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The King's Watch #14
Second Nature Part Two: Let Slip the Dogs of War
Let Slip the Dogs of War
The manoeuvres are over. It’s time for action.
From Kernow to Fwalenistee. From the heath of Annandale to the shadow of Blackwater Tower.
The King’s Watch and their enemies are drawing up battle lines. Who will make the first move?
And Who will Live to Tell the Tale?
Let Slip the Dogs of War is Part Two of Second Nature. It continues the action from Part Cry Havoc and brings to a devastating conclusion the story set in motion when Douglas Geldart escaped. Conrad and Saffron, Faith and Alice, the Wolves and their Protectors all face superhuman challenges under the full moon.
Grab yourself a copy of Dogs of War and prepare yourself for a multi-dimensional rollercoaster as the confrontations play out across Albion.
The manoeuvres are over. It’s time for action.
From Kernow to Fwalenistee. From the heath of Annandale to the shadow of Blackwater Tower.
The King’s Watch and their enemies are drawing up battle lines. Who will make the first move?
And Who will Live to Tell the Tale?
Let Slip the Dogs of War is Part Two of Second Nature. It continues the action from Part Cry Havoc and brings to a devastating conclusion the story set in motion when Douglas Geldart escaped. Conrad and Saffron, Faith and Alice, the Wolves and their Protectors all face superhuman challenges under the full moon.
Grab yourself a copy of Dogs of War and prepare yourself for a multi-dimensional rollercoaster as the confrontations play out across Albion.
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2026
About the author
Mark Hayden
31 books297 followersAuthor also writes under Ruth Ward
Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.
He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.
His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.
Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.
Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.
He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.
His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 20, 2026
Awesome
An excellent uk based urban fantasy. I highly recommend this series of books. By a highly talented authors.
Mark Coulter
An excellent uk based urban fantasy. I highly recommend this series of books. By a highly talented authors.
Mark Coulter
June 7, 2026
Continuing change in direction.
I love Conrad Bxxxxx Clarke. I love Mina and Tom and Lucy and Elaine. I love the Elvenham crew. And of course Scout I have a soft spot for the Fae, but I’m beginning to enjoy the books less and less because of the movement away from mage based storylines to Fae based storylines. This book is majorly set in the Fae realm and not the better for it; we read the King’s Watch books for Clarke and Merlyn’s Tower, that was what piqued interest but now the most recent novels have changed focus.
Every time the scenes were about the Akademie, I felt immersed, but changing back to Fae left me skim reading just to get through it.
Please can I suggest that a Dramatis Personae is included in the next book; the number of characters is huge and at times, I forget who is who.
I love Conrad Bxxxxx Clarke. I love Mina and Tom and Lucy and Elaine. I love the Elvenham crew. And of course Scout I have a soft spot for the Fae, but I’m beginning to enjoy the books less and less because of the movement away from mage based storylines to Fae based storylines. This book is majorly set in the Fae realm and not the better for it; we read the King’s Watch books for Clarke and Merlyn’s Tower, that was what piqued interest but now the most recent novels have changed focus.
Every time the scenes were about the Akademie, I felt immersed, but changing back to Fae left me skim reading just to get through it.
Please can I suggest that a Dramatis Personae is included in the next book; the number of characters is huge and at times, I forget who is who.
July 9, 2026
This description achieves precisely what the fourteenth instalment of a beloved series requires: it honours the journey while igniting anticipation for the destination.
The opening line—"The manoeuvres are over. It's time for action."—is a masterstroke of brevity. In two sentences, Hayden signals a tonal shift from preparation to execution, instantly communicating that this is not a transitional book but a decisive, consequential one. The short, punchy sentences that follow mirror the urgency of the narrative itself.
The geographical roll-call—Kernow, Fwalenistee, the heath of Annandale, the shadow of Blackwater Tower—does more than locate the action. It paints a mythic landscape that rewards long-time readers while evoking the distinctly British, Arthurian atmosphere that has become the series' trademark. Each location carries weight and history, and the description trusts the reader to recognise that.
