Kirjahaku

Dark, thrilling, and hilarious, The Black Hawks is an epic adventure perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch.

Rejoin fantasy’s most deadly and dysfunctional mercenaries in the sequel to debut sensation THE BLACK HAWKS. Bound by oath and honour, Vedren Chel found himself drawn to the heart of a deadly rebellion. With him stood the mercenaries of the Black Hawk Company, who were only ever in it for the money. But the uprising failed. Now, Chel and the sell-sword Rennic languish in prison, watching as their comrades are taken one by one for execution. A daring escape will set them free, but with the combined forces of vengeful church and voracious crown arrayed against them, Chel and the Black Hawks must embark on a desperate search for new allies. Journeying from frozen wastes to towering cities, from drug-riddled fleapits to opulent palaces, THE RIGHTEOUS is the thrilling and riotous second adventure from one of fantasy’s most exciting new voices.

Dark, thrilling, and hilarious, The Black Hawks is an epic adventure perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch.Life as a knight is not what Vedren Chel imagined. Bound by oath to a dead-end job in the service of a lazy step-uncle, Chel no longer dreams of glory - he dreams of going home.When invaders throw the kingdom into turmoil, Chel finds opportunity in the chaos: if he escorts a stranded prince to safety, Chel will be released from his oath.All he has to do is drag the brat from one side of the country to the other, through war and wilderness, chased all the way by ruthless assassins.With killers on your trail, you need killers watching your back. You need the Black Hawk Company - mercenaries, fighters without equal, a squabbling, scrapping pack of rogues.Prepare to join the Black Hawks.

Book one of the thrilling new fantasy series from David Wragg, acclaimed author of THE BLACK HAWKS. She’s on the run. They’re out to kill. But what happens when you catch a hunter? Ree is a woman with a violent past – a past she thought she’d left behind. After years of wandering, she and her niece Javani have finally built a small life for themselves at the edge of the known world. But sometimes the past refuses to stay there, and Ree’s is about to catch up with her. This time, there will be blood. For the land is in turmoil and professional killers have arrived in their town looking for an older woman and child, setting off a desperate chase through deserts, mountains, and mines. Ree will have to discover her former self if she is to keep them both alive. From a master of modern fantasy comes a new thrilling trilogy, full of intrigue, bloodthirsty stakes – and a heroine who just won’t quit.

Book one of the thrilling new fantasy series from David Wragg, acclaimed author of THE BLACK HAWKS.She's on the run. They're out to kill. But what happens when you catch a hunter?Ree is a woman with a violent past - a past she thought she'd left behind. After years of wandering, she and her niece Javani have finally built a small life for themselves at the edge of the known world.But sometimes the past refuses to stay there, and Ree's is about to catch up with her. This time, there will be blood.For the land is in turmoil and professional killers have arrived in their town looking for an older woman and child, setting off a desperate chase through deserts, mountains, and mines. Ree will have to discover her former self if she is to keep them both alive.From a master of modern fantasy comes a new thrilling trilogy, full of intrigue, bloodthirsty stakes - and a heroine who just won't quit.

Book one of the thrilling new fantasy series from David Wragg, acclaimed author of THE BLACK HAWKS. She’s on the run. They’re out to kill. But what happens when you catch a hunter? Ree is a woman with a violent past – a past she thought she’d left behind. After years of wandering, she and her niece Javani have finally built a small life for themselves at the edge of the known world. But sometimes the past refuses to stay there, and Ree’s is about to catch up with her. This time, there will be blood. For the land is in turmoil and professional killers have arrived in their town looking for an older woman and child, setting off a desperate chase through deserts, mountains, and mines. Ree will have to discover her former self if she is to keep them both alive. From a master of modern fantasy comes a new thrilling trilogy, full of intrigue, bloodthirsty stakes – and a heroine who just won’t quit.

Full of David Wragg’s unique blend of humour, heart, and high stakes, The Company of the Wolf is the epic next instalment in the Tales of the Plains trilogy. Seeking a better life, Ree and Javani have travelled west into the mountains, and left their pasts – and their troubles – behind. But new places bring new problems, and when they stumble across a lone traveller under bandit attack, they make the mistake of lending a hand. Forced to take refuge in the traveller's village, they quickly find allies among the lush, wooded hills. But then the true nature of the bandits is revealed. With winter approaching and a vengeful company of mercenaries circling like wolves, Ree and Javani must uncover the secrets of this peaceful valley … or risk the ruin of it all. "Gritty, sharp, and yet criminally funny!" Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters "Wragg's brand of fantasy deserves its own name: grassroots fantasy. Small in scale, large in heart, with underdog heroes you can't help but root for." Amber A. Logan, author of The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn "A tale full of heart: heart warming, wrenching and stopping in equal measure. I love Wragg's wild, western-inspired world and its rabble of humorously and sensitively crafted characters, the kind that keep you company long after reading." Cari Thomas, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threadneedle "A story about growing up, growing old, dreams, betrayal, greed and consequences, all wrapped up in a neat package of action and tied off with a perky bow of banter. I enjoyed hating the villain almost as much as I enjoyed rooting for Ree and Javani." Peter Newman, Gemmell Award-winning author of The Vagrant and The Deathless

