Rating: 
Summary: 100 Years War Battlefield Action
Review: Harlequin is Bernard Cornwell's first book in The Grail Quest Series and we are introduced to Thomas of Hookton for the first time. This book is more well known as "The Archers Tale", but here in New Zealand it has been released under the name Harlequin. The story is set around the time of the 100 Years War with the main protagonist's being France and England. Thomas, the son of a priest starts his adventure after leaving England to join the army of King Edward III and do battle in France. Not only is he there to fight for honour and money, but to recover a sacred relic, a lance stolen from Thomas's village of Hookton, when the French sacked it and killed his father. Thomas's father is not originally from Hookton and his family heritage is a secret that Thomas is intent on uncovering. Thomas is an accomplished archer and despite all the gallantry of the Knights, and masses of men-at-arms, it is the English King's common archers that spread fear throughout the French troops, and ultimately determine the outcome of battles. Cornwell's works of military history, of which his most famous are the adventures of Richard Sharpe, are hugely detailed and infinitely researched. Although the characters in Harlequin are fictional, many of the battles portrayed actually occurred which adds to the interest of the story. Cornwell has that magical writer's quality where he can thrust the reader into the era he is writing about. It's akin to entering a time portal every time you pick up the novel. Once you are there he puts you in the heart of the battlefield and it's difficult to return to the 21st century without being sickened by the reality of warfare in this dark age. He pulls no punches with Harlequin and the horrors of battle and the treatment of civilians are vividly rendered. As with all Cornwell novels and as indicated by the title of the series 'The Grail Quest' there is an underlying story evolving with the main character that runs parallel to the fortunes of the army he fights for. Thomas of Hookton exhibits many of the characteristics of Richard Sharpe. He is physically strong and tall, he likes his woman and he is an efficient and ruthless adversary in battle. Above all, Thomas is a flawed character. I look forward to book two in the series, 'Vagabond' to see how Cornwell develops Thomas's personal traits. This is an era where battles are brutal affairs fought with vicious weapons. In contrast to this, the traditions of the knights, Lords and other nobles in the story provide an interesting insight into human behaviour. One moment a soldier can be merciless and cold-blooded and the next moment, a gallant gentleman. Cornwell explores this human trait nicely and it adds to the flavour of the story. I enjoyed this book. I don't rate it up there with the best of the Richard Sharpe books, as I have an affinity with the Napoleonic Wars and with Sharpe himself. If you think the French and English hated one another during this era, wait until the Scots make an appearance in the second book in the series, and be appalled at how they treated one another. Recommended for those with an interest in an action packed historical novel. Highly recommended to those with an interest in military history novels.
Rating:
Summary: Not a bulls-eye, but definately worth the time.
Review: Having been recommended this one by a friend, I only had a week to read this before I gave it back. It didn't take a week, nor did it even take a day or two. This one caught me from the first word and held me until the last.That being said, the Archer's Tale is not perfect. Bernard Cornwell is not a great literary artist. That being said he IS a good one. His blend of prose with historical fact is a fun combination, although his use of dialogue and description of male/female relationships is a little tired. All in all though I do recommend the title. It's a fun read in the sense that some movies are fun to watch, but aren't really critical reads.
Rating:
Summary: a better sequel?
