They say if you see the Stranded, it’s already too late…
Tasked with transporting a monster-hunting “ghost” to the Vulgar Division artillery unit, far from the fighting, Wild Wish is ready to take a break for the winter. Their destination, Lake Harmonial, is a place of peace and tranquillity. An idyllic, safe retreat.
Until now.
This ghost is no ordinary soldier, and Command want Wild Wish with him for a reason. When the ice comes to Harmonial, it will bring a threat that could unbalance the entire war.
One that only the Blood Scouts can stop.
These peaceful woods contain forces darker than any Wish has seen before. Win or lose, this mission is going to leave deep and terrible scars.
Return to the world of the Rocc for another thrilling, chilling chapter in the One War, as the Blood Scouts come to face the true cost of survival.
If you like your fantasy raw, bloody, and full of grit but still carried by dark humour, loyalty, and unforgettable characters, the Blood Scouts series deserves your attention.
The Blood Scouts are back, and I could not be more excited. This is the third book in Phil Williams’ series, and after loving However Many Must Die and Drown Deep, I’m ready to dive straight back into the mud, the blood, and the dark humour that makes these books so unique.
The cover for A Winter’s Mercy is another stunning one. You can already feel the grit of the setting, the sharp air, the weight of survival written on the character’s face. It has the same promise as the first two covers: this is going to be harsh, intense, and absolutely gripping. Even if my post is a couple of days late for the cover reveal, I can’t stop staring at it.
I’ve been sitting on an ARC for a little while now, but life has been busy, and work, beta reads, and other obligations have added to it all. Tomorrow, though, I’ll finally be marching back into the trenches with the Blood Scouts, and I know it will be worth the wait. Wild Wish has become one of my favourite characters of recent years, with her voice and her resilience carrying me through the first two books. Seeing where her path leads in this next chapter is going to be a highlight of my reading year.
And it’s not just about Wild Wish, though she’s the heart of the story. It’s about the way she bounces off the rest of the squad, the way these women fight, squabble, and still trust each other with their lives. The comradery, the banter, and the unshakable loyalty give the whole series its emotional weight. You don’t just want them to survive the next bloody clash, you want them to stay together, to keep finding those little sparks of connection in the middle of all the chaos.
What makes the Blood Scouts so special to me is the balance Phil Williams pulls off. These books are brutal, with scenes of blood and mud that feel too real at times. But then, right when the horror would threaten to become too heavy, you get those moments of sharp sarcasm, a ridiculous one-liner, or an offhand observation that makes you laugh out loud. It’s the kind of humour that only works because the characters feel so human.
If the first two books were anything to go by, I expect the same balance of brutal battles, bleak realities, and those small flashes of comradery and humour that make the Blood Scouts feel so real. Williams has a way of showing the horror of war without losing sight of the people inside it, and that’s what keeps me hooked.
One of the reasons I’ve been late with posts these last few weeks is that we lost my grandpa, who would have turned 100 soon. There was a lot of running around with the funeral and everything that comes with it. But more than that, I’ve been thinking a lot about his stories, and how he always managed to see the good in situations, even during horrific war times. He carried terrible injuries, but what he chose to share were the moments of kindness. Comrades who stood by him, or the poor families who still offered milk and eggs despite having so little themselves. That spirit of humanity in the middle of horror is exactly what makes the Blood Scouts resonate with me. Phil Williams captures those realities of war so well, and it’s incredibly addictive to read.
I cannot wait to see what new landscapes, monsters, and moral questions this book will throw at me. Winter is coming to the Blood Scouts, and I’m ready for every hard, bloody, unforgettable page.
About the Author
Phil Williams is an author of fantasy, horror and dystopian fiction, including the Blood Scouts epic military fantasies, the Ordshaw urban fantasy thrillers and the post-apocalyptic Estalia series. He also works as a fiction editor and writes reference books to help foreign learners master the nuances of English. Phil lives with his wife by the coast in Sussex, UK, and spends a great deal of time walking his impossibly fluffy dog, Herbert.
Release Info
- Release Date: 28 October 2025
- Author’s Book Page
- Buy it here
- Goodreads
- Cover art by Stefan Koidl
eBook ISBN: 978-1-913468-29-3
Print ISBN: 978-1-913468-30-9
Page length: 260 pages (84k words)
Jennie Ivins