Niccolo 7

It is now the winter of 1474 and Nicholas de Fluery is still married to Gelis. While they are still somewhat estranged they still partner to raise their son, Jordan. Their biggest problem is Nicholas keeps wracking up the enemies, making it difficult to protect his wife and son. He's off in Poland questioning his next moves while Gelis is digging up the dirt on Nicholas's past. Does this new information hurt or help her marriage?
In this particular installment of the House of Nicollo series, puzzles are the underlying theme.
I have to admit, I am getting a little sick of Nicholas. He has switched allegiances so many times even his friends do not trust him. His relationship with women is getting tiresome as well. The good news is that someone within his circle betrays him badly enough that it leads to the reconciliation with Gelis. By the end of Caprice and Rondo they have joined forces to support one another. ( )

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2907300.html

Seventh volume in the series of eight about the life of medieval merchant Nicolas de Fleury (who has many other names), this one set in Poland, the Crimea, Moscow, Flanders and a brutal climax at the Battle of Nancy, and tying up some loose ends which had been dangling since the very first book. There is a pretty chilling scene with Nicholas and his estranged wife held prisoner together on a barge in the Flemish fog, threatened by an enemy who has only been recently revealed to the reader as such; the Genoese colony on the Crimea is vividly portrayed in its last days. Less hard work than some of the earlier books; I read it slowly because I did not want to put it down. ( )

Heading towards the end of the series (and I remember crossing fingers for Dorothy Dunnett to stay alive until these were finished!). After the devastation at the end of the last book, where Nicholas basically ruined the Scottish economy for a personal fued, he is cast adrift again in the east. However, his former companion and lawyer Julius and his mysterious wife Adeline follow him to the Crimea, where Adelina tries her best to seduce Nicholas. However, he resists and returns back to Europe; where his family have been busy investigating his illigitemacy.
His battle company fight at Nancy as the Burgundian state falls, and Robin is badly injured. Adleina reappears, capturing Gelis and Nicholas, and attempts to destroy them both; but Nicholas has already recognised her as his child-aunt and draws the sting, reconciling Gelis to him, and resulting in Adelina's death.
We gallop on to the next & final book, hardly able to take it all in and breathe ( )

For a review, please visit my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2012/11/04/caprice-and-rondo-dorothy-dunnett/ ( )