A brilliant sequel to ‘Essex Dogs’. I have learned so much about the ‘Siege of Calais’ from following in the footsteps of the ‘Dogs’. Such excellent writing, I can visualise all the filth.

I gave the first book a decent rating because it was a debut, but this one didn't work quite as well for me. I think the charm of a ragtag group of soldiers only goes so far, the characters are pretty dull and I don't love this section of history so it's fighting an uphill battle.

Also, there's a scene where a woman poops in a helmet in front of a bunch of people and it's just.....a really weird scene.

Really enjoyed this story, following the same gang of mercenary soldiers from the Essex Dogs.

This time the band of unlikely friends are caught in the siege of Calais, in miserable conditions, wondering who they are fighting for.

Atmospheric and pacey, I enjoyed a ARC for which I give my honest opinion.

What a wonderful sequel to Essex Dogs, different in pace and sentiment but still the same sharp, exciting storytelling.

From the blurb “1347. Bruised and bloodied by an epic battle at Crécy, six soldiers known as the Essex Dogs pick through the wreckage of the fighting—and their own lives.
 
Now a new siege is beginning, and the Dogs are sent to attack the soaring walls of Calais. King Edward has vowed no Englishman will leave France ‘til this city falls. To get home, they must survive a merciless winter in a lawless camp deadlier than any battlefield.”

Whereas the sentiment of Essex Dogs seems to unreservedly celebrate the warfare, heroism and the unthinking, unquestioning adherence to ones duty, Wolves of Winter pays closer attention to the private sorrows of the “Dogs”, their resistance and their realisation of the futility of war.

I loved the feeling the change in circumstances brings, from the forward propelling plot of Essex Dogs as the men marched across France in battle, to the claustrophobic, penned in feeling of the siege of Calais in Wolves of Winter. “The Dogs’ round-bellied, thin-haired leader” Loveday and his fading enthusiasm for war to the credulous, soft-hearted Romford and his continuing self destructive path, love these guys.

The writing is fantastic, still with that graphic and detailed quality. And though I felt total outrage at how repelling the descriptive prose is, I was completely compelled to inhale every line. Not even Freud could work that one out.

I’m ridiculously excited for the last instalment in this trilogy. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and @headofzeus for this copy in return for an honest review.

It is very clear that this is the second in a series as, unless you've read the first, you start in the middle of a sequence of events with little chance of fully understanding what went on before. With minimal back story, you really have to have been with Dan Jones from the beginning.

This isn't going to be known as his best work. It feels like that awkward middle book, the one that is needed to get to Book Three but not a vast amount actually happens, just a lot of scene setting. There is also a certain amount of trying to make up the word count with the passages from the point of view, neatly presented in italics, from Squelette, a story that promised much and fails to deliver or affect anything that really matters. Nothing she does change is pivotal or can't be either achieved another way or ignored altogether.

And he's out with his crossbow technology.

There are several unanswered questions for me, such as why was Scotsman in his cell not largely forgotten and so well fed in a siege town with so little food they were chewing on leather - did rats really sustain him; were they so easy to come by in his confined space? And the weak donkey who bore de Vienne at the end - why was that no eaten and how was it also so well nourished it had the strength to carry a man?

Tiny bit annoying Mr Jones felt the need for Thomas Holand to suggest Poitiers was already in the king's mind as the site of a potential battle ten years before it took place, He's supposed to be writing a story, not showing off his entire knowledge base of the Hundred Year's War. Why not say he fancied another sea battle - Winchelsea in 1350, six years before Poitiers, or was Holand's crystal ball playing up?

On the plus point, and there are lots of pluses, he does conjure the world of Crecy and Calais vividly and his characters are engaging (though there is little to differentiate Tebbe and Thorp and the others who tend to blend into one) and the character of Romford is particularly well drawn along with his hallucinations.

Too little is written about this period so I'll read the next installment - the covers are spectacular - but, if I were his editor, I'd suggest a few things.

Book no. 2 in Dan Jones’ Essex Dogs Trilogy, starts with the aftermath of the Battle of Crecy in 1346,

Th is historical fiction novel is based during the Hundred Years War and, as does its predecessor, follows a 'band of brothers' during this nightmareish time.

