Defiant Unto Death

Master of War #2

by David Gilman

PRE-ORDER THE NEW MASTER OF WAR NOVEL BY DAVID GILMAN, TO KILL A KING – COMING IN FEBRUARY 2024'Heart-pounding action' The Times 1356. Ten years ago, the greatest army in Christendom was slaughtered at Crécy. Archer Thomas Blackstone stood his ground and left that squalid field a knight. He has since carved out a small fiefdom in northern France, but the wounds of war still bleed and a traitor has given the King of France the means to destroy the English knight and his family. As the traitor's net tightens, so the French King's army draws in. Blackstone will stand and fight. He will defy his friends, his family and his king. He may yet defy death, but he can't defy his MASTER OF WAR.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Medieval, War, Military Fiction, Audiobook

563 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 12, 2015

About the author

David Gilman was raised in Liverpool and educated in Wales. By the time he was 16 he was driving a battered 1946 Ford, ferrying construction workers in the African bush. A variety of jobs followed in different countries: fire and rescue, forestry work, JCB driver, window dresser and professional photographer in an advertising agency. He served in the Parachute Regiment’s Reconnaissance Platoon and then worked in publishing. In 1986 he turned to full-time writing. He has written many radio and television scripts including several years of ‘A Touch of Frost’. In 2007 his ‘Danger Zone’ trilogy for YA was sold in 15 countries. The first in the series – The Devil’s Breath was long listed for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and won the French Prix Polar Jeunesse. He also writes for younger children. MONKEY and ME has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. ‘MASTER of WAR’ is the first in a series of HF for adults that follows the fortunes of Thomas Blackstone during the 100 Years’ War. The 7th volume - 'SHADOW OF THE HAWK' is published in February 2021.
A new contemporary thriller series - THE ENGLISHMAN - was published in 2020 to critical acclaim. The second book in The Englishman series will be published in early 2022.

Reviews

[Sean Barrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiant Unto Death, by David Gilman, is a great historical fiction novel. King Edward of England wants the French crown for himself. He is an effective leader, but has a small army. King John of France is a tyrant and a weak King, but has a much larger force. Luckily for King Edward he has Blackstone.

Blackstone is a minor knight who has managed to capture land in France in Edward’s name, effectively securing him a foothold into enemy territory. Conversely, the King of France has a man just as deadly, but one who is everything Blackstone is not. This man “The Savage priest” is jealous of Blackstone and wants all that is his. The war provides a staging ground for the brutal rivalry.

Sir Thomas Blackstone is decent and honourable; he is a good lord to his pheasants. He is a warrior and an accomplished solider. He’s reached the status of a combat veteran in just his middling twenties. Blackstone has his own little fiefdom; to him it is a little paradise. He protects his people, and in turn they work hard for him. He governs them with a just hand. He built his holding from an abandoned manor into an efficient community. His people love him; his family adores him: it is his home. But, he is ruthless toward his enemies, which are those that oppose King Edward reign.

"It was said that Thomas Blackstone was like a ghost in a graveyard. A man could sense his presence but by the time he turned to face the spectre the chill wind of death struck him down. No one knew where the scarred-faced Englishman might strike next. That he was protected by the Norman lord deep in their country was known, but when mercenary assassins, disavowed by the French King, rode into the forests of the Norman stronghold to seek him out, their bodies were found hanging by the roadside."


Sean Bean in Black Death: He is a little old for Blackstone, but I couldn’t help picturing him in this novel.

King John of France is a tyrant. He is a terrible King and most of his people hate him because of it. He is paranoid and fears constant treason from his lords of Normandy. He is unjust towards them and tyrannises over their lands. This heightens their suspected treason into an uprising. Sir Thomas is protected by the Normandy lords and finds himself in the middle of a conflict he doesn’t really want a part of. King John fear Blackstone, thus he sends a man he loathes to do his dirty work for him: De Marcy.

The Savage Priest, De Marcy, wants everything Thomas has: his home, hiss status and more importantly his wife. He relishes the chance to take down Sir Thomas. If Blackstone is ruthless, then the Savage Priest is, indeed, something much worse: he is devil spawn.

"Bucy was transfixed by the man’s eyes, which seemed not to reflect any of the kight, but speared as black obsidian stones pushed into their sockets. He shuddered, imagining the face close to a victim’s, the last vison of hell on earth.

