Fire and Steel

The Soldier Chronicles #1-5

by David Cook

Fire and Steel is the first anthology of The Soldier Chronicles action-packed historical series. This collection contains the five-star rated books 1-5, all brought together for the very first OR DEATHIt is the height of the 1798 Irish Rebellion and someone is murdering Protestants and Catholics indiscriminately. As Ireland burns, Major Lorn Mullone must find out the truth and apprehend the killer before it's too late. THE EMERALD GRAVES short-story is also included as a bonus with this edition. HEART OF OAKMeet Captain of Marines Simon Gamble, once seen in battle, never forgotten. A professional soldier, daring and brave, but he is certainly no gentleman. He leads a fearsome company marines who have been tasked to capture a formidable fortress held in enemy hands. BLOOD ON THE SNOWHolland, 1794, and all hope is lost. Disease, famine and a winter of unrivalled malice has punished the small retreating British Army as it follows the long road home. But freedom for the survivors doesn't come easy, because between them and the ports, the enemy waits. MARKSMANRifleman Arthur Cadoc, stranded in the chaos of war, now fights for the Spanish guerrilleros. With only his training, wits and his trusty Baker rifle, Cadoc proves that he is not only a daring and a deadly marksman, but a man born for fighting against the odds. DEATH IS A DUTYJune 1815, and Napoleon Bonaparte has returned to plunge Europe into war once again. During the course of the campaign, Regimental-Sergeant Major Adam Bannerman of the 42nd Royal Highlanders uncovers a dark tale of murder, and must use his wits to survive not only the French assaults, but men on his own side who want him dead.

500 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2015

About the author

David has been interested in history since his school days, and developed a love for the Napoleonic Wars' era from his father, who painted and amassed a model army of the Battle of Waterloo. From there, David became fascinated with the English Civil Wars, the American Civil War, the Wars of the Roses and English medieval history, particularly the legend of Robin Hood.

David lives outside Winchester on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

Reviews

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that FIRE AND STEEL by David Cook is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
www.discoveringdiamonds.blogspot.co.uk

[Richard Tearle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire and Steel isn't one book, but five novellas put together under the banner of The Soldier Chronicles, covering a period of almost twenty years of warfare in Ireland, Malta, Holland, Spain and culminating in the Battle of Waterloo.

David Cook writes powerfully and in each episode he produces new characters - each with a bit of a past that we wonder at - in new situations and in different locations. In each there is a battle and, the delicate reader be warned, these are described graphically and vividly, bringing out the true horrors of such warfare with such skill that you feel as though you are there.

The only blemish on the overall presentation was one badly spaced line, almost at the end of the last story and my only disappointment was that there was not enough of each story, for any of the characters could really be part of a full length novel and possibly even a series; the author certainly has the ability to keep us enthralled for a lot longer than a hundred or so pages each.

Nevertheless, this an excellent anthology and although I felt that the tales could have been presented in stricter chronological order, it will appeal strongly to lovers of this particular period of English history. Highly recommended.

[Georgene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was offered this ebook free because I am on a group with the author, David Cook. Since I had really enjoyed the other novellas that lead up to the last and fifth one, it was an offer I could not refuse! I read the last novella, "Death and Duty", which is about the Battle of Waterloo. (Sorry, Sharpe fans! No Richard Sharpe here.)

There is also a short story/short novella tucked in between the first novella, "Liberty and Death" about the rebellion in Ireland that was taking place just prior to 1800 and the second novella "Heart of Oak", which I had also not read. The short story is a continuation of "Liberty or Death". It is about the British troops who put down the Irish rebellion called "The Emerald Graves".

All in all, David Cook writes great novellas! I would really enjoy seeing what he can do with a full length novel.

[Fred Fanning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is made up of five short stories. Each story is strong and has good characters. I liked the history sections.