Rating: 
Summary: 16th century Europe in Technicolor
Review: I love the whole Lymond series - I know he's perfect, but who cares! This set of are the only books that go with me wherever I move. I can't pick a favourite, but Queen's Play is an example of how complicated Scottish politics could get - and brilliant revision whilst I was supposed to be getting ready for my Scottish History degree finals at University. Immaculately researched, Mrs. Dunnett brings to life sixteenth century Scotland, England, France, Malta, North Africa, the Levant, Muscovy and more - it almost makes you wish for a time machine.
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: 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: 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 now been drawn completely into the Byzantine world inhabited by Francis Lymond. While I found Queen's Play to be bit less compelling than The Game of Kings, it's like saying one priceless gem is a bit less sparkling than another. In this book, Lymond has rehabilitated his reputation in Scotland (at least to the point that his brother is no longer trying to kill him). Now Mary of Guise, the mother of the child queen Mary Queen of Scots, has asked him to go undercover in France to protect Mary from those who will try to end her life and thus change the political landscape in Europe. The problem is that there are far too many who might be advantaged by her death. Lymond thus appears in the guise of Irishman accompanying an Irish prince. Needless to say, a million different things happen. Lymond's actions and motivations are, as usual, a bit unclear at times, but he's always focused on his task. So, we have fox hunts in which a cheetah plays a prominent role, the ultimate nighttime scavenger hunt on the rooftops of a French city, duels, near poisonings, and lots of drinking and singing in the French court. Lymond is surrounded by marvelously drawn characters. Dunnett has the ability, like Dickens, to get you so focused on the complexity of her characters that often the plot becomes secondary. You just want to get to know some of the most interesting characters in historical fiction. This is a great series.
Rating: 
Summary: Too complicated, couldn't follow plot
Review: I've read the first two books in this series and I still haven't figured out what happened. For starters, each character has two or three names and they're all related to one another in ways that are never explained. The hero is unreal and he keeps spouting Latin and French which is never translated for us morons who only speak English.
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: Addiction
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: A good place to start with the Lymond Chronicles
Review: If you've heard of these wonderful historical novels, but found the idea of six volumes a little daunting, try starting with this one, instead of the first. It's a self-contained story that is told in straight chronological order, unlike the first volume, and you won't need any of the backstory from the first book to follow it. It's a sexy, detailed adventure in the French court of the 16th century. I guarantee you'll go on to the rest if you enjoyed this, though.
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