If you've read the very fine "The Last Kingdom" and "The Arthurian" series, you already know what an exceptional writer Bernard Cornwell is.
So what happened with "The Archer's Tale" series? Repetitious, meandering, and downright boring, with Thomas wandering aimlessly about the story. Such a one dimensional character! Bring back Uhtred! Bring back Dervel! Give us characters that jump off the page!

Take it from me, if you've read "The Last Kingdom" and "The Arthurian" series, you will be bored.

Bernard Cornwell is the author of the acclaimed Richard Sharpe series, set during the Napoleonic Wars To my shame I have not read any of these. 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 second book in the series is even better than the first, perhaps because the reader is now more aware of the storyline and is familiar with the main characters. Although the first book was a good read and well up to Mr. Cornwell's high standard. In this one the story gathers pace and takes the reader along on a wave of emotion for Thomas of Hook ton.

Thomas, a young archer has been fighting in what became known as the Hundred Years' War. He has been with the English army in France and while the English are on foreign soil the Scots see it as their opportunity to come down from the north.

Sent back to England Thomas becomes involved in the fighting at Durham. He he meets an enemy, a Dominican, who, like most other people is looking for the holy relic, the grail. Thomas has one advantage, an old book left by his father seems to offer clues to its resting place. But after all the turmoil and upheaval will the relic even be in the place where it has rested for so many years . . . ?

If we were taught history the way Bernard Cornwell writes it, we'd all be historians. "Vagabond", the middle of Cornwell's superb "Grail Quest" series, is as raucous, brutal and riveting as the best contemporary thrillers, yet manages to stay close to the historical record, slashing and burning life and meaning into the early days of what would later be called "The Hundred Year's War". I was mesmerized by the prequel, "The Archers Tale", finding it the most illuminating and insightful primer of Medieval England found between pages. But after reading "Vagabond", I'm convinced that only a time machine could deliver a more vivid description of love, war, politics, and religion in those turbulent, treacherous times.

Back from "Archer" is Thomas of Hookton, the English archer whose black-yew bow makes widows of enemies while he is half-heartedly seeking the Holy Grail, part of his family's history that Thomas would prefer didn't exist. Instead, he continues on a more personal quest, hunting down his murderous cousin Guy Vexille who torched Thomas' village and murdered his father while seeking the Grail for himself.

In "Vagabond", it is 1347 and Cornwell resumes his tale in northern England. King Edward III, still in France holding down his conquests in Normandy and Brittany, has apparently left his northern flank exposed, inviting the Scots, with some prodding from their French allies, to stream into a vulnerable England. Cornwell's description of the very real Battle of Neville's Cross between the Scots and an outmanned English army is a literary classic, from the strategy and tactics to the stink and gore of war fought helmet-to-helmet and shield-to-shield in violence and carnage simply unimaginable in today's gentler times. But aside from documenting the mechanics and horrors of war in the 14th century, Cornwell, as usual, spins his fiction in a fascinating backdrop of the culture and lore of the period. The power of the Church, as well as the hypocrisy, is never quite as disturbing as when told by Cornwell, burnished in this episode by the righteousness terror of the Inquisition. Indeed, the medieval punching bag Thomas finds little respite this time around, having his suffering delivered by the hand of a sadistic priest.

In short, if you love an action-packed page-turner, but prefer some education and even a bit of history infused with your time spent reading, I couldn't recommend a better author than Bernard Cornwell, and a better saga than "The Grail Series". This one just may be the best of the bunch, but then, I'm looking forward to giving sequel "The Heretic" a chance to better it.

Second Book in an outstanding series about an English Archer tasked with trying to find the Holy Grail. Great descriptions of English battles against the French in the 1300 or 1400's. Super character development, great story line, I'm anxious to get the 3rd book in the series delivered any day now.

Whether you fancy 14th Century England/France and its historical interest or not, you cannot escape the excitment which Cornwell brings out in the characaters who existed in that time. Such good writing with attention to detail is lost and Cornwell brings it back. I thought I would never find a writer like Glenn Cook or Michael Moorcock, but I have and I will continue to enjoy his good writing for years to come....

T. Williams, Michigan

VAGABOND is the second book in the Grail trilogy, following THE ARCHER'S TALE. It continues Thomas of Hookton's duel mission - to lead archers in the English king's army and to find the holy grail, if it exists. Thomas is skeptical about its existence because he has never seen it, and because his father was thought to be a bit crazy.

