Master of War: Master of War Series, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

David Gilman (Author), Gildart Jackson (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)

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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 of France. As he fights his way across Northern France, Blackstone will learn the brutal lessons of war - from the terror and confusion of his first taste of combat, to the savage realities of siege warfare.

Vastly outnumbered, Edward III's army will finally confront the armored might of the French nobility on the field of Crecy. It is a battle that will change the history of warfare, a battle that will change the course of Blackstone's life, a battle that is just the first chapter in the book of a legend - Blackstone: Master of War.

Listening Length

19 hours and 13 minutes
Author

David Gilman
Narrator

Gildart Jackson
Audible release date

June 5, 2018
Language

English
Publisher

Tantor Audio
ASIN

B07D9RC5WG
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	19 hours and 13 minutes
Author	David Gilman
Narrator	Gildart Jackson
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	June 05, 2018
Publisher	Tantor Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07D9RC5WG
Best Sellers Rank	#150,716 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #1,843 in War & Military Fiction #2,284 in Military Historical Fiction #6,819 in War Fiction (Books)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

2,461 global ratings

5 star		59%
4 star		32%
3 star		6%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Anthony(Tony) Riggio

Middle Ages, Archery, Medieveal Warfare, Rules of Nobility

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 15, 2017

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A Review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book Master of War by David Gilman:

I down loaded this book in Kindle Format about six months ago. I have read several books about the middle ages and bought this book for when I wanted a more relaxed and entertaining read. This book certainly filled the bill and now, since I realized this was a series, I will have to read the follow-up to this captivating book which takes place around the time of the 100 Years War, circa 1346 AD.

It was a book that started out with a choice, the modern version of "join the Marines or go to Jail". The hero of this book is Thomas Blackstone who is an apprentice as the son of stone mason and a famous archer who passes on both skills to his sons. Thomas is a strapping lad of 17 and his brother is a deaf and dumb 15 year old.

The brother commits a crime that forces the choice for both brothers to either hang for the crime or join the local nobleman's army of archers to fight for the King of England in an invasion of the Normandy part of France.

The book is about war during these times and the evolution of both brothers skills as archers. There is an abundance of heart stopping combat that will satisfy those lovers of combat.

In this first of a continuing series, Thomas Blackwell saves the Prince of England during a bloody battle and is Knighted by the Prince. A peasant becomes a member of the nobility but is gifted with an innate sense of war and its tactics.

The book is a fun read and the reader will have a difficult time to put this book down. It contains the romantic backdrop of a rags to riches story and the romance of Blackstone to a member of a French nobleman's family. Woven into the story is the appearance of the plague that wiped out thousands through out Europe and Thomas Blackwell use of instincts and knowledge gleaned from his own village on how to deal with the spread of this plague.

Thomas Blackstone ever loyal to the King of England, finds himself as an outlaw Knight in Normandy, hunted by the King of France.

The reader will not be disappointed in this page turning book. I gave it four stars and will continue to follow this author.

Helpful

Frost

The Master of War- Butchering Warrior

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 3, 2017

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He is Thomas Blackstone, an English peasant-stonemason who is drafted into the King's army as an bowman to fight the French.
In "Master of War" Thomas learns how to fight and survive the slaughter house of medieval warfare, if only just.
It the legendary battle of Crecey, he is gravely wounded, but is nursed back to health. As a rough peasant in the lord's household he is despised, but holds the insults inside as he learns to fight as a man-at-arms. Eventually, Blackstone becomes a valuable tool in the hands of those over him, following orders and building a reputation as a fearsome warlord and canny commander of men.
That is the bare bones of the plot in "TheMaster of War".
Mr. Gilman knows the medieval world and describes it well.
In the book are illuminated the world of the Middle Ages. There is the crushing labor and poverty of the peasants as they barely sustain their lives. The nobles, professing chivalry are cruel, venal sensitive to the least perceived insult and as likely to beat a serf to death as to ride past. Even the daily exist ace of the lords is cold and hard and easily snuffed out by disease or war. Death comes swiftly to all, no matter what their station.
The author does very well developing his character, Thomas Blackstone, showing the changes he goes through as he matures in fighting ability and in understanding the dangerous political world in which he is living. He soon becomes a tool of no one and a master of war and politics.
The pages of combat are horrifying explicit. Mr . Gilman's skill at describing the abattoir of sword and shield warfare is second only to the master of the form, Bernard Cornwell ( and not by much).

I would have given it a full five stars, but I thought, and it is only my opinion of course, that the descriptions of the political and military alliances of the period were confusing. ( At least o one who has not studied those long past days of dynastic conflicts of the 14th. Century.) Yes, things had to have a context, but for me it was difficult to keep sorted who was allied with whom and for what hidden motives. Both enemies and friends were very changeable and untrustworthy.
Nonetheless, I recommend the book for those who love a tale with lots of sword- swinging, shields clashing and blood letting.
Oh there is romantic love, too during those pauses when Blackstone is not war making.