By naming Conrad, Saffron, Faith, Alice, the Wolves, and their Protectors, the description performs a subtle but vital function: it reassures the faithful that every major player will have their moment. In a multi-POV ensemble series, this is a promise of satisfaction, and it is delivered with restraint rather than a clumsy cast-list.
The rhetorical questions—"Who will make the first move?" and "Who will Live to Tell the Tale?"—are genre-appropriate, tension-building devices that land effectively. They invite the reader into the uncertainty of war without spoiling outcomes, a difficult balance to strike.
The description transparently positions this as Part Two of a two-part story and explicitly references the inciting event (Geldart's escape). This is professional, reader-respectful copywriting. It prevents confusion, sets accurate expectations, and ensures that even a reader picking this up after a gap can orient themselves immediately.
The closing line—"Prepare yourself for a multi-dimensional rollercoaster as the confrontations play out across Albion"—delivers exactly what the target audience desires: a promise of scope, spectacle, and the signature blend of magical and military strategy that defines The King's Watch.
This is confident, seasoned copy from an author who knows his readership intimately. It does not waste words on exposition for newcomers—rightly so, at Book 14—and instead focuses on delivering a taut, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant promise to those who have invested in this world. The description achieves its primary objective: it makes a long-time fan need to read this book immediately.
It is a model of how to write a series-climax description that respects the reader, rewards loyalty, and builds genuine excitement.
Regards,
Albert.
The opening line—"The manoeuvres are over. It's time for action."—is a masterstroke of brevity. In two sentences, Hayden signals a tonal shift from preparation to execution, instantly communicating that this is not a transitional book but a decisive, consequential one. The short, punchy sentences that follow mirror the urgency of the narrative itself.
The geographical roll-call—Kernow, Fwalenistee, the heath of Annandale, the shadow of Blackwater Tower—does more than locate the action. It paints a mythic landscape that rewards long-time readers while evoking the distinctly British, Arthurian atmosphere that has become the series' trademark. Each location carries weight and history, and the description trusts the reader to recognise that.
By naming Conrad, Saffron, Faith, Alice, the Wolves, and their Protectors, the description performs a subtle but vital function: it reassures the faithful that every major player will have their moment. In a multi-POV ensemble series, this is a promise of satisfaction, and it is delivered with restraint rather than a clumsy cast-list.
The rhetorical questions—"Who will make the first move?" and "Who will Live to Tell the Tale?"—are genre-appropriate, tension-building devices that land effectively. They invite the reader into the uncertainty of war without spoiling outcomes, a difficult balance to strike.
The description transparently positions this as Part Two of a two-part story and explicitly references the inciting event (Geldart's escape). This is professional, reader-respectful copywriting. It prevents confusion, sets accurate expectations, and ensures that even a reader picking this up after a gap can orient themselves immediately.
The closing line—"Prepare yourself for a multi-dimensional rollercoaster as the confrontations play out across Albion"—delivers exactly what the target audience desires: a promise of scope, spectacle, and the signature blend of magical and military strategy that defines The King's Watch.
This is confident, seasoned copy from an author who knows his readership intimately. It does not waste words on exposition for newcomers—rightly so, at Book 14—and instead focuses on delivering a taut, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant promise to those who have invested in this world. The description achieves its primary objective: it makes a long-time fan need to read this book immediately.
It is a model of how to write a series-climax description that respects the reader, rewards loyalty, and builds genuine excitement.
Regards,
Albert.
June 7, 2026
Just a bloody blast …
Many many thanks, Mr. Hayden, for all 3 of your offerings this Spring! They were a welcome and AMAZINGLY great read.
