Author:Dorothy Dunnett
The exquisitely-researched standalone prequel series to Dorothy Dunnett's revered Lymond Chronicles, following the ancestors of Francis Crawford of Lymond in Continental Europe.
Gemini is Book Eight in The House of Niccolo series.
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'Landing in Berwick that wild, February day, Nicholas de Fleury had known that he was mad to come back to Scotland, but that it had to be done.'
The winter of 1477 is coming to a close as Nicholas, his fortunes restored, returns to the country he nearly ruined to make amends and to settle old scores - and is immediately set upon by assassins.
Yet it is not long before he is established at the court of King James III, using his wits and wiles to help steer the kingdom through the storms of trade and war ravaging the continent.
With his wife Gelis once more by his side, Nicholas knows a reckoning must be made with his estranged family as the final loose strands of his story entwine together in the concluding volume of the House of Niccolo.
'An extraordinary achievement' Daily Telegraph
Praise for Dorothy Dunnett
A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention
—— - , The New York TimesMarvellous, breathtaking
—— - , The TimesA masterpiece of historical fiction
—— - , Washington PostOne of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas
—— - , Cleveland Plain DealerLashings of excitement, colour and subtlety
—— - , The TimesVivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction
—— - , New York TimesDunnett's legion of devoted readers will need no recommendation to buy Gemini. They would, I imagine, walk barefoot to the bookshop over broken glass to get it ... Anyone reading this novel, even as an introduction to Dunnett's work will, I suspect, join that band of admirers
—— - , Sunday TimesSuperb. A perfect mix of humour, heart and insight
—— Gavin Extence, bestselling author of The Universe Versus Alex WoodExcellent . . . beautifully and sensitively written, you will enjoy every sentence
—— Living EdgeDon Tillman is surely one of the most recognisable, distinctive narrators in modern fiction ... While this book is deeper and more thought-provoking than the first, there are many moments of humour and unexpected joy ... Uplifting, eye-opening and definite food for thought on whether we need to adapt to the world, or whether something the world is a better place in accommodating us as we are
—— My WeeklyUpLit novels to light up your life
—— Red OnlineEntertaining and thought-provoking
—— BookTribWhat is normal, and who among us gets to decide what is? Or is it enough to simply be comfortable in one's own skin? These are the heavy questions at the crux of this lighthearted book about identity and the consequences of seeing other people through the lens of labels
—— San Francisco ChronicleThe message of inclusiveness and embracing differences is lovely. In the end, The Rosie Result is about learning to be comfortable with who you are
—— National Public RadioBehind all the steady wit and the rolling jokes, this is a thoughtful and provocative novel. [Readers] will love it as much as they did The Rosie Project
—— Sydney Morning HeraldPraise for The Rosie Project Series
—— :Compulsively readable. A poignant, universal story about how best to reconcile head and heart
—— ObserverSublime, pitch-perfect, extremely funny
—— IndependentBrilliant, important, good-hearted
—— GuardianExuberantly life-affirming
—— Sunday TimesThe book offers a touching and intelligent insight into autism, while Don's hilarious escapades keep the laughs coming
—— Morecambe VisitorAll three books in Simsion's series made me laugh out loud and were wonderfully endearing, genuine and open-hearted - everything I look for in a story
—— Post (Bristol)Brilliant, important, good-hearted
—— GuardianWho doesn’t love an offbeat love story? This one explores second chances, missteps and the importance of human connection. A touching celebration of the differences that make us all unique
—— Roisin Kelly , Sunday Times Style magazineA cracker… Tyler’s touch is so assured you are held by every word… a pleasurable novel about intangible disappointments
—— Claire Allfree , MetroA pleasure to read. It’s fractured, sad, strange and beautiful at the same time – like unreal real life
—— Literary ReviewThe literary queen of family relationships
—— Sarah Gilmartin , Irish TimesTyler is an expert at writing about the human heart and relationships
—— UK Press SyndicationTyler has succeeded once more in lifting up what so often passes unseen in our lives and celebrating it
—— Philippa Williams , LadyNeatly observed, thoroughly well-meaning, sharply attuned
—— Private EyeAnne Tyler… is a remarkable writer. You might say she is like a landscape painter who keeps returning to the same scene in different weathers… her stories hold your interest and please because they are rooted in her curiosity about the way we live, feel and think. She is a masterly examiner of the unexamined life
—— Allan Massie , ScotsmanFull of insight and sympathy. It is also highly absorbing — partly because of Tyler’s evocative style (when Micah considers his past, he is “visited by a kind of translucent scarf of a memory floating down upon him”), but mostly because of the intimacy with which she depicts the workings of Micah’s heart and mind...a quiet revelation
—— Matthew Adams , Financial TimesIn wonderful prose, Tyler drills deep into a very ordinary life, familiar struggles, and a quiet heroism
—— David Hoyle , Church TimesAnne Tyler's masterful new novel asks what it might take for an unhappy man to change his life... her longevity means that her work has become a record of a certain kind of America, especially of "the dailiness of women's lives", for the past half century.