12 people found this helpful

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Kim

Wonderful from beginning to end!!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 28, 2022

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This is an incredible story of bravery and honour with characters that will stay with you long after you've finished! I can't help but liken it to the wonderful tales of Alexander Dumas. I consumed his books as a young girl and read them to my sons! Now I've found another author who delivers the historical and swashbuckling adventure of men of honour and the times that created them! All the elements that take a book from mundane to unforgettable!

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Donnie

Historical fiction at its BEST

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 15, 2020

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I was blown away by this book, the writing, the storyline, action & characters development. I compared it to Blood Song (Anthony Ryan) & The Red Knight series (Miles Cameron). And this is the first historical fiction book that in my humble opinion is so good that it rivals these mentioned fantastic fantasy series.

I love the underdog character Thomas Blackstone, his journey through out the entire book is riveting. I was completely engrossed from the time they landed in France. I also love the longer timeline & the multifaceted acts in the book to give it pace & story without hampering the flow of the story. And not a single page is boring.

I already bought the whole series all the way up to book 6. Reading as slowly as possible to try to savour it before stopping because the next book is not out yet.

6 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Lancelot

Mary Sue goes to the Hundred Years war

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 19, 2020

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The 1st chapter is okay but afterwards the story falls into all the clichés of most plots centrered around a young boy aspiring to become a warrior: he has no experience of fighting but at his first engagement he kills a knight. A few pages later he saves his comrades from a fire because somehow he’s the only one who’s keeping a cool head – not the veterans. Then as soon as page 60 some very high-ranking knights, all experienced in siege warfare (as it was the way war was conducted in the middle ages) ask for his advice of how to take a castle because… he is an apprentice stonemason as if somehow that makes him an expert in poliorcetics.
This is just ridiculous.
Additionally most French words are misspelled (signeur instead of seigneur, St Vaast la Hogue instead of St Vaast la Hougue…) which may indicate sloppy research.
I'm glad I bought it used: I wasted only 50p

28 people found this helpful

Annabelle

Loved it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 26, 2021

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I’ve just read a review where someone gives this book one star. I’d say what on earth did you expect from this genre? Of course it’s far fetched and may not be completely historically accurate but who cares . The story may have been done before but I venture to say it couldn’t have been done better than this. If you want action, a hero, a poor lad rises in the ranks, a lot of patriotic fervour with a bit of romance thrown in then this is the book. I’ve read all of Bernard Cornwall’s books , and a few that aimed to take his crown but failed, but this is the only one I’ve felt comes close. I’ve only read this first book however so maybe it will all go pear shaped when I read the second. I do hope not.

13 people found this helpful

Jim

Great book, definitely worth giving it a try.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 28, 2021

Verified Purchase

Purchased this book in January and thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so, I purchased the rest of the books in the series. I enjoy Historical Fiction and regularly buy the books of Simon Scarrow, Bernard Cornwall, Conn Iggulden and Ben Kane, and reading the information on 'Master of War' by David Gilman, decided to give it a try. I definitely wasn't disappointed and enjoyed a very good read. There was plenty of action as the writer developed the main character of the story, Thomas Blackstone and his venture into The Hundred Years War. William Shakespeare it's not, but it's not meant to be, David Gilman provides a great story to sit back, get your feet up and enjoy. It was a really great way to spend a few hours escapism and enjoy a good story. Everybody has their own opinion of what's good or bad, personally I thoroughly enjoyed 'Master of War' and am now looking forward to book two in the series 'Defiant unto Death'. However first I'd better re-string my bow and sharpen my sword, as I can see it's going to be a busy time.

5 people found this helpful

Dogbite Dave

Reasonably interesting fictionalised version of real events

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 31, 2020

Verified Purchase

I write this review based on my decades of experiences as a consumer and reviewer.

I suffer a lot of pain, sleep badly and read a lot.

This is the first of a series. Historically it is reasonably accurate about the eta in which it is set.

Fictionalised characters rub shoulders with famous people if the day at battles and other real military events.

Fair to good detail of equipment and tactics.

Some of the writing could have been done by a teenager but I suspect this is because the author is trying to meet a wider readership.

The characters are far from loveable and it will take a progression of the tales to engage a loyal readership, especially for a series.

I hope the next in the series is as interesting as this was.

One person found this helpful

Popodoc

Great Historical story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 28, 2019

Verified Purchase

I have read three separate books about the battle of Crecy, and though they all tell the same story the different slants put on it offer their own interesting comments. This was a decisive battle against the French and is one of those points in our history that need teaching in schools. Our English heritage is being eroded year on year and we need to remind people of our rich history of being a nation that can battle greater forces and come out on top

4 people found this helpful

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Master of War: Master of War Series, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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