I really enjoyed the ever expanding points of view which have given your faithful a sense of just how tricky this entanglement can become. The over-all journey through the world of the King’s Watch, which truly exists in scope and capacity far beyond Conrad Bloody Clark. I found myself actively waiting to read the next chapter because of the POV changes AND I have been a ginormous fan of Conrad Bloody Clarke ALL the way back pre-entanglement when he really was a copter pilot in the RAF on a tour of duty. I even followed along with that Tom Morton as I’ve found him to be a terrific creation. I am glad that Tom is now officially entangled in Conrad Bloody Clarke’s world. And still, Conrad’s character has always been so large and encompassing in prior tales devolve seemingly wherever Conrad placess his feet.
And this tale takes the cake. Wow, no wonder you needed the space of two books for this grand adventure to play out. Just … wow! So much fun to readGoing forward, to I trust the the bluff as you have detailed nothing in her character to even make me think that Saff is guilty of anything other than overwhelming loyalty to the Watch and Nimue’s justice. Alice was just the dream POV character. As an author, working from Alice’s perspective must have been either great fun or incredibly hard work to flush out THAT character. Outstanding work Mr. Hayden. Cannot wait for Book 1 but am expecially intrigued about the novella!
Many many thanks, Mr. Hayden, for all 3 of your offerings this Spring! They were a welcome and AMAZINGLY great read.
I really enjoyed the ever expanding points of view which have given your faithful a sense of just how tricky this entanglement can become. The over-all journey through the world of the King’s Watch, which truly exists in scope and capacity far beyond Conrad Bloody Clark. I found myself actively waiting to read the next chapter because of the POV changes AND I have been a ginormous fan of Conrad Bloody Clarke ALL the way back pre-entanglement when he really was a copter pilot in the RAF on a tour of duty. I even followed along with that Tom Morton as I’ve found him to be a terrific creation. I am glad that Tom is now officially entangled in Conrad Bloody Clarke’s world. And still, Conrad’s character has always been so large and encompassing in prior tales devolve seemingly wherever Conrad placess his feet.
And this tale takes the cake. Wow, no wonder you needed the space of two books for this grand adventure to play out. Just … wow! So much fun to readGoing forward, to I trust the the bluff as you have detailed nothing in her character to even make me think that Saff is guilty of anything other than overwhelming loyalty to the Watch and Nimue’s justice. Alice was just the dream POV character. As an author, working from Alice’s perspective must have been either great fun or incredibly hard work to flush out THAT character. Outstanding work Mr. Hayden. Cannot wait for Book 1 but am expecially intrigued about the novella!
July 12, 2026
I gave part one only a single star, but this was a lot better. The first half of this book started like the previous one, with a lot of slow-paced build up that dragged, but it got going about halfway through and then it was dynamite.
Honestly, it would have been better if the author condensed book one and the first half of this book into one and made that the first half of a single book. Get rid of the bad guys having meetings but not doing anything. Give us some rich lore for the Fae and wolves, but make that support for the story rather than be the story. If the Akademia are the big bad, make them more central instead of the Fae and the Wolves. Get rid of fringe plot lines like Mowbray College (it doesn't seem to have any impact on the story). Give us more Conrad Bloody Clarke, more King's Watch, more action.
Once it gets going it IS lots of action, lots of Conrad etc. Some of the other POVs dropped away (like Rachel) and the ones that stayed (Alice, Saffy) made sense. It was great! Just please please please make the final book nice and tight and true to the feel of the earlier stories rather than just a big sprawl of catching up with all the characters we've seen.
Honestly, it would have been better if the author condensed book one and the first half of this book into one and made that the first half of a single book. Get rid of the bad guys having meetings but not doing anything. Give us some rich lore for the Fae and wolves, but make that support for the story rather than be the story. If the Akademia are the big bad, make them more central instead of the Fae and the Wolves. Get rid of fringe plot lines like Mowbray College (it doesn't seem to have any impact on the story). Give us more Conrad Bloody Clarke, more King's Watch, more action.
Once it gets going it IS lots of action, lots of Conrad etc. Some of the other POVs dropped away (like Rachel) and the ones that stayed (Alice, Saffy) made sense. It was great! Just please please please make the final book nice and tight and true to the feel of the earlier stories rather than just a big sprawl of catching up with all the characters we've seen.