Full of David Wragg’s unique blend of humour, heart, and high stakes, The Company of the Wolf is the epic next instalment in the Tales of the Plains trilogy. Seeking a better life, Ree and Javani have travelled west into the mountains, and left their pasts – and their troubles – behind. But new places bring new problems, and when they stumble across a lone traveller under bandit attack, they make the mistake of lending a hand. Forced to take refuge in the traveller's village, they quickly find allies among the lush, wooded hills. But then the true nature of the bandits is revealed. With winter approaching and a vengeful company of mercenaries circling like wolves, Ree and Javani must uncover the secrets of this peaceful valley … or risk the ruin of it all. "Wragg's brand of fantasy deserves its own name: grassroots fantasy. Small in scale, large in heart, with underdog heroes you can't help but root for." Amber A. Logan, author of The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn "A tale full of heart: heart warming, wrenching and stopping in equal measure. I love Wragg's wild, western-inspired world and its rabble of humorously and sensitively crafted characters, the kind that keep you company long after reading." Cari Thomas, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threadneedle "A story about growing up, growing old, dreams, betrayal, greed and consequences, all wrapped up in a neat package of action and tied off with a perky bow of banter. I enjoyed hating the villain almost as much as I enjoyed rooting for Ree and Javani." Peter Newman, Gemmell Award-winning author of The Vagrant and The Deathless

The epic new finale to the unmissable Tales of the Plains trilogy from the master of modern fantasy, David Wragg. Rebellion’s about the journey, not the destination. 'This explosive trilogy closer is a masterclass in humour and heart; sandwiched around one of the most exciting, non-stop action set pieces in recent memory are emotional beats that destroyed me and quips I wish I could write. David Wragg is everything glorious about modern fantasy.' Ed Crocker, author of Lightfall Ree is at war. Determined to free the townships from the Guild's larcenous rule, she can’t take her eyes off victory. Not now, with the scent of blood in the air. Not for her consort, not even for her kid. Javani is ready for her own adventures. She’s no longer a child and determined to blaze her own trail, even if that means leaving Ree behind. With rebellion stirring, the past Ree's been running from and the future Javani’s striving for will collide. As tensions rise between mother and daughter, Guild and rebels – and with the fate of the Plains on the line – all that's certain is an explosive finale on the Iron Road. Praise for the Tales of the Plains series: 'Gritty, sharp, and yet criminally funny!' Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters 'Wragg's brand of fantasy deserves its own name: grassroots fantasy. Small in scale, large in heart, with underdog heroes you can't help but root for' Amber A. Logan, author of The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn 'Heart warming, wrenching and stopping in equal measure' Cari Thomas, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threadneedle

The daring British air raid that inspired the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.In November 1940 Britain was isolated in its stand against Nazi Germany and its ally, Italy. The country could not afford to lose control of the Mediterranean, but the Royal Navy was already overstretched by the U-boat war and the threat of invasion. Italy's fleet of modern battleships presented a grave threat to our communications with Egypt and the Suez Canal.On the night of 11 November 1940, 42 members of the Fleet Air Arm took off in 21 obsolete 'Swordfish' biplanes, launched from HMS Illustrious. Their target: the Italian fleet anchorage at Taranto. Pressing home their attack in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and searchlights, they torpedoed and sank three battleships. Incredibly, all but two of the biplanes survived. The Italian fleet was crippled and the world took note that Britain was far from defeated. No-one was more impressed than the Japanese, who noted how a fleet in harbour could be demolished by air attack.In this new account of the Royal Navy's most daring operation of the Second World War, David Wragg draws on British and Italian records as well as interviews with the aircrew, to tell the full story of a night that changed the course of the war.

Signal Failure is a history of the relationship between railways and government in the United Kingdom. It is intended for both railway enthusiasts and professionals. Setting the relationship against the growth of the railways, the book looks at the way in which it developed.

The history of the Southern railway

Overstretched from the start of the Second World War in 1939, the Royal Navy acquired First World War surplus destroyers from the United States Navy and embarked on a massive programme of construction, building and buying aircraft carriers, escort carriers and frigates and corvettes, building up a powerful submarine arm and, almost from scratch, re-creating the naval air arm taken from it in 1918.The service had to learn fast. It soon became clear that the Germans would not provide an opportunity for a major battleship to battleship fleet action along the lines of Jutland, but that submarine warfare and surface raiders were to be just as effective at undermining the British war effort. The Royal Navy was expected to be active in the North Atlantic and in British waters, and then after the Soviet Union was invaded by Germany, it had to protect the Arctic convoys.Meanwhile, it also had to keep control of the Mediterranean, alone after the fall of France, supporting ground forces in North Africa and then in Greece, send convoys to Malta and disrupt the Axis supply lines both in the Mediterranean and off the coast of Norway, and then it had to face the Japanese in the Far East. By the war's end the Royal Navy had grown from its pre-war strength of 129,000 to 863,000 men. Its fleet had also grown from 12 to 61 battleships and cruisers, seven to 59 aircraft carriers, and 100 to 846 destroyers, by 1945.

