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thebookwormsfeast's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, so I have to preface this with I didn't realise it was part of a series (the fourth in fact), and I just dived right on in. But when I found out, I looked around the reviews and questions - and others said although old events are referenced, and you miss a lot of character building, this book does still work alone. So I ploughed on.
And I loved it!
It's been such a long time since I've read a book like this - as I've mainly been steeped in full-on fantasy. I adored having actual events and history interwoven with the fictional elements of Sir Thomas Hookton and the quest to find La Malice. Although missing some of the backstory (or near all the backstory), I still fell in love with the characters over this book.
The power and might of the English and Welsh longbowmen of the medieval era have always fascinated me - so "observing" the events leading up to and including the Battle of Poitiers from a band of them was amazing for me. There was a quote on the back of the book from George R. R. Martin that Cornwell writes some of the best battle scenes he's ever read, and I totally agree. It felt like we effortlessly and wholly moved around the battle - picking up on the main details (from what we know about what actually happened) without any feeling of choppiness.
This is my first Bernard Cornwall novel, and I certainly will be picking up more!
And I loved it!
It's been such a long time since I've read a book like this - as I've mainly been steeped in full-on fantasy. I adored having actual events and history interwoven with the fictional elements of Sir Thomas Hookton and the quest to find La Malice. Although missing some of the backstory (or near all the backstory), I still fell in love with the characters over this book.
The power and might of the English and Welsh longbowmen of the medieval era have always fascinated me - so "observing" the events leading up to and including the Battle of Poitiers from a band of them was amazing for me. There was a quote on the back of the book from George R. R. Martin that Cornwell writes some of the best battle scenes he's ever read, and I totally agree. It felt like we effortlessly and wholly moved around the battle - picking up on the main details (from what we know about what actually happened) without any feeling of choppiness.
This is my first Bernard Cornwall novel, and I certainly will be picking up more!
dmcke013's review
3.0
After a long break, Cornwell returns to his medieval version of Richard Sharpe (i.e. Thomas of Hookton) in his latest novel set during the 100 years War between France and England.
Like the previous books featuring this character (Harlequin,Vagabond and Heretic)), this takes as its premise the search for another relic - this time, the sword that Peter used to cut an ear off the night Jesus was arrested - and builds that into the historical events of the time. Like Harlequin, this novel ends in one of the most famous battles of the war: this time, that of Poitiers (which is where the '1356' of the title comes from - the year in which that was fought).
I must confess I actually found the opening chapter - one part in particular - to be a little bit on the gory side. I also found it a bit harder to get into than normal for a Cornwell book, although that might simply be because I wasn't really getting the time to sit down and get a good read at it!
Like the previous books featuring this character (Harlequin,Vagabond and Heretic)), this takes as its premise the search for another relic - this time, the sword that Peter used to cut an ear off the night Jesus was arrested - and builds that into the historical events of the time. Like Harlequin, this novel ends in one of the most famous battles of the war: this time, that of Poitiers (which is where the '1356' of the title comes from - the year in which that was fought).
I must confess I actually found the opening chapter - one part in particular - to be a little bit on the gory side. I also found it a bit harder to get into than normal for a Cornwell book, although that might simply be because I wasn't really getting the time to sit down and get a good read at it!
cruicky86's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
barcat's review
3.25
Poitiers was great. A bit cluttered build up; too many characters. Weakest of the 4 book series.
bergsteiger's review
4.0
Didn't realize this was a fourth book in a series when I picked it up. It could certainly be a stand alone. I am a sucker for Cornwell. Fast pace, fun characters, tough times and a sort of enlightened man's take on the Middle Ages. If you liked any of his Saxon stories then this is in the same vein except replace the Danes with French and Serpent's Breath with the English longbow. Not great writing, not a great review, but take the time if you like historical fiction with action. It will go quick, I promise.
topdragon's review
4.0
This novel can easily be read as a stand-alone novel but it does feature Thomas of Hookton, the protagonist of his "Grail Quest" series and I believe those that have read those three books previously will have an even greater appreciation for this one. The title of this novel, of course, refers to the year in which it takes place, 1356, during the Hundred Years War. The action takes place in France. The heir to the British throne, the Prince of Wales, best known as the "Black Prince" is set to invade. The French have teamed up with their Scottish allies and are ready to rumble.
But pivitol to the outcome of the coming battles are rumors of an artifact, the lost sword of Saint Peter, said to grant certain victory to whoever possesses it. This is not a unique concept for a Grail Quest novel, as Thomas of Hookton has previously hunted down the Holy Grail itself.
But do not think of this as a "battle" book. While Cornwell is well known for writing extremely accurate battle scenes (at least as best can be known of such historical details) this novel delves into many areas beyond the battle. In fact the culmination of the novel, the actual battle of Poitiers does not begin until the final 60 pages or so. Prior to that we are treated to all sorts of adventures among various factions, well-drawn characters, and an engaging plot. Thomas of Hookton, himself is a great protagonist but he shares time with a host of intriguing characters from scoundrels to the pious, all leading the reader to keep turning pages and wishing for further entries in this series.
