Shadow of the Serpent

By John Houlihan

Sharpe meets Lovecraft as a disgraced hussar takes command of the Accursed 31st Dragoons.

Book Four: Keeper of the Hidden Flame coming September 2026

Spain, late 1810. After a duel fought over a crime of passion, Lieutenant Gaston Dubois is removed from his beloved 13th Death's Head Hussars, stripped of his rank and exiled to the notorious 31st Dragoons, a cursed cavalry squadron.

His new command is a disaster. The men of Second Company are unruly, demoralised, and led by officers who would gladly see Dubois fail-or die. If he cannot forge them into an effective fighting force, his military career will end in disgrace.

But the duel that ruined him was not fought against any ordinary man.

As uncanny events spread through the countryside and the deadly guerrilla bandita La Espina begins her relentless hunt, Dubois discovers that darker powers are moving behind the war. Myth, madness, and cosmic horrors stalk the Peninsula, and the "Accursed 31st" may be the only force standing between Spain and a nightmare beyond human understanding.

When a decisive battle erupts against the Spanish army, Dubois must choose between survival and honour-and prove whether he is worthy to lead a squadron that could shape the fate of the Peninsula itself.

Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Tim Powers, Robert E Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and military fantasy with a dark supernatural edge.Napoleonic cavalry warfareDuels, intrigue, and military rivalriesLovecraftian horror and occult mysteriesThe birth of the Accursed 31st DragoonsDark wit and wry humour

"Another masterpiece. A perfect blending of Bernard Cornwell and H.P. Lovecraft that combines the thrill of Napoleonic warfare with multi-dimensional, unknowable horrors." - Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reviewer

"Dubois is a riot of a narrator. He's confident. He's boastful. He's a little unreliable. And he's more charming than he has any right to be. Dubois is a delight. Houlihan masterfully combines horror and humour in such a way that it enhances both. If you like horror, you'll love this. If you like humor, you'll love this. If you like historical military fiction... well, what are you waiting for? Add this to your cart " - Reader Extraordinaire

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0DFR7GVNG
• ISBN13: 9798334463516
• Release Date: August 2024
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"