The Second Empire by Paul Kearney

The Monarchies of God series reaches something of a crescendo with the fourth book. Hawkwood and Murad are back in Normannia. Murad's arrival at his townhouse in Abrusio is a highlight. Meanwhile Hawkwood looks above his station in the romantic stakes. Corfe is pulling out all the stops on the eastern frontier where he must put down an attempted coup and outgeneral the Merduk Commander of the numerically superior army that has invaded his country.Meanwhile Abelyn has recovered and is gearing up for war with the Second Empire. Throw in Kearney's gung ho style and a few quotes from the likes of Njal's saga and you've got a cracking good read.