seems clear from the ending that Jones has more in store for at least some of the Dogs.
August 2, 2025
Now that his war years are behind him, Loveday runs a pub in Winchelsea with his beloved Gilda and her infant son Sammy. But when the roof starts to leak and he receives help from the strange Mr. Large, he unwittingly agrees to smuggle goods. In the meantime, the Spanish decide to side with the French and pirates target the English coast.
Lion hearts is the third and assumed last book in this series about a group of soldiers – The Essex Dogs – during the miserable Hundred Years’ War. Though the ending leaves it open for a sequel. I loved the first book Essex dogs, but was somewhat disappointed by Wolves of winter so I didn’t know what to expect.
Fortunately, I liked this book a lot better. The first half we follow Loveday who has left his fellow dogs behind, survived The Black Death and now runs a tavern. He feels at peace until the Castilians decide to attack the English coast. Afterwards, we also return to court with Romford at Windsor Castle, who’s a knight to sir Thomas Holland.
This novel has a clear plot again and focuses on the battle of Winchelsea against the Spanish – a naval battle I didn’t really know anything about. The Dogs find each other again, including a new addition, Thorp’s nephew Rigby, who gets himself into a lot of mischief.
I found the personalities of Joan Of Kent and Thomas Holland not so easy to understand. I get that Jones wants to portray the common man versus the nobility. But Joan became a character for comic purposes, even though she was also a formidable woman on her own.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m now curious if this is a goodbye or a see you soon?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Nu zijn oorlogsjaren achter de rug zijn, baat Loveday een pub uit in Winchelsea, samen met zijn geliefde Gilda en haar zoontje Sammy. Maar wanneer het dak het begeeft en hij hulp krijgt van de vreemde Mr. Large, stemt hij onbewust in met het smokkelen van goederen. En dat terwijl de Spanjaarden de zijde kiezen van de Fransen en het gemunt hebben op de Engelse kust.
Lion hearts is het derde en - ik dacht altijd - het laatste boek uit deze serie rond een groep soldaten - The Essex Dogs - tijdens de ellendige honderdjarige oorlog. Al opent het einde de weg naar een eventueel volgend boek. Ik hield van het eerste boek, maar was wat teleurgesteld door Wolves of winter dus ik wist niet wat te verwachten.
Gelukkig vond ik dit boek terug heel wat beter. De eerste helft volgen we Loveday die zijn mede-dogs heeft achtergelaten, de pest heeft overleefd en een taverne uitbaat. In alle rust tot de Spaanse dreiging wel heel dichtbijt komt. Nadien gaan we ook weer naar het Hof met Romford in Windsor Castle.
Dit boek heeft terug een duidelijk plot en focust op de strijd tegen de Spanjaarden - een zeeslag waar ik eigenlijk nog niks van wist. Het focust op de Dogs die elkaar terug vinden. Er is ook de jonge rigby, een nieuwe toevoeging aan de club die zich heel wat onheil op de hals haalt.
Ik vond de persoonlijkheden van Joan Of Kent en Thomas Holland niet zo gemakkelijk. Ik snap dat Jones de gewone man wil afzetten tov de adel. Maar Joan werd een soort komische noot, terwijl ze toch ook wel een formidabele vrouw was.
Maar ik heb dit boek heel graag gelezen en ben nu wel benieuwd of dit een afscheid is of een tot binnenkort.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
Lion hearts is the third and assumed last book in this series about a group of soldiers – The Essex Dogs – during the miserable Hundred Years’ War. Though the ending leaves it open for a sequel. I loved the first book Essex dogs, but was somewhat disappointed by Wolves of winter so I didn’t know what to expect.
Fortunately, I liked this book a lot better. The first half we follow Loveday who has left his fellow dogs behind, survived The Black Death and now runs a tavern. He feels at peace until the Castilians decide to attack the English coast. Afterwards, we also return to court with Romford at Windsor Castle, who’s a knight to sir Thomas Holland.