Having said that, I still can't count this one among the top-tier of Cornwell novels. The plot does jump around a little too much making me wish he had delved into some of the subplots a little deeper and although he weaves in a whole host of interesting characters, there are just too many of them to really get to know them well. Still, even a subpar Cornwell book is well worth the time to read.
But pivitol to the outcome of the coming battles are rumors of an artifact, the lost sword of Saint Peter, said to grant certain victory to whoever possesses it. This is not a unique concept for a Grail Quest novel, as Thomas of Hookton has previously hunted down the Holy Grail itself.
But do not think of this as a "battle" book. While Cornwell is well known for writing extremely accurate battle scenes (at least as best can be known of such historical details) this novel delves into many areas beyond the battle. In fact the culmination of the novel, the actual battle of Poitiers does not begin until the final 60 pages or so. Prior to that we are treated to all sorts of adventures among various factions, well-drawn characters, and an engaging plot. Thomas of Hookton, himself is a great protagonist but he shares time with a host of intriguing characters from scoundrels to the pious, all leading the reader to keep turning pages and wishing for further entries in this series.
Having said that, I still can't count this one among the top-tier of Cornwell novels. The plot does jump around a little too much making me wish he had delved into some of the subplots a little deeper and although he weaves in a whole host of interesting characters, there are just too many of them to really get to know them well. Still, even a subpar Cornwell book is well worth the time to read.
literarychanteuse's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chaz_dickens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
bluestjuice's review
1.0
I have trouble expressing how thoroughly disappointed I was in this book. Coming fresh on the heels of some Outlander reading, I was all geared up to have a man's man's approach to historical fiction - something heavy on the facts and gore and tactics of battle, and maybe a little less fluffy. I was misled. Not only does this book exist as part of a series (a fact I was unaware of), its main focus is on a fabricated Da Vinci Code-esque relic quest and the character Thomas Hookton.
Others have commented on how poor the characterization is and how rudimentary the plot is, so I won't reiterate those points, other than to agree wholeheartedly, but I would also like to comment on how stunningly misogynistic the writing is - not just the points of view that the characters espouse, which one might expect to be thematically in line with 14th century opinion, but the very writing itself. It's rare to see a woman - fine, well and good. The story is focusing on soldiering life in the 14th century, no one expects a glut of female characters, but what's striking is that when they do appear, they're so entirely one-dimensional it's as if a cardboard cutout of a person has appeared. They basically exist to further some plot point for one of the male protagonists, and at no point should you expect to find out what they are thinking or feeling, even through dialogue. Bertille stands out here as the most incomprehensible character - she At no point is she ever characterized beyond 'the loveliest thing people have ever laid eyes on.' Her actions literally make no sense, and although you can fabricate justifications and rationales for her to behave the way she does, she's so shallowly constructed it's obviously all a fabrication.
Additionally, the writing is appallingly bad. Run-on sentences are strung together with a careless abandon for the English language, conjunctions are heedlessly threaded onto sentences, and almost every chapter ends with a pithy sentence fragment meant to convey urgency. Honestly, it was so bad in the first chapter that I almost stopped reading, but I held on because I'd been given to understand that Cornwell does some magnificent things with history. His description of the Battle of Poitiers was definitely the highlight of the book, and did lend me a better understanding of that particular point of history, but it's pretty depressing when you have to slog through 250 pages of a 400-page novel before either of the two main leaders of the relevant armies make an appearance. I won't be revisiting Cornwell's work.
Others have commented on how poor the characterization is and how rudimentary the plot is, so I won't reiterate those points, other than to agree wholeheartedly, but I would also like to comment on how stunningly misogynistic the writing is - not just the points of view that the characters espouse, which one might expect to be thematically in line with 14th century opinion, but the very writing itself. It's rare to see a woman - fine, well and good. The story is focusing on soldiering life in the 14th century, no one expects a glut of female characters, but what's striking is that when they do appear, they're so entirely one-dimensional it's as if a cardboard cutout of a person has appeared. They basically exist to further some plot point for one of the male protagonists, and at no point should you expect to find out what they are thinking or feeling, even through dialogue. Bertille stands out here as the most incomprehensible character - she
Spoiler
begins her plot 'arc' as the faithless wife to a repugnant French nobleman, watches as her erstwhile lover is defeated and then gelded, gets rescued, and then falls inexplicably in love with a virgin French knight who happens to encounter her. She then prays fervently and is rewarded when the main character (not the French knight in question) brings the matter to a close by 'accidentally' killing her oafish husband in a fog of war during the Battle of Poitiers.Additionally, the writing is appallingly bad. Run-on sentences are strung together with a careless abandon for the English language, conjunctions are heedlessly threaded onto sentences, and almost every chapter ends with a pithy sentence fragment meant to convey urgency. Honestly, it was so bad in the first chapter that I almost stopped reading, but I held on because I'd been given to understand that Cornwell does some magnificent things with history. His description of the Battle of Poitiers was definitely the highlight of the book, and did lend me a better understanding of that particular point of history, but it's pretty depressing when you have to slog through 250 pages of a 400-page novel before either of the two main leaders of the relevant armies make an appearance. I won't be revisiting Cornwell's work.