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Race Of Scorpions
Race Of Scorpions
Dec 3, 2024 11:44 AM

Author:Dorothy Dunnett

Race Of Scorpions

The exquisitely-researched standalone prequel series to Dorothy Dunnett's revered Lymond Chronicles, following the ancestors of Francis Crawford of Lymond in Continental Europe.

Race of Scorpions is Book Three in The House of Niccolo series.

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'Who's the lady in trouble, Master Nicholas?'

'She's not a lady. She's a Queen called Carlotta.'

It is 1462 and Carlotta, the young Queen of Jerusalem, Cyprus and Armenia, is besieged by brigands at a farm on the winter road to Bologna when Nicholas vander Poele rides to her rescue - and into deeper trouble.

Now the head of his own private army, Nicholas finds himself a sought-after man by both Carlotta and her half-brother, James. Each lays claim to the throne of Cyprus and each seeks to persuade Nicholas - in more ways than one - to lend his cunning and might to their cause.

As Christians and Muslims, merchants and Mamelukes, the Pope, the Sultan and the Knights of St John wrangle over Cyprus's future, it falls to Nicholas to juggle adversaries and allies to free himself from this conspiracy of scorpions . . .

'The excitement of Dunnett's storytelling runs hand-in-hand with the erudition of her research' The Times

Reviews

Praise for Dorothy Dunnett

—— - , -

A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention

—— - , -

Marvellous, breathtaking

—— - , The Times

A masterpiece of historical fiction

—— Washington Post

One of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas

—— - , Cleveland Plain Dealer

Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety

—— 1 , The Times

Vivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction

—— - , New York Times

Comedy gold . . . Reasons To Be Cheerful is just the read you need right now, seamlessly weaving together the big themes of life with charm and warmth

—— Stylist

Reasons to be Cheerful's tone has been compared to Sue Townsend's but I could haul in Alan Bennett, Barbara Pym and even Jane Austen . . . she writes brilliantly

—— The Times

The true heir to Sue Townsend

—— Caitlin Moran

Full of comedy, but with moving themes of loss and grief, it's an utterly charming coming of age story. A reason to be cheerful indeed

—— Sunday Mirror

A joyfully meandering, episodic novel that probes what it means to become an adult

—— Daily Telegraph

Very few writers can find the delicate balance between heartbreak and hilarity like Nina Stibbe

—— Red Magazine

This made me laugh and broke my heart, it's a gorgeous, profound, tender book about growing up and discovering that other humans are charming, obnoxious, enlightening and odd. I think Stibbe is one of the all time greats

—— Daisy Buchanan

Funny, charming, odd-in-the-best-way and gorgeously uplifting! A delight from start to finish

—— Marian Keyes

'Nina Stibbe is an author of such effortless wit that she could turn a shopping list into a bestseller'

—— Isabelle Broom , Women and Home

Loved it! I so love Lizzie. She is brave and kind and funny and totally original . . . I couldn't have liked it more (as I think Noel Coward said.)

—— Katie Fforde

A wonderfully funny novel . . . Nina Stibbe is still on sparkling form.

—— Oldie

There's a strong Sue Townsend/Alan Bennett flavour to it all . . . funny and sweet

—— Daily Mail

An idiosyncratic, bittersweet coming-of-age tale that certainly justifies its title

—— Kirkus

THIS BOOK. Reader, I LOVED it. Funny & thoughtful & such brilliantly drawn characters I am genuinely bereft that my time with them is over. And it tackles some REALLY important issues with immense sensitivity & insight

—— Hannah Beckerman

Rejoice! Marian's back with her best book yet! An absolutely brilliant story with a very powerful emotional punch

—— Best

At times heart-warming, at other times heartbreaking . . . This highly entertaining book is frustratingly hard to put down and can be easily devoured over a weekend

—— Daily Express

A new book from the witty Irish novelist. When Cara Casey suffers concussion, she starts spilling the secrets of her glamorous, talented family. All is not as it seems

—— The Times, Ones to watch in 2020

Sensitive, funny, wonderful, immensely touching

—— Nigella Lawson

Immersive... I absolutely loved it!

