Reviews

The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett

softieghost's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Holy shit

The more I think about this book the more I like it. Sweeping and incredibly intelligent narration, beautiful and funny tone, and a main character I am now fully obsessed with. I'm rotating Lymond in my mind, examining him...

audalia's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

wybohoukes's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

amlibera's review against another edition

5.0

I have come to the conclusion that one reads Dorothy Dunnett's books primarily for the purpose of being given the pleasure of re-reading them. This is my third time through and so many scenes and moments are now in my memory that I somehow missed entirely in readings one and two. Not even her best but still brilliant with characters and incident.

sapphiredreamssmall's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

spiderelsa's review against another edition

This reads like a historical account, and I'm not in that headspace. It's still in my Kindle account, so I may come back to it. 

hierophantical's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

krobart's review against another edition

5.0

If you love an authentic, well-researched, exciting historical novel that makes you almost feel like you are in the period, then I can’t recommend a better author than Dorothy Dunnett. I have been trying to get people to read her for years with the caveat that her books are challenging, not for the reader of light romantic history. In among the action of cattle raids, impersonations, intrigues, duels, and archery contests, you actually learn a lot about Scottish history and politics.
Game of Kings is Dunnett’s first book, and my only criticism of it is that Francis Crawford of Lymond is a bit too fond of quoting poetry in antique languages. Most of it is incomprehensible unless you are a medieval scholar, but skipping over it does not hurt your understanding of the novel.

See my complete review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-game-of-kings/

lauriestein's review against another edition

5.0

the historical detail - the clever dialogue - the myriad references - the tragic romantic hero - the angst - so wonderful.

ETA: reread September 2010

cimorene1558's review against another edition

5.0

There's historical fiction, and then there's Dorothy Dunnett, who's head and shoulders above anyone else's historical fiction. Lymond is possibly my favourite fictional character ever, and these are quite definitely among my favourite books ever.