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A review by lauralann
Scales of Gold by Dorothy Dunnett
5.0
All I could think and write after finishing the book was, pretty much: DOROTHY. IS THIS ALLOWED
And after checking the book like ten times to make sure I wasn't imagining things (THAT ENDING), and breathing in deeply I think I have managed to find the thoughts I had about the whole book rather than just the last chapter(s). SO.
To me this book definetely stands out from the previous of the series. I may have preferred the political machinations and schemes and characters (yes i mean zacco) from Cyprus, but in Scales of Gold we finally see something I had been missing rather a lot, which is a sight of Nichola's mind. Now, I don't mean that we didn't have the narration from his point of view before, we did, but I felt very isolated from him in a way that I never did with Lymond. I think this has to do with Dunnett's skills as an unreliable narrator which she has to my opinion definetely improved (even though that seemed impossible?). So it was very rewarding to finally see where Nicholas stands, not so much his ambitions and plans but his growth as a person (the very much needed reminder that he was NOT
a grown man till quite recently) and the state of his emotional wellbeing (which, sigh).
I can absolutely not finish this review without mentioning Diniz. DINIZ. Thank god for him. Honestly the cast of side characters in the previous books was a bit lacking to my tastes (a doctor, an old mercenary and a PRIEST??? a priest???? gregorio you're perfect we're thrilled you're here. and julius just amuses me so much that i have to love him lol), but Diniz adds so much heart to the party, I am very glad for him.
(also, can i say just how much i am loving the whole found family trope??? and how much it differs from lymond's fraught family ties. nicholas's realization of the affection that there's around him FOR him made me very soft and tender)
And after checking the book like ten times to make sure I wasn't imagining things (THAT ENDING), and breathing in deeply I think I have managed to find the thoughts I had about the whole book rather than just the last chapter(s). SO.
To me this book definetely stands out from the previous of the series. I may have preferred the political machinations and schemes and characters (yes i mean zacco) from Cyprus, but in Scales of Gold we finally see something I had been missing rather a lot, which is a sight of Nichola's mind. Now, I don't mean that we didn't have the narration from his point of view before, we did, but I felt very isolated from him in a way that I never did with Lymond. I think this has to do with Dunnett's skills as an unreliable narrator which she has to my opinion definetely improved (even though that seemed impossible?). So it was very rewarding to finally see where Nicholas stands, not so much his ambitions and plans but his growth as a person (the very much needed reminder that he was NOT
a grown man till quite recently) and the state of his emotional wellbeing (which, sigh).
Spoiler
Now, for Gelis and that ending, I am making a note here for myself just to see how utterly wrong I am when I read the next books, but I think that her position is not as contemptuous as may appear? What I mean by this is that I think I understand where she is coming from, and it is definitely not only revenge. I think it is true that, due to what they both experienced together, Nicholas is the other part of her mould, that she needs someone that carries their expreiences, and so with that longing that we knew she felt towards him, the only option she could think of was to marry him, which she must have thought unforgivable to her sister, and thus the only thing she thought to do was the awful thing she did :( I don't know, I really liked her character and am very much looking forward to see where she goes. And I would only trust Dunnett to handle a female character in this position and in this historical setting (can you imagine a male author even ATTEMPTING THIS. i have to laugh) But honestly, the fact that Nicholas tells her he loves her..... HEARTS BROKEN ALL AROUND MINE MOST OF ALL ;.;I can absolutely not finish this review without mentioning Diniz. DINIZ. Thank god for him. Honestly the cast of side characters in the previous books was a bit lacking to my tastes (a doctor, an old mercenary and a PRIEST??? a priest???? gregorio you're perfect we're thrilled you're here. and julius just amuses me so much that i have to love him lol), but Diniz adds so much heart to the party, I am very glad for him.
(also, can i say just how much i am loving the whole found family trope??? and how much it differs from lymond's fraught family ties. nicholas's realization of the affection that there's around him FOR him made me very soft and tender)