With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles, Dorothy Dunnett presents The House...
read full description
reviews
Feb 05, 2011
Diane
rated it: 
Race of Scorpions is set in many places, but mainly takes us to mid-15th century Cyprus, where the bastard son of the dead King (James/Zacco of Lusignan) is vying with his sister (Queen Carlotta) for the crown. Niccolo and his crew are shanghaied by Carlotta to join in the fight, but ends up on the side of Zacco...though also, not by choice. As always, there is a woman involved (the duplicitous courtesan, Primaflora), who fights for one side, then the other...we are confused by her but in the
More...
Jan 17, 2010
Rosina
rated it:
People who are devoted Dorothy Dunnett readers generally fall into two camps: the Lymond Lovers (her first series) and the Niccolo folk. I'm in the second camp. I like Lymond, but I love the House of Niccolo series.
The thing is, I can't pick up any of the Niccolo books without wanting to read the whole series again. And given the complexity and demanding nature of these novels, that's like saying you're just rarin' to swim the Atlantic one more time.
So here I am, in the m More...
The thing is, I can't pick up any of the Niccolo books without wanting to read the whole series again. And given the complexity and demanding nature of these novels, that's like saying you're just rarin' to swim the Atlantic one more time.
So here I am, in the m More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Apr 09, 2011
Joy
rated it: 
I'm sure there have been societies more based on betrayal then war-torn 1460s Cyprus, but it's hard to imagine. Nicholas wants nothing to do with the civil war between Lusignan brother and sister, but he is kidnapped and pitchforked into the middle of it. Both Lusignans think they can buy Nicholas's services, but what it takes is a sadist who stirs up Nicholas's rare urge to kill. Trailed by the vicious Simon's family, Nicholas attempts to protect all his vulnerable dependants, and devise ways o
More...
Feb 06, 2010
Rosina
rated it:
People who are devoted Dorothy Dunnett readers generally fall into two camps: the Lymond Lovers (her first series) and the Niccolo folk. I'm in the second camp. I like Lymond, but I love the House of Niccolo series.
The thing is, I can't pick up any of the Niccolo books without wanting to read the whole series again. And given the complexity and demanding nature of these novels, that's like saying you're just rarin' to swim the Atlantic one more time.
So here I am, in the m More...
The thing is, I can't pick up any of the Niccolo books without wanting to read the whole series again. And given the complexity and demanding nature of these novels, that's like saying you're just rarin' to swim the Atlantic one more time.
So here I am, in the m More...
Jan 18, 2012
Nathan
rated it: 
In which our mercantile adventurer gets himself involved in a dynastic dispute in the Kingdom of Cyprus, and tangles with Knights Hospitaller, Mamelukes, gay lords and courtesans. This series is starting to settle into a rhythm now after a confusing and bumpy start. Dunnett still doesn't explain everything, which in a work of this density can be sometimes confusing, but you can just let it wash over you and you'll be fine by the end. It's all about the sugar. Rated MA for adult themes, violence,
More...
May 30, 2010
Carol
rated it:
This is the third book in Dunnett's eight-book House of Niccolo series, which is about Europe and the Mediterranean in the late 15th century. I read the first two volumes years ago, but moving to Boston, going to grad school, and all sorts of other stuff kept me from picking the series back up. I decided that, since I was in the mood for a long historical epic anyway, I should read the remaining books before I forgot everything about the first two.
The Niccolo of the title is Nicholas vande More...
The Niccolo of the title is Nicholas vande More...
Jul 30, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
c1989. Finally caught up with the 3rd book in the seies of "The House of Niccolo" and it certainly was well worth the wait. I must admit though that I kept thinking it was going nowhere and then the plt would veer off onto another unexpected tangent. "Some way off, a donkey brayed; frogs were croaking , and the bushes around him ere ghostly with moths." For a young man, Niccolo has certainly had his share of adventures. Timeless story with Kyrenia featuring heavily.
Aug 24, 2010
Peter
rated it:
I found this book much more engrossing than the second in the series. Well written with wonderful characters. This is third in a series of 15th century historical, well semi historical novels.
