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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Adventure / thriller > Historical adventure
THE FIELDS OF DEATH is the epic final novel in Simon Scarrow's
bestselling Wellington and Napoleon Quartet. Essential reading for
fans of Bernard Cornwell. 1809. Viscount Wellington and Emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte have made their mark as military commanders.
Lifelong enemies, they both believe their armies are strong enough
to destroy any rival. But in war victory can never be certain.
While Wellington's success continues in Spain, Napoleon feels the
sting of failure. Yet despite a disastrous Russian campaign and
humiliating defeat at Leipzig, he persists in fighting on. With
Napoleon's power waning, the newly titled Duke of Wellington is
perfectly placed to crush the tyrant. But his enemy refuses to
surrender, and so the two giants must face a final reckoning on the
bloody battlefield of Waterloo...
July 1924. Sarah Cunningham, a young Modernist painter, arrives in
Carmel-by-the-Sea from Paris to bury her older sister, Ada Belle.
En route, she is shocked to learn that Ada Belle's suspicious death
is a suicide. But why kill herself? Her plein air paintings were
famous and her upcoming exhibition of portraitures would bring her
even wider recognition. Sarah puts her own artistic career on hold
and, trailed by Ada Belle's devoted dog, Albert, becomes a secret
sleuth, a task made harder by the misogyny and racism she discovers
in this seemingly idyllic locale. Part mystery, part historical
fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of
early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that
is beautiful scenery, and the determination of one young woman to
discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her
sister the farewell she deserves.
'Stockwin creates a knotty narrative, writing with authority about
Britain's Georgian navy and the physical world at sea with
intrigue, captivating characters, and deft storytelling. Thunderer
is a suspenseful journey' Quarterdeck 1812. Arriving back in
England after his successes in the Adriatic, Captain Sir Thomas
Kydd is bestowed with honours. In London he's greeted by the Prince
Regent who, despite Kydd's protestations that he's happy with his
present command, insists he be given a bigger ship - HMS Thunderer,
a 74-gun ship of the line. But she's old, and being part of a
standing fleet Kydd's chances of further fame and distinction are
slim indeed. Winning over his new command is fraught with
challenges. A hostile crew, abysmal levels of gunnery and
sail-handling capabilities are intolerable to a fighting captain
like Kydd. With the ship short of men and no incentives to attract
more, can he ever bring Thunderer to a proper state of fighting
preparedness? Kydd is sent to reinforce the Baltic squadron as
Bonaparte's vast army invades Russia. News reaches him of French
victory at the Battle of Borodino. The road to Moscow is now open.
To avert total French victory, Kydd must lead a vital convoy
through battle and tempest to the aid of Britain's last ally.
Praise for Julian Stockwin's Kydd series 'Paints a vivid picture of
life aboard the mighty ship-of-the-line' Daily Express 'This heady
adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail'
Nautical Magazine 'Fans of fast-paced adventure will get their fill
with this book' Historical Naval Society
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The Ronin
(Paperback)
William Dale Jennings
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R337
R314
Discovery Miles 3 140
Save R23 (7%)
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Ships in 18 - 22 working days
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"A thunderbolt, full of lightning and excitement, one you won't put
down until its last extraordinary page." --The Japan Times The
violence of twelfth-century Japan explodes in this half-legendary,
half-true story of a violent man who becomes a folk hero. A
heartless savage, the Ronin, or "wandering samurai," slashes his
way up from the gutter to wealth, honor and status. In spite of his
crime sand bloodthirsty cruelty, he bears the strange mark of
destiny that the wise see and respect, even as he destroys them.
The tale which is told with humor and irony, ranges from the
pleasantly colloquial to the brutally satiric, yet never relents in
the Ronin's ruthless search for the truth. The storyteller hides
nothing and speaks bluntly, yet this jewel-like tale shimmers with
tantalizing riddles that will haunt the reader just as they haunted
the Ronin. Sure to shock, confound and ultimately inspire readers,
The Ronin is loosely based on an ancient legend told to the author
by the Zen Master Nyogen Senzaki.
