Why am I passionate about this?

Long before I started my career in journalism I was a voracious reader of historical novels. I devoured epic adventure about medieval Europe and eventually got involved in European martial arts: fighting in full armour in tournaments and melees. My love of history finally won out over my day job of defence reporting and I began penning novels. The books I most enjoy are more than just battle tales, they’re about people. Good historical fiction isn’t just about the history. It needs more than volleys of arrows and swinging swords, it needs characters you care about. These books combine authenticity with passionate, compelling writing and unique characters you won’t soon forget.


I wrote

Hawker and the King's Jewel

By Ethan Bale, Ethan Bale,

Book cover of Hawker and the King's Jewel

What is my book about?

August 1485. The eve of the Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III summons a grizzled knight, Sir John Hawker, and…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Agincourt: A Novel

Ethan Bale Why did I love this book?

Cornwell is one of the best—if not the best—historical novelists writing today.

In Azincourt, we follow one English longbowman on an epic adventure that culminates in one of the most famous battles in history. Cornwell deftly weaves in authentic period detail without hitting you over the head with it.

Most importantly, he is a master of characterisation and rich prose who makes you truly care about the people on the page. Leavened with humor, grittiness, and an engaging romance set amidst war, I found it a compelling and moving read.

By Bernard Cornwell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Agincourt as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An extraordinary and dramatic depiction of the legendary battle of Agincourt from the number one historical novelist

Azincourt, fought on October 25th 1415, St Crispin's Day, is one of England's best-known battles, in part through the brilliant depiction of it in Shakespeare's Henry V, in part because it was a brilliant and unexpected English victory and in part because it was the first battle won by the use of the longbow - a weapon developed by the English which enabled them to dominate the European battlefields for the rest of the century.

Bernard Cornwell's Azincourt is a vivid, breathtaking and…


Book cover of The White Company

Ethan Bale Why did I love this book?

Probably the first “modern” medieval adventure novel, a young Doyle published this in 1891, shortly after he had begun his more famous Sherlock Holmes stories. Also set in the Hundred Years War, it follows a band of mercenaries fighting for the Edward the Black Prince against the French.

It’s mild by today’s standards but a rousing adventure nonetheless, and I first read it at the age of 14. It has all the ingredients of old-fashioned epic adventure: precarious battles, friendship, valiant deeds, humor, and a bit of romance. Check it out and see what your grandfather would have read as a boy on a rainy afternoon.

By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The White Company as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Now order the ranks, and fling wide the banners, for our souls are God's and our bodies the king's, and our swords for Saint George and for England!" With that rousing proclamation, twelve hundred knights ride into battle, accompanied by the stalwart archers known as the White Company.
Fueled by their appetite for glory, this motley crew of freebooters stands united in their unswerving devotion to the company commander, Sir Nigel Loring. Short, bald, and extremely nearsighted, Sir Nigel's unprepossessing appearance belies his warrior's heart and his chivalrous nature. The rollicking adventures of his company during the Hundred Years War…


Book cover of The Last Berserker

Ethan Bale Why did I love this book?

Like the Vikings? Want to read about real Vikings? Angus Donald’s first in a series takes you to the harsh realities of 8th century Europe and portrays the Vikings in all their aspects, both violent and noble.

He wears his impeccable research lightly though and it’s an explosive journey that is most compelling when dealing with the culture clash between Charlemagne’s growing empire and the Viking Dane warriors who listen to the beat of their own drum.

“Beserkers” were a caste of Vikings who would supposedly work themselves into a fearsome frenzy of blood rage in battle. But Donald goes deeper than stereotypes, showing the mystical and religious underpinnings of this class of warrior and in so doing bringing reason, emotion, and honor to their struggles. 

By Angus Donald,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Last Berserker as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Donald is a writer not only at the top of his game, but of the game' Giles Kristian, author of the Raven series
'Donald delivers a masterclass' Theodore Brun, author of A Burning Sea
'A gory, gleeful treat' The Times

The greatest warriors are forged in the flamesTwo pagan fighters

771AD, Northern Europe. Bjarki Bloodhand and Tor Hildarsdottir are journeying south into Saxony. Their destination is the Irminsul, the One Tree that links the Nine Worlds of the Middle-Realm. In this most holy place, they hope to learn how to summon their animal spirits so they can enter the ranks…


Book cover of Master of War

Ethan Bale Why did I love this book?