Dan Jones does not romanticise life in these times. He shows the hardships of the lives of the vast majority of people, giving us full insight into the sights, smells and sounds of the peasantry in the 15th Century,

As you might imagine from the description of the books, there is a lot of blood and gore. So this might not be a great book choice if you get queasy at reading the realities of war in medieval times! The language is earthy too!

I gelled with the characters, who Jones has created to be well-rounded and believable. The bond between them is also well-written.

I'm already looking forward to the last part of the Trilogy.

The teaser was intriguing but the entire novels is WOW. Action packed, fast paced and gripping.
Epic plot, great characters, very enjoyable
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Amazing sequel to the Essex Dogs and a gripping continuation of Loveday FitzTalbot and the collection of interesting characters that are his crew.

Unsurprisingly, Dan Jones, with his writing and weaving wonderfully the relationship between characters, managed to build upon the first book and lift it even further .For me Wolves of Winter was an even more enchanting read than Essex Dogs that I liked so much.

As we already know from book one, not all of our beloved and colorful gang make it out alive from this gruesome, unforgiving war and in book two we witness the toll and the mark that was left on our remaining Dogs. So much that they start to wonder why they are even there and what is their motivation for taking part in this war. For money? Or that's the only thing they know? They all feel how the war is changing, and we feel it with them through every obstacle they meet.

The thing that I love the most in both books is the genuine feel of the characters with their flaws that are precisely what draws you closer to them without you even noticing.

In Wolves of Winter the world grows even bigger with new locations combined with historical authenticity, political intrigue and influences and, to top all of that, a lot of new intriguing and colorful characters.

The notes from the author at the end of the book were a fascinating read, especially the details and bits he filled in, and I can't wait to see what direction he chooses for the next installment of the series!

Wolves of Winter is the second instalment in the Essex Dogs trilogy and begins almost where we left off in Essex Dogs, the aftermath of the battle of Crécy. Loveday and his men have remained with the English army whose next aim is to capture Calais.

If you’ve read Essex Dogs this is the perfect follow on but if not don’t worry, you can read this as a stand alone, though i would recommend reading Essex Dogs first to get to know the characters and experience the horrors they’ve already encountered.

Wolves of Winter sees the Dogs once more faced with battles, danger, death and despair. Each Dog faces his own demons and although there is less physical action in this compared to Essex Dogs, they are by no means safe. Together they face pirates, the threat of a new French army, men who hate them and a few Flemish who seek to take full advantage of the situation, their antics resulting in a harrowing experience for the Dogs and a decision which may see them torn apart. The past catches up with the Dogs in the form of an old friend, tormenting Loveday.

I found Wolves of Winter gives much more insight into the experiences of war, remaining on a site for what to them must feel like years whilst manyaround them fall sick, face injury and even death as a result of their surroundings, skirmishes, new canons and even an assassin. I enjoyed how Dan Jones has included how the experience of war differed between classes but in some aspects was the same, not even the powerful and wealthy could escape the effects of a long siege.

The experiences of each Dog is much more prevalent and I grew to like them even more than before. However, I do feel the Dogs have become less of a team though maybe that is the effects of the siege. There are a couple of characters I wish we’d seen more of, Northampton being one and the other I won’t mention to avoid spoiling (for those who’ve read it, I’m referring to a certain young lady).
If you read my reviews you’ll know I don’t like spoilers so all I will say is there are two parts where I wanted to scream or cry and one part which I’m not sure I’ll forgive Dan Jones for, if you know, you know.

I loved reading Essex Dogs last year, and was extremely excited to get an early chance to read book 2. I started reading the ebook version, but once the audiobook became available I jumped on it because I love Ben Miles an a narrator. And man he doesn’t disappoint.

The book itself is a great read. Non stop action from start to finish. Its gritty and brutal, and feels authentic. Dan Jones is one hell of a writer, especially considering this is only his second fiction book.

The plot itself feels slightly weaker than book 1, however this takes nothing away from what is a fun, action packed read.

The narration is brilliant, with Ben Miles nailing all accents and giving each character an individual, authentic voice.

Bring on book 3.

PS, what a cover!

