Oil painting of a medieval knight in armor with a heart crest talking to a king in a golden crown.
Oil painting of a medieval knight in armor with a heart crest talking to a king in a golden crown.
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Nick McLean's Work

Here you will find details of published books and work coming soon.

Book cover of The Shadow of Bannockburn showing a medieval knight in armor holding a sword over a battlefield.
Book cover of The Shadow of Bannockburn showing a medieval knight in armor holding a sword over a battlefield.
• Coming Soon • Pen and Sword Books

The Shadow of Bannockburn: A Land Abandoned, 1314–1328

Release date: TBC

Pen and Sword Books

As Scotland rejoices in victory following the Battle of Bannockburn, Edward II's realm slowly comes apart from the external pressure of continued Scottish invasion, raiding and extortion. The shadow cast by Bannockburn can be felt from Gascony to Berwick.

Examining the turmoil that engulfed the English realm after the disaster at Bannockburn in 1314.

Coming Soon

Book cover for Forged in the North by Nick McLean featuring a medieval knight on horseback wielding a raised sword.Book cover for Forged in the North by Nick McLean featuring a medieval knight on horseback wielding a raised sword.
A King's Gamble book cover by Nick Mclean featuring a medieval army marching through misty hills toward a castle.A King's Gamble book cover by Nick Mclean featuring a medieval army marching through misty hills toward a castle.

Available Now

Forged in the North

A King's Gamble: The Neville's Cross Campaign, 1346

The Border Warriors: Book One
Released on Worms & Warriors Press, 2025
Northumberland, 1317. Rebellion smoulders on the edge of a fractured realm.

When Sir Gilbert de Middleton turns against the Crown, the borderlands erupt in violence. Castles burn, nobles fall, and the king’s authority falters. Into this storm rides Walter de Selby, a seasoned soldier and reluctant rebel navigating treacherous alliances, ruthless enemies, and the brutal reality of medieval war.

From covert ambushes to desperate sieges, Walter’s choices will shape his fate and the future of the north itself. Based on real events, Forged in the North blends meticulous historical research with visceral storytelling, dark humour, and unforgettable characters.

Ambition. Betrayal. Bloodshed.
Worms and Warriors Press, 2025
In 1346, as Edward III fights the French at Crécy, Scotland's King David II seizes his opportunity. England's armies are away, and victory seems close.

However, the invasion falters due to poor leadership and English resilience, turning into a disaster for Scotland.

A King’s Gamble is a gripping account of the 1346 campaign in England's northern border, highlighting the chaos and courage of medieval warfare.

Nick McLean's vivid storytelling reveals a fast-paced reality of war and invites readers to witness one of Britain’s most decisive battles.

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