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marcosgr95's review against another edition
4.0
This well-crafted retelling of Thomas of Hookton's adventures will lure you into a set of battles pulled right out of the pages of history, particularly the beginning of the Hundred Years' War. As per usual with BC's works, the fights will keep you on the edge of your seat and you'll find yourself fretting over what Thomas is gonna do against one enemy or other, or wondering whether he's going to get the girl or not... You know, typical Bernard Cornwell's books themes, which could be seen now as cliché or hackneyed, but we have to grant that they work!
Besides, this book will probably infuse in you a desperate craving for learning how to shoot a bow, just so you know...
All things considered, a well-balanced and entertaining book much like the rest of this author's myriad books.
Besides, this book will probably infuse in you a desperate craving for learning how to shoot a bow, just so you know...
All things considered, a well-balanced and entertaining book much like the rest of this author's myriad books.
daemonad's review against another edition
2.0
At first the book showed promise, the main character seemed interesting and I could smell the hellish reek and excitement of oncoming battle scenes and yet the book was a let down. By the end I wanted the main character gored to death by his "enemy." The protagonist, enigmatic at first, turned up to be a simple-minded whimpering bitch. This would still be fine with me if Cornwell didn't elude to him being special. I don't know if I can force myself to read the rest of the series. I may, just for the battles.
backpackfullofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
sobolevnrm's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very entertaining series -- it kept up its story much better than the Saxon Chronicles.
loldesh's review against another edition
2.0
Biraz beklentimin altında kaldığını itiraf etmek isterim lakin beklediğimin ne olduğundan da tam emin değilim aslında. Yalnızca iki yerde kurguyla oynamış geri kalan tarihsel olayları olduğu gibi bırakmış. Tarihi kurgu okumayalı epey olduğu için (belki bi' 10 yıl falan) bi' ihtimal paslanmış olduğuma bağlayacağım fakat diyaloglarmış, sahnelermiş hiç öyle büyük büyük canlanmadı gözümün önünde. Kolay bir okuma evet ama etkileyici olmaktan uzaktı bence. İkinci kitaba devam edeyim biraz da ona sallarız olmazsa...
minna_ekman's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
prab's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Harlequin (The Grail Quest #1) by Bernard Cornwell
Great beginning to October. I'm reading together with people from Mike's book reciew discord.
This is a fictional story about the hundred years war between England and France.
I personally never studied the actual history during this period. After reading this, i'm very keen to read the actual history right away.
And similar to Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell can surely write such a hatable villian. I don't think Ive hated a character as much as Sir Simon except Lancelot in Warlord Chronicles.
Overall this is such an awesome book. I was hooked since the prologue and simply cannot put the book down.
Verdict: 4.5/5
Great beginning to October. I'm reading together with people from Mike's book reciew discord.
This is a fictional story about the hundred years war between England and France.
I personally never studied the actual history during this period. After reading this, i'm very keen to read the actual history right away.
And similar to Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell can surely write such a hatable villian. I don't think Ive hated a character as much as Sir Simon except Lancelot in Warlord Chronicles.
Overall this is such an awesome book. I was hooked since the prologue and simply cannot put the book down.
Verdict: 4.5/5
jgolomb's review against another edition
3.0
"The hellequin...are the dead who have no souls. The dead who were so wicked in life that the devil loves them too much to punish them in hell and so he gives them his horses and releases them on the living."
from Bernard Cornwell's "The Archer's Tale"
This first novel in Bernard Cornwell's "Grail Series" is a rock n' roll 14th Century swords, horses and armor action adventure. The characters are interesting but cliched, flawed enough to develop an emotive reader response, but without real emotion and depth. The story is fast-paced, heavy on detailed scenes of 14th century battle, tactics, equipment and armor. And yes, there's some sex too.
This novel sets the stage for a series focused on Thomas of Hookton, the bastard son of a priest who's grown up with a passion for archery, despite his father's best attempts at keeping him focused on intellectual pursuits. During a French raid to steal an awesome religious relic, the spear St. George used to slay the dragon, Thomas' passion is crystalized in a single pull of his bow, and the underlying premise of Cornwell's series is revealed: "In that one instant, as the first arrow slid into the sky, he knew he wanted nothing more from life. He was an archer."
