Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell

In the 14th century, dark days fell on the Church as two popes, one in Rome and the other in Avignon, each supported by different political empires, struggled for supremacy. Hearing of a secret which may bring them victory, one side hired a mercenary to retrieve this priceless information. Thomas of Hookton is an English archer. When his village is sacked by raiders, he escapes and becomes an archer in the army of King Edward III. The King and his son are going to France with a great force of knights and men-at-arms, led by great lords. But it is the archers, the common men, who will decide the success or failure of the invasion.

As a Last Kingdom - LK (book and TV) series great fan, I was incredibly disappointed with this one - where LK is serious and dark and warrior-mindset like, this is melodrama, soap-opera/telenovella great passions and romance.

The male MC is a non-descript Mary Sue that does not seem to exist (so far from Uthred), the female MC is ridiculous and annoying and wildly-reacting to anything (plus everybody wants to rape her, that seems to be her main role in the book, rape-target), the antagonist is pumped-up nasty in a ridiculous Banderas style and so on.

The writing itself is better here than LK, but the story and characters are teenage-drama level.

The battles are very well done, but too few among the plenty passion-drama moments.

I bought the entire 4 book series at once - now they all go straight to garbage.

So, final warning: if you are a Last Kingdom fan, this is NOT for you!

“Harlequin” is a historical fiction novel set in 1342 during the Hundred Years War between England and France. The protagonist, Thomas of Hookton, is an English archer who is tasked with finding a stolen relic known as the Lance of Saint George, which is believed to bring victory in battle. Along the way, Thomas encounters a cast of characters including a mysterious harlequin, a band of mercenaries, and a group of fanatical knights.

One of the strengths of the novel is the vivid depiction of medieval warfare. Cornwell's descriptions of battles are both thrilling and visceral, conveying the chaos and brutality of combat. The character of Thomas of Hookton is also well-drawn, with his internal conflicts and personal quest for redemption adding depth to his actions.

However, the novel has some weaknesses as well. The plot can feel disjointed at times, with various subplots competing for attention and not always resolving satisfactorily. Additionally, some of the supporting characters are underdeveloped, particularly the female characters who feel like afterthoughts in a male-dominated story.

Thematically, “Harlequin” explores the nature of faith and belief, particularly in the context of war and conflict. The novel also touches on the question of identity, as Thomas grapples with his English heritage and his loyalty to his fellow soldiers.

Overall, “Harlequin” is an engaging read for fans of historical fiction and medieval warfare. While the novel has some flaws in its plotting and characterization, Cornwell's skillful prose and attention to historical detail make it an enjoyable and immersive read.