One thing that I hated about this novel, and I mean absolutely hated, was the constant references to the first novel; they made me want to read it so much that I bought it before posting this review- not a bad thing really. This is a solid novel, and Sir Thomas Blackstone is a solid character; I recommend reading it.

I won this book as a giveaway, here, on goodreads.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our main man Thomas Blackstone is still kicking, living in France under the banner of his Norman overlords & generally causing mischief for the French! Good all-round chap I would say!

Trouble is never far away from Blackstone though as the King of France attempts to have him silenced by fair means or mostly foul as he plots/schemes Sir Thomas demise. This is part of the early story & becomes the main thrust of our tale with the evil villain being a priest (of sorts) who will cross our paths throughout the tale.

A story that mixes warfare & politicking along with the normal mundane everyday existence of Medieval Norman life at a castle/manor in an entertaining way. It’s not all blood and guts as we discover Blackstone’s life away from the field of war where he is truthfully more at home (with the former) it would seem. His son is coming of age & this features in the early text where the general consensus is he’s too “soft” because he has learnt to read & write…. What would they make of us today I wonder 😊

The politics surrounding his Norman overlords/protectors is complex as they seek to remove the King of France with Blackstone’s help through his master King Edward of England. There are other angles too, it’s an ongoing theme from the first book.

Our story shifts around a fair bit from the tranquil medieval life at the manor farm to the hustle n bustle of the capital Paris in all its glorious squalor, its depravity captured within the story as our hero goes in search of his wife. The stories of the small man/woman illustrated, showing how we survived in those times, quite desperate in effect, highlighting the types of trades the period had to offer & overall the author has done an excellent job of painting a picture of everyday life in the late Middle Ages.

However, it’s not long before Sir Thomas Blackstone’s idyllic life comes crashing down & he is on the run from his enemies after the King of France acts swiftly & with brutality. We are at war, battles are fought, savagely, with no quarter given, plunder is taken, new alliances are formed & the fame (infamy) of Sir Thomas Blackwood heralds him, friends are lost.

It’s a long story, sometimes perhaps a little to matter of fact but that is the man, Sir Thomas Blackwood, he’s not a man of guile, a mace will always suffice.

Enjoyable series & glad I’ve picked this up although perhaps not a summer read for future reference.

Jus under the 4 stars, rounded up

[Andrew Ebell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the first book in the series, but this one was just all right. I couldn't help but hate Christiana's character in this book as she has done a complete 180 from where she was in the first. Everything she does is out of pure selfishness and she constantly puts the family and Blackstone in danger.

I'd still read the third and fourth books though, as I loved the first.

[Lori Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: 5
Audio: 5
Narrator: Gildart Jackson
Available: Hoopla

So, so good! Audio is amazingly narrated by Jackson. Highly recommend this format.

Listened at 1.4 speed.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is, to put it simply, marvellous. The early Hundred Years War brought alive in all its violence, chaos and valiance. Thomas Blackstone is a powerful figure, a hero to care for and fear for. It's not often military historical fiction moves me to tears but this book managed it.

[C.W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.. stunning. Review will have to wait while I take time to absorb the last half of this book.

[Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A damn good read!!!!!!!!

Hate, Betrayal, Lies, Murder, Misunderstanding an Backstabbing form being to end. Page after page. For one man to stand an do what's right is left without a home, friends, family an a country. There are men that fallow him to the end. He will find the man that has taken it all from him. Even the young squire Guillaume. Blackstone kills the Savage Priest.
He will go to a new country an fight for a new home an try to rebuild in the hopes his family will return to him. But can she offer forgiveness for something he did 10yrs in the past, or has she a cold heart? Only time will tell.
Damn fine read Sir. I really wasn't expecting this. I had tears through out.

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its probably not as action packed and relies on more character interaction. I think I'm just overly annoyed at Christiana, her actions seem overly dramatic and only necessary to feed the plot

[Dan Marriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well another book that’s full of action, a lot goes on in this book, we get the battle of Poitiers which is very well written. We have the battle at the end which brings a satisfying end to the book. It’s one big revenge story, Thomas is being hunted by this sick evil man who calls himself the savage priest, who will stop at nothing to get to him.

This is set 10 years after the first book, Thomas is now 26 and he’s grown into a warlord.
His wife Christiana with their 2 children.
Guillame his squire
As well as characters that come back into it from the 1st book.

