Rivalry in love and battle in this historical adventure set in the English Civil War.

In the late autumn of the first year of the English Civil War, William Sparrow and Hugo Telling are again caught up in the impossible confusion tearing the country and their lives apart. This time, their greatest battles, fought on both land and sea, are with a new enemy, Lord Clavincale.

As they struggle through the bitterly cold Dorset winter, their hard-won experience is enough to lead their men, but never equal to capture the most alluring prize of all, Bella Morrison; especially when there is new competition for her hand...

The fourth instalment of The Shadow on the Crown series, Harvest of Swords, is perfect for Bernard Cornwell and David Gilman's fans.

Shadow on the Crown author Nicholas Carter is based in the West Country and has been working on his English Civil War series – on and off – for more than 30 years. A writer and journalist since leaving school, Nicholas says joining the Sealed Knot gave him priceless insights into the period – and says many of the events and characters in the books are inspired by his experiences re-enacting battles from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall.

In addition to his English Civil war series Nicholas has written two novels based on the Italian Wars and also penned a brace of steampunk fantasy novels. He is working on volume seven of the Shadow on the Crown - Forlorn Hope – plotting the New Model Army's siege of Bristol.