As with the first book, VAGABOND accurately reflects the history of the Hundred Years War. Because the characters develop throughout the trilogy, it's best to begin with THE ARCHER'S TALE.

Don't miss the third book, HERETIC.

Bernard Cornwell has continued "The Grail Quest" trilogy with book 2 of the series, "Vagabond". This book continues the story of Thomas of Hookton, master archer in the English army, son of a "crazy" priest, and apparently, heir to the family burden, grail-keeper.
Book 1, "The Archer's Tale" in the U.S. (Harlequin in the U.K.), begins the story and the first battles of the hundred-years-war, but if you don't read the first book, you can still read "Vagabond" and be kept up to speed. This is both a positive and a negative. The positive is that, due to the fact that there is so much happening in the first book, Cornwell must recap alot of the information as backstory in the second book; the negative is that, having just finished the first book, I was a little bored with the redundancy of the backstory because I wanted to move on with the current storyline. The book was good nonetheless and I was never too put off by the inclusion of the backstory. I STILL DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THAT THE FIRST BOOK BE READ BEFORE THIS ONE. The "Archer's Tale" ("Harlequin") was wonderful and, obviously, all of the first book cannot be included in the second.
This is well written historical fiction, accurate concerning the battles, the cities and the major players (i.e. kings, lords, dukes, etc.), that were all part of the beginnings of the hundred-years-war. Cornwell is meticulous in his descriptions of the battles and the reasons for why each commander did what he did during the battle, providing interesting insight in to the nature of man and the causes of the war.
Cornwell also delivers the information with surprising candor and does not present the story from the side of the French, the English, the Scottish, or the many other countries who had men fighting in the war.
Most surprising and liberating about this book, as with the first, is Cornwell's blunt portrayal of Catholicism, The Inquisition, priests, and the greed of the church during this time. Cornwell again leaves nothing to the imagination and removes any shroud of solemnity or respect that is often offered the medieval church, but truly not deserved.
This book continues the story of Thomas of Hookton, his travels from France to England, back to France, his capture and torture by The Inquisition, his return to his love from the first novel and, ultimately, the acceptance of the burden that was presented to him in the first book; he is responsible for recovering the grail, the cup of Christ, and restoring his family, which was wiped out by the French aristocracy and the Catholic church as heretical, to their proper place in the world. His family, the Vexilles, were lords and members of the Cathar religion that was wiped out by the early Inquisition due to their growing numbers and their defiance to the Catholic church. They were, according to Thomas of Hookton's father, the chosen ones of God, responsible for protecting the grail and using it's power to bring peace to the world. Thomas was given the burden of recovering the grail after his father was murdered in the first book.
Historically accurate, vividly descriptive, with well-developed characters both from the first book and some newly added, and intriguing from beginning to end, I am again desperate to get to the next book and discover the fate of Thomas of Hookton.

This writing is just ok. We have a chance for a really good series but it just does not seem to come together. It seems like about half of each of these books could just be skipped since they have very little to do with the main plot. Thomas' travels are erratic and do not make sense, they seem to be there just so he can meet up with the villians that have become his enemies just because they are pricks. Also his waxing and waning interest and belief in the grail tend to get annoying. Robbie is an interesting stereotypical barbaric tag-along that really does get involved in the story. I guess I like the books because they take place in a setting that I find interesting but they really are not that good.

It did not take me long after finishing Archer's Tale (Harlequin) to pick up the next book. Usually I wait a bit before I begin reading the next in a series, reading a few other books in the meantime. In this case, I pretty much plowed right into it. Cornwell had me hooked.

The story picks up with Thomas of Hookton on the road to Durham, England along with Eleanor and Father Hobbe. Along the way, they encounter Inquisitor de Taillebourg and Guy Vexille, who are also on their way to Durham. The rest of the novel, Thomas, de Taillebourg and Vexille circle, avoid and pass one another in their efforts to find the grail.

Thomas is joined by a likeable and impetuous character, Robbie Douglas, whose brother was killed by de Taillebourg and seeks vengeance. He also picks up Sir Guillaime, Mordecai and Will Skeat. They inadvertently journey back to La Roche-Derrien, meeting up with Jeanette. Through the course of the story, Thomas sheds his disbelief in the grail and becomes earnestly committed to the Grail quest. It is a significant transformation in the character.

The descriptions of the battles are masterfully done. It is obviously Cornwell's practiced strong point. The character growth and development is strong as well. We even get to see facets of Vexille.

