Rating: 
Summary: Better Than the First!
Review: The Grail Saga continues with the brilliant second installment. Vagabond is historical adventure in all its finest. It's got swordfights, knights, huge battles, damsels in distress, holy relics, and, of course, archers. It's a period book that never forgets the sweep of medieval history, of our fascination with such a dynamic time. This second work continues the journey of Thomas of Hookton, the young, appealing English archer. He is a great protagonist, as he has many internal doubts and is a very complex young man. Born of a torrid and disgraced family, Thomas has to make his own way in the world, while fending off a whole host of truly evil opponents.As the book description says, all of Europe is ablaze with violence and war. The Hundred Years War has begun, with unimaginable violence taking place between England and France. Vast armies of knights and men at arms clash in unbelievably violent hand-to-hand encounters. A new, dominant force has entered the European battlefield that almost no one can match, the English archer. With huge longbows, the English archers can unleash a rain of steel that will destroy any army in front of it. The battle descriptions that Cornwell offers are really top notch, some of the best ones I have ever read. He does not mince words, fully describes the abject brutality that these encounters entailed. Cornwell really has a gift at describing battle in clear, understandable terms that get the point across and help the overall story immensely. But Europe is ablaze for another reason. The Grail is lost and must be found. The cup of which Christ took his last drink is rumored to exist somewhere on the continent, and many different factions are desperate to get their hands on the symbol of God's power on Earth. It is said that those who possess the cup will have the power of war and peace, making themselves the masters of all men. With this attraction, groups such as the Vatican, the Dominicans, and various other European royalty cannot ignore the powerful relic. However, the most aggressive, and dangerous pursuers are the mysterious family of Cathar heretics known as the Vexiles. Their leader, known as the Harlequin, is hell-bent on getting the grail back. Thomas of Hookton has knowledge of the Grail, as its pursuit had much to do with his fathers violent death. He now has possession of a mysterious guidebook, bequeathed to him by his late father. However, it is very mysterious, and Thomas struggles to understand its mysteries. Meanwhile, he has to escape various rivals who want to kill him, for Thomas is a clever and cultured fellow, destined to attract jealous rivals. And, if that was not enough, he is a very valuable fighter, for he is an archer, king of the new battlefield. It is interesting to watch Thomas develop, as he sometimes longs for a "normal" lifestyle as a non-descript mercenary. Yet the mystery of the Grail burns inside him, and he cannot ignore it, for the other searches will not allow him to. In this book, he faces him most formidable adversary in the form of a Dominican Inquisitor. The Holy Inquisition is terrorizing Europe, torturing and killing in order to purge Christendom of "unholy elements". Certain powerful elements inside the Vatican task the Inquisitor with the Grail mission, and he will use all the means at his disposal to gain its power. This includes the horrible tools of torture which Cornwell describes in chilling detail. This story is so great because the tension, the buildup never stops. It is very exciting to read on as the various interests begin to converge, often in the middle of monumental historically correct battles. Cornwell knows how to write this kind of book, keeping his villains super evil and his heroes genuine. I really fell in love with his characters, and I cannot wait for his next book.
Rating:
Summary: Worthy Sequel to Harlequin
Review: The second entry in the Grail Quest series has the reader following Thomas Hookton aka Vexille from Brittany to England, just when the Scots decide to invade nothern England during the start of the Hundred Years War, thereby taking advantage of most of Britain's forces being occupied in France. Thomas is still the reluctant archer responsible for finding the Grail although his lack of faith in the hallowed cup finds him much more eager to be an archer and leader of man than a "knight of the round table following an elusive quest. The English turn back the Scots at the battle as they did historically, yet soon after Thomas's lover is killed by his cousin Guy Vexille or the Harlequin, the same man that killed his father. Around this time a captive Scot Robbie is ransomed in a manner that makes him a companion of Thomas as Thomas travels to hunt down Vexille and maybe find the Grail.
Bernard Cornwell perhaps is the best historical thriller writer in the business today. He economially sets scenes in fourteenth century Europe. Reading this I almost felt I had travelled back in time and joined the fictionally hero as he wandered across harsh landscape meeting bandits, corrupt monks and other dangers in his quest. Cornwell's characterization is so three-dimensional it is amazing. Instead of falling to temptation of making Thomas another Arthur or Robin Hood type hero(although there are allusions to Robin and his merry men cleverly placed in the story) he makes him a reluctant hero complete with doubts and lusts to distract him on his journey. In other words he is not infallible by any means but a portrait of perhaps a real archer in that time period.
Perhaps though the most interesting aspect for me was how detailed the background and supporting characters personalities are drawn. There are shifting alliances and betrayals much as I imagine there were in the historical setting. Hard to imagine how political everything was even in Medieval Europe with land being perhaps even a holier treasure than anything besides the Grail which was really hunted by many in the 14th century. But the strong writing in this second novel helped me to imagine just that and more.
Lovers of historical fiction, and admirers of thrillers should both give this series serious consideration.
Rating: 
Summary: First-rate historical fiction!
Review: This is the sequel to _The Archer's Tale,_ the second novel of the adventures of Thomas of Hookton, English archer in the wars with France during the 1340s, and of his involvement in a quest for the Grail. The author is masterful in his descriptions of medieval warfare, and also in his delineations of character, whether of Thomas and his friend, Robbie Douglas, or of their implacably vicious enemy, Father Bernard Taillebourg, or of minor figures like the deeply wounded Will Skeat and the impressively ambitious Cardinal Bessieres. The story begins with the Battle of Neville's Cross, just outside Durham, and ends with the startling defeat of Charles, Duke of Blois. Startling, because Charles was intelligent and did everything right, and ought to have won -- but no battle plan, as they say, ever survives contact with the enemy. Perhaps what I like best about this series is that Cornwell gives as much attention to the minutiae of everyday existence in the 14th century as to the great battles, and that even with the Grail figuring importantly in the plot, there's no hint of mysticism or the supernatural on the part of the omniscient narrator. I'm waiting for the third volume!