Ursula's visit to her Devon relatives leads to murder, mayhem and a
possible plot to free Mary, Queen of Scots in the latest Ursula
Blanchard Tudor mystery. February, 1586. When the queen's
spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, learns that Ursula is to visit
her relatives in Devon, he asks her to find out what has happened
to two of his local agents, who have been strangely silent
recently. On arrival in the small Devon village of Zeal Aquatico,
Ursula discovers that both spies in question have met with
mysterious - and fatal - accidents. Or is there more to it than
that? What did the two spies find out that got them killed? Is
there any truth to the rumours that King Philip of Spain, in league
with the queen's cousin, Mary Stuart, intends to launch an invasion
from the south coast? As Ursula pursues her investigations, it
becomes clear that someone in Zeal Aquatico is determined to stop
her finding out the truth ... whatever it takes.
A gripping historical adventure set in the second century AD and
based on legends of King Arthur, The Iron Way is the second in Tim
Leach's breathtaking Sarmatian Trilogy. AD 175, Vindolanda,
Britannia. After their cavalry was broken by the legions on the
frozen waters of the Danube, Sarmatian warrior Kai bought his
peoples' lives with a pledge to serve Rome. Bound to the will of
the Emperor, the Sarmatians are ready to fight and eager to die -
death in battle is the only escape from the dishonour of their
defeat. Exiled from their home lands, they are ordered to take the
Iron Way to the far north and the very edge of the Empire. Here, a
great wall of stone cuts across the land as straight as the stroke
of a sword. On one side, Rome's dominion; on the other, mist and
rumours - stories of men closer to giants, of warriors who fight
without fear or restraint. For a people who knew no borders, who
were promised war, garrison duty is cruel punishment. But as
insurrection stirs on both sides of the wall, Kai will discover
that every barrier has its weaknesses - and he will have his chance
to fight, perhaps to die. Reviewers on the Sarmatian Trilogy and
Tim Leach: 'Roman military adventure at its best. Ranks with the
best historical fiction available today.' Simon Turney 'A great
story from a fascinating period... masterfully written with
beautiful language.' Historical Novel Society 'The characters feel
rounded and real, and the Sarmatians' attempts to keep their world
alive and evade the tyrannous reach of Rome are heartbreaking.' The
Times 'Tim Leach writes beautifully.' For Winter Nights
'Recommended.' Historical Novel Society 'Magnificent' Historia 'A
poetic, absorbing narrative.' Sunday Times
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Skyehag
(Paperback)
Bettyanne Twigg, Albert Marsolais
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R766
Discovery Miles 7 660
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Ships in 18 - 22 working days
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'Every step the Scarlet Pimpernel takes on French soil is fraught
with danger' The French Terror is raging, and few are safe from the
threat of the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney, a foppish Englishman,
decides to rescue imprisoned aristocrats before they can be
executed. Showing great daring and aided by a band of brave
comrades, he disguises himself as the formidable Scarlet Pimpernel.
But will his beautiful French wife Marguerite unwittingly prove his
downfall? Baroness Orczy's swashbuckling 1905 novel set the
standard for all future tales of masked avengers and was later
adapted into a famous stage play and several film versions. The
Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of
the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end
of the Second World War.
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Domitian
(Hardcover)
S. J. A. Turney
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R553
R501
Discovery Miles 5 010
Save R52 (9%)
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Ships in 9 - 17 working days
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Raised in chaos. Forced to rule. Abandoned by the gods.Rome, AD 52.
The Julio-Claudian dynasty is in its death throes. Over the next
twenty years, chaos descends as Claudius then Nero are killed. The
whole empire bucks and heaves with conspiracy, rebellion and civil
war. Out of the ashes and discord, a new imperial family emerges:
the Flavians. Vespasian is crowned emperor, with his sons, Titus
and Domitian, next in line. Domitian, still only a teenager, has
known only fear, death and treachery for as long as he has been
alive. Suspicious of the senate as a breeding ground for treachery,
and fiercely protective of his surviving family members, he uses a
network of spies to stay one step ahead of any would-be
conspirators. When Titus unexpectedly falls gravely ill, the throne
beckons for Domitian, something he never wanted or prepared for. As
in all his darkest moments, Domitian's childhood guardian, Nerva,
is the man he turns to with his fears, and his secrets... An
insightful and arresting novel, packed with intrigue and betrayal,
perfect for fans of Harry Sidebottom and Conn Iggulden.
Introducing Jonas Flynt. Gambler. Thief. Killer. Man of
honour.'Fast, furious and with a glint of gallows humour, this is
high-octane historical fiction' Daily Mail 'Swashbuckling action
against a vivid historical backdrop. I loved this book' Ian Rankin
'High adventure meets espionage thriller as Jonas Flynt battles the
tide of history and the deadly secrets of his own past...' D. V.