Wolves of Winter is the sequel to the Essex Dogs. Which is a group of men fighting in the English army against France. It’s brutal, bloody dirty, cruel, everything you imagine a war to be this duology has it all. Book 2 was a little bit slower and less gruesome than book 1 but still thoroughly enjoyable.

The sequel to Historian Dan Jones 2022 novel Essex Dogs and the second in the trilogy, Wolves of Winter carries on where we left off, after The battle of Cresey. This time ‘The Dogs’ are on their way to The siege of Calais (1346). If you were a fan of the first novel, then Wolves of Winter is more of the same, fun, bloody medieval action with some of best swearing you will come across this side of a Derek and Clive recording.

The Dogs are still trying to find their fortune (or enough money to buy the next barrel of wine) and when they thought the war maybe over for them, the army is sent to siege Calais by King Edward III. With the reappearance of the Dogs former leader the mysterious ‘Captain’, can the dogs survive the siege with their lives and friendship in tact.

The characters are big and bawdy as before, Loveday, struggling to deal with leadership, Millstone, still stoic and Scotsman, who loves to get drunk, swear and kill. With a few new characters in the mix as well including Hircent, a female Flemish warrior who enjoys all trappings of medieval warfare like Scotsman.


Sections of Wolves of Winter could be titled ‘Fear and Loathing in Medieval France’ as Romford, the young English archer trips out vividly on hallucinogenic mushrooms and sees Christ come out of stain glass windows and giving piggybacks to an erect dead priest. Not only are these sections quite fun, I think they are really well written avoiding the pitfalls that most authors make when having characters drunk or high.

Wolves of Winter is as subtle as a mace to a great helm and all the better for it, it is incredibly entertaining, action filled and I can’t wait for the third book. 5 stars *****

Wolves of Winter takes readers to the aftermath of the English ‘triumph’ at the Battle of Crecy and reunites readers with those of the Essex Dogs who yet live. Far from the promise of returning home with their forty days pay for fighting in the English king’s army, our remaining Dogs find themselves directed to Calais, which the English king has decided must be taken from French hands. What ensues is a harsh portrayal of the life of fighting men, mere pawns in the hands of the English king, his son and their battle commanders.

This is not a tale filled with lighter moments. Our Dogs are world-weary and frustrated. Loveday is bedevilled by a face from the past, young Romford is a mess, and the others have their own problems as well. They haven’t even managed to make any extra cash from war booty because they’re too slow to try and sell their captured weapons, and the king has ordered all French weapons must be handed over to prevent them being sold to their enemy.

Told from multiple points of view, both from those inside Calais and those without, and also from someone who’s lost all thanks to the English, the story feels somewhat disconnected on occasion. There are also some characters who don’t fare well, and indeed, whose part in the story seems to serve little purpose (it’s somewhat unfortunate that these are two of the only three female characters mentioned).

This isn’t a simple story of a siege. Every party has a self-interest in the success or failure of the siege or in withstanding the siege. It’s multi-layered and fulfilling on a number of levels. It does lack some of the lighter moments from Essex Dogs. Northampton, a larger-than-life character, doesn’t feature as much, and he is a bit of a miss.

The eventual ending of the siege and the final moments of the book are particularly poignant, but it does leave me wondering whether we can even talk of the Essex Dogs any more or if they have simply become a few individuals with loyalty to no one but themselves. Perhaps that, then, is the meaning behind the title. I will have to wait and see when book 3 in the trilogy is released.

Wolves of Winter is a harsh tale of war and depravation – and how the machinations of the nobility and ruling family impact the lives of those they command or wish to overthrow. And behind the royalty and nobility are those with the money who truly hold all the cards.

This is a superb part two of the series and carry’s on where Essex Dogs left us. I’m in awe of Dan Jones’ writing - his characters and settings really being the whole thing to life and I’ve become totally invested in their well being. Again, the amount of research required must have been immense and Dan’s love of history glows from every page.

The Essex Dogs and small group of friends with a common cause are fighting for Edward III and have just survived the battle of Crecy.
Edward wants something to show for the blood and money expended.
The Essex Dogs follow in the English army in their attempt to take Calais.
They fight for friendship and money in a dangerous disease ridden environment.
What are they really fighting for and is it worth it?
Great descriptive scenes of the horrors of siege warfare.