October 14, 2026
This will probably be the last of this series that I read. I have not read any of the novellas or short stories. I understand another book will be coming out at the time of this review.
This is well written, with good pacing and well developed story arcs and characters. Why will I stop here? At this point in the story, there must be 50 characters who affect the plot, some of whom have more than one name for the same person. Unfortunately, this series fell victim to "character creep" and I honestly can't keep track of who everyone is and what they do/did in the previous books.
Honestly, I enjoyed most of the series (though I admit that Rani got on my nerves a lot and I have no idea what our MC sees in her), but I don't want to have to create a family tree with annotations to be able to enjoy a story.
This is well written, with good pacing and well developed story arcs and characters. Why will I stop here? At this point in the story, there must be 50 characters who affect the plot, some of whom have more than one name for the same person. Unfortunately, this series fell victim to "character creep" and I honestly can't keep track of who everyone is and what they do/did in the previous books.
Honestly, I enjoyed most of the series (though I admit that Rani got on my nerves a lot and I have no idea what our MC sees in her), but I don't want to have to create a family tree with annotations to be able to enjoy a story.
May 17, 2026
I have to say, I struggled a bit in the previous book with remembering all characters and what happened lead ing to what. The same can be said for this book too, although some things got clearer. I appreciated that there was more from Conrad's perspective because while other people's perspectives were refreshing in the past, now some of them seemed to be completely unrelated to the story...specially Rachel's. And I had real difficulty with chapters from Akademia - I didn't understand half of what they were saying... Anyway, the parts about Wolfmoot were great, parts about Alice were ok so in general it wasn't bad at all. I am looking forward to reading the next book, hoping that we will get simpler story with Conrad being the main narrator once again....
May 24, 2026
I found this book slightly more enjoyable and less confusing than Second Nature Part One. At least there are some storylines which dragged this reader through the fog of characters and places with many names and titles.
Unfortunately, many of the plot twists are solved by implausible acts of heroism or magickal devices. I found that I was reading in a “head down, get to the end” manner.
I couldn’t help but notice all the loose threads and hooks littering last quarter of the book, so it was no surprise to find an advert for book 15 (of 14!) after getting to the end.
Sadly, I don’t think I shall be continuing my King’s Watch journey. Good luck to those of you who do!
Unfortunately, many of the plot twists are solved by implausible acts of heroism or magickal devices. I found that I was reading in a “head down, get to the end” manner.
I couldn’t help but notice all the loose threads and hooks littering last quarter of the book, so it was no surprise to find an advert for book 15 (of 14!) after getting to the end.
Sadly, I don’t think I shall be continuing my King’s Watch journey. Good luck to those of you who do!
October 23, 2026
I love the world of Conrad Clarke. I miss it as soon as I finish a book. I love seeing his approach to things, reading his chapters. I also like reading along with the Team Conrad characters and Merlyn Tower Irregulars, perhaps particularly Alice. I want all of them to succeed and flourish. I hope the title countdown doesnt mean the journey and adventures and collaborations (characters and authors) will be ending soon. Whislt I can re-read all the stories again (again).. more stories are what I really want. Start at Z and countdown to A.
May 22, 2026
Oh good heavens. So many turns and twists. Amazing and I'm so looking forward to the next book
June 4, 2026
Kings Watch is a great series.
I hope it's not coming to an end as the countdown dwindles.
I hope it's not coming to an end as the countdown dwindles.
June 15, 2026
4.5
The thing that keeps it from being a 5, for me, is the sheer number of characters!!! 😵💫
The second half is very exciting!
The thing that keeps it from being a 5, for me, is the sheer number of characters!!! 😵💫
The second half is very exciting!
August 15, 2026
there was a lot to remember
It was a bit hard going. A lot has happened to before this book & trying to remember was hard going
It was a bit hard going. A lot has happened to before this book & trying to remember was hard going
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews