Pawn in Frankincense: Fourth in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles

by Dorothy Dunnett

Pawn in Frankincense: Fourth in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles

book data

233 ratings, 4.60 average rating, 20 reviews (more data...)

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published

June 24th 1997 (first published 1969) by Vintage

binding

Paperback, 486 pages

isbn

0679777466 (isbn13: 9780679777465)

description

For the first time Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles are available in the United States in quality paperback editions.

Pawn in Frankincense ...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 308)

All ratings | 5 stars (165) | 4 stars (49) | 3 stars (14) | 2 stars (3) | 1 star (2) | avg 4.60

all | this edition

Elizabeth

Elizabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 0099521903)

05/06/08

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Elizabeth by: Sherwood Smith, Ellen Kushner

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

WAAHHH! Definitely the most readable of the Dunnett books so far, but what an emotional roller-coaster. I got kind of fed up at the end of Lymond's complete lack of resource against his enemy... It just all seemed so damn pointless and unfair. And actually, having finished it, I'm still not sure what the *point* of the whole search was, apart from turning Our Hero into an emotional and physical cripple. OK, so he gets to kill Gabriel, but even the Mean Old Omniscient Narrator says that the k...more

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Misfit

Misfit rated it:

08/20/08

bookshelves: fiction-historical, read-and-keep-for-a-reread

Read in January, 2008

In this sequel of sorts to Garwood's Ransom, Princess Gabrielle of St. Biel, a daughter of an English Baron, is sent by King John to marry an older highland Laird to keep peace between the borders (??!! more on this later). Two of John's scheming Barons with their nefarious (and ridiculous) schemes get involved and Gabrielle's intended is murdered, she is disgraced as a wanton woman and disinherited and banned from England (this from one woman accusing her of entering a wounded man's bedroom??)....more In this sequel of sorts to Garwood's Ransom, Princess Gabrielle of St. Biel, a daughter of an English Baron, is sent by King John to marry an older highland Laird to keep peace between the borders (??!! more on this later). Two of John's scheming Barons with their nefarious (and ridiculous) schemes get involved and Gabrielle's intended is murdered, she is disgraced as a wanton woman and disinherited and banned from England (this from one woman accusing her of entering a wounded man's bedroom??). She meets up with Laird Brodick Buchanan who is her cousin by marriage, as Brodick is married to Gillian a distant cousin of Gabrielle's father. Accompanying Brodick is the fearsome Laird MacHugh who takes her into protection after her banishment. There is also a big mystery about the search for some missing gold that is all too predictable, I figured where that was at the first mention of.... well I won't be a spoiler but trust me you'll spot that one a mile away.

Sound exciting? No, it's not, it's actually quite awful and I'm having a hard time believing Garwood wrote this. Although her older historicals are not high fiction, the healthy dose of humor she throws in along with the romance usually makes for an entertaining read. Unfortunately, along with an embarrassingly bad plot Garwood forgot to throw in the humor that might have saved a story that's predictable from the first page to the last. Even worse, there is little description of the sights, sounds, clothes, etc. to give the reader a good sense of the time period. I don't think I heard mention of any Scott wearing a kilt until well towards the end of the book, Gabrielle's clothing was only noted by the color of the dress she was wearing, etc. I won't even get started on the way Brodick was ruined -- without the banter between he, Gillian, Ramsey and Ian what was an awesome hero in Ransom is reduced to nothing but mush. We don't even get a glimpse of Gillian, only occasional mentions of her being home and pregnant. And worst of all, there is absolutely no chemistry between our two main protagonists, an absolute death knell for any romance book.

And finally, although I don't expect an historical romance to be historically accurate, I appreciate it when an author makes some effort to have knowledge of the period they're writing in. I wish I'd taken notes, because I'm not able to remember all the boners in this book to recount them here. Examples, and since I'm not a history major anyone may correct me if I'm wrong:

* Gabrielle's native country St Biel (somewhere in Europe where the crusaders passed through), is invaded and occupied by King John !!??? John Lackland who couldn't even hold on to Normandy?
* What is it with the women running around with their long hair flowing loose? No woman in medieval times, especially a noblewoman would be seen in public without a proper head covering.
* Gabrielle's original marriage was to settle the border disputes between England and Scotland. Hellooooo, if I recall correctly John was too busy trying to subdue the Welsh to be bothered with Scotland. And what help does a marriage to a highland Laird have to do with any border wars? The borders are in the lowlands - you'd think a marriage to someone with closer ties to the border would make more political sense.

All in all, this is pretty close to one of the worst books I've ever read - not quite but almost. Boring, predictable and downright silly. Garwood would have done much better by making her sequel to Ransom writing about the Buchanans, Ramsey and Sinclairs and putting those people together into her story. Better yet, put their grown children together into a tightly woven story with that sadly missing dose of humor and she might have had something here. As it is, this is a bad way to spend $18 on a hardback and a serious waste of a tree. If you are dead set on reading it, get it from the library (as I did) or wait for the mass market paperback.

Last complaint - what the heck is with the book cover? The man and woman in the bottom corner are in evening dress and the building with the onion dome looks like something out of the Far East, and certainly not a castle that one would find in Scotland. It's all just stupid, stupid, stupid and doesn't even deserve one star. ...less

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Brittany

Brittany rated it:

09/08/08

bookshelves: historicalfiction

Well, I keep changing my mind about which of these books is my favorite. This one comes up more often than others, though, so I think this may just be It.

