To Lie with Lions: Book Six of The House of Niccolo

By Dorothy Dunnett

The sixth volume in the popular The House of Niccolo series, this vivid novel of the 15th century centers on Nicholas vander Poele who, in 1471, is acclaimed by all the great courts of Europe, but whose personal life is tumultuous. He and his passionate rival--his wife--embark on a deadly competition for control of their mutual destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 11, 2010
• ISBN: 9780307762429

Reviews for To Lie with Lions

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We are now deeper into the fifteenth century. The year is 1471 and Nicholas de Fluery is insistent on climbing to the top of the mercantile empire but as usual he has competition with the other "lions" of industry and he has bigger and more personal problems closer to home. Niccolo kidnaps the child he believes is his flesh and blood away from his estranged wife, Gelis. This becomes a 15th century "war of the roses" when Nicholas and Gelis spar back and forth for control over their son. They have been at odds since their wedding night so both are skilled at harming each other and take great pleasure in it.The title of the book comes from Nicholas's skillful ability to play both sides of the game. For a while he literally serves two different kings at the same time.

[kmdelmara-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the whole series!

[jkdavies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Iceland one, although on re-reading I was surprised that Iceland made up ~20% of the book. Here, Nicholas picks up his Scottish plans after his two years promised hands off period is over. He seems to be building a home for his family, making a nativity play for King James, and fencing with Gelis, whom he has graciously allowed to join him ad their son Jodi. King James and Burgundy and France are all playing politics, and in the middle, Nicholas sails to Iceland to load up on stockfish, there's a rivalry with a ship of the Vatachino, but mostly because he wanted to go there. He gets more than he bargained for when Katla explodes. We are supposed to believe this experience changes Nicholas, but there's not a lot of evidence for it. 
At the denouement, Gelis believes she has one over Nicholas, and announces she has been working for the Vatachino firm all along. Nicholas is willing to let her believe she is the victor, and therefore a good match for him; but Jordan de Riberac takes pleasure in pointing out that Nicholas deliberately misled her as he knew this already. The marriage seems to be completely over.

[yarrow_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dorothy Dunnett is really testing her readers now! How much can you enjoy a book when you like the main character less and less? Turns out, quite a lot :) I started this book pro-Nicholas and anti-Gelis, and by the end I was a lot more pro-Gelis, and, while not exactly anti-Nicholas, I felt like he had to make some amends, just like everyone else! The ending was great, I didn't see Gelis's revelation coming, but I kind of guessed that Nicholas would be on top of it.This was the first time I got the sense that Dunnet is hurling Nicholas around Europe to have him witness significant events of the period, but that said, I really loved the Iceland bits, more than anything that happened in Scotland, I just wished they were more of the book.I've already started 'Caprice and Rondo'. I haven't enjoyed the last two books as much as the four before them, but I'm desperate to find out what's been going on all this time, so I'm ploughing on! I hope the form picks up a bit, though.