It is 1636 - the height of the Thirty Years War, one of the bloodiest and most destructive conflicts Europe has ever seen. As the campaigning season begins, the Spanish armies swell out of the Artois region of the Netherlands - flooding into King Louis XIII's France.

The sleepy border village of Dax-en-roi stands in their way. Facing the overwhelming might of the Spanish forces, the Chevalier de Roland rallies a valiant defence, but in vain - his household guard no match for the invaders. There is only one survivor as the Roland estate is razed to the ground, one soul who escapes the Spanish brutality: the lone heir to the Roland name, the son, a young boy by the name of André de Roland, the new Sieur of Dax . . .

Upon this young nobleman's shoulders all hope lies. He alone must bear the honour of the Roland name and, with it, the fate of his people.

A man without honour is no man at all . . .

France, 1636.

The Thirty Years War rages across Europe, and a bloody and brutal campaign begins as Spanish armies flood into Picardy.

In their way lies the border village of Dax-en-roi. The Chevalier de Roland rallies a valiant defence, but his household guard are slaughtered, his estate burned and his life forfeit.

Only one survivor escapes the invaders' butchery: the Chevalier's son, and lone heir to the Roland name.

But André de Roland is little more than a boy. What can someone so young do against so many?

Yet he is determined to save his people from the savagery of their invaders. He will uphold the honour of the Roland name - to the death . . .

Honour and the Sword is a sweeping and epic novel of love and heroism, betrayal and courage in the tradition of Alexandre Dumas - perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Patrick O'Brian.

'A brilliant, fast paced story . . . it reads like Bernard Cornwell crossed with The Three Musketeers' Conn Iggulden