To Lie with Lions: Book Six of The House of Niccolo

I was a bit disappointed with the previous two novels in the series, because I found them a bit to unplausible, but this book is a stunner!! We finally find out the result of the five year feud between Nicholas and Gelis, and the ending is still a cliff-hanger, but it does explain a few things.and gets us hyped up for the seventh book in the series. Ms. Dunnett is an excellent author. Yes, the history is good, but don't get into this series just for that. It's entirely too complicated and the continuous plot is a brain stretcher. I found that I actually started to like Nicholas in this book, and I really haven't before. He is a brilliant manipulator, and his long term planning is incredible, but he is human after all. His friends and acquaintances are just as interesting. I love Tobie and was glad to see him back. He is such a foil for Nicholas and is almost like his conscience. Katelejna is wonderful, and we see more of her. I can't wait to read the next book.

This is the sixth book of the Niccolo series. Here, the plot centers on the center of Europe: The Duke of Burgundy and the King of France and the King of Scotland: Nicholas serves them all to achieve success for his grand plan.The competition between Gelis and Nicholas continues, only this time she lives with Nicholas in Scotland and their son, Jodi. Living together does not mean the race is over, only that it intensifies. The outcome will soon be revealed!In this chapter, the author continues her description of Scotland, but also of Greenland and the great market for Cod that exists between this country and the great Hanse Merchants of Germany. Once again, Nicholas is able to beat his competitors and gain more wealth. More descriptions of new places, new people and customs and all told with incredible with and knowledge. I can't wait to read the seventh chapter....

This is an amazing series. At times I think the history is the best part of it - you must stop to check up on Trebizond, or Cyprus, try to untangle what Brugges is, figure out the connection between James III of Scotland and the later Jameses - the 15th century springs to life in Dunnett's hands. And besides the history, Dunnett creates incredible characters, with Nicholas at the center, complex genius that he is. (In what guise does Nicholas live today?) Kathi Sersanders, the lively spirit who best understands him, represents the best of us, admiring and loving, and his son Jodi seems as familiar as all of our own children. Dr Tobias, the doubting and brilliant foil of Nicholas, is a magnificent creation, (and another way to represent the reader at his/her best). Okay, so it's a (long long long) soap opera, but you just can't go wrong: at the end you have Nicholas and his loyal band to dream of, and nearly a whole century of history that you never knew existed. Sign me up for the Dorothy Dunnett tour of the world!

As with all Dorothy Dunnett's books, you need to start at the beginning of the series. If you don't, then "To Lie With Lions" won't make much sense. The personalities with their rich background and convoluted associations won't have any context and the threads that weave backwards, forwards, will just be a tangled mess. But....read in sequence, the unbelieveable complexity, the mystery, the totally involving history of the characters springs to life. I guess it doesn't happen to everyone who reads Ms Dunnett's books - but for me she is numero uno and a lifelong love.

Have just finished the sixth volume of Dorothy Dunnett's House of Niccolo series, and I'm going through withdrawls. An accomplished portrait painter, she paints a vivid, detailed, portrait of Europe at the birth of the Renaissance. Set thirty years before Columbus sails, this series is packed with complex compelling characters, cut-throat political intrigue, pageturning action, witty dialog and narrative, and one of the most unique love stories ever to grace a novel. I heartily endorse all of the books in the series, and anything else the author writes. To Lie with Lions is the sixth episode in the life of Nicholas de Fleury a true Renaissance man. A former dye shop apprentice, he has used his genius ,charm and bravado to accumulate wealth, respect and a loyal following of friends and associates. He also makes deadly enemies. Traveling from Edinbourgh to Byzantium, Africa to Iceland; he takes advantage of every opportunity he can devise, to outmanouver the competion. He is driven by personal demons to succeed at all costs. To Lie with Lions was slightly less satisfying than some of the others in the series, so I rate it a nine. I'm hoping that with the re-release of the author' s earlier series, that perhaps the earlier volumes of this set will also be re-published as they are difficult to get. I await with bated breath the next installment in this series.