However, I found the ending wanting in some aspects. Skeat dies, but I do not see why he was kept alive for this novel. Other than providing a further attachment to Sir Guillaime's household while it was under siege, he dies like he should have in the last novel - in battle. Also, the story is not finished. Yeah, I know it is a trilogy, but I hoped for more resolution to this story. As such, it suffers from one of the common failings of being a middle book.

However, I am definitely hooked. I was disappointed to find Heretic is not out in paperback yet. I will be picking up shortly after its release and consuming its contents. I definitely recommend the book to historical enthusiasts.

After the highly enjoyable "The Archer", I was very much looking forward to the follow up work, "The Vagabond". Unfortunately, the second book in this series does not live up to its predecessor and is in fact quite disappointing.

What makes it such a weak work is its lack of believability. One of the joys of reading a historic novel is that one can suspend disbelief and really feel that one is viewing a chunk of history through the eyes of the participants at the time. This I found it nearly impossible to do with "The Vagabond". For one thing, the main character plays too critical a roll in too many major historic events. This much coincidence is simply too much to believe from a simple man-of-arms of low aristocracy in medieval Europe. Time and again, no matter which country he is in, he is always there at the forefront when some major event occurs. Another such area is in the weak characterization. With the exception of the main character, most characters are presented as highly two dimensional, with evil characters being closer to caricatures, and good ones lacking any flaws. Given these two shortcomings, the whole work reads more like a fantasy novel than a historic one.

There are of course entertaining passages. Further, I enjoy Cromwell's frequent peppering of his writing with explanation of historic tools and items no longer in use today. However, on the whole this was a weak work and not a worthy follow up to his excellent "The Archer".

A scholarly father is obsessed with the holy grail, and keeps a small leatherbound notebook containing cryptic clues as to the grail's whereabouts. The father meets with foul play, but leaves the notebook for his son, who is more fighter than scholar, to decipher the clues and find the grail. Sound familiar? It should, because it was the plot of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." Well, there's no crime in recycling a good plot; even the best novelists do it.

Bernard Cornwell has constructed a marvelous three volume story featuring the English archer, Thomas of Hookton. Of course, the story contrives to have Thomas accidentally arrive at, and take part in, every significant military engagement of the early part of the 100 years war. But you can hardly fault Cornwell for that; in fact, it is the saving grace of these novels. If these books weren't a reasonably accurate history lesson, then they would just be undistinguished trashy novels. As it is, you learn an awful lot about history. What I especially liked about this middle volume of the trilogy is that Cornwell really gets into the mindset of the middle 14th century: the obsession with relics, the superstition, the occasional prayers to obscure saints, the Inquisition in action (with all its horrible methods of torture), the nobility's pastime of capturing and ransoming each other (hence the phrase "a king's ransom").

I do see an annoying pattern emerging of all scores being settled in the final battle. This happened in "Archer's tale" and again in "Vagabond." But really, how likely is it, in the confusion and chaos of a medieval battle involving thousands of armed men, that Thomas would run across and be able to dispatch every person with whom he had a score to settle? It makes for a very hectic last few pages, as everyone gets what's coming to them, all at the hand of Thomas himself. (Of course, the worst enemy, the arch-villain, survived the score-settling of the first two novels, presumably to provide a super-villain to carry across all three books.)

But I have to admit, I learned much about the 100 years war that I did not know, and I am interested enough in Thomas's story to read the final volume, so I guess that is a pretty strong endorsement of Mr. Cornwell's work.

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.

So many war details in this book. If that is your bag then I highly recommend it. The end was interesting. This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it alot.

Historical fiction? Why? Because they kill each other, drink ale, shoot arrows and ride horses? Read "Beloved Enemy" if you want REAL historical fiction, not just a bunch of pop fluff in which a new chapter starts every 3rd page, and every 4th page is blank ( I think it's called "padding") so that a 300 page book becomes a 450 page one.
The story Archer's Tale gives you little background for the conflict. A little nothing of a town in England is ransacked and burned by the French. The next thing you know, it's a World War. How did it get there from here? You're never told! You don't know why all these people are willing to get killed over a supposed relic, and each time the enemy can't be beaten our Hero finds a way of sneaking in, usually through the water but some times through the front door in a disguise. The French must be REALLY stupid, eh? And isn't it convenient to hate them today since they didn't support our invasion of Iraq, even though almost nobody else did either, and without the French we'd still be English subjects, but ignore that small detail and pass the Freedom Fries!
I saw a bumper sticker the other day: boycott French goods. When was the last time you bought something French anyhow? Now THAT will make a big difference to them, won't it!?