Later, Thomas leaves his home in England and joins an archery unit known as 'the hellequin', in support of his Kings' military pursuits across the channel. Cornwell describes Thomas' developing expertise in the skills of war, "It was not just that he was a good archer--the army was full of men who were as good as he and there was a handful who were better--but he had discovered he could sense what the enemy was doing." And so a plot full of blood, revenge, chivalry, humor and even love, begins.
This is the third Cornwell book I've read. "The Archer's Tale" is exciting, interesting and diverting. It's not deep, but it's fun. It's not insightful, but the story flows well, and the pages turn themselves.
from Bernard Cornwell's "The Archer's Tale"
This first novel in Bernard Cornwell's "Grail Series" is a rock n' roll 14th Century swords, horses and armor action adventure. The characters are interesting but cliched, flawed enough to develop an emotive reader response, but without real emotion and depth. The story is fast-paced, heavy on detailed scenes of 14th century battle, tactics, equipment and armor. And yes, there's some sex too.
This novel sets the stage for a series focused on Thomas of Hookton, the bastard son of a priest who's grown up with a passion for archery, despite his father's best attempts at keeping him focused on intellectual pursuits. During a French raid to steal an awesome religious relic, the spear St. George used to slay the dragon, Thomas' passion is crystalized in a single pull of his bow, and the underlying premise of Cornwell's series is revealed: "In that one instant, as the first arrow slid into the sky, he knew he wanted nothing more from life. He was an archer."
Later, Thomas leaves his home in England and joins an archery unit known as 'the hellequin', in support of his Kings' military pursuits across the channel. Cornwell describes Thomas' developing expertise in the skills of war, "It was not just that he was a good archer--the army was full of men who were as good as he and there was a handful who were better--but he had discovered he could sense what the enemy was doing." And so a plot full of blood, revenge, chivalry, humor and even love, begins.
This is the third Cornwell book I've read. "The Archer's Tale" is exciting, interesting and diverting. It's not deep, but it's fun. It's not insightful, but the story flows well, and the pages turn themselves.
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
Set during Hundred Years war, this novel tells the story of Thomas of Hookton. His town of Hookton was attacked, his father was killed, and a religious relic is stolen. He has vowed to avenge his father, home, and find the relic, but Thomas finds himself an archer for the English army, fighting against the French. But his destiny soon finds him and he must find the religious relic before the enemy does.
Cromwell knows how to write battle scenes and you can tell he respects history very much. "The Archer's Tale", is an exciting novel with humor and is an thrilling adventure story. Thomas is a relatable and likable protagonist. He is cocky but is honorable. He will make reckless decisions out of emotion, but he will also defend a woman's honor. He is impulsive with doubts about his role in this. I do wish Cronwell had spent a little more time on romance, not a lot, but just develop it more. I also wish the other main female character had been more developed, but this is a trilogy, so maybe we'll get more development of her in the other two books. This is very good and I'm glad I gave Cronwell another shot.
Cromwell knows how to write battle scenes and you can tell he respects history very much. "The Archer's Tale", is an exciting novel with humor and is an thrilling adventure story. Thomas is a relatable and likable protagonist. He is cocky but is honorable. He will make reckless decisions out of emotion, but he will also defend a woman's honor. He is impulsive with doubts about his role in this. I do wish Cronwell had spent a little more time on romance, not a lot, but just develop it more. I also wish the other main female character had been more developed, but this is a trilogy, so maybe we'll get more development of her in the other two books. This is very good and I'm glad I gave Cronwell another shot.
karneee907's review against another edition
4.0
Cornwell's attention to historical detail, plus his ability to weave an interesting story, are fully showcased in this opening novel in the Grail Quest trilogy. I had gone to the library to get my hands on his "Last Kingdom" series, having been recommended that by a student, but they didn't have it on the shelves. They did have this one, however, and when I saw the quote on the cover from George R.R. Martin raving about Cornwell's (well-deserved) ability to write battle scenes, I took the leap. I was very pleased, having never read Cornwell before. As a high school history teacher, I especially appreciated the fact that in his endnotes he makes it clear where he strayed from the actual history of the period. I already have the second book on hold and will be reading that soon.