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311th out of 738 books
—
1,611 voters
To Lie with Lions (The House of Niccolò #6)
With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles, Dorothy Dunnett, grande dame of the historical novel, presents The House of Niccolò series. The time is the 15th century, when intrepid merchants became the new knighthood of Europe. Among them, none is bolder or more cunning than Nicholas vander Poele of Bruges...more
Paperback, 672 pages
Published
July 27th 1999
by Vintage
(first published 1995)
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This book was a vast improvement on its predecessor, and I'm not just saying that because it featured my hero Louis XI more prominently :). Unicorn Hunt was kind of a meandering travelogue that didn't really seem to accomplish much in terms of advancing the plot or the characterization...though I felt similarly after reading Disorderly Knights for the first time before I had finished the series, so maybe my opinion of that will change once I've finished Gemini.
In any event, the main annoyance o...more
In any event, the main annoyance o...more
Dec 02, 2011
Katherine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
readers of historical novels and books of adventure
I don't care for Dunnett's Nicollo series as much as her Lymond series. Nicholas is rather an oaf given to dangerous games, but at last in this fifth book of the series (I keep on reading because Dunnett's use of the English language is thrilling) I'm beginning to see his charms. Dunnett is treating him more softly. I'm more than half way finished (Dec 2, 2011) and this I believe is the least violent of Dunnett's Lymond and Nicollo books -- a plus for me. Her plotting leaves some implausibilitie...more
I thoroughly disliked the book, which was disappointing, especially considering just how much I loved the first few books in this series. The feud between Gelis and Niccolo is one of the stupidest I've ever come across, and the reasons behind it on both their sides felt unconvincing and somewhat repugnant. The characterization is also becoming more unbelievable with every book, what with Niccolo being a naturally gifted genius in just about every field, including the supernatural, and Gelis ping...more
I own the entire Niccolo series and am currently on the 6th of 8 books, although I have listed all 8 and rated them 5 stars in my profile. I LOVE this series. The best historical fiction I have ever read. These books are so vibrant, featuring vivid, real, and lovable/detestable characters, illuminating detail and history, and the whirlwind of a trip around the (Western) world-that-was in the 15th century. These books transport me, and I love them so much that I am dreading turning the last page...more
Oblique, allusive, the master of showing and not telling, Dunnett is a formidable writer. Only occasionally do I understand the machinations of each character, though I love the action and the characterizations. I did feel the machinery creaking in this one, though, particularly during the adventure in Iceland, filled with erupting volcanoes, walls of fire and marauding bears but serving to advance the plot only a little. The ending is astonishing. How will Niccolo recover from betraying everyon...more
Nicholas, having engineered a signal success against his wife and her ex-lover, is trying to merge his family into a whole under his own wing. His wife wants nothing to do with ending the war between them. In the meantime, he has a business to build, and from Scotland he is reaching out to the valuable fishing of Iceland.
This Iceland tour is some of the best adventure writing I have ever read. Nicholas has youngsters Robin and Katelijne on his ship, and ahead of him in Iceland are two volcanoes...more
This Iceland tour is some of the best adventure writing I have ever read. Nicholas has youngsters Robin and Katelijne on his ship, and ahead of him in Iceland are two volcanoes...more
While the climax lacked the sheer emotional punch of a certain book in the Lymond series, To Lie with Lions's conclusion is still one calculated to make your jaw drop at the sheer scale of Dunnett's plotting. Nicholas might well be on a course to surpass Lymond in magnificent bastardlyness (yes, that's now a word). Gelis and Nicholas' relationship is a startling war of attrition that's as gripping to read about as it is exhausting for them to experience, and I'm very glad that I have Caprice and...more
c1995. This book was just depressing. If you are looking for an eventual happy ending - this is not the series for you. Plans within schemes within plots! I had a hard job making sense of everything and eventually despite having read the prior 5 books - I ended up not liking either Nicholas or Gelis. Because of that, I feel somewhat cheated! This is a bit of a chunkster as well at 626 pages. "But a family tree is a salad of many herbs".
perseverence pays off - by the end of this book I'm once again hooked on the seroes and I want to read the next one. I'm even begining to have patience with the charceters and like them a little again.