Reads like a Mathew Harrfy, Peter Gibbons or Bernard Cornwall adventure . Gritty and down to earth.

4.5 stars

WOLVES OF WINTER continues the ESSEX DOGS' saga of war as they find themselves heading toward the siege of Calais in the aftermath of the battle of Crécy.

This book continues to show the grim reality of war, the drudgery, the dysentery, the pointless deaths, the boredom, and the pettiness of leaders. It is as brutal and violent as the previous book, but it also spends a lot of time on the nothingness of sieges, the endless waiting for the other side to give up before you.

I really like siege books. There's something about the close quarters and claustrophobia that leads to compelling stories. Unusually, though there is time spent inside the besieged city, much of this book is set in the camp outside, following the dogs as they try to survive the waiting. it's very unusual to see a siege from this perspective, and I loved it.

This series shows what medieval warfare was like not from the perspective of lords but ordinary men, how much they suffered for their leaders' decisions. Here, the dangerous conditions of a military camp are made worse by the pettiness of knights. It also furthered its look at the psychological toll fighting took on both Loveday (his need to find the Captain) and Romford. There are more losses, the last one in the harbour the most emotional for me.

Once more, this book takes real events and weaves them in, putting the dogs at the forefront of events with more chronicle extracts at the start. I really enjoyed seeing how it was drawing on specific events (and the historical note is very interesting.)

I mostly listened to this book and Ben Miles does a great job at capturing the many accents of the people involved. Given how many countries and regions the characters are drawn from, that is no mean feat.

I can't wait to see how this series end with the final book - and how anyone is going to be left standing at the end.

“I am the wolf
Without a pack
Banished long ago.”

My thanks to Head of Zeus/Aries for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Wolves of Winter’ by Dan Jones.

This is Book 2 in Jones’ Essex Dogs Trilogy. It is a work of medieval military fiction that follows the exploits of a small tight-knit company of soldiers during the Hundred Years’ War. As this is a trilogy, I would advise that it best to read the books in order for continuity for both its plot and character development.

Following an intriguing Prologue, the novel opens in August 1346. After the epic battle at Crécy, the six soldiers of fortune known as the Essex Dogs pick through the wreckage of the fighting.

A new siege is beginning and the Dogs are sent to attack the soaring walls of Calais. King Edward has vowed that no Englishman will leave France until this city falls. So in order to return home they must survive a merciless winter in a lawless camp that may prove deadlier than any battlefield.

In the midst of a skirmish Loveday glimpses a familiar figure: the Captain, who had originally led the Dogs and then vanished two years ago apparently abandoning them. Loveday becomes obsessed with finding him. Meanwhile, each of the other Dogs face their own challenges.

‘Wolves of Winter’ was an excellent work of historical fiction building on its predecessor. By the conclusion of ‘Essex Dogs’ I had become quite invested in the fates of the Dogs, especially of their leader, Loveday’ FitzTalbot and young Romford, who is increasingly dependent upon a hallucinogenic fungi in order to deal with the horrors of war.

Then there is the Scotsman, who has a new drinking companion in Hircent, who fights alongside her fellow Flemish soldiers: “The fact that Hircent was a woman passed unremarked by any of the men, either among the Dogs or her own crew”. While it was good to reconnect with them, the Dogs are clearly having a difficult time.

The unnamed woman from Valognes that Loveday had helped escape from the abuses of the Black Prince reappears. We learn that she calls herself Squelette and is engaged in a personal campaign: “Revenge on the English devils who had destroyed everything she loved. Revenge on the French devils who had done nothing to protect her.” She is like a wraith attacking her targets from the protection of the forest.

As I noted in my review of ‘Essex Dogs’ historian Dan Jones has not only meticulously recreated the medieval setting but immerses his readers in the sights, sounds, and, of course, the pungent smells of the camps and battlefields. It was undoubtedly a violent age and Jones does not romanticise it. I will note that the dialogue is earthy and often crude.

Jones follows the main text with an informative Historical Note and suggestions for further reading on the siege of Calais.

