Queens' Play (Legendary Lymond Chronicles)

Rating:
Summary: The Lymond Series is Incredible
Review: A friend lent me her much loved copies of "The Disorderly Knights" and then "Queen's Play" and I've been hooked on this series ever since. It has a richness of prose and depth of character that set it apart from the average hero story. It also has an intriguing plot line and an interesting view of Renaissance politics. All six books fit smoothly together with a tasteful use of foreshadowing. This is perhaps the slowest moving book of the series, but I find that each time I re-read this I enjoy it more. I would recommend starting at the beginning (with A Game of Kings) instead of in the middle and out of order, as I did. While each book is self-contained, there are enough references to previous incidents to make following the series order worthwhile. This is the series I always recommend when a meet someone who TRULY loves to read. I can't say enough good things about it.

Rating:
Summary: Another winner in the Lymond series
Review: Another winner in Dorothy Dunnett's tour de force of 16th century Europe. While not as enchanting as The Game of Kings (I dearly miss Christian Stewart--Oonagh O'Dwyer was nowhere close to being a suitable replacement), Dorothy Dunnett's richness of vision creates a compelling read. Although others have recommended starting with this one, I heartily recommend The Game of Kings first, even if just to understand Lymond's reaction to Erskine, his brother (in a bit cameo), and Lady Lennox. A great read. On to the next book!

Rating:
Summary: 16th century historical fiction series tops for plots
Review: For those U.S. readers who have not read the "The Lymond Series" by Scottish author Dorothy Dunnett, just hang on to your hats. Written in the 1960's, these 6 volume attempts of a young Scot nobleman to regain his good name, save the baby Mary Queen of Scots,keep Scotland out of the clutches of the greedy English crown, and rescue his own baby son held captive by a ruthless enemy in the Turkish capital of Istanbul are historical adventure at its very best. The hero, Francis Crawford of Lymond, is one of the most complex and fascinating studies in modern fiction. The action begins in Scotland and Enland in the first novel, moves to France in the second, Malta and Africa in the third, Africa,Greece and Istanbul in the forth, Russia and a mad czar in the fifth, and back to Scotland in the 6th. I challange a reader to put any of these books down. Extrordinary story lines.

Rating:
Summary: Confusing
Review: I hate to be a spoil sport since so many comments about Dunnett have been so effusive- however, I have to be honest and admit that I just don't get it. The plot lines are very confusing and the characters are not well enough developed to identify with. In Game of Kings Lymond communicates solely by spouting erudite witticisms in various languages. Every uttered sentence is either joking, tongue in cheek or nebulous in some way. I never felt for one moment that I understood this character. In fact, there is almost a comical aspect of the larger-than-life adventures that undermines the historical accuracy. Another problem is that Dunnett uses a lexicon that is so archaic and erudite that it becomes annoying after a while. I never thought that I would ever feel this way about a book since I love a good challenging read. This is over the top! I started reading this series in the sincere hope that I would discover something as wonderful and entrancing as the Patric O'Brian novels, I have been sorely disappointed. To tell the truth, I had to stop reading Queen's Play after the first few chapters.

Rating:
Summary: Confusing
Review: I hate to be a spoil sport since so many comments about Dunnett have been so effusive- however, I have to be honest and admit that I just don't get it. The plot lines are very confusing and the characters are not well enough developed to identify with. In Game of Kings Lymond communicates solely by spouting erudite witticisms in various languages. Every uttered sentence is either joking, tongue in cheek or nebulous in some way. I never felt for one moment that I understood this character. In fact, there is almost a comical aspect of the larger-than-life adventures that undermines the historical accuracy. Another problem is that Dunnett uses a lexicon that is so archaic and erudite that it becomes annoying after a while. I never thought that I would ever feel this way about a book since I love a good challenging read. This is over the top! I started reading this series in the sincere hope that I would discover something as wonderful and entrancing as the Patric O'Brian novels, I have been sorely disappointed. To tell the truth, I had to stop reading Queen's Play after the first few chapters.

Rating:
Summary: The Second Book in the Best Series I have Ever Read
Review: I love Dunnett books because the characters are so well developed, and the plot so intricate yet discernable, I read in awed admiration. I have been fooled by the plot twists so many times, I have now come to expect it, and just smile when I see that I had been totally wrong yet agian. Dunnett has such a profound understanding of history and the human nature of both her characters and readers, that the story lives in my mind stronger than any movie that I have ever seen. I recommend this series to everyone, even if you don't speak French and Latin. It's worth the effort.

Rating:
Summary: This book will make you an addict
Review: I recently came across and read The Game of King. I really enjoyed it, so I decided to try this book, the second in the Lymond Chronicles. Now I'm hooked, and plan to read the entire series. Dunnett is truly a modern-day Dumas. If you liked the Three Muscateers series - which I did - you'll be hooked.

Rating:
Summary: Onwards With the Rest
Review: I recently discovered Ms. Dunnett, and I wonder why it took so long. She is an excellent author and her series is wonderful. Not for the faint of heart here. The books are very complex and sometimes difficult to grasp, but so worth the effort! This was a prime example of court intrigue from the 17 century. It's not really much different than intrigue and covert operations nowadays, except the weapons and the costumes are much different. If you can keep the plot straight through this entire book, you're doing very well! I found I did have to reread some small sections to get some things.

Rating:
Summary: Lymond as Secret Agent
Review: I've read this series so many times I've lost count since discovery twenty tears ago. (I know, get a life...) but they really do reward repetition. Other writers just won't do after these..... Queen's Play, simply brilliant, simply the best, especially as a "standalone" novel (but try King Hereafter if you haven't already). Yes, some of the mediaeval French and Latin can be irritating (even one of the characters says so!), but the characterisation, description, political, military and social detail are unsurpassed. Talking literature with friends, these are my premier recommendation, and the multifarious and exotic locations are provide a great basis for an itinerary in Europe!

Rating:
Summary: Stunning.....enough said.
Review: Once you start with the Lymond series, you will either find it too difficult to follow and will put it down, never to pick it up again, or.... you will sink into the most intricately drawn picture of a fictitous character ever attempted. Once in, you'll never want to leave. You will be shocked by many things Lymond does, but you will find that you will understand in the end. You will also never meet greater evil than in this series - and I can't even give you the name of the character, since that would spoil the moment. Rarely do I sit up straight and experience a sharp intake in breath while reading a description of an event - you will do so every 20 pages or so. Don't be fooled into thinking the Niccolo series will satisfy the longing for more of this series that you will experience - but you have 6 books to keep you happy for a while. Please - try the Lymond series, if hooked, you'll be glad you did.