Also his wife annoys me in this one 😂. She puts herself first and not her children, putting them in danger when it could have been avoided, especially at the end!

Sweet Jesus, Thomas - still defiant unto death!

[Jake Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was not as gripping and brilliant as book one, still very solid and definitely just as brutal but lacking in some ways for me that I cant put my finger on.

But that ending…that was a huge gut punch! After all that bloody, horrific fighting in this book it turns out it was the ending that distressed me the most. The family interactions of the Blackstone’s broke my heart.

On to book three soon

[Morgan Asuman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4🌟

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book in the series when it was first published and I had been looking forward to reading the follow-up for some time. The talent that made the first book in this series so compelling shines through from the start of this. Enough details of the previous book skilfully woven in so could be standalone but previous book is so readable it would be a mistake to read this one first in my view.

This book concerns Sir Thomas Blackstone's life some 10 years after the battle of Crecy. There is still great intrigue in France and moves to replace the king and a number of power struggles involve Thomas. He also needs to fund his lands. The scene is set for well researched storylines set in various locations in France. There is courage and betrayal, deceit and honour, violence and peace. The writing both descriptively and in the action scenes is of a very high order.

I found the ending of this book exceptional - the beauty of an alpine flower meadows juxtaposed with death and destruction. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a high quality historical story - I found it hard to put down. My only sadness is that I now have to wait some time for the next book!

Disclosure - I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had to reduce my rating of this book, entirely based upon the predictable and ANNOYING character of the hero's wife, Christiana.

The hundred years war is raging. The country is wracked by butchery and enemies. And this character REPEATEDLY and MORONICALLY puts herself, her children and her husband into mortal peril. How many times has she run off, had a knife at her throat, been in hiding, raped and kidnapped so far?

If this continues into the remaining books, PLEASE tell me. The constant damsel in distress may have worked during the victorian period, but this is getting really old.

People who are this stupid, would not likely survived very long. If this character continues to act this way, I would appreciate knowing, so I don't spend my money of the rest of the series.

[Murat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was better than the first book. A bit sad perhaps but a fine example of storytelling. I enjoyed quite a lot

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book. There was a very violent scene near the beginning and I wondered if I wanted to continue with it. We were on vacation and a lot was going on so there wasn't much time to read. Then I had more time to read it and I got very interesting. I ended up liking it quite a bit - although there was a description of torture that I had to skip. Several descriptions of a really evil character's torture of his victims are the reasons for three stars rather than four.

[Xyz Abc · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Leisnic · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the premise is quite interesting and Gilman has nicely included some references to actual regulations and facts of mid 14th century France, the story itself is rather lacking and often perpetuates boring stereotypes of the 'dark' ages.

Everything that happens, happens for the hero rather than to him, and for the hero alone - events often don't actually fit into the world at the time or the overall story arc. Furthermore, anyone other than the hero just exists to let the spot light shine all the brighter. For instance, Blackstone is always the one to come up with plans how to do things, no one else is capable of that, and of course all the plans always work. He assumes responsibilities where it just makes no sense, and the people around him either don't object or rather encourage him (such as taking over a rather important message, or being chosen a champion above all the high ranking nobles who seem unrealistically happy with losing out on such an honour). He is without flaw, and what flaws are hinted at, would either be perceived as merits by a modern reader (compassion for peasants), or they are redeemed by a qualifying aspect (cold treatment towards his son that is necessitated by society. In reality, he is full of pure, fatherly love). It is thus of little surprise that character development is nigh non-existent. The evil guy is evil because he is evil - a weak attempt is made at the beginning to give his personality some depth, but thrown out pretty much instantly so that his motivations never become clear (other than pursuing evil for evil's sake).

Lastly, one particular scene - that of a rape - stands out as a sad epitome to the problems described above. The scene serves no narrative purpose; the superficially covered conflict it creates gets brushed aside and superseded by a later conflict. The emotional impacts on the victim and the witnesses are explored only shallowly and unconvincingly (because it doesn't happen to the hero..?), which leaves a sour taste given the trauma that such descriptions can conjure to a modern reader who might have suffered from sexual assault. All it seems to do is to say "Look how bad and brutal the Middle Ages were!", and that is just a missed opportunity to engage with such issues more accurately and more approprietly.