This novel has a clear plot again and focuses on the battle of Winchelsea against the Spanish – a naval battle I didn’t really know anything about. The Dogs find each other again, including a new addition, Thorp’s nephew Rigby, who gets himself into a lot of mischief.
I found the personalities of Joan Of Kent and Thomas Holland not so easy to understand. I get that Jones wants to portray the common man versus the nobility. But Joan became a character for comic purposes, even though she was also a formidable woman on her own.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m now curious if this is a goodbye or a see you soon?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Nu zijn oorlogsjaren achter de rug zijn, baat Loveday een pub uit in Winchelsea, samen met zijn geliefde Gilda en haar zoontje Sammy. Maar wanneer het dak het begeeft en hij hulp krijgt van de vreemde Mr. Large, stemt hij onbewust in met het smokkelen van goederen. En dat terwijl de Spanjaarden de zijde kiezen van de Fransen en het gemunt hebben op de Engelse kust.
Lion hearts is het derde en - ik dacht altijd - het laatste boek uit deze serie rond een groep soldaten - The Essex Dogs - tijdens de ellendige honderdjarige oorlog. Al opent het einde de weg naar een eventueel volgend boek. Ik hield van het eerste boek, maar was wat teleurgesteld door Wolves of winter dus ik wist niet wat te verwachten.
Gelukkig vond ik dit boek terug heel wat beter. De eerste helft volgen we Loveday die zijn mede-dogs heeft achtergelaten, de pest heeft overleefd en een taverne uitbaat. In alle rust tot de Spaanse dreiging wel heel dichtbijt komt. Nadien gaan we ook weer naar het Hof met Romford in Windsor Castle.
Dit boek heeft terug een duidelijk plot en focust op de strijd tegen de Spanjaarden - een zeeslag waar ik eigenlijk nog niks van wist. Het focust op de Dogs die elkaar terug vinden. Er is ook de jonge rigby, een nieuwe toevoeging aan de club die zich heel wat onheil op de hals haalt.
Ik vond de persoonlijkheden van Joan Of Kent en Thomas Holland niet zo gemakkelijk. Ik snap dat Jones de gewone man wil afzetten tov de adel. Maar Joan werd een soort komische noot, terwijl ze toch ook wel een formidabele vrouw was.
Maar ik heb dit boek heel graag gelezen en ben nu wel benieuwd of dit een afscheid is of een tot binnenkort.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
October 6, 2025
What makes great historical fiction: Is it the depth of the writing, extensive knowledge of the historical period, or a page-turning story? Lion Hearts has all three and was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time.
Jones's last book in the Essex Dogs trilogy (or so we're told; I'm not convinced there won't be a fourth book) contains enough refresher facts from the first two books so that it can be read alone, and if you've read the first two books in this series, then it's a nice memory reset.
Lion Hearts consists of three parts. The first is set in Winchelsea, where Loveday owns a tavern called The Green Lion, with a new woman and a stepson. The inn is crumbling, so to keep it running, he makes a deal with a shady man named Richard Large. It turns out to be a Faustian bargain, and Loveday is forced to help Large smuggle stolen cloth from English ships by the Castilians. He's joined in this effort by fellow Dogs Thorpe and Millstone, as well as Thorpe's strange nephew, Rigby.
Part Two involves royals misbehaving at Windsor, with the protagonist now being Romford. After being saved by Loveday in the previous Essex Dogs book, Romford has a Phoenix-like rise to become a squire to Sir Thomas Holand and his outspoken wife, Joan of Kent. Holand is broke but he's owed the ransom for the Count of Eu, who was captured at the battle of Caen. Romford suggests a daring plan to smuggle the Count back to Calais and retrieve the money Holand desperately needs. To do this, he must travel to Winchelsea to transport the Count.
All of the above comes together in Part Three, where Roford is reunited with the Essex Dogs just before the English send a fleet to fight the Catilians.
I've omitted a lot to avoid spoilers, as there's so much that happens along the way which I don't want to reveal. Warning: This book is full of profanity, some of it blasphemous. I mention this in case it irritates you.
If you're interested in mid-14th-century England, then you must read this book. It's fantastic.
