The third Lymond book is great. In this book, particularly the second half, Francis Crawford does some really nasty things to people who seem quite nice -- I almost put the book down at one point, shaking my head, thinking "Well, that's unforgivable," (his brother Richard agreed with me, and kicked him out of the family again). And then I remembered the key idea of these stories, which is you don't know the whole story yet. In all three books so far there's been a major -- and fairly shocking -- revelation about a character near the end of the story. In the first book it's that Francis Crawford is not a bad guy; in the second book it's the identity of the man trying to kill the Queen, and in this book it's a secret that Francis worked out on about page 20, and then decided not to tell anyone else until page 414. (He had reasons; none of these books are predicated on the Harry Potter Just Don't Tell Anyone Anything Useful plan.)
Awesomely, for the first time in the series Lymond meets another character who can keep up with him, and he doesn't much like it. In fact, I'm not sure you couldn't argue that he's only the second-smartest person in the series now. (Up to this book the only other characters even on the same playing field were his evil ex-girflriend who almost killed him a couple of times, and his mom.) Oh, and a character I'd gotten really fond of gets killed. But around that, because Lymond is in such a snit for most of the book he's really hilarious.
'But in the end,' said Dragut peaceably, 'the peacock angel was made by Allah lord over all the rest. Carry with thee this tale. I have always thought,' he added with sudden encouragement, 'that there are in thee the talents for a wonderous peacock.'
'My God, in Scotland?' said Lymond, swinging round, all the mockery back in his voice. 'An army of angels would merely dissolve in the rain.'
*******[Lymond and the rest of the Knights Hospitallers in Tripoli are all scheduled to be killed when the city falls -- and then Lymond's old friend, Thompson, a Scottish pirate shows up in the harbor and offers to smuggle two of them out.]
'My child, the Grand Master must know. The Turk may fall upon Malta next. We do not know. And he will believe me. If we do not escape, then nothing has been lost. But the fewer who try it the better.' Graham's tranquil smile deepened. 'We shall meet in Malta, Jerott. Pray for us all. God has been good tonight.' 'Thompson has been rather splendid too,' said Lymond cordially, and waved a cheerful farewell.
This book ends on the lead in to the next book, and even though I'm desperate to find out what happens I think I'll take a few days off. I haven't done a damn thing but read all week.
Grade: A
Originally posted 2007
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