To lie with lions

This novel is the sixth installment in the Lymond Chronicles, a historical fiction series following the adventures of Francis Crawford of Lymond. While each book has a self-contained plot, reading them in order is highly recommended to fully appreciate the character development and overarching political intrigue.

Dorothy Dunnett meticulously weaves historical figures and events into the narrative, with characters like Nicholas de Fleury interacting with actual historical personages of 15th-century Europe. The political landscape and many of the conflicts depicted are rooted in documented history.

The book is renowned for its intricate plotting, sophisticated prose, and the author's deep knowledge of the period, including details of diplomacy, warfare, and culture. Readers often praise its intellectual depth and the complex, often morally ambiguous, motivations of its characters.