Rage of Swords is a solid medieval battle thriller that delivers exactly what it promises—lots of action, steel-clashing combat, and relentless pace. David Gilman captures the brutality of the Hundred Years’ War with vivid, bloody detail, and fans of military historical fiction will find plenty to enjoy here.

The story follows Sir Thomas Blackstone, the Master of War, tasked with a dangerous mission to secure gold for the Prince of Wales while assassins and political schemes close in. Running parallel is the journey of the Duke of Clarence, whose path toward a political marriage in Milan becomes a deadly trap. There are also personal stakes, with Blackstone’s son Henry causing his fair share of trouble.

While the plot is intriguing on paper—full of intrigue, shifting alliances, and betrayals—the book feels dominated by battle after battle. The characters serve their roles well enough, but they don’t always stand out beyond the fighting. If you’re looking for deep character development or nuanced political drama, you may find this lacking.

That said, the relentless action makes it an enjoyable, if straightforward, read.

David Gilman is one of two authors I'll put other books down to read. Rage of Swords is no exception. It has all the action and adventure you could want in an historical fiction novel. I eagerly await the next Blackstone novel. He cannot write them fast enough.