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A review by brandypainter
The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett
2.0
I wanted to love this book but it and I just didn't click. It seemed like the perfect book for me when I heard about it. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and I love books with a good anti-hero. My very first research paper I wrote for high school I wrote on Mary Queen of Scots and I took a class on the Tudors and Stuarts one semester in college. This book seemed tailor made for me but I just could not get into it..
The historical setting of the book is marvelously written and the characters are interesting for the most part, when you can understand them. I was frustrated by all of the Spanish, French and Latin scattered through the book. It hampered my enjoyment of Lymond's personality because I could not understand half of what he was saying. The plot started off slow and consisted, at first, of nothing but caper after caper showcasing Lymond's brilliance. By the end of the book I was thoroughly annoyed with the man and could have cared less whether or not he was successful in his ultimate goal. He was almost a little too clever, jaded and cynical for my taste.
Because I wanted to like these books so much I started reading the second in the series when I finished this one and I had to stop. I just couldn't take it anymore. I will try to come back to them eventually but for now Lymond and I are saying adieu.
The historical setting of the book is marvelously written and the characters are interesting for the most part, when you can understand them. I was frustrated by all of the Spanish, French and Latin scattered through the book. It hampered my enjoyment of Lymond's personality because I could not understand half of what he was saying. The plot started off slow and consisted, at first, of nothing but caper after caper showcasing Lymond's brilliance. By the end of the book I was thoroughly annoyed with the man and could have cared less whether or not he was successful in his ultimate goal. He was almost a little too clever, jaded and cynical for my taste.
Because I wanted to like these books so much I started reading the second in the series when I finished this one and I had to stop. I just couldn't take it anymore. I will try to come back to them eventually but for now Lymond and I are saying adieu.