—— Benjamin Markovits , ProspectA quiet and beautiful story about human relationships, written with intent observation, empathy and humour
—— Citizen FemmeA timely reminder of what matters: kindness and love
—— Cressida Connolly , Spectator Books of the YearThis gloriously warm novel felt heaven-sent when it appeared in deepest lockdown
—— Anthony Cummins , Metro, *Christmas Gift Guide 2020*A new book from this wonderful writer is always a joy... Tyler packs feeling and insight into every single sentence
—— Joanne Finney , Good Housekeeping, *Books of the Year*I adored Redhead by the Side of the Road... It is so subtle, and so brilliant as are all Tyler's novels... Witty and warm, its only fault was that I wanted it to be twice as long!
—— Victoria Hislop , Daily Express, *Books of the Year*Tender and beautifully paced
—— Heather Martin , Daily Express, *Books of the Year*Compassionate and alert to the complexities in even the most ordinary lives, the book reminds us why, at 79, Tyler is held in such high regard
—— Claire Allfree , Daily Telegraph, *Books of the Year*The qualities that have long won Tyler admiration and affection - wry humour, shrewd perception, characters who leap off the page with authenticity - are in generous supply
—— Julia Durman , Sunday Times, *Books of the Year*You can't go wrong with Anne Tyler. She makes it look easy creating characters that feel so believable, so three-dimensional
—— Robbie Millen , The Times, *Books of the Year*Tyler engrosses with the 'and-thenand-then' of domestic detail
—— Rose Tremain , iI do think the world would probably be a better place if everyone read Anne Tyler . . . She's such a brilliantly empathetic writer - there's no 'them' and 'us' in Tyler's world - and she often writes from the perspective of the kind of people who you would walk past and barely notice in the street . . . Reading Tyler helps people to become better people, and I really fully believe that
—— Hadley Freeman , Good HousekeepingTyler's irresistibly readable 23rd novel follows Micah, a socially inept, OCD-ish IT man whose orderly life is turned upside down by the arrival of a son
—— Daily Telegraph Books of the YearTyler's affectionate and quietly observant novel reveals her deep empathy for the hidden struggles of everyday lives
—— Jane Shilling , Daily MailAnother shrewd yet kindly novel about the mysterious business of family life by one of the world's great writers
—— Reader's DigestA charmingly offbeat love story
—— Mail on Sunday, *Summer Reads of 2021*Bursting with vitality and variety, it's a tour de force . . . fizzes with the qualities – characters who almost leap off the page with authenticity, speech and body language wonderfully caught – that, for more than half a century, have won her such admiration and affection
—— Peter Kemp , Sunday TimesOne of the most influential writers of her generation . . . Her books are so irresistibly readable that it's startling to realise what technical marvels they often are
—— Philip Hensher , Daily TelegraphChuck envy, illicit passion and financial pressures into the pot and soon this carefully constructed broth is simmering to the boil
—— Cornish TimesFunny, clever and hilarious and the rest, an epic tale of an epic family, the Caseys
—— RTE GuideA wonderful story, filled with heartbreak, empathy and Keyes's trademark humour . . . You'll laugh, cry, and might even have your heart broken, but it's definitely worth it
—— IndependentA funny and thoughtful read
—— PrimaUp there with her best
—— Sunday ExpressA fabulous account of family and secrets, calling into question how civilised and "grown up" any of us actually are
—— Glamour UKA fabulous account of family and secrets
—— Glamour UKMarian Keyes nails the zeitgeist while handling a huge cast of characters with aplomb
—— Express and StarThe absolute queen of astute, moving and cracking-good-fun contemporary fiction returns
—— The SunDazzlingly brilliant
—— Dereham TimesBrilliant as ever
—— StellarIt's everything you could want in a Keyes book - funny, warm, tender and a complete page turner
—— The HandbookA witty and compassionate story of modern life and relationships
—— CandisAn entertaining, sharp read that peels back the layers and nuances which shape the realities of family life and being an adult. Humorous, heart-warming and relatable
—— StylistPacked with emotional turmoil, but is light on her trademark wry wit and acerbic humour
—— LuxeKeyes touches on the difficulties of broken relationships; eating disorders; emotional insecurity and other weighty subjects with her trademark humour and lightness of touch