So if you're really desperate for a book about the battle of Poitiers and no idea how else to spend a few dollars, go for it. Otherwise, nah.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second gripping instalment does not disappoint!

Carrying on from the first page turning, rip roaring encounter starring Thomas Blackstone, book two Defiant Unto Death delivers more quick paced, gritty, action packed scenarios that set the pulse racing.

Brilliantly written, David Gilman once again captures this bloodthirsty period of history with stunning effectiveness.

Bring on book three Gates of the Dead.

[Archibald Milloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough about this series. The author's mastery of the battle tactics deployed in the era of the 100 Years War and his depiction of the chaos and anarchy attending that time frame is masterful. I rank David Gilman in the same class as Bernard Cornwell. Different writing styles but equally persuasive.

[Mrs Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I read the first book of this series and thought it was brilliant, so I read the second and I wasn’t disappointed. Another great story with very likeable recurring characters on Blackstone’s side. There’s plenty of action and you’re just routing for Blackstone’s men and feel sad whenever one is lost. It’s a very good history lesson too! Highly recommended.

[Michelle La Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Christiana is the most annoying stupid woman I've had to endure for a long time. Stupid, selfish, stupid, reckless, stupid annoying. This character was written as a willful, reckless, arrogant, twit that caused many deaths because of her idiocy.

[Frank Speight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical fiction!

Gilman does a great job of weaving history and fiction to make this book an excellent read. Blackstone is an unforgettable character, surrounded by great characters. Read and enjoy - I did.

[Barry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read - this one and books 2 and 3 - Defiant unto Death and Gate of the Dead. Could not stop reading - great action, albeit a bit gory at times but in tune with the time. Unforgettable characters. Loved it!

[Eric Pitcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like this a lot more if the main wasn't so stereotypically machismo and if his wife didn't do dumb stuff to keep the plot going.

[Erick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Os eventos deste livro começam em 1356. Ou seja, 10 anos o primeiro livro da série. Thomas Blackstone já é um soldado lendário, com muitas vitórias, terras conquistas em nome do rei da Inglaterra e muitos homens sob seu comando. Sua família aumentou pois ele é pai de um menino, Henry, e de uma menina, Agnes. Um terceiro filho foi perdido por Christiana.
Pensando em aumentar o poder dos ingleses, a aventura começa com Thomas e seus homens se arriscando em um mar bravio para atacar e tomar um posto avançado francês mais ao norte a partir de um ponto inesperado. Eles contam com o auxílio de um nobre normando que pertence ao grupo de conspiradores.
Desse jeito, já com muita ação e um combate feroz, começa este segundo livro da série.
A empreitada é bem sucedida o guerreiro volta com seus homens para seus lares depois de um longo período em campanha.
Porém, um personagem levemente explorado anteriormente na lenda deste soldado retorna com mais força, ameaçando não só Thomas, mas toda a sua família.
Novamente, o livro é dividido em 3 partes. Mas, dessa vez, a história é mais fluida, sem tantas quebras entre uma parte e outra. Eles servem, de fato, complementarmente a outra, dando prosseguimento à narrativa. E a escrita do autor melhorou de um livro para o outro.
Outro ponto positivo é que dessa vez temos na história momentos em que o foco narrativo não está em Blackstone, mas em outros personagens principais ou secundários. E isso engrandece ainda mais a obra pois temos conhecimento do que acontece longe do protagonista, conhemos mais sobre outros personagens importantes para a história e acompanhamos melhor o desenrolar de tramas que vão se conectando posteriormente à história do arqueiro que virou um soldado feroz.
Diferente do livro anterior, onde a história acontece a partir de uma guerra, temos a inserção e apresentação de personagens, seu desenvolvimento e outras informações pra servir de base pra série, aqui muito disso já não precisa existir, pois afinal é a continuação, e a narrativa se torna muito mais ágil, gostosa de acompanhar. E, como já citado, desde o princípio tem muita ação, algo de importante está acontecendo.
Na primeira parte das três, foi muito bom acompanhar as intrigas políticas e Thomas precisando lidar com elas sem ter tanto traquejo assim pra isso. Um mistério criado consegue prender o leitor, apesar de algumas pistas ao longo do texto não deixar tantos suspeitos assim.
Aqui, também diferenciando do primeiro livro, temos um vilão de fato. Antes, tínhamos a guerra. E na guerra não tem mocinho, não tem vilão. Tem cada um lutando pelas suas causas, seus ideais. Mas agora logo de cara neste livro o vilão é apresentado e é em torno desse antagonismo que a história avança.
O vilão é muito bom, apesar da escolha de tradução para o seu título não ser das melhores. E, de ponto negativo, é o vilanismo do personagem ser completamente o oposto do heroísmo de Thomas. Se o personagem principal continua sendo o soldado perfeito, onde tudo funciona e dá certo, ele tem os melhores planos e sempre consegue se safar, um herói perfeito, sem falhas enquanto guerreiro. O Padre Selvagem (vilão) é um personagem com o mal personificado. Ele apenas tem atitudes pra causar pânico, caos, dor, morte, é impiedoso. São personagens bem construídos, com motivações bem claras, mas que são uma coisa só sempre. São os personagens classificados como "preto ou branco", sem uma escala de "cinza".
O último ponto negativo a destacar é a mudança da personagem Christiana. Se no primeiro livro ela era ousada, boa, que dava para a história uma personagem mulher forte, com potencial, além de Blanche Harcourt. Neste livro ela toma uma série de decisões ruins, que servem para história andar, e fica bem chata. Olhando para o desfecho da personagem neste livro, acho que ela não terá uma participação grande no próximo.
No mais, é um ótimo livro de ficção histórica, com ótimas batalhas, intrigas e personagens. Fica no mesmo nível do antecessor e deixa pontos em aberto para a sequência.

