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Checkmate
- Book Six in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles
- Narrated by: David Monteath
- Length: 28 hrs and 38 mins
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Checkmate
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Publisher's summary
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.
Critic reviews
“Exciting, dangerous, fascinating.” (The Boston Globe)
“[Dunnett’s] hero...is as polished and perceptive as Lord Peter Wimsey and as resourceful as James Bond.” (The New York Times Book Review)
“A masterpiece of historical fiction.” (The Washington Post)
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Old fashioned heroine
- By Margaret on 06-22-13
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Shadow of the Moon
- By: M. M. Kaye
- Narrated by: Tara Ochs
- Length: 34 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 343
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 299
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 299
The author of The Far Pavilions returns us once again to the vast, intoxicating romance of India under the British Raj. Shadow of the Moon is the story of Winter de Ballesteros, a beautiful English heiress come home to her beloved India. It is also the tale of Captain Alex Randall, her protector, who aches to possess her. Forged in the fires of a war that threatens to topple an empire, their tale is the saga of a desperate and unforgettable love that consumes all in its thrall.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Has always been a great story.
- By Sian on 06-08-14
By: M. M. Kaye
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The Rose of York
- Love and War
- By: Sandra Worth
- Narrated by: Robin Sachs
- Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 71
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 60
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Story4 out of 5 stars 60
Set in Malory's England during the Wars of the Roses, this acclaimed winner of a remarkable nine awards tells the true story of two star-crossed lovers - Richard of Gloucester and Lady Anne Neville - before they become King and Queen of England. A stirring tale of romance and intrigue.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Marvelous.
- By Cinders on 11-07-13
By: Sandra Worth
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The Memoirs of Mary, Queen of Scots
- By: Carolly Erickson
- Narrated by: Rebekah Germain
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 58
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 44
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Story4 out of 5 stars 44
Born Queen of Scotland, married as a young girl to the invalid young King of France, Mary took the reins of the unruly kingdom of Scotland as a young widow and fought to keep her throne. A second marriage to her handsome but dissolute cousin Lord Darnley ended in murder and scandal, while a third marriage to the dashing, commanding Lord Bothwell, the love of her life, gave her joy but widened the scandal and surrounded her with enduring ill repute.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Fiction being the key word
- By Bonnie-Ann B on 09-25-09
By: Carolly Erickson
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The Empress
- A Novel
- By: Laura Martínez-Belli, Simon Bruni - translator
- Narrated by: Yareli Arizmendi
- Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 57
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 48
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 47
It’s 1863. Napoleon III has installed a foreign monarch in Mexico to squash the current regime. Maximilian von Habsburg of Austria accepts the emperor’s crown. But it is his wife, the brilliant and ambitious Princess Charlotte, who throws herself passionately into the role. Known to the people as Empress Carlota, she rules deftly from behind the scenes while her husband contents himself with philandering and decorating the palace. But Carlota bears a guilty secret.
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4 out of 5 stars
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The Empress of Mexico
- By Fran on 02-07-21
By: Laura Martínez-Belli, and others
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Cashelmara
- By: Susan Howatch
- Narrated by: Gary Furlong, Carly Robins
- Length: 27 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 98
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 87
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 87
When Edward de Salis travels to America after the death of his first wife, he is astonished to find himself falling in love with Marguerite, a young woman many years his junior. Full of hope for the future, he returns to his Irish estate, Cashelmara, but in 19th-century Ireland - a country racked by poverty and famine - his family eventually becomes trapped in a sinister spiral of violence that Edward could never have foreseen.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful Story
- By Ann Marie Taylor on 07-04-20
By: Susan Howatch
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War and Peace
- By: Leo Tolstoy
- Narrated by: Philippe Duquenoy
- Length: 56 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 45
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 37
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 37
First published in 1865 by The Russian Messenger, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is considered to be one of the longest novels ever written, although Tolstoy himself did not consider this book "a novel". Interspersed between narrative chapters concerning five aristocratic families are several philosophical and historical chapters against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, where Tolstoy weaves a tale of drama with characters that include statesmen and generals of that era, mixing domestic life, balls, and war councils into one epic story.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely Loved It
- By Angela Tremari on 09-17-21
By: Leo Tolstoy
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The Chocolate Maker's Wife
- By: Karen Brooks
- Narrated by: Willow Nash
- Length: 20 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 133
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 108
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 109
Born into poverty, brutalised and ignored by her family, it is only when she is married off to a nobleman that her life undergoes a transformation, as her husband recognises in Rosamund a magic she does not know she possesses but which affects almost all who encounter her. Presiding over a luxurious chocolate house where men go to be seen, exchange news and indulge in the sweet and heady drink to which they have become addicted, Rosamund feels blessed. But disaster strikes, and Rosamund stands on the brink of losing all she has worked so hard to achieve.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Loved the history....
