Harlequin: Book 1 (The Grail Quest)

“Harlequin” is the first book in Bernard Cornwell’s The Grail Quest series, first published in 2000. This historical fiction novel is set during the Hundred Years’ War and follows Thomas of Hookton, a young English archer, as he embarks on a perilous journey to recover a stolen sacred relic and avenge his father’s death.

Synopsis: In 1342, the English army, led by King Edward III, is laying waste to the French countryside. The army may be led by the King, but it is the archers, the common men, who are England’s secret weapon. The French know them as Harlequins. Thomas of Hookton is one of these archers. But he is also on a personal mission: to avenge his father’s death and retrieve a stolen relic. His quest leads him to the heart of the conflict, where he must navigate treachery, battle, and the complexities of war.