Rating:
Summary: the archer shoots again!
Review: This story is a little different as Thomas is really questing for the Grail and only accidently gets into the battles.
It is typical Cornwell:exciting, fast paced and the historical details flow with the plot and characters to keep you turning page after page.
About 90% of the way through I found myself thinking how Cornewll was going to get Thomas out (of the seemingly impossible situation) and was a little suprised.
I love the new characters of the boat skipper and his wife! I hope they are comming back in the third volume.
I am a Cornwall fan. Has he ever considered (re)telling the story of Robin Hood?
Rating:
Summary: A great Sequel that Keeps you on your Feet
Review: Thomas of Hookton is back in the wonderful sequel to "The Archer's Tale". Once again, we are thrown into the raging battles of the Hundred Years War. This book definetly lives up to the first book in the series and leaves you waiting for the third.
Its a major page turner that is very difficult to put down, even when its 2AM and you have to be at work by 7AM. I love the middle ages and anything about them and this book is not only a novel, but a history book. Cornwell has researched this series so well that you will find yourself pretty well known in the area of the middle ages. As a previous Medieval Studies Major in college, I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the time period. Cornwell is a great storyteller, and at the same time gives a great history lesson. A history lesson that is extremely accurate.
Although the story is a slightly far fetched (thomas is looking for the holy grail thought to be held by his dead father), it is easy to look past and get pulled very tightly into the affairs he goes through and the affairs of the most brutal war in human history.
Enjoy, this book is worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Thomas of Hookton's Quest Continues
Review: Vagabond is the second book in the Thomas of Hookton saga (now called the "Grail Quest Series") by Bernard Cornwell. It confirms what I said in reviewing The Archer's Tale: that Thomas is an engaging picaresque hero and a worthy successor to Richard Sharpe, central character of Cornwell's earlier series on the Napoleonic Wars. Thomas is an English archer through whose eyes we witness numerous battles early in the Hundred Years' War. He is also the illegimate son of the Hookton priest who was, strangely enough, a member of the French nobility and the keeper of a mysterious relic. We left Thomas in The Archer's Tale, shortly after the battle of Crecy, still seeking his cousin Guy de Vexille, Count of Astarac, who years earlier had murdered his father and destroyed the village of Hookton. In Vagabond, Thomas has returned to Britain on a mission for Edward III to discover the whereabouts of his father's relic and to determine whether it is truly the Holy Grail of legend. The book begins in 1347 at the battle of Neville's Cross, a triumph of English bowmen over a superior force of Scots who invaded Britain on behalf of their French allies. It ends back in Brittany after the siege of La Roche-Derrien. In the course of the story Thomas runs afoul of a vicious English knight nicknamed Scarecrow, the Inquistion ( which is also on the Grail's trail), not to mention his cousin and several enemy armies. Along the way his wife-to-be and several friends are killed. Thomas, like Sharpe, seems to lead a charmed life, but those around him are not so lucky. Vagabond is first-rate historical fiction, chock-a-block full of gory medieval warfare set in vividly-described English and Breton landscapes. Everyone rightly praises Cornwell's mastery of historical minutia, but I think his strongest storytelling gift is his ability to make his readers see, and feel, and smell a scene. At the book's end Thomas has learned more about his heritage and vanquished many enemies, but the quest for the Grail and his father's muderer will be continued.
Rating:
Summary: Thomas of Hookton's Quest Continues
Review: Vagabond is the second book in the Thomas of Hookton saga (now called the "Grail Quest Series") by Bernard Cornwell. It confirms what I said in reviewing The Archer's Tale: that Thomas is an engaging picaresque hero and a worthy successor to Richard Sharpe, central character of Cornwell's earlier series on the Napoleonic Wars. Thomas is an English archer through whose eyes we witness numerous battles early in the Hundred Years' War. He is also the illegimate son of the Hookton priest who was, strangely enough, a member of the French nobility and the keeper of a mysterious relic. We left Thomas in The Archer's Tale, shortly after the battle of Crecy, still seeking his cousin Guy de Vexille, Count of Astarac, who years earlier had murdered his father and destroyed the village of Hookton. In Vagabond, Thomas has returned to Britain on a mission for Edward III to discover the whereabouts of his father's relic and to determine whether it is truly the Holy Grail of legend. The book begins in 1347 at the battle of Neville's Cross, a triumph of English bowmen over a superior force of Scots who invaded Britain on behalf of their French allies. It ends back in Brittany after the siege of La Roche-Derrien. In the course of the story Thomas runs afoul of a vicious English knight nicknamed Scarecrow, the Inquistion ( which is also on the Grail's trail), not to mention his cousin and several enemy armies. Along the way his wife-to-be and several friends are killed. Thomas, like Sharpe, seems to lead a charmed life, but those around him are not so lucky. Vagabond is first-rate historical fiction, chock-a-block full of gory medieval warfare set in vividly-described English and Breton landscapes. Everyone rightly praises Cornwell's mastery of historical minutia, but I think his strongest storytelling gift is his ability to make his readers see, and feel, and smell a scene. At the book's end Thomas has learned more about his heritage and vanquished many enemies, but the quest for the Grail and his father's muderer will be continued.
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