- By Kim Tyler on 01-20-20
By: Karen Brooks
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The King's Witch
- A Novel
- By: Tracy Borman
- Narrated by: Esther Wane
- Length: 14 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 362
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 323
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Story4 out of 5 stars 322
In March of 1603, as she helps to nurse the dying Queen Elizabeth of England, Frances Gorges dreams of her parents’ country estate, where she has learned to use flowers and herbs to become a much-loved healer. She is happy to stay at home when King James of Scotland succeeds to the throne. His court may be shockingly decadent, but his intolerant Puritanism sees witchcraft in many of the old customs - punishable by death.
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5 out of 5 stars
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I’ve read hundreds of historical fiction books....
- By K&T on 08-03-18
By: Tracy Borman
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The Women of Chateau Lafayette
- By: Stephanie Dray
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert, Emma Bering, Rachel L. Jacobs
- Length: 23 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,249
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,981
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,971
An epic saga from New York Times best-selling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy.
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5 out of 5 stars
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An absolute masterpiece of a book!
- By Kindle Customer on 05-15-21
By: Stephanie Dray
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Wild Wicked Scot
- The Highland Grooms, #1
- By: Julia London
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 300
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 278
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 278
Born into riches and groomed in English luxury, Margot Armstrong didn't belong in a Scottish chieftain's devil-may-care world. Three years ago she fled their marriage of convenience and hasn't looked back - except to relive the moments spent in wild, rugged Arran McKenzie's passionate embrace. But as their respective countries' fragile unity threatens to unravel, Margot must return to her husband to uncover his role in the treachery before her family can be accused of it.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Best Scottish Romance I've Read in Years!
- By LilMissMolly on 06-25-17
By: Julia London
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Stronghold
- Dragon Star Series, Book 1
- By: Melanie Rawn
- Narrated by: Christa Lewis
- Length: 24 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 171
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 155
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 154
In the first novel of Melanie Rawn's Dragon Star trilogy, there is a devastating new challenge to the power of both the High Prince Rohan and Andry, Lord of the Sunrunners at Goddess Keep, as a mysterious and seemingly unstoppable invasion force swarms across their lands. For Andry it signals the start of a nightmare made real, the horrifying fulfillment of his long-ago visions of his homeland in flames, and he will draw upon even the forbidden sorcerer's magic in an attempt to destroy this enemy which is bent on the extermination of all Sunrunners.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Afternoon tv drama
- By Micah Davis on 05-02-24
By: Melanie Rawn
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Some Enchanted Evening
- Lost Princesses, Book 1
- By: Christina Dodd
- Narrated by: Heather Wilds
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 27
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
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Story4 out of 5 stars 23
One of Scotland's most dangerous men, Robert MacKenzie is dazzled by the enchanting beauty who rides into the town he is sworn to defend. Though he is wary of the exquisite stranger, Clarice stirs emotions within him that Robert buried deeply years before. And now he must have her at any cost, vowing to gain her trust through the powers of his sensuous seduction. Torn between her need to protect her secrets and her aching desire for the dark, tormented earl of Hepburn, Clarice is pulled into Robert's glamorous world . . . and into his perilous plan for justice and revenge.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Dodd! So glad she put in audible!
