Available Formats
A Time of Blood
By (Author) John Gwynne
Pan Macmillan
Tor
11th November 2025
31st July 2025
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Historical fantasy
Adventure / action fiction
Narrative theme: coming of age
823.92
Paperback
512
Width 130mm, Height 197mm, Spine 32mm
342g
A Time of Blood, the second book in the Of Blood and Bone trilogy, is the spectacular sequel to A Time of Dread by John Gwynne. Defy the darkness. Defend the light . . . At the battle of Starstone Lake, Drem and his friends witnessed horrors they'll never forget. They saw magic warping men into beasts and a demon rise from the dead, creating something new and terrifying. So they flee to warn the Order of the Bright Star. But the demons' high priestess, Fritha, is determined to hunt them down. Concealed in Forn Forest, Riv struggles to understand her half-breed lineage. It represents the warrior angels' most dangerous secret, so when their high captain tracks her down, he aims to kill. Meanwhile, demonic forces are gathering a mighty war-host, to crush their enemies and rule the world of man. And the angels are already fractured and facing betrayal. Like heroes of old, Riv, Drem and the Bright Star's warriors must battle to save their land. But can the light triumph when the dark is rising A Time of Blood follows A Time of Dread. The series reaches its powerful conclusion with A Time of Courage. 'Reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place' - Robin Hobb on A Time of Dread 'A great read that accelerates the pace and goes one up on its excellent predecessor . . . Exciting, action-packed fantasy' - Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns 'This is extraordinarily good, an epic feat of the imagination. In this series Gwynne is setting a new benchmark in fantasy' - Giles Kristian, author of Lancelot A Time of Blood is the second in the Of Blood and Bone trilogy. The trilogy is set one hundred years after the end of Gwynne's Faithful and the Fallen quartet, and can be read as a standalone series.
A great read that accelerates the pace and goes one up on its excellent predecessor . . . Exciting, action-packed fantasy -- Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns
So damned good . . . John Gwynne writes fantasy with the heart of a hero and the inventiveness of a master mage -- Sebastien de Castell, author of Spellslinger
This is extraordinarily good, an epic feat of the imagination. In this series Gwynne is setting a new benchmark in fantasy. Id love to see it on screen -- Giles Kristian, author of Blood Eye
A riveting sequel, full of rousing, cinematic action that propels a wonderfully absorbing story -- James Islington, author of the Licanius Trilogy
John Gwynne is one of the modern masters of heroic fantasy -- Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time
Reminds me of why I became a fantasy enthusiast in the first place -- Robin Hobb, author of the Farseer Trilogy
Great evils, conflicted heroes, bloody battles, betrayal and giants riding battle bears! Whats not to love -- Peter Newman on A Time of Dread
A fierce, gripping tale, and one I found hugely enjoyable -- Anna Smith Spark on A Time of Dread
John Gwynne studied and lectured at Brighton University. He has played double bass in a rock 'n' roll band, packed soap in a soap factory and dug ditches for a landscaping crew. He is the author of the epic fantasy series The Faithful and the Fallen, consisting of Malice, Valour, Ruin and Wrath, the Of Blood and Bone trilogy and the Bloodsworn Saga. He is married with four children, seven goats, five sheep, three dogs, three horses and three ducks, and lives in East Sussex, where he is part of a Viking re-enactment group. When not writing or running around after his wife and her ever-growing collection of animals, he can occasionally be found standing in a shield wall with his three sons about him.