Checkmate: Book Six in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles

By Dorothy Dunnett

For the first time Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles are available in the United States in quality paperback editions.

Sixth in the legendary Lymond Chronicles, Checkmate takes place in 1557, where Francis Crawford of Lymond is once again in France, leading an army against England. But even as the Scots adventurer succeeds brilliantly on the battlefield, his haunted past becomes a subject of intense interest to forces on both sides.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 11, 2010
• ISBN: 9780307762290

Reviews for Checkmate

[herenya_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If Lymond serves the King of France for a year in his wars, his marriage will be annulled. I don’t like absolutely every detail in Checkmate nor do I think it’s the most impressive of the series -- Maybe that honour goes to The Disorderly Knights? -- but, oh! how I loved it! It was so satisfying to get progress on -- and then, resolution to -- longstanding problems and mysteries. In particular, to get more answers regarding what is going on in Lymond’s head and his heart -- these books have mostly allows its protagonist to keep his distance and his secrets, and more often referred to him as “Lymond” than by his given- or family-name. But here there are conversations like the one in which Lymond says: “[...] You asked me a question, and I think we have come to the place where I must answer it. For one thing, you are being hurt. And for another… as you see… I seem to be losing the knack of concealing things from you.’”Which brings me to what I loved the most -- how this book tackles a growing romantic relationship between two intelligent people who challenge and respect and and complement and care about each other, even when they have understandable reasons for keeping their distance. And by “keeping their distance”, I mean planning to annul their marriage of convenience. Two people who have the potential to build an equal partnership.This the longest audiobook I’ve ever listened to, at 29 hours. I love David Monteath’s narration but at some point during the final section, I switched to the ebook because I was so desperate to find out what happened.There are a few points where I was like “DOROTHY HOW DARE YOU” -- although one event turned out to be not as terrible as it first appeared, and for another, I appreciated how sensitively Dunnett (and the characters involved) handled the aftermath of trauma, so these moments didn’t outweigh everything else I loved.“It’s my turn to beg your pardon. I only wanted to assure you that I have nothing to tender but friendship. But if you want it, there is a great deal of that, going cheaply.”He slowed, with the intention perhaps of confronting her. But on second thoughts he said only, “Then the cost should not be beyond me. The pledge, without Latreia or Douleia, is simple friendship?” He had begun once again to walk briskly.Rousing herself: “The pledge,” said Philippa, tartly, “is friendship. Simplicity is not, you will agree, one of your prominent attributes.”

[jkdavies · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

And so, this series comes to an end, Lymond and Philippa are in France ostensibly pursuing their divorce, and Philippa was pursuing the truth of Lymonds birth. Painful in places, with familial confrontations, and loving the wrong, or the right people.
Oh, there's a story about the French campaign to retake Calais, Lymond hoping to get back to Russia, but the personal comes very much to the fore here.
High romance, thwarted love, high ideals and low consequences. a fitting end Beuatiful.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you have been keeping track, by the end of The Ringed Castle Francis Crawford of Lymond had returned to Scotland from Russia and it had been revealed he had actually killed his own son. Also at the end of Ringed Castle Lymond was trying to return to Russia while still married to Philippa, but by the end of Ringed Castle it was obvious (at least to me) the relationship between them was changing. There were even hints of romance blossoming for Philippa. Maybe that was a spoiler alert for Checkmate?Anyway, when we begin Checkmate the year is 1557. Francis Crawford of Lymond is back in France, now as the comte de Sevigny, leading an army against England. Despite his best efforts to divorce Philippa, their marriage continues to used as political leverage and control his inability to return to Russia. He is ordered to fight for the French for one year before his marriage can be annulled. Philippa's feelings for her husband continue to evolve slowly as she is still insistent on learning the truth of his parentage. It's this dark secret that introduces the character of astrologer ("yon pisse-pot prophet") Nostradamus to the plot. Note: Each chapter starts with a prophesy of Nostradamus in old French. It isn't necessary to have them translated to enjoy the story.