[Zeng Hao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Défiant à la mort!

He is God’s instrument of vengeance. Men’s battle-cries roared as Thomas Blackstone charged forward to face his mortal enemy in the Battle of Poitiers—the infamous Savage Priest. A story of confrontation against a man who had wrought devastation to his home and family, Defiant Unto Death is a more mature story than its predecessor; a young archer’s journey to war.

The second book of the Master of War series begins 10 years after the events of the first. Sir Thomas Blackstone remains a successful knight and warrior, holding his territories in the name of King Edward of England during the hundred-year war. A friend of the Norman lords that defy the French crown, Blackstone was inducted into the Normans’ plot by his benefactor and saviour—Jean de Harcourt.

The story starts with Blackstone’s raid to capture the city of Périgueux, travelling on a vessel along the river upstream. The urgency of the scene is unmistakable. Gilman writes with vigour and tension, creating heart-pounding action. As the ship struggles against the torrential waters, drama and suspense fill the page. But readers following the series know the drill: no one is safe—except for Blackstone.

In some way, the sequel has not managed to evolve and overcome some of the flaws other reviewers have pointed out in the first book. Blackstone remains the superior warrior and tactician, despite having no real training in the latter other than having an excellent instinct. Blackstone’s character and personality have also seemingly not grown for the past ten years.

The lack of character development for the protagonist is distracting but is consistent for most of the cast. Men like Meulon and Guinot remain infinitely loyal, with no hint of a personality other than for fighting or bantering with their lord. It was as if Blackstone’s party had remained in stasis, thrown into action only a decade later.

Having said that, some characters were surprisingly well-written. Christiana and Guillaume, for instance, felt much more fleshed out than in the previous book—Christiana is now a mother of two, and Guillaume a much more capable squire. They were able to reflect, to reveal their vulnerabilities from the very beginning. The quiet moments with these characters helped to control the pace of the book, reigning in the constant war and battle that can get tiring to read at times.

Piercing swords and flailing maces aside, Blackstone’s venture into Paris was also another highlight for me. For the first time, Gilman brings readers into a vastly different setting—no more villages, marshlands or desolated fields—we are brought into the heart of France, the home of Blackstone’s enemies. The dangers that lurked behind every corner of the street and the shady figures that emerged from the shadows of Paris was a refreshing change. Of course, the political intrigue was also a great addition that was sorely missed in the previous book.

Defiant Unto Death delivers on what it promises. The action was well orchestrated, and the suspense helps to keep the pages turning. From stealthy operations in Paris to the Battle of Poitiers, Gilman has crafted a rollercoaster ride for his readers. Certainly a worthy read if you liked the first book, but don’t expect anything drastically different. 3.5 (3) stars.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEFIANT UNTO DEATH starts almost a decade after MASTER OF WAR, following Thomas Blackstone as he holds his lands and tries to hold off his enemies.

