Strap in for The Cavalryman: Vengeance Road. Historical fiction packed with battle, fist fights and romance set on the Australian Goldfields of 1857.
- Alister Hodge
- Sep 10, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 11, 2025
I've long been a fan of historical war fiction peppered with a heavy dose of action and adventure. Favorites of mine include Bernard Cornwall's Sharpe, and Conn Iggulden's Emperor series. As such, I've been keen to put my own spin on the genre, and am excited to share my latest novel, The Cavalryman: Vengeance Road. This adventure transports you to the Australian Goldfields of 1857, where dreams of golden riches meet bloody opposition.
In this post, I'll give a taste of the story, introduce you to a few characters, and highlight the historical accuracy that brings this novel to life. Get ready for a thrilling adventure!
Novel Blurb:
If your father was murdered in cold blood, how far would you go to seek justice and protect the ones you love?
Decorated veteran of the Crimean War, Will Chambers had left the violence of his military life firmly in the past. But the goldfields of 1850s Australia prove as brutal and lawless as any battlefield.
His father murdered and loved ones threatened by a psychopathic bushranger, can Will turn the other cheek? Or will he resurrect the warrior he’d tried to suppress, fight for honour and the woman he loves?
Sometimes, the only road forward is one of vengeance.
The Setting: The Australian Goldfields of 1857
The goldfields of 1850's Victoria was a heady mix of culture, ambition, and struggle. Lured by the promise of riches, migrants came from Britain, Europe, China and North America, growing the fledgling colony by over half a million people in the space of five years. Few, however, would find their fortune. Instead, they faced a grim reality of grueling work conditions, crime, and scarce resources. This environment bred both opportunity and danger.
The Plot: A Gritty Tale of Action, Vengeance and Romance
A survivor of the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War of 1854, Will emerges from the conflict scarred in both body and mind. Keen to start afresh, he turns his back on the military to join the Australian Goldrush, but soon finds the goldfields of Ballarat are as violent and unforgiving as any battlefield.
When notorious bushranger, Joe Lark, murders Will’s father in a robbery, Will refuses to turn the other cheek. Hampered by a corrupt police force and his own internal demons, Will must resurrect the warrior he’d tried to suppress. But to avenge his father, he risks a future with beautiful Becca Nolan, a woman who loves him, despite his violent past.
Characters You’ll Love (and Love to Hate)
Creating memorable characters is one of the best parts of writing, and The Cavalryman: Vengeance Road was no exception.
Our protagonist is the type of man you'd like to share a beer with. Deeply loyal to friends and family, Will Chambers is a man who will not back down when the odds are stretched thin, and a man who would put other's safety ahead of his own. His time in the military has scarred him; there are aspects of his character he'd rather suppress, and past military actions of which he's deeply ashamed. Due to this, Will focuses upon his perceived failures and is blind to the fact he is actually a good man at heart.
And then there's the characters you'd love to see die a horrible death. Joe Lark, bushranger and thug, is one of them. A violent sociopath, Joe embodies the darker side of humanity, a person without compassion who can only find satisfaction in another's suffering. To be honest, writing his chapters always left me feeling a little dirty.
My favorite character of the novel has to be street urchin and pickpocket, Percy. Manipulated by the criminals around him, he's a survivor whose moral compass can only be pushed so far. From the moment Percy tried to rob Will's tent in Melbourne, he wormed his way into the novel to become a critical element.
Historical fiction with accuracy
For The Cavalryman: Vengeance Road, I conducted extensive research to describe this era accurately, whether it be the challenges of the voyage to Australia, the type of building materials used to roof a house, location names, or the various dangers faced by the miners and colonists. Mining was a hazardous job, and the ordeals faced during the novel, from flooded mines and cave-ins to robbery and police corruption, were all realities of the time.
Available Formats: eBook, Paperback, and Kindle Unlimited
The Cavalryman: Vengeance Road is available in ebook and paperback, and for those with Kindle Unlimited, it is available to download as part of your subscription.
Join the Adventure!
Step into the world of The Cavalryman: Vengeance Road and embark on a thrilling journey through the Australian Goldfields. This novel is perfect for lovers of Australian historical war fiction and anyone seeking a gripping blend of action, adventure and romance. The story offers intense action, emotional depth, and an unforgettable glimpse into a pivotal historical period.
As the pages become a blur, you will experience a world where life hangs by a thread, and love must be grasped all the harder for its fragility amidst the chaos.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, and happy reading!
Available at:
Amazon Australia https://www.amazon.com.au/Cavalryman-Vengeance-Road-Alister-Hodge-ebook/dp/B0FLPRYPNT/
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