The Knight's Pledge: Will Bowman, Book 2

by Scott Mariani

THE THRILLING NEW INSTALMENT IN THE WILL BOWMAN SERIES, FROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

1191.

Will Bowman, now fully entangled in Richard Lionheart's crusade, has reached the Holy Land. However, just as he and his crew are about to touch down in Acre, they are drawn into an intense battle at sea, where they are faced with the dreaded Byzantine Greek Fire.

Barely escaping with his life, Will gains the trust of Richard Lionheart, moving into his service. But as the siege of Acre continues, and Richard's campaign grows ever more brutal and barbaric, Will begins to wonder just how safe his new position is.

And when the King sends him on a seemingly doomed mission, Will must ask who exactly is he fighting for?

Audible Audio

Published November 6, 2025

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eager to delve into the latest novel by Scott Mariani, I turned to the second novel in this series. It's 1191 and Will Bowman is fully committed to the Holy Land crusade of Richard Lionheart. Setting sail for the region, Will and his crew can see Acre in the distance, but are suddenly engaged in a war at sea. While they fight, Will sees the dreaded Byzantine Greek Fire, a weapon like no other. Will is able to dodge death and finds ways to connect with Richard, earning favour with his king and returns to the battlefield for new, violent attacks. However, Will soon wonders if all this fighting is worth it, as he learns more about his apparent enemies. As Will's eyes are opened, he discovers truths about which he knew nothing beforehand and wonders if the bloodshed will lead to anything worthwhile. Scott Mariani delivers another great piece, tapping into history to shape the foundation of this novel.

Scott Mariani has often penned novels well worth my time with his wonderful story ideas. The narrative introduces a busy story plucked from history that places the reader in the middle of all that is taking place. Momentum builds as the chapters pass, forcing the reader to hang on while developments link together, sometimes joyful but also with much violence. Mariani never shies away from educating the reader as he fills the pages of his books with action and entertainment, making him an author on my radar for his various thrillers and pieces of historical fiction.

Characters develop easily, keeping the reader eager to learn more about many of them. Will Bowman returns as a great protagonist, with significant backstory to offer. This sets the scene for what is to come in the story and contrasts nicely with others who grace the pages of the book. Many characters have their own struggles and successes, with history tossing in additional impediments. Mariani has always created great characters and this novel is no exception. Readers familiar with Mariani's work will likely want to delve deeper into the series’ characters as additional novels emerge.

The plot points of the book develop intensely as the story becomes clearer. Mariani balances known history with some great thrills to create surprises for all. Many of these twists keep the reader on the edge of their seat from the opening pages until the final sentence. I liked the fast-paced nature of the story, which still takes time for the reader to absorb it all. I am eager to see what Scott Mariani has in store for readers with this series and his other publications.

Kudos, Mr. Mariani, for an epic journey into the past while keeping things fresh in the present.

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[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good read some decent fights in it