Jones's last book in the Essex Dogs trilogy (or so we're told; I'm not convinced there won't be a fourth book) contains enough refresher facts from the first two books so that it can be read alone, and if you've read the first two books in this series, then it's a nice memory reset.
Lion Hearts consists of three parts. The first is set in Winchelsea, where Loveday owns a tavern called The Green Lion, with a new woman and a stepson. The inn is crumbling, so to keep it running, he makes a deal with a shady man named Richard Large. It turns out to be a Faustian bargain, and Loveday is forced to help Large smuggle stolen cloth from English ships by the Castilians. He's joined in this effort by fellow Dogs Thorpe and Millstone, as well as Thorpe's strange nephew, Rigby.
Part Two involves royals misbehaving at Windsor, with the protagonist now being Romford. After being saved by Loveday in the previous Essex Dogs book, Romford has a Phoenix-like rise to become a squire to Sir Thomas Holand and his outspoken wife, Joan of Kent. Holand is broke but he's owed the ransom for the Count of Eu, who was captured at the battle of Caen. Romford suggests a daring plan to smuggle the Count back to Calais and retrieve the money Holand desperately needs. To do this, he must travel to Winchelsea to transport the Count.
All of the above comes together in Part Three, where Roford is reunited with the Essex Dogs just before the English send a fleet to fight the Catilians.
I've omitted a lot to avoid spoilers, as there's so much that happens along the way which I don't want to reveal. Warning: This book is full of profanity, some of it blasphemous. I mention this in case it irritates you.
If you're interested in mid-14th-century England, then you must read this book. It's fantastic.
August 27, 2025
Lion Hearts - Essex Dogs Trilogy #3, I absolutely loved this book and all of the books in this trilogy. Dan Jones continues after the "supposedly" remaining "Dogs" have been triumphant in Calais for Edward III. Loveday has settled down in a port town called Winchelsea and purchased a rundown tavern called the Green Lion. He also brought along Gilda and her son Sammy who were down on their luck and willing to help him out in the tavern. Millstone and Thorp had headed off to London seeking employment. They had not seen nor heard from Romford or Scotsman whom they presumed was dead. Adventures continued Romford ended up with Sir Thomas Holand, Millstone and Thorp also added in Rigby who happened to be Thorp's sisters son and boy was he a handful.
The Black Death had come to the European continent and England, killing around 60 percent of the population. Joan, the daughter of Edward III, was suppose to have married into the Castilian family but she died in the plague which caused another warring front for England. Now England was not only at war with France but France and Spain decided to pair up against England. The Castilians started pirating the open waters between England and the continent with devastating effect. Loveday gets caught up in a smuggling/try to save my tavern situation with one Richard Large. Romford gets caught up with trying to save Sir Thomas Holand fortune which is tied up to a ransom forgone Count of Eu who was captured. in the war and had a ransom of eighty thousand florins hanging over his head. During all of this Romford manages to find the Scotsman. Believe it or not ALL of the remaining Dogs manage to come together in Winchelsea for a final battle. Edward III's sea flotilla against the Castilians / Spainish ships
The ending leads me to believe there COULD be another book if Dan Jones really really listens to his audience. Yes - we want another book.
The Black Death had come to the European continent and England, killing around 60 percent of the population. Joan, the daughter of Edward III, was suppose to have married into the Castilian family but she died in the plague which caused another warring front for England. Now England was not only at war with France but France and Spain decided to pair up against England. The Castilians started pirating the open waters between England and the continent with devastating effect. Loveday gets caught up in a smuggling/try to save my tavern situation with one Richard Large. Romford gets caught up with trying to save Sir Thomas Holand fortune which is tied up to a ransom forgone Count of Eu who was captured. in the war and had a ransom of eighty thousand florins hanging over his head. During all of this Romford manages to find the Scotsman. Believe it or not ALL of the remaining Dogs manage to come together in Winchelsea for a final battle. Edward III's sea flotilla against the Castilians / Spainish ships
The ending leads me to believe there COULD be another book if Dan Jones really really listens to his audience. Yes - we want another book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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