Jul 19, 2011
Keeley
rated it:
Another exciting Niccolo tale, this time set in Cyprus. I'm not sure I can forgive Dunnett for killing off [spoiler omitted - you'll know who I mean if you have read this book] but feel reasonably compelled to keep reading the series nonetheless. Dunnett reminds me more and more of Dumas: good plotting, spiced with tragedy, but the characterization is somewhat anachronistic.
Mar 20, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Compelling - addictive - intriguing - bewildering.
Characters and settings to die for - Byzantine plot. Gorgeous!
And you just have to love ths style in the writing - the dialogue is fabulous.
Characters and settings to die for - Byzantine plot. Gorgeous!
And you just have to love ths style in the writing - the dialogue is fabulous.
Nov 14, 2010
Susan
rated it:
I think i am going to run out of good words. Genoa, venice, Cyprus, just the names of the places this novel is set start the juices flowing, and the intrigues just get deeper.
Jan 02, 2012
Hilary
rated it:
Great in every way that matters to me: gorgeous language, persuasive characters, historically interesting and moderately bodice-ripping. Fun.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 19, 2009
Joyce
rated it:
I love this series! It seems like historical fiction true to history. The characters are great and the plots well developed.
Aug 02, 2010
Laurie
rated it:
angst angst ANGST and endless machinations. such wonderful symbolism and layers re: commodity and polity and family.
Feb 07, 2010
Jane
rated it:
These are the most profoundly detailed historical novels--but the characters are unique and intriguing. Venice, Cyprus, Rhodes, Byzantium...a great window into the clash of cultures that preceded the Renaissance.
Nov 02, 2007
Siria
rated it:
It's okay to admit that I still don't have the foggiest idea about much of what goes on in this book, right? Especially in the last third, when the plot twists, revelations and political machinations are coming fast and thick. Still, fast-paced enough to be very enjoyable, though, and I think it's a lot easier to spend six hundred odd pages with Niccolo than it is with Lymond. (Don't get me wrong, I'm very fond of Lymond, but the urge to smack him upside the head is so strong.)
Dec 29, 2011
Kristine
rated it:
I really liked this book & it is probably a 4.5. Much better than the second book and a more satisfying read. The characters were well developed and the plot (and all the twists and turns) were easier to follow I thought Dunnett took more care in helping the reader to be part of the journey & to glimpse some of the background machinations and thinking processes. Looking forward to starting the next book in the series.
Nov 21, 2011
Ellen
rated it:
There are things about this series that intensely bother me -- like Dunnett's penchant for killing off female characters to give the male characters something to angst about -- but it's not going to stop me from reading everything she's ever written.
Oct 21, 2011
Karen
rated it:
This series covers so much territory with so many competing entities from a bastard King of Cyprus fighting the Queen with folks from Venice, Genoa, Scotland, Bruges, France, Egypt, Turkey, etc with overlapping loyalties and interests and treacheries. Lots of fascinating history here too. And I have at least 3 more in the series!!!
Apr 15, 2009
Becca
rated it:
I think this was one of the better books in the series. It was fast paced and since it involved an area of history I knew nothing about I found myself really paying attention. The character Primaflora is intriguing and useful to the plot.
Jun 19, 2008
e
rated it:
these two series by dorothy dunnett are my absolute favorite. nothing different to say about them; together, they will take you off the planet for a full summer and just might re-direct your life, as they did mine.
Mar 10, 2009
Amy
rated it:
This series is becoming more and more addictive. The reading requires some effort (with complex storylines and rich vocabulary), but the twists and turns are phenomenal.
Sep 29, 2011
George
rated it:
I think I'm liking the House of Niccolo even more than the Lymond Chronicles!
Seeing the rise of a merchant in the early Renaissance is pleasing.
Seeing the rise of a merchant in the early Renaissance is pleasing.
May 02, 2009
Yati
rated it:
Plot twists! And crazy political machinations! I'm not entirely sure what happened here, but I couldn't stop reading.
On with the show!
On with the show!
4 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 02, 2010
Terri
rated it:
Loved it. Fantastic journey. Nicholas becomes more and more complex as this series progresses. I'm enjoying the ride...on to book 4.
Dec 17, 2009
Jennifer (JC-S)
rated it:
I'm currently leading a reread of Dorothy Dunnett's 'House of Niccolo' series with an online group. We start RoS on 3/3/2008.