"Vagabond" is the 2nd book in the 3-book medieval Grail Quest series. Thomas Hookton is the bowman-protagonist from the 1st book, Harlequin/Archer's Tale. ("Harlequin" is the name of the book published in the UK; "The Archer's Tale" is the same book with a different title, published in the USA.) Vagabond begins with Thomas and his wife Eleanor traveling with a monk. England is still fighting with the French, while the Scots decide to help France in destroying England. Thomas also finds his cousin has been enlisted in the Bishop/ Cardinal's service as an assassin. Thomas receives a book written by his crazed father about the Grail. All of Europe learns of the Grail, and all seek it. While Thomas seeks help to decipher the book, he is given into the hands of the enemy by spies who wish to gain the Church's trust. This book in the Grail series is more about mystery than love; there are still many blood-broiling battle scenes across England. Thomas may lose some close friends in Vagabond; he also gains many new friends. Bernard Cornwell keeps you in suspense throughout the book, while foreshadowing uncertain futures. I recommend this book and the Grail Quest series whole heartedly. For anyone who likes traveling history via intrigue, drama and acts of bravery, this book will be perfect for you.

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.

Cornwell is probably the best historical fiction author that I have read. His attention to detail and the amazing strength and skill the English Longbowmen exhibited during this era is without question extensive and fascinating.

Also great are his heart stopping, gritty battle scenes and the everyday life in this turbulent time. Priests are not priestly, plunder and pillage go hand in hand with honor and glory. The harsh reality of the matter is that in this era, the Archers were the lords of the battlefields. And Vagabond helps depict this.

Cornwell, on the other hand, does not do as well developing the plot of the "Holy Grail". His chief character, Thomas of Hookton, is an exceedingly reluctant searcher for the grail and while educated, shows glimpses of an interesting character who wishes to be a "leader of archers" but he acts much like a petulant little boy when confronted with the Grail quest.

Again, an amazing story in the historical archer/longbow perspective and the battle scenes are second to none, but in this book, too many convenient coincidences along the plot for my tastes.

Bernard Cornwell's "Vagabond" continues the saga of Thomas of Hookton, archer extraordinaire, that began in "The Archer's Tale." In the first novel, we meet Thomas, illegitimate son of a seemingly mad, definitely murdered priest. Thomas is educated but has a ne'er-do-well streak a mile wide, and his life's ambition is to be an archer.

Living during the Hundred Years War, Thomas's devotion to archery is smart, since the archer rules the battlefield. Archers use mighty bows that smash arrows through shields and armor with horrible effect. Cornwell opens "Vagabond" with one of the archers' most notable historic triumphs, where an outmanned English force destroys a larger Scottish army at Neville's Cross near Durham. Nobody writes a better battle scene than Cornwell - his descriptions of violence are gripping, and he never loses sight of the logistics of a battle as well as its ebb and flow.

Some of these descriptions are most vivid when Thomas and Robbie, a Scotsman, terrorize the countryside, picking off an invading force piece by piece, using supersitition as well as lethal force to bring terror to their foes.

Thomas is doomed to spend much of "Vagabond" in the deepest despair. He loses friends and lovers -- life at during the Hundred Years War truly was precarious, and Cornwell does not spare characters merely because they are Thomas's friends. Cornwell's willingness to "kill off" characters, in addition to being realistic, keeps the reader on the edge of his seat because all characters are in peril at any given moment. Fortunes can turn on a dime.

Thomas is also charged with tracking down the Holy Grail, using an arcane book drafted by his father. Thomas has no mania for the Grail, but others do. Not only are other members of Thomas's family after the Grail, so is the Inquisition. And Thomas has an unfortunate encounter with the Inquisition that is even more terrifying than Cornwell's vivid battle scenes.

"Vagabond" sweeps the reader from the northern reaches of England to a battle on the English Channel and back to France and Brittany. Cornwell does not waste too much time on travelogue-exposition, but he provides enough detail that the reader is always grounded in the scene.

Long on action, spiced with humor and romance, "Vagabond" tells a rip-roaring tale that commands that you tear through its 400 pages. A great read!

In some series, the later books "stand on their own" and can be read out of sequence without missing anything. "Vagabond" is not one of them -- do not read "Vagabond" without reading "The Archer's Tale" first.