DEFIANT UNTO DEATH, by the award-winning screenwriter and author David Gilman, is out today in paperback from Head of Zeus. This action-packed sequel to Amazon #1 bestseller MASTER OF WAR follows the adventures of Thomas Blackstone, a stonemason-turned-archer during the Hundred Years' War.

It is six years since Thomas Blackstone fought at Calais and his reputation is now established, with two children and a fortified manor house in Normandy from which he offers protection to his villagers. King John II sees conspiracy at every corner, the French–English truce has broken down and the war continues, with the Prince of Wales devastating the South. When Blackstone helps take control of a vital castle for the English allies and enrages the King, he finds himself in conflict with an old enemy, a vicious mercenary, known as le prêtre sanguinaire – the Savage Priest. This is a man who once pursued his wife, Christiana, and a terrible secret Blackstone has kept from her is revealed. From a last ditch defence on the blood-soaked field of Poitiers, to single combat high in the Alps, Blackstone might yet defy death but he cannot defy his destiny.

The MASTER OF WAR series has been sold in Brazil, Hungary, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Praise for the MASTER OF WAR series:

‘Move over Bernard Cornwell! Historical fiction at its best’ – Historical Novel Society

‘A violent, tempestuous, glorious novel. I was gripped from the very beginning and the book never once let go of me until its end, by which point I was exhausted by its intensity, thrills and trauma. Among my top historical fiction reads of 2015.' – For Winter Nights

‘See-saw drama at its best… so many reasons why, when life tried to encourage me to put the book down, I resisted stridently. This is writing that twists around seldom seen hist-fict depth.’ – Ani Johnson, The Bookbag

‘If you only read one historical debut this year, make it this one. The prose is sharper than a bodkin arrow, the pace faster than thought and to be honest it was a book that I just couldn’t put down. Great stuff.’ – Gareth Wilson, Falcata Times

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DEFIANT UNTO DEATH, the second part of the MASTER OF WAR series written by award-winning author and screenwriter David Gilman, is released today by Head of Zeus. It follows the story of former stonemason Thomas Blackstone, now a knight with a small fiefdom in northern France, as he is forced to defy everyone he loves and lives for in order to fight a traitor who has turned the king of France against him.

The first instalment of the series was launched last year and enthusiastically received. Gareth Wilson of the Falcata Times wrote ‘if you only read one historical debut this year, make it this one. The prose is sharper than a bodkin arrow, the pace faster than thought.’ And sales were swift too, with Thomas Blackstone's exploits entertaining more than 50,000 book buyers.

On 22 January, David was in Goldsboro Books signing the stunning hardcover edition at what can only be described as a defiant speed, scribbling away so quickly that the camera struggled to keep up!

Visit David’s Website.

Follow David On Twitter.

Praise for the MASTER OF WAR series:

'A gritty book, sparing nothing in its descriptions of the realities of Medieval warfare. I'm sure readers will hope for more from this author.' – Kathy Stevenson, Daily Mail

‘First in a series of historical fiction based around the Hundred Years War by an author who can compete with Bernard Cornwell and, in places, wins on points. Exciting, informative and including battle scenes that made me reach for a firm surface. Love it!’ - Ani Johnson, Bookbag

‘As a debut novel, Gilman's MASTER OF WAR stands up well against its heavyweight predecessors …The writing is taut and the story fast-paced. … All lovers of this type of historical fiction will enjoy Master of War and look forward to the next instalment in a planned trilogy.’ – Greg Waite, Ontago Daily Times