In 1914, the Royal Navy was the largest in the world, as the 'two power standard' meant that it had to be equal to the combined strength of any two other fleets. Yet, the Royal Navy had also suffered from almost a century without war. This handbook tells the story of how the 'Senior Service' adapted to the demands of war.

Uniquely among Britain's railways, the Great Western Railway retained its identity from the time of its incorporation in 1835 until nationalisation in 1948. This was one of the great railways, so much so that for some enthusiasts it was the railway, even attracting such epithets as 'God's Wonderful Railway' among the more dedicated. Even so, the amalgamations of 1923 saw the company absorb many smaller concerns, so that the post-grouping GWR was in some respects a different railway from that had grown up during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The grouping saw the GWR absorb some significant concerns with strong, albeit local, networks. Fortunately the GWR dominated these companies to the extent that it was able to impose its will and identity on them, so that it was spared the infighting that so marred the new London Midland Scottish, or the regionalisation that left the London and North Eastern adrift, and simply did not paper over the cracks with some token changes as happened on the Southern. The GWR had suffered from an uneven performance during the early years of its history, and only really became the prestigious organisation that so many people came to love during the early twentieth century, setting speed records including the first, albeit unofficial, one of more than 100mph with the locomotive City of Truro. At one stage between the wars the GWR operated the world's fastest regular service with the express Cheltenham Flyer, while attempting to improve the efficiency and economics of the quieter branch lines with diesel railcars. Typically, it celebrated its centenary with special wide-bodied 'Centenary Riviera' carriages. "The Great Western Railway Handbook 1923-1947" looks at the history and achievements of one of the great railway companies, if not the greatest. For many, the GWR was synonymous with holidays by the sea in the West Country, but it was originally formed to link London and Bristol. The area and extent of its operations was large, extending as far north as Merseyside, providing most of the railway services in Wales, as well as being the main line to Cardiff, Bristol, Cornwall and, often forgotten today, Birmingham. The book begins with a brief history of the GWR before the grouping, and a survey of the other companies, such as the Cardiff Railway and the Taff Vale Railway, that joined the GWR in 1923. It also looks at the leadership of the company. The post-grouping GWR's history is given, with reference information on its locomotives, named expresses, rolling stock, depots and major termini, including the role of Birmingham as the interchange point, and bottleneck, for cross-country expresses , as well as the extensive ventures in shipping and ports, in bus and air services. Other features are covered in chapters on accidents, freight operations, diesel railcars, operations during the Second World War, and then on nationalisation. The book concludes with a chapter looking at what might have been, based on the GWR's own Last Look Forward, post-war plans for the widespread introduction of diesel locomotives and reconstruction. The book includes photographs and diagrams illustrating the GWR's equipment and some railway stations, its network, shipping and air services, bus operations, including Western National, some comparative timetables showing progress between 1923 and 1938 (the last year of true peacetime operation), as well as lists of locomotives.

It opens with a brief history of the service, followed by a chapter that reviews its situation on the outbreak of war. The chapters that follow look at the structure of the RAF, from the Air Ministry and Chief of the Air Staff down to squadron level, to include each of the Commands, including Transport Command (a creation of the war years). The main aircraft types used are listed, as well as a full listing of squadrons and airfields in the British Isles. The training of personnel, and such matters as uniforms, rank insignia, medals and life on a typical airfield, are also covered. The main battles or campaigns in which the service was involved are also described.

Aviation expert David Wragg has written the definitive reference work on the history of aviation. International in scope, the dictionary has over 4,000 entries, covering all aspects of aviation terminology, past and present. It defines terms specific to both military and civil aviation and includes proper names of civil and military aircraft, airlines, air forces, manufacturers and periodicals. Historical Dictionary of Aviation provides a quick and easy reference for the aviation enthusiast and professional, but also for those, such as journalists, politicians and civil servants, who need to understand key aviation concepts quickly.

How much can you really find out about the War at Sea during the First World War in five minutes? This handy little history book will surpass all your expectations and leave you well versed on all you wish to know, and maybe even a little bit more… Which was stronger, the German or British navy? What was the biggest battle? Who were the heroes? Who led the navies? And how successful were they? Jam-packed with facts, stats and first-hand accounts of the action, all woven together in an accessible way by an expert in the field, this 5 Minute History is a valuable addition to anyone’s bookshelf, ready to be delved into at a moment’s notice.