—— Jill Mansell

Grown Ups is perfection. Smart, dark, layered. Her best yet!

—— Gillian McAllister

Marian Keyes's gift for storytelling is utterly magnificent. I feel like I've met every single character in this book. I may even be a character in this book. Nobody nails chaotic families like Marian

—— Liz Nugent

She's only gone and done it again! I love Marian Keyes' books with a passion and now she's got a fabulous new one on the way! Brilliant as ever

—— Jane Fallon

It's a page-turner you won't be able to put down

—— The Sunday Post

Marian Keyes manages to wrap family dynamics, female angst, good jokes and serious stuff into a really appealing form

—— Woman's Own Magazine

Marian Keyes is back with a witty and dramatic story about the Caseys, a family who seem perfect on the surface but hold some big secrets between them. When one of them starts to spill the truth after suffering concussion, things start to unravel in hilarious ways

—— Good Housekeeping

Happy making with glorious wit

—— Helen Lederer

This has the ingredients of the best of Keyes: great characters, laughs and poignancy. Keyes brilliantly captures that feeling of never quite being a grown-up, no matter your age

—— Good Housekeeping

We've heard whispers that this could be the much-loved author's best novel yet

—— Cosmopolitan, 2020s Biggest Books

The irresistible tale of an enviably glamorous family forced to confront itself

—— Daily Mail, Top Picks of 2020

Tackling the realities of modern-day consumerism, Keyes' new book Grown Ups is the story of three brothers and their families written with her usual deft mix of witty storytelling and delicate touchpoint topics. It's brilliant so read it

—— Stylist

The queen of the classy comfort read returns with this warm, wise and witty family saga which asks what really lies behind the happiest of facades

—— i Paper, Books of 2020

A family drama, where a concussion causes a spilling of secrets with amusing results

—— Irish Tatler, Top Picks of 2020

A new Keyes is always cause for celebration. The wit and warmth of her words in her 14th novel tell the story of the Caseys, a supposedly perfect family, torn apart by a careless remark at a birthday party

—— Grazia, Ones to watch in 2020

Marian Keyes is back and all is right with the world. No one mixes humour and heartbreak quite like Marian

—— Red

The latest novel from the beloved Irish author, Grown Ups delves into the Casey family whose secrets start to spill after one member gets concussed

—— Evening Standard, Books to look forward to in 2020

This is vintage Keyes

—— The Times

Grown Ups is big-hearted and entertaining, a dark, funny and empathetic exploration of a dysfunctional family and the loving ties that bind them together

—— Sunday Express

A new novel by Marian Keyes is always cause for celebration, and this latest is a corker. By the end you'll definitely feel part of the family

—— Mail Online

No one knows better than Marian Keyes what it's like trying to be a grown up in modern Ireland. Keyes is on top form as ever, and this delightful book will warm those cold winter bones

—— Image

A heartening, pacey read

—— SheerLuxe

Smart, savvy and very funny, Keyes takes the pulse of the nation while simultaneously tickling its funny bone

—— RTE Guide

Promises themes of love and family, all bound together with Keyes' trademark humour

—— Harrow Times

A hilarious read

—— Bella

Bursting with wit and compassion. Grown ups is as alive, complicated and chaotic as any real-life family, evoking extraordinary tenderness, pain and humour.

—— Francesca Steele , inews

The queen of fiction has launched another blockbuster. I couldn't put this book down

—— The Echo (Cork)

Chuck envy, illicit passion and financial pressures into the pot and soon this carefully constructed broth is simmering to the boil

—— Cornish Times

Funny, clever and hilarious and the rest, an epic tale of an epic family, the Caseys

—— RTE Guide

A 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

—— Independent

A funny and thoughtful read

—— Prima

Up there with her best

—— Sunday Express

A fabulous account of family and secrets, calling into question how civilised and "grown up" any of us actually are

—— Glamour UK

A fabulous account of family and secrets

—— Glamour UK

Marian Keyes nails the zeitgeist while handling a huge cast of characters with aplomb

—— Express and Star

The absolute queen of astute, moving and cracking-good-fun contemporary fiction returns