Bishop, author of City of Vengeance 1715. Jonas Flynt, ex-soldier
and reluctant member of the Company of Rogues, a shady intelligence
group run by ruthless spymaster Nathaniel Charters, is ordered to
recover a missing document. Its contents could prove devastating in
the wrong hands. On her deathbed, the late Queen Anne may have
promised the nation to her half-brother James, the Old Pretender,
rather than the new king, George I. But the will has been lost. It
may decide the fate of the nation. The crown must recover it at all
costs. The trail takes Jonas from the dark and dangerous streets of
London to an Edinburgh in chaos. He soon realises there are others
on the hunt, and becomes embroiled in a long overdue family
reunion, a jail break and a brutal street riot. When secrets
finally come to light, about the crown and about his own past,
Jonas will learn that some truths, once discovered, can never be
untold... An atmospheric and utterly compelling blend of crime,
history and thriller, to delight fans of S. J. Parris, Andrew
Taylor and C. J. Sansom. Praise for An Honourable Thief 'Reads like
a genuine eighteenth century spy novel. I see a long future for
Jonas Flynt' Ambrose Parry, author of The Way of All Flesh 'Anyone
who enjoys a good historical mystery and likes an edgy, charismatic
protagonist is going to love the adventures of Douglas Skelton's
new hero, Jonas Flynt' S.G. MacLean, author of The Seeker 'An
absolute triumph ... Five stars from me, and I look forward to
reading more of Jonas's adventures' James Oswald, Sunday Times
bestselling author 'Historical crime fiction at its absolute best.
I loved it!' Marion Todd, author of the Detective Clare Mackay
series 'Pitch-perfect stuff. Like all great historical novels
you'll feel you're there! This is a departure for Skelton, who
seems born to write high-end historical fiction' Denzil Meyrick,
author of the DCI Daley thrillers 'Uniquely combines a page-turning
thriller with a perfectly evoked sense of time and place. Powerful
stuff from a master of his craft' Craig Russell, author of Hyde
'Skelton's mastery of time and place inhabited with richly drawn
characters is a delight. It held me to the last tantalising page'
David Gilman, author of The Englishman 'Jonas Flynt is one of those
characters you'll be rooting for from the very first chapter ... it
looks like Skelton has found a new home writing first-class
historical fiction' Alison Belsham, author of The Tattoo Thief
'This is a fascinating, totally engrossing historical novel. Flynt
is a most attractive, three-dimensional character and the same is
true of the world he moves through. A brilliant, most enjoyable
read' Paul Doherty, author of The Nightingale Gallery 'A cracking
historical drama with breathless pacing and knuckle-chewing
tension, all shot through with Skelton's deft characterisation and
flashes of pitch-black humour. The perfect read to lose yourself
in' Neil Broadfoot, author of Falling Fast 'A compelling tale of
justice and vengeance, of intrigue and plotting, all centred around
a flawed 18th century Jack Reacher' Morgan Cry, author of
Thirty-One Bones
'So beautiful, so haunting . . . bitingly real . . . Giles has
given us a vital, glorious story: rich, rewarding, and utterly
revealing of our times' Manda Scott Following his acclaimed Sunday
Times bestseller, Lancelot, Giles Kristian's new novel returns us
to the realms of Arthurian legend . . . The Saxons have returned
and their war bands stalk the land. The lords of Britain look only
to their own survival, unable or unwilling to unite as they once
did under Arthur. And in a monastery hidden in the marshlands of
Avalon, a novice monk prepares to take his vows. However, two
strangers - the wild-spirited, Saxon-killing Iselle and the ageing
warrior Gawain - will pluck him from his sheltered existence and
his world will be turned upside down. Together they will go in
search of the last druid, to find the cauldron of a god, and to
raise an army to hold the darkness at bay. And as they journey, so
the novice will cast aside his training and embrace his legacy. For
he is a warrior born. His name is Galahad. And he is the son of
Lancelot . . . Acclaim for Lancelot: 'A masterpiece.' Conn Iggulden
'Stands head and shoulders above the rest.' Manda Scott 'Glorious.
Tragic. Lyrical. Totally gripping.' Ben Kane 'A gorgeous, rich
retelling.' The Times 'An extraordinary writer . . . an exceptional
book.' Dr Janina Ramirez
THE LATEST in the Assassin's Creed series . . . Travel further back
in time than ever before . . . Discover an ancient Egypt on the
brink of collapse, and meet the characters in the official prequel
to the latest instalment of the bestselling Assassin's Creed video
game series. Before Assassin's Creed Origins, there was an Oath.
