Cornwell is as steady as usual
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I bought this on holiday as the book I was reading was just too depressing. I had read most of his Sharpe books so thought this would be good. Don't expect anything different, this is Sharpe 200 years earlier, but as I love that series, I was happy!
So, if you love this genre, wont get too uptight if the history is slightly inaccurate and love a good historical fiction novel, then buy this, you wont regret it.
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AWESOME
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This is one great novel. Fans of Sharpe will see some similaritis in the character, but nonetheless an excellent read.
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Fantastic!
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Okay, I read this book a couple of years ago now. And how glad I did.
Originally I bought Heretic, and wondered after a couple of pages who these people were. I realised I had bought the second in a series, so needless to say a purchase was made and I started on Heretic. A very, very good read. Cornwell's excellent writing style is evident as always - easy to read. In some ways Cornwell's excellent prose is a crime, suddenly you take a quick break to get a drink and you realise that you've just consumed 50-odd pages... 'but I thought I'd only read ten' you complain to yourself, feeling almost cheated.
This book has a purpose to it, it sets up the story, tells you who is who and entices you with substantial force to buy the next in the series - the characterisation is excellent, as you would expect of Cornwell. (It has been a couple of years since I read it... but for the want of details, I can still vividly remember this books quality).
This book has, it is fair to say, cost me hundreds of pounds. Without it I would not have been hooked by Cornwell, which means I wouldn't have bought all of his books. Every one of which is consumed in about a tenth of the time I usually take to finish a book.
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Good Medieval Adventure!
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Harlequin centres around Thomas of Hookton, an archer who joins the English army in France, after his father is murdered, and an ancient relic, is stolen from the church, when his village is plundered by French bandits.
I found this book a fascinating read. The 14th century is brought vividly back to life in its pages, as various battles are fought, based around true events, and the strategies and weaponery used are described very well.
Thomas also makes friends, enemies, and has love interests along the way. The mixture of fictional, and factual characters, is very well done, and makes the story that more interesting. An enjoyable read.
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A Good Start to the Series
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Bernard Cornwell is the author of the acclaimed Richard Sharpe series, set during the Napoleonic Wars. I have not as yet read any of this series. The books about Arthurian England are much more my cup of tea and I read those avidly. He has also written among others, Stonehenge 2000 B.C. Bernard Cornwell lives with his wife on Cape Cod.
This book is I believe the start of a trilogy, beginning in the 14th century and following the lives of a family who have in their possession a holy relic sought by the whole of Christendom, but more importantly by men who can be bought by promises of wealth or land.
These are dark and somber days for a Church, split down the middle by the fact that there are two popes. One guiding the church from Rome, the other in Avignon, both factions struggling to gain supremacy. Hearing of a an artifact that could bring them victory, one side has hired a mercenary to retrieve what could unite the church under one banner.
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