Assassin’s Reign, the fourth in The Civil War Chronicles, Michael Arnold’s acclaimed series of historical thrillers, sees battle-scarred hero Captain Stryker, ‘the Sharpe of the Civil War’, in the fight of his life.
‘Stands in comparison with the best of Cornwell’ Yorkshire Post
The forces of King Charles are victorious; their Parliamentarian enemies in deep crisis. In the west, the crucial port city of Bristol has fallen, and Royalist eyes fall quickly upon neighbouring Gloucester. Its walls are weak, its garrison under strength, and its governor – Sir Edward Massie – suspected of harbouring sympathy for the King.
Stryker and his men are with the army as it converges on Gloucester, still reeling from the loss of a close friend at the bloody Battle of Stratton. Ordered to infiltrate the rebel city on a mission to discover whether Massie will indeed surrender, Stryker reluctantly embarks upon his most desperate mission yet. But Gloucester’s defenders are more resolute than any had imagined, and catastrophe soon befalls him. With his life seemingly forfeit, Stryker is spared by an unlikely saviour; Vincent Skaithlocke, his former commander. The mercenary has returned to England to fight for Parliament, and offers Stryker his protection. As old friends adjust to life fighting for opposing sides, Stryker begins to question his own loyalties . . . but a chance discovery makes him realise that all in Gloucester is not what it seems, for a hidden menace threatens his own life, and that of King Charles himself.
‘Stands in comparison with the best of Cornwell’ Yorkshire Post
The forces of King Charles are victorious; their Parliamentarian enemies in deep crisis. In the west, the crucial port city of Bristol has fallen, and Royalist eyes fall quickly upon neighbouring Gloucester. Its walls are weak, its garrison under strength, and its governor – Sir Edward Massie – suspected of harbouring sympathy for the King.
Stryker and his men are with the army as it converges on Gloucester, still reeling from the loss of a close friend at the bloody Battle of Stratton. Ordered to infiltrate the rebel city on a mission to discover whether Massie will indeed surrender, Stryker reluctantly embarks upon his most desperate mission yet. But Gloucester’s defenders are more resolute than any had imagined, and catastrophe soon befalls him. With his life seemingly forfeit, Stryker is spared by an unlikely saviour; Vincent Skaithlocke, his former commander. The mercenary has returned to England to fight for Parliament, and offers Stryker his protection. As old friends adjust to life fighting for opposing sides, Stryker begins to question his own loyalties . . . but a chance discovery makes him realise that all in Gloucester is not what it seems, for a hidden menace threatens his own life, and that of King Charles himself.
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Reviews
'Michael Arnold's Civil War Chronicles have the makings of a fun, Sharpe-like series'
'Captain Stryker . . . is being pushed as "the Sharpe of the civil war", but Stryker is a character well able to attract readers on his own merits . . . The novel ends with the Battle of Hopton Heath in the spring of 1643. Many of the most famous engagements of the civil war are still to come, and the enigmatic Stryker's involvement in them promises much entertainment'
'A dark-hued romp, livid with the scents, sounds and colours of a country on the brink of implosion . . . impressive'
'If you love Sharpe, you'll be knocked out by the 17th-century civil war adventures of Captain Innocent Stryker . . . at times this one-eyed veteran makes Sharpe look rather civilised'
'Arnold is at his best describing real events . . . if you like Cornwell you will like Arnold'
'Heart-thumping action . . . Arnold brings the English Civil War to colourful life'
'A thumping good read. With considerable skill, Arnold has reached back in time to create a living, breathing depiction of 17th century England. From his vividly described battle scenes to the richly drawn descriptions of everyday life, from the earthy vernacular of its characters to the precise details of military equipment, every last part of this book oozes authenticity. Fans of Cornwell's Sharpe novels will love Captain Innocent Stryker - he's uglier, meaner and cleverer than Sharpe. Tremendous!'
'A swashbuckling novel which I did not want to put down! Arnold's series of 'Stryker Chronicles' are "must-haves" on my birthday and Christmas lists. Along with Cornwell, Samson and O'Brian, Arnold seems to have been an eye witness to the events he describes'
'Mike Arnold has created a fascinating cast of characters . . . I have no doubt that Hunter's Rage will count among my favourite reads of 2012'
'Has the makings of a fun, Sharpe-like series'
'Arnold throws us into his most vivid and thrilling book yet . . . Crackling with the sound of musket fire and punctuated with the roar of cannon, this book brings the Cromwellian conflict to life in an intense battle of wits and weaponry'
At the close of each novel, Mike Arnold reassures us that Captain Stryker will return. The wait, though, is not an easy one and it isn't helped by each book proving itself even better than its predecessor. The Stryker Chronicles brings the English Civil War to life in all its blood-spilt, mud-drenched, gunpowder-smoked colour and noise and it has become one of my favourite series of any genre. Not surprisingly, then, ASSASSIN'S REIGN, the fourth in the series, is every bit as excellent as I knew it would be . . . Don't underestimate the power of this series to get under your skin! It brings history alive
If you like Cornwell you will like Arnold.
A thumping good read.
A dark-hued romp, livid with the scents, sounds and colours of a country on the brink of implosion ... impressive.