—— The Sun

Dazzlingly brilliant

—— Dereham Times

Brilliant as ever

—— Stellar

It's everything you could want in a Keyes book - funny, warm, tender and a complete page turner

—— The Handbook

A witty and compassionate story of modern life and relationships

—— Candis

An 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

—— Stylist

Packed with emotional turmoil, but is light on her trademark wry wit and acerbic humour

—— Luxe

Keyes touches on the difficulties of broken relationships; eating disorders; emotional insecurity and other weighty subjects with her trademark humour and lightness of touch

—— Connaught Telegraph

Our Marian is back! And Grown Ups is one of her best yet, creating another memorable family saga

—— Stellar

Brilliantly plotted family saga

—— Tracy Thorn, New Statesman

A warm-hearted and wise tale of a family in trouble. Packed full of sharp observations and laugh-out-loud lines

—— i

Her 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 Weekend

A 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 Journal

An entertaining story of family dynamics packed with vibrant characters, humour and empathy

—— The Sunday Times

A 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 Edition

Keyes's captivating 14th novel tackles difficult issues with a sparkling style that makes it impossible to put down

—— Daily Mail

Marian 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 Osman

Her novels tackle hard subjects with such humour and warmth its impossible not to be drawn in

—— Jane Harper , Daily Mail

Another high-definition family comedy. An intoxicating, effervescent and warm look at modern life

—— Metro

A delightful and insightful examination of the modern family

—— Holly Bourne , Beastmag

Laughter and tears intertwine, as ever, in the latest from our leading chronicler of the emotional messiness of contemporary life

—— Guardian

The strength of this book lies in its relatability factor - I laughed, cried, nodded in recognition and laughed again

—— Irish News

Shines a light on the frustrations and gripes of family life, while inviting us to laugh at the petty reality of it all

—— London Living

A book to fall into and while away hours with

—— Writers Online

Funny, thought-provoking and hitting you right in the feels, Marian Keyes does it again

—— Red Online

I loved this complex family drama . . . Keyes nails every character she touches while keeping it all so relevant

—— Jamie Klingler , iNews

Praise for Marian Keyes

—— -

Mercilessly funny

—— The Times

Everything this woman touches turns to comic gold

—— Cosmopolitan

Comic, convincing and true. The warmth and empathy of Keyes's writing shine through this tale of family secrets revealed.

—— Katy Guest , Guardian

Clever, hilarious, poignant . . . Gloriously funny

—— Sunday Times

Wildly funny, romantic and nearly impossible to put down

—— Daily Mail

Her writing is a lovely mixture of funny and perceptive and bittersweet

—— Cressida Cowell

Full of brilliantly funny characters, genuine emotion and heaps of charm

—— Heat

Her books are humorous and have the quality of a warm bath

—— The Times

Classic Marian Keyes: a blizzard of wit and wisecracks

—— The Times

Keyes is an international treasure. The ultimate choice for a binge read

—— Stylist

When 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 Express

Fabulously entertaining. The queen of intelligent women's fiction

—— Sunday Mirror

Full of darkness and light, this is Keyes at her classic and most brilliant best

—— Red

Keyes writes about women who are absolutely themselves, even when society tries to insist they are something else

—— Irish Times

Glorious, life-affirming

—— Woman & Home

Marian's glorious, warm-hearted wit is always guaranteed to make me laugh on the very first page

—— Liane Moriarty

There is no finer writer than Marian Keyes

—— Rowan Coleman

She really is unparalleled when it comes to making serious points with the lightest of touches

—— The Pool

Hilariously wise

—— Prima

Brutal yet endearing honesty, wonderful humour and astonishing acumen

—— Ruth Hogan

Keyes writes extremely well about modern women. Candid and deeply felt

—— Metro

Marian Keyes has an unparalleled talent for making you howl with laughter, nod in recognition and think at the same time

—— Sam Baker , Good Housekeeping

Always brilliant - and brilliantly funny

—— Best

A publishing sensation

—— Daily Express

There are few fiction writers today with as much verve and sense of independence as Marian Keyes

—— Daily Telegraph
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