Egypt, 70BC, a merciless killer stalks the land. His mission: to
find and destroy the last members of an ancient order, the Medjay -
to eradicate the bloodline. In peaceful Siwa, the town's protector
abruptly departs, leaving his teenage son, Bayek, with questions
about his own future and a sense of purpose he knows he must
fulfill. Bayek sets off in search of answers, his journey taking
him along the Nile and through an Egypt in turmoil, facing the
dangers and the mysteries of the Medjay's path.
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag is the sixth title in Oliver Bowden's
phenomenally successful Assassin's Creed videogame tie-in series.
It's the Golden Age of Piracy - a time when greed, ambition and
corruption overcome all loyalties - and a brash young captain,
Edward Kenway, is making his name known for being one of the
greatest pirates of his day. In the brilliant new novel, Assassin's
Creed: Black Flag, discover the story of how Edward, a young
privateer, became one of the world's most deadly pirates and was
drawn into the centuries-old battle between the Templars and the
Assassins. The immersive story of the Assassins is continued in
Oliver Bowden's gripping sixth Assassin's Creed novel, following
Renaissance, Brotherhood, The Secret Crusade, Revelations and
Forsaken. Oliver Bowden is the pen-name of an acclaimed novelist.
In the Sunday Times bestseller Gates of Fire, Steven Pressfield
tells the breathtaking story of the legendary Spartans: the men and
women who helped shaped our history and have themselves become as
immortal as their gods. 'Breathtakingly brilliant . . . this is a
work of rare genius. Savour it!' DAVID GEMMELL 'A tale worthy of
Homer, a timeless epic of man and war, exquisitely researched and
boldy written. Pressfield has created a new classic' STEPHEN COONTS
'A really impressive book - imaginatively framed, historically
detailed and a really gripping narrative' ***** Reader review
'Beautifully written and a great joy to read' ***** Reader review
************************** Go tell the Spartans, stranger passing
by, That here, obedient to their laws, we lie. 480 BC: At a bleak
pass in a far-flung corner of eastern Greece, three hundred Spartan
warriors faced the army of King Xerxes of Persia, a massive force
rumoured to be over a million strong. Their orders were simple: to
delay the enemy for as long as possible in order to buy time for
the main Greek armies to mobilize. For six days the Spartans held
the invaders at bay. In the final hours - their shields broken,
swords and spears shattered - they fought with their bare hands
before being overwhelmed . . . It was battle that would become
synonymous with extraordinary courage, heroism and self-sacrifice.
It was a battle called Thermopylae.
Are these newly trained Wrens ready to protect Britain's
coastline?Following a humiliating experience involving the man she
thought she'd marry, Iris Tredwick signs up to the Wrens in order
to escape and find 'the right sort' of man to please her mother.
After a bumpy start, Iris manages to befriend outspoken Mary and
dreamer Sally as they are sent to their first posting - in Orkney.
There she meets mechanic Rob, whose flirtatious nature both charms
and confounds straight-laced Iris. Much more appropriate for her is
local doctor Stewart, if only she felt the same spark for him as
she does for Rob... As Iris, Mary and Sally work to interpret
signals from incoming ships, they realise the enemy is somehow one
step ahead of their manoeuvres, dropping sea mines under the cover
of darkness. Could there be a spy on the island? And can the Wrens
prevent disaster striking before it's too late? A thrilling and
lively Second World War saga for fans of Kate Thompson and Daisy
Styles. Praise for A New Start for the Wrens 'This book is
absolutely brilliant. I felt like I was one of the girls and was
joining them in their adventure. I really cant wait to read more in
this series' Reader review 'This book entertained and warmed the
cockles of your heart. Being on duty with the Wrens and
contributing to the war effort was a great way to spend the
afternoon reading and I seriously loved it!' Reader review 'Loved
this book! I binge read it as I wanted to know what would happen.
The three main female characters Iris, Mary and Sally are all so
easy to relate to and care about. Love the glimpses of Orkney and
the poignant history.' Reader review 'A really thoughtful look at
the work of the wrens in WWII and a brilliant new trio of girls to
get to know. I cannot wait for the next one.' Reader review
'Another number one for Vicki Beeby. Loved this WWII story, highly
recommended read' Reader review
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