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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MASTER OF WAR, the new book from award-winning author and screenwriter David Gilman, is released today by Head of Zeus. It is the first title in a new series following the adventures of Thomas Blackstone, a stonemason-turned-archer living during the Hundred Years' War.

A paid-for ebook sampler extract from MASTER OF WAR has had more than 10,000 early downloads and received rave reviews on Amazon, with one reader describing it as "a fantastic read with action from start to finish".

Goldsboro Books have signed first editions in stock.

Praise for David Gilman:

'What Gilman does superlatively is heart-pounding action.'
--Amanda Craig, The Times

Praise for MASTER OF WAR:

'Gilman has just proved himself to be rather excellent. … In David Gilman I see flashes of brilliance that surpass Bernard Cornwell. ' --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 without being left to wonder what was next for the lead hero... Great stuff.' --Gareth Wilson, Falcata Times

See more here.