In this book, Lymond finally squares off with Gabriel. Of course, there are plenty of enigmas, traps, and red herrings along the way, before everyone finally ends up in Istabul (Byzantium, Constantinople, or Stamboul, depending on where and when you are in the book.)

This features one of the best exchanges between Lymond and young Philip...more

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Sarah

Sarah rated it:

05/09/07

bookshelves: favorites, historical-fiction

Read in April, 2005

recommends it for: lovers of history

The Lymond Chronicles books are quite possibly my all-time favorite books, or at least as an adult. There are six thoroughly-researched novels in the series, and each outdoes its predecessor in weaving historic details, compelling characters, and gripping plot twists.

The story follow Francis Crawford of Lymond, a minor Scottish nobleman, through adventures that take him from his native land to England, France, Malta, Greece, North Africa, Russia, and finally back home to Scotland. Along the...more

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Siria

Siria rated it:

06/04/07

bookshelves: 20th-century, british-fiction, historical-fiction

Read in January, 2007

I've read many climactic sequences in novels which have made me feel tense or anxious, but none which made me feel physically ill, as happened in this case: that long, intense rollercoaster of a buildup to a denouement, which, well. Let's just say that even though I finished the book hours ago, I still cannot think about it too closely--it's much too raw.

I do not want to say too much about this, because I want many people to read this book, and I want them to do so unspoiled. Suffice ...more

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Beth (moonivy)

Beth (moonivy) rated it:

07/05/07

Read in March, 2006

recommends it for: historical fiction readers

Read 1/1-3/12/06, 2/7-2/9/05
Pawn in Frankincense sees Francis Crawford of Lymond on a
desperate quest in North Africa and Turkey at the height of
the Ottoman Empire. As I was warned, these books just keep
getting better. Dunnett does a stunning job of revealing the layers in her characters and dragging the reader through it all.I actually had to stop reading this one last night for a bit, so upset was I on Lymond's behalf. An excellent book - high adventure and complex characterization comb...more

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Rachel

Rachel rated it:

07/28/08

bookshelves: historical-books, rachel-s-absolute-favorite-books

Fourth in the Lymond Chronicles. This is not a series of books that you can jump around in, so start with number one.

I did have to say that the end of this book is the most disturbing scene I have ever read. But not disturbing in terms of gore or fear. Not that, but rather disturbing because of the emotional tension. Lymond has a choice to make. A choice so terrible that I wasn't sure he could survive it. And I loved him for how doing it.

This is also the first book where we really ...more

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Yati

Yati rated it:

03/29/08

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in March, 2008

I have a feeling that I won't get enough sleep until I finish the whole series. I can't remember how many late nights I spent reading the books -- I can't tear myself away from them.

I adore Philippa; such a sensible girl.

But ouch. Parts in this one just tore my heart out and carefully sliced it to pieces. Some of the things done and the choices made just left me reeling. Oh man.

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Kd rated it:

01/18/08

Read in January, 1970

Even after the fifth read of this book several years ago, the question "Which child?" is still unanswered. Dunnett at the top of her form uncovering level after level. I am eagerly waiting for the weather to warm up, so I can dig through the boxes in the garage to find my Dunnett collection. I was very disappointed when my youngest, an avid reader, was just not interested in the series.

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Trin

Trin rated it:

06/14/07

bookshelves: historicalfiction, scottish-lit

Having now read the entire Lymond series, I can say with certainty that this is my favorite installment: it's just a roller coaster of emotional and physical turmoil all the way through, and I mean that in the best way possible. As for the climatic chess game: I'm still sweating. This is the best thing I read all...whatever year that was. 2004, I think.

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Nathan

Nathan rated it:

08/22/08

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in September, 2007

recommended to Nathan by: Tracy Baker

Perhaps not as good as Disorderly Knights but much easier to read than the first two books in the Lymond series -- I think Dorothy Dunnett was coming down off her high horse. As with all the Lymond books: very painful but worth it.

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Liz

Liz rated it:

07/06/08

bookshelves: to-read

Read in December, 2005

recommended to Liz by: Jennie Platt
recommends it for: Anyone interested in incredibly written historical fiction

Oh. My. Gosh. This book is so intense you want to re-read it the MINUTE you finish! Just thinking about it makes me want to read it again NOW. Lymond is lead on a wild goose chase to find something he's been told is his. But is it?

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e rated it:

06/19/08

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.

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Kathy

Kathy rated it:

06/16/08

First read this in 1972 as I waited in the car for my then-husband to exit his CPA review course in Seattle. Hooked me completely, the ending human chess game bringing tears. Still one of my all-time favorites!

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Rebecca

Rebecca rated it:

06/12/08

My superlatives are not superlative enough for these book. It is an understatement to say that I obsess with it. I LOVE it. I'm begging of you, PLEASE read it.

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The Sheila

The Sheila rated it:

(review of isbn )

06/17/07

Read in May, 2007

Still kind of pretending the third book didn't happen, but having a hard time of it. Ten points for the hot dancing boy, though. (With or without bells.)

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Jan

Jan rated it:

09/03/07

bookshelves: historicalfiction

The fourth book in my favorite series ever written... absolutely crippling in its climactic scene. Absolutely brilliant.

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Oyceter

Oyceter rated it:

07/09/07

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in July, 2004

Spoilers! http://oyceter.livejournal.com...

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Laurie

Laurie rated it:

12/24/07

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in July, 2004

philippa comes into her own.

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Megan

Megan rated it:

08/07/08

bookshelves: 2005, 2006, repeats

Read in October, 2005

October 25, 2006

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