Game of Kings -- Sassenach Musings

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 06:01:08 03/18/06 Sat
Author: Syl
Subject: Game of Kings

I know these books are definitely read by a lot of hosers! This was sent in by Christy. Thanks, lass!

TITLE: The Game of Kings

AUTHOR: Dorothy Dunnett

GENRE: Historical fiction

Amazon says: �The Game of Kings, the first story in The Lymond Chronicles, sets the stage for what will be a sweeping saga filled with passion, courage, and the endless fight for freedom.

The setting is 1547, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Francis Crawford of Lymond returns to the country despite the charge of treason hanging over his head. Set on redeeming his reputation, he leads a company of outlaws against England as he fights for the country he loves so dearly.

Dangerous, quick-witted, and utterly irresistible, Lymond is pure pleasure to watch as he traverses 16th-century Scotland in search of freedom. The Game of Kings is a must-have for the historical romance connoisseur.�

I picked this book up after reading the Outlander books, simply because it was set in Scotland, and not modern. It�s an entirely different feel from Outlander, more as if Colum was the hero� and physically able. For any of those that liked Bonnett, here�s a chance to fall in love with a dashing, blond rogue.

This book is full of literary quotes, as Lymond is well-educated, and loves having the last word in an encounter. For those that must look up foreign quotes, be prepared to do lots of looking up, as they are NOT translated in this book.

About the character: He is classically swash-buckling, and only once (in this book) gets emotionally tied to the person he is dealing with. Very aloof and a noble character!

I am currently reading book 2 (Queen�s Play). He is your typical rogue, though the depths of his loyalties are tested time and again � and you never really KNOW where those loyalties truly lie until the end.

The plot and machinations are twisted beyond belief � both by Lymond and his political opponents. NOT a light read � but a good one.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Hope this is ok....have a small question....I'm on page 50 or so and find it ever so intriguing, but will I like Lymond if I do NOT like Stephen Bonnett in the least? --

KathrynB, 16:33:14 03/19/06 Sun

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Me too! 20 years ago, a close friend was absolutely hooked on these books and they've been on my back burner ever since. I can't stand Stephen Bonnet. I wanted the shithead to drown s-l-o-w-l-y. Will I like Francis Crawford anyway? -- Lemora, 21:59:32 03/19/06 Sun

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Lemora and Kathryn - Dinna fash! I absolutely loved the entire "Lymond Chronicles" series. I must say that I would never think to compare Lymond and Bonnett! They're both blonde, but that's about it! *g* I've never been a Bonnett fan - he's an amoral sociopath and I've never found him attractive or charming in the least, but Lymond is one of my all-time favorite literary characters - throughout the entire series he ends up demonstrating an amazing capacity for love and selflessness. -- sl, 10:06:03 03/20/06 Mon

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> Thanks so much, Syl! I am verra relieved! --

KathrynB, 10:31:02 03/20/06 Mon

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> LOL, sorry, Kathryn, 'twas not me! -- Syl, 16:21:34 03/21/06 Tue

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> [> [> [> Oh duh, made up a "y" in there ;) --

KathrynB, 17:55:11 03/21/06 Tue

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> I was simply comparing their physical appearances, and their lack of 'following the rules', nothing else!!! :) -- Green Dragon (Christy), 13:52:48 03/21/06 Tue

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> I've been trying to get these books at book shops for ages, looks like I'll have to do some on line shopping. -- Margy, 14:53:56 03/24/06 Fri

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> I just bought this book and have been verra dissapointed. I am an avid reader, but having said that, I have to say that I got to about page 75 and could go no further. There are so many charachters that I could not keep them straight. Perhaps if I had cared more about what they were doing I could have. The language is extremely difficult to read (IMHO), and I just couldn't slop through it. Sorry! -- Lauren Carter, 11:28:13 04/10/06 Mon

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Re: Lymond Chronicles -- SamiaM, 10:45:24 04/14/06 Fri

I did all the Lymond books in the summer of 1995--with several friends urging me on. I must admit I didn't care for Francis all that much--someone described him as "emminently slappable" and I heartlily agree!

But I was a literature major in college, and I REALLY wanted to know what all the quotations were--I could translate some of the French, but that was about all. However--there is a book written by a woman named Morrison that may still be available in England--I "persauded" a friend to bring it to me from London several years ago--that is very similar to The Outlandish Companion, tho' not compiled by the author. It may take time to find, but it's worth it. Aha, so that's what the arrogant Scot was saying!--Oh, that applies to Jamie, too, sometimes. Now if I had my 'druthers as to who the spend the weekend with . . .

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]

[> Based on the 'those who loved it' reviews on this board I am one of those who didn't and couldn't get past the first couple of chapters...guess it falls under the category of one man's meat is another man's poison... -- Sara G., 17:15:15 04/30/06 Sun

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]
[ Edit | View ]