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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. The finale to the Grail series is a tolerable end that manages to tie up things nicely. (  ) mohi | Jul 5, 2009 |  Seemingly the most fictional of the three books, the Grail really predominates the story. I think Cornwell does a great job of depicting the power of religion and superstition in Middle Ages. The book kept me going through a LONG train trip. After reading all three books, I will say that the bad guys tended to be a little predictable. (  ) witchyrichy | Jul 2, 2009 | Third in the historical series about Thomas of Hookton, an English archer, and his hunt for the Holy Grail. I enjoy Cornwell’s work, though I must admit I don’t particularly like the heavy emphasis he places on warcraft nor his descriptions of the battles in minute detail. The story itself is strong and intriguing enough for me to tolerate the war portions, though. This book was of the usual excellent quality I’ve come to expect from Cornwell, though the ending was a tad predictable. I have several others of his on my TBR and will happily read on. (  ) Spuddie | Mar 12, 2009 | The final part of the Grail trilogy sees Thomas travelling to Astarac in an attempt to draw Guy Vexille, his cousin and enemy, there in order to find out what he knows. But before the two men finally meet the plague is spreading through France, Thomas has lost a friend, had to leave his men to stay live, and fallen in love. (  ) mari_reads | Mar 2, 2009 | Thomas of Hookton is looking for the Grail. What he finds is a girl who is about to be burned as a heretic, whom he says from the flames. For his reward for doing this, the local Bishop excommunicates him, but his quest continues. In his search he finds many clues and artifacts and trouble only to end up back where he began. He discovers what others think is the Grail, but in the end he knows what and where the Grail really is and its danger. (  ) koalamom | Jan 9, 2009 |  no reviews | add a review
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| Book description |
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New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell has written his masterpiece, a roiling saga about love, honor, belief -- and, above aft, about bravery in its many forms -- in which a young warrior's religious heritage sets him on a quest for a mysterious treasure rumored to be the Holy Grail itself.
Thomas of Hookton is a young man but already a seasoned veteran of King Edward's army. His fearlessness and uncanny prowess with the longbow make him a natural leader in what will be remembered as the Hundred Years' War. Accompanied by a small but able band of soldiers -- among them Sir Guillaume (a landless lord seeking to regain his fortune as a mercenary) and Robbie Douglas (a Scottish prisoner spared by Thomas, and who now serves him loyally) Thomas is sent to Gascony to capture the castle of Astarac. But he has ulterior motives for accepting the charge: Gascony is the home both of his forebears and of the black knight -- Guy de Vexille -- who brutally slaughtered his father, a priest, when Thomas was a lad. It is also reputed to be the place where the Grail was last seen.
While capturing Astarac, Thomas learns of a tragedy in the making: a beautiful young woman named Genevieve, innocent if not pious, is to be burned as a heretic for refusing to adhere to the strict religious guidelines of the day. Thomas prevents the corrupt local priest from carrying out his "God given" duty -- a sacrilege that taints Thomas with the same heretical brush, and which turns him into an outcast, even among his own men. Eventually he and Genevieve have no choice but to flee across a landscape of blood and fire. While hidden away at a monastery, they learn of a plot involving the creation of an imitation Grail for a diabolical end, and they witness' the murder of a trusted priest at the hands of the man Thomas has been chasing his entire adult life -- Guy de Vexille.
At last reconciled with his allies, Thomas leads his brave band in a bloody battle to the death, the outcome of which could determine the seat of power -- and the direction of Christendom -- forevermore.
An epic saga steeped in myth and legend, Heretic presents a portrait of the fourteenth century -- and, especially, of the fate of the Holy Grail -- as only master storyteller Bernard Cornwell can.
(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:17 -0400)
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