[lxydis-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unbelievably tense and brilliant, full of plot twists and drama, ending to Lymond! Very hard to resist skipping ahead to see what happens, but try to, as the payoff is fantastic.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not as grim as some, but still has gross moments, notably the death of a villain while in the act of raping the heroine

[eohna · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have waited until I finished this magnificent series to review it, all I can say is- I wish there were more writers like Lady Dunnett. From the first meeting with the brilliant, and sardonic Francis Crawford of Lymond to the unexpected end of an epic journey filled with intrigue and as many murders as broken hearts, I for one was completely ensnared. The writing is deep and for many I imagine rather difficult to follow, it is clear that the authoress really knew what she was writing about. She manages to weave in unexpected twists with them seeming overdone and portrays the torment in Lymond's soul without making him whiny and unbearable. The romance is there but these books are not about a nobleman's string of conquests, it's about a veritable Lucifer who can't stop people from loving him. From his own family and a young protege, to a doomed archer and the mistress of a powerful noble, a knight who has lost his faith, or the young daughter of one of his best friends, Lymond tries to protect everyone dear to him in the machinations of half a dozen courts and nearly succeeds. It is the best historical fiction series I have ever read and I salute Lady Dunnett for her skill, wit, and knowledge. This is a true epic.

[vallloyd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Do I have to rate each different edition? Oh well. Checkmate is the culmination of the underlying story line of Lymond's growth into his massive and varied talents. It also ends speculation on a more prominent story line running through the series. The real Lymond is unveiled to an extent, though of course he is mostly hidden in all his literary allusions and obscure, untranslated quotes.If you haven't read this one yet be warned do not give up at the very end, try to not throw the book across the room and have plenty of tissues handy. Oh I hope I didn't ruin the surprises. BUT the most important advice is no matter how much you are tempted to DO NOT READ the end until you get there. In some books it matters not in this one it does, a lot!!

[benbennetts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Early in this book, Lymond is cornered in the streets of Lyon by various people intent on murdering him. With his companion Philippa Somerville he embarks on a high-speed chase through the streets and over the rooftops, involving extreme physical danger, courage, agility and a healthy measure of quick-witted verbal assaults on his attackers.It's a throwback to a similar episode in "Queens' Play", but it's also a fair metaphor for the whole Lymond series. As a reader, I spent much of my time feeling rather like Philippa - pitchforked into situations of which I had no experience; forced to keep up by finding a mental toughness and agility I didn't know I possessed.This is the epitome of great historical fiction. Dunnett doesn't stop to explain anything; she makes few concessions to a modern readership's sensibilities; but she invites us into the sparkling, complex, contradictory world of the mid-sixteenth century, and shows us exactly what made that world tick. And in the process, she shows us a lot about what we too are capable of achieving.I tend to read this book when I need to walk taller, when I need to achieve the impossible.

[misfit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Checkmate opens as Lymond and his band of mercenaries leave England behind and travel to France to serve the French King in his battles with King Phillip. As Lymond is still set upon returning to Russia King Henri offers Lymond the annulment from Philippa that he desperately wants if he serves France for one year - if he doesn't Henri will do all in his power to block the annulment forever. Philippa comes to France to serve as lady in waiting to the young Mary Queen of Scotts, and continues her investigation into who actually parented Lymond and Marthe, as Lymond starts his own separate inquiry into his parentage. The story unfolds amidst the pageantry of the French Court as it prepares for the wedding of Queen Mary to the Dauphin of France, and Philippa and Lymond struggle to deny the love they have come to feel for each other. Lymond and Philippa's adventures take them from the domicile of the deceased Dame de Doubtance, to a wild chase through the back streets of a French town (loved it!), until Philippa's quest to obtain the proof of Lymond's birth before it's sold to the evil Margaret Lennox and culminates in a disastrous encounter for Philippa that tears Philippa and Lymond apart and almost destroys any chance they have for happiness together. As with the first five books in the series, Francis Crawford is a fascinating hero, and is as suave, debonair, flawed and fascinating as only a 16th Century version of James Bond could be. This was a rock-solid finish to a fabulous series, and it was wonderful to see the return of Jerrott and Marthe, along with more of Lymond's mother Sybilla and his brother Richard. I most especially enjoyed the mature and grown up Philippa who stole every scene and was a perfect foil for Lymond. My only complaints are the return of the French and Latin without translations as was found in the first book, and thumbs down to the publisher for not including a cast of characters as they did in the first four, this was a complex tale with many characters coming and going and that would have been greatly appreciated.

[motkeen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This amazing series required all of me, body, mind and soul. Embark when you have the time, there will be nothing else.