Heretic (The Grail Quest, #3)

Title: Heretic (The Grail Quest, #3)

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Published in: 2003

Date read: 1st February 2017

Score: 4/5

Genre: Historical fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Heretic" by Bernard Cornwell is the third and final novel in "The Grail Quest" series, concluding the epic journey of Thomas of Hookton during the tumultuous Hundred Years' War. The book, set in 1347, delves deeper into the quest for the Holy Grail, religious dogma, and the brutal realities of medieval warfare and society.

The story picks up after the long and brutal siege of Calais, which has just fallen to the English. Thomas of Hookton, the skilled English archer and protagonist, is dispatched by his lord, the Earl of Northampton, to Gascony, a region in French-controlled Aquitaine that is also his ancestral homeland. Thomas's mission is twofold: to capture the castle of Castillon d'Arbazon, a fortress once held by his family, and to use this as bait to draw out his archenemy and cousin, Guy Vexille, whom the English believe holds vital information about the Holy Grail.

Upon taking Castillon, Thomas encounters a young, beautiful woman named Genevieve, who is about to be burned at the stake as a Beghard – a member of a lay religious movement deemed heretical by the Church. Despite the severe religious implications, Thomas intervenes and saves her from the pyre. This act of "heresy" not only earns him the wrath of the Church but also creates a rift among his own men, particularly his former friend, the Scottish archer Robbie, who becomes consumed by jealousy and turns against Thomas.

As Thomas and Genevieve flee the immediate danger, they embark on a desperate journey through the war-torn landscape of Gascony. Thomas is now not only hunted by Guy Vexille and his allies (including the ruthless Charles Bessières, a cardinal's brother) but also by the Church, which has excommunicated him. Genevieve, with her own knowledge of local lore and heretical beliefs, becomes a crucial companion, providing insights into the region's hidden history and the secrets potentially related to the Grail.

The hunt for the Grail intensifies. Various factions are now seeking it: the English, who believe it will grant victory in the war; the French Cardinal Louis Bessières, who desires it for political power; and the aged Count of Berat, in whose domain Castillon is located, who has his own motivations. Thomas's intelligence and archery skills are constantly tested as he navigates ambushes, skirmishes with bandits (coredors), and betrayals.

The climax sees Thomas and Genevieve playing a deadly game of hide-and-seek with their numerous enemies in the remote, perilous valleys of Astarac, where the Grail is rumored to have been hidden by Cathar heretics long ago. Thomas finally comes face to face with Guy Vexille, and the true nature and location of the Grail are revealed. In a profound decision that reflects his growth and understanding of the relic's true power (or lack thereof), Thomas makes a choice about the Grail's ultimate fate, realizing that its revelation would bring only more strife and death.

"Heretic" vividly portrays the harsh realities of the Hundred Years' War, the pervasive power and corruption of the medieval Church, and the unwavering courage of its protagonist. It brings Thomas's personal quest for vengeance and the larger search for the Grail to a dramatic and thought-provoking conclusion.

Comments:
I was some way through when I found out that this was part of a trilogy but it did not take away anything from the enjoyment. I just developed a yearning to make my own longbow.

Books that we've read by Bernard Cornwell (28):
Sharpe's Eagle (Sharpe, #8) (1981), Sharpe's Gold (Sharpe, #9) (1981), Sharpe's Company (Sharpe, #13) (1982), Sharpe's Sword (Sharpe, #14) (1983), Sharpe's Enemy (Sharpe, #15) (1984), Sharpe's Honour (Sharpe, #16) (1985), Sharpe's Regiment (Sharpe, #17) (1986), Redcoat (1987), Sharpe's Siege (Sharpe, #18) (1987), Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe, #6) (1988), Sharpe's Revenge (Sharpe, #19) (1989), Sharpe's Waterloo (Sharpe, #20) (1990), Sharpe's Devil (Sharpe, #22) (1992), Sharpe's Battle (Sharpe, #12) (1995), Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe, #1) (1997), Sharpe's Triumph (Sharpe, #2) (1998), Sharpe's Fortress (Sharpe, #3) (1999), Sharpe's Prey (Sharpe, #5) (2000), Sharpe's Trafalgar (Sharpe, #4) (2000), Gallows Thief (2001), Heretic (The Grail Quest, #3) (2003), Sharpe's Havoc (Sharpe, #7) (2003), The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1) (2004), Sharpe's Escape (Sharpe, #10) (2004), Sharpe's Fury (Sharpe, #11) (2005), The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2) (2006), Sword Song (The Saxon Stories, #4) (2007), Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3) (2007)