Review: i found this to be better than the sharpe novels. we've got a man whose village is attacked. he swears to find and bring back a holy lance. he goes to fight in the hundred years war as an archer. there he meets allies, gets friends, and intrigues treathens to make him a dead man. BC is great at details. always enjoyable to read his battle descriptions. on the human level, however, he's not as great. no, the descriptions of the people's lives are good. it's how he makes the characters. the talentes, moralistic commoner. the hopeless snob. a lost love. and the main character is attacked by an enemy within his own ranks. BC has a typical way of doing things. i wish he could vary, give the plots more depth, make the characters with more characteristics - some good, some bad. it's a good read. could have been great, but i just can't handle the intrigues and the characters at times
Rating: 
Summary: Shot Down
Review: I'll be blunt, I read this book because I loved Cornwell's "Warlord Chronicles" and I had nothing else to read. That being said, I didn't hope for a lot from this book, but still I felt disappointed. I think a lot of it is because I think I've seen most of this book before in the "Warlord Chronicles" and even in "Stonehenge". A raid in the opening of the book sets the largely ordinary main character on the road to greatness, where he becomes entangled in the big events of that time. There are two women: the smarter, out-of-reach woman and the duller, perhaps better looking woman he settles for. The good guys win a major battle, but there's more to come... I didn't like the main character Thomas for most of the book, which I don't think I'm supposed to. Like Han Solo, Thomas is sort of a scoundrel for most of the book, but then starts to battle with his conscience. But it's hard to root for the guy who just wants to be left alone in the army so he can kill Frenchmen. The dark lord/Holy Grail plot, which I assume will come to play more in the sequels is rediculous when set against the realistic battles (which Cornwell, like Stephen Pressfield, does very well) and I really wish it wasn't in the book at all. The book started slowly then built speed until the final climactic battle, which was a good pay-off for all the times I, the reader, had to hear how wonderfully useful and important archers are. If you want some good medieval battles, this is a good book to read, but if you want anything more, read something else. I'd recommend "The Warlord Chronicles" (Winter King, Enemy of God, and Excalibur) instead.
Rating:
Summary: Mostly On Target
Review: I'll be the first to admit I'm not a huge fan of the war novel- I much prefer fantasy- and, after Steven Pressfield sucked me in with Last of the Amazons and promptly turned me off with the bloated Tides of War, it took me a while to trust again. I found this book, bereft and alone, in a pile of unwanted fiction and decided I had nothing much to lose in giving it a try. After all this is Bernard Cornwell, the man who made it possible for me to see Sean Bean on horseback, disheveled and decked out in epaulets, and for that I owed him some concession. Not having read any of his prior novels I can't comment on how derivative or overused the plot and characters might be but with a few minor quibbles it was an excellent page turner. The battle scenes are taut and interesting and not so drawn out that you find yourself skimming along to get through it all. The supporting cast is excellent for the most part, although Will Skeat and the Earl are largely interchangeable they are nonetheless looked forward to. It's actually the three major characters that you will find trying your patience. Thomas makes for a nicely flawed hero, but all too often he saves the day for the English troops by finding that one essential ploy to defeat the French; he's either impossibly lucky or so willing to give credit to others that he never gets promoted up the ranks. Sir Simon Jeckyl is appropriately caddish as the main villain of the piece but he does seem rather foolish and downright inept at times. The real ant at this picnic is Jeanette, you know she's being set up as the love interest, and everybody seems to want her, unfortunately what starts out as a potential spitfire quickly turns into bitter ash. The girl can pretty much impale the center of a daisy on a crossbow bolt with her eyes shut and what happens the second she gets around a man? Instant crying, protesting rape victim. Rather than fight, which we know she's capable of doing, she just stands there while assorted people rip her bodice. It just seems in direct violation of her earlier prowling of the parapets. While somewhat annoying, none of this really hampers the book overmuch. It has its flaws, but you'll still have a bloody good time.
Rating:
Summary: Playing For All The Marbles
Review: This book, like Colleen McCullough's series on the Masters of Rome, illustrates how brutal we humans can be when there is no rule of law to allow us to settle our differences by other means. This book is the best description of Medieval battle I have ever seen. Quite graphic, and quite beleiveable. The brutality to gallantry ration is at least fifteen to one. Chivalry wasn't dead, but it could get you killed. And yes, they do shoot, stab, slash, impale, and otherwise mistreat horses.
Rating: 
Summary: Put your brain on hold...the zen of cornwell
Review: You know when you start a Bernard Cornwell book you can strike certain items off a laundry list: undervalued superhero, check; bloody violence, check; loyal friends, some disposable, some not, check; fantasy chick, check; pitiless villain, check; final battle where the hero triumphs, check; an opening to the next chapter in the series, check. Cornwell never disappoints, nor does he ever really surprise. He is a guilty pleasure of several hours of, i don't want to say mindless reading, predictability.