Not all medieval soldiers were willing participants in the war, and Gilman’s first book in his Master of War series tells the story of one such man, Thomas Blackstone, a stonemason.

Brilliant character building and prose is at the forefront here and Gilman’s hero is a man torn by the immorality of what he sees while fighting in France in 1346.

More than that, he is the sole protector of a mute, disfigured brother who accompanies him to battle by order of the magistrate in lieu of execution for the crime of murder and rape. Blackstone is a moral man struggling in a world without pity in this exciting novel which sets the pace for the entire series.

By David Gilman,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Master of War as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Like a punch from a mailed fist, MASTER OF WAR gives a true taste of the Hundred Years War. It is a gripping chronicle of pitched battle, treachery and cruelty. The stench and harshness of medieval life is ever present' ROBERT FABBRI, bestselling author of the Vespasian series.

England, 1346: For Thomas Blackstone the choice is easy - dance on the end of a rope for a murder he did not commit, or take up his war bow and join the king's invasion.

As he fights his way across northern France, Blackstone learns the brutal lessons of war - from…


Book cover of The Ill-Made Knight

Ethan Bale Why did I love this book?

Cameron’s Chivalry series of which this is the first, takes the reader on a thrilling journey across Europe during the Hundred Years War, chronicling the life of a mercenary who comes to serve the great Sir John Hawkwood and eventually is knighted himself.

Cameron is a master of prose description, scene-setting, and dialogue that rings true to the ear. His historical research is impeccable and like me, he has for many years donned full armour in reenactments and tournaments and so truly understands the challenges of medieval combat. A great read.

By Christian Cameron,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Ill-Made Knight as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Brilliantly evoked' SUNDAY TIMES
Discover the first medieval adventure in the action-packed Chivalry series! Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow and Conn Iggulden.
September, 1356. Poitiers.
The greatest knights of the age were ready to give battle.

On the English side, Edward, the Black Prince, who'd earned his spurs at Crecy.
On the French side, the King and his son, the Dauphin. With 12,000 knights.

And then there is William Gold. A cook's boy - the lowest of the low - who had once been branded as a thief. William dreams of being a knight, but in this…


Explore my book 😀

Hawker and the King's Jewel

By Ethan Bale, Ethan Bale,

Book cover of Hawker and the King's Jewel

What is my book about?

August 1485. The eve of the Battle of Bosworth. King Richard III summons a grizzled knight, Sir John Hawker, and charges him with one final mission. After the battle, he must return a priceless ruby to its giver, the Doge of Venice. Richard believes the jewel has brought ill luck to his family, and wants rid of it. Hawker must also protect Richard’s arrogant, newly knighted illegitimate son, a youth unaware of his true parentage. But the commands are overheard by a Tudor spy…

When the king falls, Hawker flees the field, Tudor agents in hot pursuit. Not knowing who to trust, Hawker and his small Yorkist band take the only course left open: Venice, with all its conspiracies—and the love Hawker left behind there...

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After Me

By J. Shep,

Book cover of After Me

J. Shep Author Of The December Issue

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

J.'s 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

"an intense narrative of family and intangible inheritance. . .this novel unfolds like a fragrant, steeped tea." -Chanticleer Book Reviews, 5 Stars

"like a glorious sunrise, we are gifted the 'après,' the hope and goodness of 'after me.'" -Maria Giuseppa, author of R&R:  A Feast of Words

A man in France receives a package from America containing an autobiographical manuscript relating the events of a summer long ago. 

When Ellande and Madeleine-Grace visit the family summer house on the Alabaster Coast of Normandy for the first time without their parents, they find themselves growing aware of the importance of their…

After Me

By J. Shep,

What is this book about?

A man in France receives a package from America containing an autobiographical manuscript relating the events of a summer long ago.

When Ellande and Madeleine-Grace visit the family summer house on the Alabaster Coast of Normandy for the first time without their parents, they find themselves growing aware of the importance of their parents' choices in raising them. Under the care of their beloved Aunt Adèle, they explore their heritage and what their parents stood for while determining the value of customs and traditions of both family and France's stunning Pays de Caux. In the face of cruelty, carelessness, and…


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Interested in the Hundred Years' War, knights, and Europe?

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