I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I wanted to like this book more than I did.

Thomas Blackstone, Edward III’s Master of War, returns in his seventh epic adventure and this time is ordered to Burgos, Castile, to protect Don Pedro, a king surrounded by enemies. Asking the recalcitrant King to trust Blackstone’s strategies, however, proves difficult and there’s plenty of danger lurking behind the walls of Burgos. During the series, Blackstone has matured from untried boy to hardened fighter, blooded at the Battle of Crécy and Poitiers. He and his archers roam France keeping the peace for the King, facing impossible odds and chased relentlessly by the French army and mercenary routiers. Embroiled as much in the politics of the time as the blood and gore, Blackstone is adept at dodging political blades.
Gilman’s brings the battles to life on the page and his skill at using historical figures to explain the politics of the time is gripping, but it’s the depth of character, which draws the reader back again and again – their bravery, the staunch friendships, the lewd banter, their human vulnerability. Blackstone is charismatic, approachable and a brilliant tactician. With him is his loyal band - veteran knight Sir Gilbert Killbere; centenar Will Longdon; ventenar Jack Halfpenny; giant Gascon Meulon; squire John Jacob; and Blackstone’s bastard horse, ‘who’ is as iconic as the rest of them.
This is a meticulously researched series. All the books stand alone but to find out more about Blackstone’s origins and personal demons, why he fights with sword not bow, I recommend starting at the beginning.

Review:

Reading this series is often a treat I reserve for when i’m struggling to read historical fiction, because the writing of Thomas Blackstone is so immersive, its very easy to get sucked into the life of him and his men, the brutality, the comradeship and the rich tapestry of action that is the war raging across Europe… It would be very easy with the characters and material for the author to get too bloody, and too action adventure, but David Gilman balances this with Machiavellian politics and a world so richly drawn that you can feel the pomp, and the poverty which brings the whole book to life.

This series remains one of the really exceptional ongoing Historical fiction character driven stories out there, and is surely set to be a genre classic.

Highly recommended

(Parm)

Blackstone, Prince Edward's master of war, is ordered to help Don Pedro the Spanish king keep his throne. Meanwhile Blackstone has rescued Lazaro, a Spanish boy who saw Don Pedro's queen assassinated. After the wars in France, Blackstone comes with his troop to Spain and falls into the wars and intrigues of Pedro's court. Tragedy ensues. Great historical military adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
5 stars well deserved.

Suffice to say that I finished devouring the book at 3 a.m and already feel hungry for more.
The plot is captivating and somehow different to the ones in the previous books.Blackstone must escort a King,exact revenge and elude a witch that is extraordinarily seductive and menacing .The characters are,as usual in David Gilman's books,extraordinarily well constructed.

Some of them you will despise,like Don Pedro or Velasquita,some you will admire,like The Moors and some you'll love like Ben Josef,Andrés and Lázaro.
Despite the story's complexity,it flows effortlessly towards its conclusion and it kept me interested,very interested indeed,till the end.

And...There is a Hawk,a Hawk to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained-glass window and jump inside praying for refuge... You will never look at a Hawk or a falcon the same way after reading this book.

Exceptional.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Head of Zeus and the author, David Gilman, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Shadow of the Hawk in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
An absolutely, brilliantly written book full of danger and intrigue.
I have loved this series. Each book gets better and better. You can't help but be invested in the lives of the central characters.
The storyline was well thought out and written with characters that were well drawn and realistic. I loved this book, (and the series) so much, I purchased them for my husband who is in the process of devouring them one by one.
Definitely should be on your TBR pile.
Well worth a read and highly recommended.

Having read this series from the start I was not disappointed with this latest offering. Very much a continuation of Thomas Blackstone and his rise to Master of War with duty to the King etc played out along with the usual boys in the band. An unappealing mission escorting unappealing “Royalty” tests his patience and pits him against the French, Routiers and a plot by the very man he is escorting along with accompanying “Sorceress”. Resolve tested to the full and strength sapped by such a poisonous plot Blackstone eventually wins out as both mission and revenge are accomplished. A good read that dips into the history of the 100 years war with a highly engaging fictional hero.

This is pretty good. It's mostly engaging, and part of a highly rated series about the Hundred Year War. It's certainly a dramatic tale filled with vivid characters and a good plot. i haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I'll have to circle back.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

The description drew me in - set in the mid 14th century a hero taking a young-boy-with-a-big-secret across war torn Europe - major wars between England, various French and Spanish regions. Sadly I felt that there was just too much battle/war strategy and skirmishes that the whole plot got subsumed in blood and gore. Sadly I just got fed up with the various skirmishes and lost the will to continue. I shall never find out about the secret. Alas. Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Very good! It was entertaining and I learn, I think, I'm no historical nerd so I can't say if it was accurate or not, but I hope it's because I read historical fiction to learn while enjoying myself as well. It seem well done, the fiction part was strong, great characters, maybe a bit slow but I didn't mind so it was okay! I would recommend it!