Here Richard Sharpe circa early 1800's, oops, I mean Thomas of Hookton circa 1340's, overcomes deprivation and violence to battle to an all-too-certain victory. Instead of being a sharpshooting rifleman in Wellington's army, Thomas is a sharpshooting archer fighting in the Hundred Years War. And I hope I don't sound like I'm above it all. I'm not. I love it. I love the violence and sex and can't wait to read the next one...already out: 'Vagabond'. I believe every arrow unswervingly shot.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe in a Time Machine
Review: One might doubt Bernard Cornwell's ability as a writer for one simple reason; his books are very formulaic. The comparisons between this book and his famous Sharpe series are many. Needless to say, they are very similar in terms of main characters, theme, and the plots themselves. However, this regularity is by no means serves as a detraction from the works themselves, as Mr. Cornwell has discovered a very exciting and interesting form of writing. His characters are down and outs, underdogs, who are forced to use their strength and guile to move up the ranks. They are often attached to beautiful women who are hiding various secrets, and pursued by some very evil people. Frankly, with that kind of structure, it would take a pretty bad writer to write a bad book. Luckily, Mr. Cornwell is anything but a bad writer, and this book shines with his ability. Everyone knows who Robin Hood was, but many do not know the culture his story emerged from. This culture was that of English archery, which was a very important part of the patchwork that was English medieval society. Boys were trained from a young age how to use a English Longbow, and by the time they were in their older teens, they could hit targets with fiendish accuracy at unheard of distances. The battlefield quickly became their playground, where they could slaughter all kinds of slow or fast moving troops. The Archers Tale does a great job of portraying this archery culture, and the main character, Thomas of Hookton, is a proud product of it. Thomas is a young archer attached to one of several mercenary groups under the employ of the English King. When we join Thomas, he is fighting Duke Charles of France. In his past, however, Thomas remembers the French raid that destroyed his hometown of Hookton. The raiders, in addition to killing and destroying every remnant of the town, purposely stole the fabled relic of St. Georges Lance. Thomas swore that day that he would find the men who stole it and return in to its native England. Thomas, through the tumult of war, gains some very evil enemies. He also gets the help of some very able allies, notably the Countess of Armorica, who seethes with hate for the English but becomes amorously involved with the young English archer. Thomas, who was educated at Oxford, is a very good main character, as he is often quick to interpret various medieval actions. The descriptions of horribly violent medieval warfare are spectacular, especially Cornwell's description of the siege of Caen. I found the beginning of the book a bit slow going, but it really picks up as the tension mounts. Also, a very intriguing ecclesiastical mystery slowly emerges, which really adds to the fun of the book. Cornwell is obviously very much educated in this time period, as he describes so many of the little aspects of medieval life in splendid detail. Cornwell has really found his niche, as he consistently writes great historical fiction, no matter what time period he takes on.
Rating: 
Summary: A great start to a new series
Review: I have been a fan of Bernard Cornwell's books ever since Winter King. His books are all gritty, realistic portrayals of a very different world that we live in. Cornwell eloquently uses words to paint a vivid picture, and the stories come alive with his skill in desription. Thomas of Hookton, like Derfel Cadarn, is a compelling hero, unwilling to accept what destiny has to store for him while rising to the challenge all the same. From the initial skirmish at Hookton till the amazing imagery of the battle of Crecy I was hooked (pun not intended). Great writing from a fantastic author.
Rating:
Summary: Emotions of War Not That Different
Review: A young man living in the 14th century is challenged by his dying father to retrieve a mysterious and holy treasure stolen by an evil enigmatic marauder who had joined in the killing and destruction of the only village Thomas of Hookton had ever known. Thus the stage is set for Bernard Cornwell to educate and entertain readers about life during the political and barbaric power struggle between France and England at the start of The Hundred Years War. Besides being an exciting and dramatic story, Cornwell brings to life what was for me prior to this book, a vague and boring era found in high school history books. Cornwell describes knights and their squires, archers and cross-bowmen and the tactics of war. Even though vastly different than modern war, he is able to show the emotional similarities to the modern soldier and to confirm the notion that mankind really hasn't changed that much. The emotions of fear, jealousy, love and hatred remain powerful drives found at the root of most struggles. The plot, setting, character development, and dialogue are all used to bring history during the Middle Ages to life, not only the chivalry and gallantry of knighthood, but also the brutal and viscious destruction found on the primitive battlefields. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone with a need for excitement set in a time and place unfamiliar to most of us.
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