—— Connaught TelegraphOur Marian is back! And Grown Ups is one of her best yet, creating another memorable family saga
—— StellarBrilliantly plotted family saga
—— Tracy Thorn, New StatesmanA warm-hearted and wise tale of a family in trouble. Packed full of sharp observations and laugh-out-loud lines
—— iHer writing just gets better and better . . . Grown Ups is funny and clever in the way it tackles addiction and eating disorders and the hurly burly of family life
—— Waitrose WeekendA sharp satire of family dynamics and the trappings of wealth. It is a delicious thing - light and dark at once, full of acid observations and warmth, and fully attuned to the absurdities of familial life
—— The Gentleman's JournalAn entertaining story of family dynamics packed with vibrant characters, humour and empathy
—— The Sunday TimesA sharp, wry tale about a seemingly happy family with contemporary problems . . . despite the traumas, you'll whizz through it with a smile on your face
—— Oxfordshire Limited EditionKeyes's captivating 14th novel tackles difficult issues with a sparkling style that makes it impossible to put down
—— Daily MailMarian Keyes is the most wonderful writer. She just gets better and better. She is a writer who believes in the best of us. She shows people's foibles but she also shows the love that binds us together in a very real way
—— Richard OsmanHer novels tackle hard subjects with such humour and warmth its impossible not to be drawn in
—— Jane Harper , Daily MailAnother high-definition family comedy. An intoxicating, effervescent and warm look at modern life
—— MetroA delightful and insightful examination of the modern family
—— Holly Bourne , BeastmagLaughter and tears intertwine, as ever, in the latest from our leading chronicler of the emotional messiness of contemporary life
—— GuardianThe strength of this book lies in its relatability factor - I laughed, cried, nodded in recognition and laughed again
—— Irish NewsShines a light on the frustrations and gripes of family life, while inviting us to laugh at the petty reality of it all
—— London LivingA book to fall into and while away hours with
—— Writers OnlineFunny, thought-provoking and hitting you right in the feels, Marian Keyes does it again
—— Red OnlineI loved this complex family drama . . . Keyes nails every character she touches while keeping it all so relevant
—— Jamie Klingler , iNewsPraise for Marian Keyes
—— -Mercilessly funny
—— The TimesEverything this woman touches turns to comic gold
—— CosmopolitanComic, convincing and true. The warmth and empathy of Keyes's writing shine through this tale of family secrets revealed.
—— Katy Guest , GuardianClever, hilarious, poignant . . . Gloriously funny
—— Sunday TimesWildly funny, romantic and nearly impossible to put down
—— Daily MailHer writing is a lovely mixture of funny and perceptive and bittersweet
—— Cressida CowellFull of brilliantly funny characters, genuine emotion and heaps of charm
—— HeatHer books are humorous and have the quality of a warm bath
—— The TimesClassic Marian Keyes: a blizzard of wit and wisecracks
—— The TimesKeyes is an international treasure. The ultimate choice for a binge read
—— StylistWhen it comes to writing page-turners that put a smile on your face and make you think, Keyes is in a class of her own
—— Daily ExpressFabulously entertaining. The queen of intelligent women's fiction
—— Sunday MirrorFull of darkness and light, this is Keyes at her classic and most brilliant best
—— RedKeyes writes about women who are absolutely themselves, even when society tries to insist they are something else
—— Irish TimesGlorious, life-affirming
—— Woman & HomeMarian's glorious, warm-hearted wit is always guaranteed to make me laugh on the very first page
—— Liane MoriartyThere is no finer writer than Marian Keyes
—— Rowan ColemanShe really is unparalleled when it comes to making serious points with the lightest of touches
—— The PoolHilariously wise
—— PrimaBrutal yet endearing honesty, wonderful humour and astonishing acumen
—— Ruth HoganKeyes writes extremely well about modern women. Candid and deeply felt
—— MetroMarian Keyes has an unparalleled talent for making you howl with laughter, nod in recognition and think at the same time
—— Sam Baker , Good HousekeepingAlways brilliant - and brilliantly funny
—— BestA publishing sensation
—— Daily ExpressThere are few fiction writers today with as much verve and sense of independence as Marian Keyes
—— Daily Telegraph