While the previous book had Thomas as someone who found himself caught up in great events, in this book, the violence is centred on him - his enemies are trying to get him and it just so happens that they can use the wider war to do this. The story weaves through the major events of this part of the Hundred Years' War including the battle of Poitiers, a crucial point much like Crècy from the previous book.

The schemes of the Norman lords return. There is a spy among them, feeding information back and setting them up for failure. I enjoyed seeing this side of the war again. The English invasions of France were just that, and so seeing the French side of matters - those fighting for the king and those for themselves - was far more engaging than if we'd been following (and asked to support) the English conquering another land

I did feel like the violence against Christiana was more as a motive to split the pair up than for any other reason, which I did not like. There were other ways to achieve this (and the book actually includes these) so it didn't need this, which felt like a crass use of violence against women to further a man's journey.

[Torben · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Gilham hat Bernard Cornwell sehr gut analysiert, kopiert ihn nicht, hat aber sich aber viele Elemente des Altmeisters abgeschaut und für seine Romanserie verwendet. Der Soldat, der in den Reihen aufsteigt, den Narbigen, der Anführer ist und unmögliche Kämpfe gewinnt, den teuflischen Gegenspieler, mit dem man Katz und Maus spielt, die Liebe, die man im Feindesland findet und um die man kämpfen muss, die Adligen, die ohne den ehemaligen Bogenschützen so manche Intrige nicht einfädeln könnten und so manche Schlacht verloren hätten. Dazu noch gut geschrieben, recherchiert, trotz der Länge spannend und mitreißend erzählt. Eine tolle Romanreihe, nicht als Lückenbüßer, bis der nächste Cornwell kommt, sondern als Ergänzung. Toll ist, dass ich hier mal etwas aus der französischen Historie erfahre, Paris im Mittelalter besuche und die Verwicklungen, die ich aus vielen historischen Romanen über England kenne, ein wenig aus der anderen Sichtweise kennenlerne. Gilham schafft es bewundernswert, die Ereignisse des ersten Buches einzuweben, ohne dass es als Wiederholung ankommt. Ich hatte Bedenken, da die (bisher) vier Teile der Reihe sehr schnell auf dem Markt kamen, dass die Qualität leide, aber ganz im Gegenteil. Der zweite Teil ist noch besser als der erste. Freue mich auf Teil 3.

[jjmann3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Master of War: Defiant Unto Death follows the events of the Hundred Years War between England and France loosely the 10 years following the Battle of Crecy to the aftermath of the Battle of Poitiers (1356). Thomas Blackstone, now a local lord in Normandy, has earned the animosity of the French king, who hires a devious assassin to scourge his holdings and kill him and his family. The tale takes us across France from Normandy, Paris, Avignon, and eventually down to the Italian states.

I liked this installment a bit better than the first. Gilman painted a vivid picture of battle and there’s lots of fighting scenes in the book. While I enjoyed the tale, I took issue with two things. First, things just seemed to happen to Thomas, the main character lacked any sort of direction or impetus on his own, going from one skirmish to another. Second, wife Christiana has turned from Thomas Blackstone’s loyal lover in the first book to a wretched dingbat in this installment. The story overplayed the technique of contrary Christiana’s bad decisions leading to something going disastrously wrong for Thomas or her family. For that reason, I hold her right up there with Two Nights in Portugal’s Ariel on my ever-lengthening Characteribus Horribilis list.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuation of the Master of War series. I started with #4, which I liked a lot then I bought #1-3. I didn't like this one as much as I liked #4 or #1. I felt there was too much talking. I skipped over some parts which were too slow. I think the book could be better if it was more streamlined.

Spoilers:
I can't give a good synopsis though as a lot happens in the book. The big event is the Battle of Poitiers, which I felt wasn't very well written, then Blackstone is dismissed by Price Edward for getting out of hand. He loses all his properties he's been hold for the Crown. He then gathers whoever is left and decides to be a mercenary for the Italian states. But meanwhile his wife was raped when she was traveling to Avignon for safety. She also finds out that he was the one who killed her father. She then decides to leave him for the time being. The Savage Priest manages to capture her while she is in Italy and Blackstone battles him.

I'll have to see what #3 is like. I might not continue the series.