Overall, ‘Wolves of Winter’ proved a strong second book in the Essex Dogs Trilogy. Given the nature of the subject matter, which spares no detail in its depiction of the lives of these fighting men along with others caught up in the conflict, at times a strong stomach was required. However, regardless of its grittiness, it was an outstanding work of historical fiction.

Highly recommended.

Wolves of Winter is the sequel to Essex Dogs, the book which first introduced readers to Loveday FitzTalbot and his fellow soldiers of fortune. Although Wolves of Winter could be read as a standalone, I think you’d be missing out by not reading the series from the beginning. As with the previous book, the events, notably the siege of Calais, are rooted in historical fact (the extent of which will become apparent once you read the author’s Historical Note) but what brings it alive is the fact we see events through the eyes of ordinary soldiers. They come from different backgrounds, have different skills, speak with different accents even but they have become a brotherhood and, in some cases, the nearest each has to a family.

War being what it is, especially 14th century war, not all the Essex Dogs from the first book made it out alive. The loss of some of their former comrades is something which haunts the remaining Dogs, especially Loveday, the group’s leader. And for Romford, an already troubled young man, the impact of one loss in particular manifests itself in a quite macabre way. In fact, all the Essex Dogs are brilliantly drawn characters. For those sensitive to such things, they are generous in their use of swear words, although perhaps not quite as prolific as the Earl of Northampton whose creative cursing is second to none.

There are other characters too who make their mark, motivated variously by greed, a hard-won understanding of reality or a desire for revenge.

This is not a conflict carried out by knights in shining armour: it’s brutal, bloody, dirty, cruel and utterly wasteful of human life. Those in charge range from the arrogant, to the incompetent to the venal. It’s no wonder that Loveday and his comrade begin to wonder, as they sit in their filthy shelter at the end of a day filled with back-breaking work eating slop and wading through all sorts of unpleasant substances, what they are actually fighting for. For money? Initially, yes, but they’ve yet to see much of that. Because soldiering is the only thing they know? Yes, but endless killing can start to eat into your soul. For glory? Doesn’t seem like much of that so far. Out of loyalty to your king? A man who doesn’t know you from Adam and sees battle as some kind of ‘performance’? For a cause? Unfortunately only disillusionment lies ahead there.

Wolves of Winter will grab your attention from the very first page, propel you along like a bolt from a crossbow through the next 400 pages and immerse you in the blood, sweat and other bodily substances of warfare. I absolutely loved it.

The second episode telling the tale of a group of ordinary soldiers in the Hundred Years War opens after the battle of Crecy the action moves to the siege of Calais. The group now somewhat smaller after the first story endure atrocious conditions throughout but beautifully and atmospherically described in this magnificent tale. Cleverly interspersing historical characters with the main characters the action never lets up culminating in the real events at the surrender of the city. Looking forward to the final part of this excellent trilogy.

After the battle of Crécy, Loveday Fitztalbot and young Romford along with the other remaining Essex dogs hope to receive their pay to return home. But the war is not over and King Edward III is keen to capture a port city under the English flag. His eye falls on Calais, but that will be a months-long siege and so the English set up a town of their own at Villeneuve where Loveday and his mates are tasked with running a brothel.
Wolves of winter picks up where Essex dogs left off and follows a group of English soldiers through the start of the Hundred Years’ War. You get to see a raw, almost useless side of the war. We follow the war mainly from Loveday and Romford, who are alternately speaking. And then sometimes there’s a third perspective from a woman – but the point of that completely eluded me.

The problem with this novel is that it’s set during a period of the war where things don’t seem to be moving forward. Not a whole lot happens. It’s also the second book of the trilogy – so there’s little introduction needed anymore but there’s also no end to the story in sight. So it all ripples on with little extra plotlines (e.g. Hircent and the woman’s perspective) to still allow something to happen. But I don’t think this works very well.

I really enjoyed Essex Dogs, but this sequel doesn’t really live up to it for me. Maybe also because I don’t like Romford’s character as much and the addition of the captain didn’t bring much to the table for me either.

Nevertheless, it’s well written and the historical note is very detailed. Jones starts from facts. You can see Rodin’s famous statue ‘The Citizens of Calais’ come to life at the end.

Will I read the third part? Yes, because I do want to know how this ends. Better than Cornwell and Iggulden? Not yet, but the next book may surprise me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.