Soldier of Fortune Books in Order

Soldier of Fortune follows John Sage, an Englishman drawn into the wars and religious conflict of fifteenth-century Europe. The series leaves the familiar ground of England for a continent where mercenary service can offer food, pay, and status, but also puts a man in the path of causes he may not understand.

John Sage is built for survival.

In The Wolf Cub, he enters a world shaped by campaigns, rival rulers, and soldiers who follow opportunity as much as any flag. Pilling’s interest is not only in famous battles. He also shows the practical side of military life, including long journeys, uncertain employers, friendships among fighters, and the risk of becoming trapped by a reputation for violence.

The Heretic turns toward the Hussite conflicts in Bohemia, where religious dissent has become a reason for war. The stakes are larger than John’s own career. Armies and church authorities argue over faith and authority, while communities face punishment for beliefs they cannot safely abandon.

The two books are connected by John’s experience as a professional soldier. He has to navigate commanders, comrades, enemies, and moral lines that keep moving beneath his feet. He may be capable in battle, but ability does not make him immune to grief, coercion, or the consequences of serving powerful people.

The tone is direct and martial, with a strong focus on action and the unsettled life of a man far from home. It is also a useful change of scene for readers who know Pilling mainly through English medieval history.

Start with The Wolf Cub. It establishes John Sage and the world that shapes him, while The Heretic raises the pressure and brings him into a brutal conflict driven by both politics and faith.