If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll probably remember that I read (and loved) Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles earlier this year. I read the sixth and final book in the series in April and was planning to wait a bit longer before I started the House of Niccolò series, but in the end I couldn’t resist the temptation.
The House of Niccolò books were written after the Lymond Chronicles but are set in an earlier period (the 15th century rather than the 16th) and there are some links between the two series. Niccolò Rising, as the title suggests, follows our hero Nicholas as he begins to rise in the world to become a successful merchant and courier. And that’s really all I can tell you about the story. It has so many different layers and is so complex, intricate and cleverly plotted that I wouldn’t know where to begin writing any kind of summary. It’s also difficult to know how much I can say without spoiling things for future readers; if you started reading this book without knowing anything at all about it, it’s possible that you might not even be able to tell at first who the main protagonist of the series is going to be, as Nicholas goes by a different name for the first half of the book.
This book, like all the other Dorothy Dunnett novels I’ve read, was not the easiest of reads but in my opinion it was definitely worth making a bit of extra effort. I did find myself feeling completely confused on many occasions while I was reading, but some of my questions had been answered by the end of the book and the rest I’m hoping will become clearer later in the series or on a re-read. The biggest problem I had was trying to keep the characters straight in my mind. There are over one hundred of them listed in the character list at the front of the book (many of them are real historical figures) though with even the help of the list I still couldn’t seem to keep track of them all! The historical setting for this story is not one that I’m at all familiar with (the world of trade, banking and politics in Flanders and Italy in the 15th century), but I enjoyed learning more about it. Bruges, where a lot of the action in the book takes place, is somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a long time and it has now moved even higher on my list.
All the time I was reading this book I was trying my best not to compare it with the Lymond Chronicles or Nicholas with Francis Crawford but really it was almost impossible not to. So the question is, as an introduction to the series did I like this book as much as the first Lymond book, The Game of Kings? The answer is no. The writing style is quite different and I didn’t find it as much fun to read. I was enjoying it enough to be in no doubt that I would keep reading to the end, but it never quite reached ‘unputdownable’ status. Nicholas, I suppose, could be considered more instantly likeable than Lymond (though it soon becomes obvious there’s a lot more going on behind his seemingly cheerful exterior than anybody realises) but he hasn’t quite won me over yet; we’ll see how I feel about him when I get further into the series.
When I came to the end of this book I didn’t feel compelled to immediately pick up the next one the way I did with the Lymond Chronicles, but I will definitely be continuing with the series. A copy of The Spring of the Ram is already waiting on my shelf.
She Reads Novels 
I started this series first and later moved to Lymond and had the exact reaction to the characters but in reverse. Now I find it hard to pick between the two. You are correct – I think Niccolo is an even more challenging read than Lymond – the payoff is just as great! Enjoy!
I definitely found this book more challenging but that might have been partly because it took me a while to get used to the different style. I’ll have to read this one again eventually, as I’m sure things will make more sense the second time around.
I prefer the Lymond books myself, though I read & enjoyed the Nicholas books – especially the first two. I love Marian de Charetty.
I liked her too. I found it difficult to really connect with most of the characters in this book, but she was one of my favourites.
I love the Niccolo books, more than the Lymond ones, in fact, although King Hereafter is my favorite of all. I think the harder Dunnett makes me work, the more I like the result.
I’m saving King Hereafter for last, but I’m looking forward to it. I don’t mind having to work at a book – as you say, the result can be very rewarding.
Do visit Bruges – it’s lovely. If you have the video “In Bruges” the inside of the place that they claim is the basilica of the Holy Blood is, in fact, the Jerusalemkirk. The Dorothy Dunnett Society has produced a guide to Bruges, based on the books (warning though: it contains spoilers as it refers to events in later books than Niccolo Rising), which is very useful if you’re a Dunnett fan visiting. You can get it on the website (dunnettcentral.org) or from Amazon.
Thanks for letting me know about the guide. I’ll bear it in mind if and when I do decide to visit Bruges.
I was in Bruges for lunch last Tuesday. My 5th visit and the shortest yet. I once visited with a choir and got to sing a mass in one of the churches. The Jerusalemkirk is a must. A magical city. Miraculously preserved by economic failure.
Sorry Helen. This is not your comment.
I still don’t understand how my comment about Bruges got to be credited to Helen. Must have clicked in the wrong place. Need new brain.
Don’t worry about it, Ann! WordPress does strange things sometimes. I’m glad to hear so many positive comments about Bruges. I definitely need to go!
I loved the Lymond books so much. I think I’m saving the Niccolo books so that I’ll have something to look forward to.
That might be a good idea, Susan. I was trying to do the same but couldn’t wait any longer!
Lymond will always be the one I return to but I think you’ll find more and more drawn to Claes as time goes by. I didn’t particularly notice a difference in writing style. Both series are filled with gorgeous imagery and rich characters. Tell us what you see as the difference in writing.
I found the writing more direct and straightforward, not necessarily better or worse but a slightly different feel overall, I thought. And yes, I’m hoping I’ll feel more drawn to Claes as I continue with the series.
I just fininshed the Lymond series for the 4th time and I acutally loved it more and found out more this time. I then started on Niccolo. I have had the whole series for years and could not get thru #1. Tried it again after my reread of Lymond and now just
started on book 5! Really Really a great read and was totally shocked by last page of 4.
I found Niccolo Rising more difficult to get through than The Game of Kings but once I got further into the series I started to love it. The end of book 4 is such a cliffhanger! I was shocked by it too. I hope you’re enjoying The Unicorn Hunt, which was one of my favourites.