- By darlingdeb on 10-15-21
By: Christina Dodd
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The Iron King
- The Accursed Kings, Book 1
- By: Maurice Druon
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 656
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 602
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 601
From the publishers that brought you A Game of Thrones comes the series that inspired George R.R. Martin’s epic work. France became a great nation under Philip the Fair - but it was a greatness achieved at the expense of her people, for his was a reign characterised by violence, the scandalous adulteries of his daughters-in-law, and the triumph of royal authority.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Historical Goodie
- By Syd Young on 08-03-13
By: Maurice Druon
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Dragon's Child
- The King Arthur Trilogy, Book 1
- By: M. K. Hume
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 102
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 86
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 86
The future of Britain is at stake. In the turbulent times of the Dark Ages, the despotic Uther Pendragon, High King of Celtic Britain, is nearing death, and his kingdom is being torn apart by the squabbling of minor kings. But only one man can bring the Celts together as a nation and restore peace - King Arthur. Artorex (Arthur) doesn't yet seem like the great man he will grow into. We meet him as a shy, subservient twelve-year-old living in the foster home of Lord Ector, who took in Artorex as a babe to protect him from murderous kin.
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1 out of 5 stars
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A Dry, Dull Tale, Marred in "Realism"
- By Steven on 09-21-15
By: M. K. Hume
What listeners say about Checkmate
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tamara G. Leuchtenburg
- 03-18-23
Best historical fiction ever written
It’s not hyperbole to say Dorothy Dunnett is the master of the genre with her beautiful evocative writing, exceptional research, perfect dialog and intricate story craft, with wonderful characters, real and fictional, led by the most entrancing, compelling character of Lymond. Narration brought it all to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PaladinPC
- 08-04-20
Checkmate great book!
The last book in the Lymond series. It was great, as are all the other books in the series.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robin Schwarz
- 10-17-20
Glorious end to a saga
The last book of the Lymond Chronicles is so satisfying!! I love this series and this book so much. My only disappointment is how David Monteath manages—or doesn’t— the French and Italian, of which there is lots. Is he using the British approach to French? Is he trying to use 16th century pronunciation as for the Old English quotes and songs? It is extremely distracting. It’s hard yo imagine he or the company recording him did not do a thorough investigation of how to pronounce things.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- chinakids
- 09-03-21
outstanding
Start at the beginning of the series, but read it. Best historical fiction I have ever read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Odie28
- 05-03-24
Greatest work of historical fiction ever
This, the finale of the Lymond series, brings to a satisfying conclusion one of the great works of fiction, written by a master. The narrator is excellent and deals well with the linguistic challenges of a sophisticated work.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eliza
- 09-30-19
A brilliant conclusion to the legendary series
Another reviewer called this volume a "rollercoaster," and that seems an accurate description of the emotional and action-packed ride Dunnett takes us through in the final volume of the Lymond Chronicles. Characters are pushed to their physical and emotional limits. Political, family, and personal conflicts, both historical and fictional, drive the various plotlines. Two marriages teeter in the balance here: Lymond's and that of Mary, Queen of Scots.
David Monteath's narration is taxed somewhat by the extreme amount of French (including the archaic French prophecies of Nostradamus) interspersed throughout, but he is so good with everything else that I forgive his French and still give him five stars.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- miasarx
- 03-20-21
Great series
Dunnett has written one of the greatest historical novels of all time, spanning 6 books and to boot an unforgettable love story. Monteath is a fabulous narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Leslie Damiano
- 12-03-19
Outstanding Series!
I loved every minute of this epic series! So glad I finally met Lymond Crawford. Will revisit this series again many times. So much more to glean from the text. Dorothy Dunnett is unsurpassed!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joe Lyons
- 12-18-22
Amazing
After reading 5 books and then the sixth in the series it is hard to imagine an ending that would be fulfilling. And it is and more! Sad I am done with it! Dorothy Dunnett is brilliant.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-01-21
the brilliant conclusion to the brilliant story
listen to every Dorothy Dunnett novel. This piece is a fantastic romance as well as a strong work of philosophy and politics.
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