Love all of Dorothy's books. The House of Niccolo series took me to a time in history that I hadn't visited before and made it come alive.
The hero discovers he can't always get what he wants. But neither can the villains. 2 books to go in the series. Rated PG. 3/5
Absolutely heartbreaking. The Iceland section is just beautiful, and the climax tears at you. And "Banco" (!).
Despite the fact that it ends on a sad note, the sixth book of the House of Niccolo was a happier book than the previous one in the series. Nicholas regains a lot of his personal and professional equilibrium at the beginning of the book, which gives him the ability to conduct his affairs with more control, daring, and finesse. It was much more enjoyable to read. One of the highlights of the novel is a magnificent adventure that takes place in Iceland and involves piracy and two erupting volcanos...more
phew, that was a bit exhausting, especially towards the end. It's also somewhat exhausting to both pity and admire the main character. He's such a perfect anti-hero.
Another grip by the throat read and don't let go until the small hours turn long. How did she do it?
Nicholas and his band of friends and business partners again fail to disappoint. Dorothy Dunnett's plotting skills are amazing as she sends Nicholas through political and social events of Scotland in 1471 that leave your head spinning. His trip to Iceland, accompanied by young Robin of Berecrofts and Katelijne Sersanders, and coming face to face with vicious pirates and spouting volcanoes, left me breathless with anxiety and unable to put my book down.
Six down and I still love these books!
Back to Scotland
Addicted
(4.5) i feel guilty not giving this 5 stars since i really do love Dunnett's writing, but i just haven't been finding Nicholas riveting this time around. possibly i find the books less opaque and thus less mysterious and compelling now i'm older - i'm sure i didn't get the gay implications when reading the earlier books as a teenager. please god this doesn't happen when i reread Lymond. it's terribly sad when you grow out of favourite writers.
The sheer destructive force of the game Gelis and Nicholas play leaves me gaping at the pages.
I'm glad I have the next two books at hand!
I'm glad I have the next two books at hand!
This series has yet to fully redeem itself from the end of the fourth book. The best part of this book is that the worst part of this series has possibly ended. That being the incredibly annoying, boring, aggravating, and stupid feud between Nicholas and Gelis. These books are generally enjoyable when not having to trudge through that misery of writing. Maybe the final two books will justify the previous two.
The story was 626 pages of names I couldn't pronounce, and phrases in several 'Non-English' forms. However, as a set of tapes made the 31 1/4 hour read do able. The two prime characters wasted at least five years of their lives. I shot 30+ hours for a tale that I wish had been a short story as the tale wasn't bad. It felt like work.
The book starts with a husband kidnapping his two-year-old son from his wife after his wife hid the child from his father. Certainly not a love story. The "war" between the parents is silly. Although the book travels over a few years and many countries, the characters are just not very likable,resulting in an unsatisfactory read.
No-one could ever accuse Dunnett's work as being an 'easy read'. Blink, miss one line, and you'll be lost.
I adore the way she writes - a rare talent - but be prepared for work.
Loved the story.
I adore the way she writes - a rare talent - but be prepared for work.
Loved the story.
Nicholas is one of the most complex characters in fiction. There is simply nothing predictable in the plots of these books. The historical detail is incredible. One cannot read them quickly because of the intricacies but then when one ends you find yourself wanting to immediately start the next one...
So I finished this late last night, although I was still exhausted from my recent vacation. But Niccoló was in Iceland so I couldn't stop reading. And then that ending, nothing could've prepared me for it. This was the best yet, but I still have to read the last two books so I might change my mind.
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.
This volume finds Niccolo working on a thousand little plans, adventuring in spurts, looking out for his beloved young son and finally winding up the destructive competition with his wife. But at what cost?!
I'm still to stunned to comment. I was not prepared for who the villian/s turned out to be. Didn't love this book as much as the others, but Dunnett's skill remains unsurpassed. ...on to the next.
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Dorothy Dunnett OBE was a Scottish historical novelist. She is best known for her six-part series about Francis Crawford of Lymond, The Lymond Chronicles, which she followed with the eight-part prequel The House of Niccolò. She also wrote a novel about the real Macbeth called King Hereafter (1982), and a series of mystery novels centred around Johnson Johnson, a portrait painter/spy.
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Aug 04, 2012 08:42am