oyceter | Dunnett, Dorothy - The Ringed Castle

Philippa is so cool. So very, very, very cool ^_^.

I keep blinking at just how formidable she's become.

So cool.

I think the main problem with Ringed Castle was that most of it felt like a big set up for the next book, plus the fact that it's pretty hard to top the sheer tension and angst-fest of Pawn.

I've already reread the part in which Philippa and Lymond make up verses and, frighteningly, Lymond falls in love. Lymond, in love. I mean, I knew this would happen, based on vague summaries, but the thought of it is still sort of mind-boggling. It is one of the few points in the series in which I actually feel sorry for him (the other being the end of Pawn). Other times I'm usually more daunted by him than anything else.

I do love how Philippa bullies him.

It took me a while to sort of figure out that the strange lack of fallout from the end of Pawn was in fact the fallout, and that it was supremely Lymond-esque to attempt to become a machine entirely, all mind, no soul, no heart, and to sequester himself away and build an empire as a reaction to the awful pain at the end of Pawn.

That said, I wanted to hug Sybilla when he just walked right by her during his meeting with Kate.

And I am so glad Philippa and company managed to stop him from going back to Russia.

I think I read this too fast, because now I've realized I only have one book to go, and the entire ride is over =(. Shall attempt to not read Checkmate at breakneck speed....

Links:
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rilina's review of Pawn and Ringed Castle
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rachelmanija's review

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Holy COW, I can't believe you finished RC that fast!

I have the hardest time reading the Russian sequences in that novel, and as a result it's probably my least favorite of the series, despite the marvelous stuff during the voyage, and Philippa at court, and the Hall of Revels stuff. I just can't handle the horribleness of Russia, and the coldness between them all. And poor Adam's whipping.

{{hugs Adam}}

I absolutely adore Alec, though. He's my Dunnetty Sekrit Boyfriend. I picture him played by a short version of Sean Connery. I also love Danny Hislop, but not the same way.

Have fun with Checkmate, but I warn you, it's terribly hard NOT to read at breakneck speed. I finished it the first time at 5 am...

I am, you may have noticed, slightly obsessed at this point ;). I was going to stop reading it that fast, really I was, and then Lymond met Philippa after her stint at court.

Yeah, I really got pretty bored during the Russian sequences because I have no great emotional attachment to Guzel. Wah, I wanted to hug Adam too =(.

I think my sekrit Dunnet boyfriend is Jerott. Or Adam Blacklock. Num. Or Richard. Ok, too many good men there ^_^.

I'm trying desperately not to, partly just because I'm horribly, horribly sleep deprived because of the first five books ;). But given my track record, this one will probably be finished sometime in the a.m. as well...

I think my sekrit Dunnet boyfriend is Jerott.

YAY! He's mine too - poor lamb - so confused by his love for Lymond and twisted around Marthe's & Lymond's fingers and described as oh so very, VERY yummy ;)

I don't like the Russian parts of RC all that much either - too many new characters in whom I have no emotional investment (like Ivan the Terrible!!)... But I adore that scene where Lymond realizes he's in love with Philippa. So, SO much - it's wonderful to see Lymond at a total loss, and it's one of the few moments in the series which we experience from *his* point of view rather than watching him be opaque with others.

I think I did the same thing you're doing - raced through the books and then went back and read 'em a second time to savour everything ...

I really really need to get my own copies of these books now because I'm already starting to reread parts and I have to return them soon =(.

I melt when Lymond's heart skips a beat, and at the line in which he knows he's expected to leave but feels like a dog whose master has died. *wibbles* The implacable Lymond in a complete emotional mess.

Oh, GUH! Yeah, the heart on the anvil thing ... and "All that he was not." Swoooon! My copy of RC kinda opens to that scene ;)

The implacable Lymond in a complete emotional mess.

And it just gets ~~worse~~ better in Checkmate ;) So much delicious pain and angst and Lymond emotionally at sea...

The angst is killing me!!

"But the songs were for her daughter. And the passion, for ever."

*fans self*

What She Said.

I think the main problem with Ringed Castle was that most of it felt like a big set up for the next book, plus the fact that it's pretty hard to top the sheer tension and angst-fest of Pawn.

I agree.

It took me a while to sort of figure out that the strange lack of fallout from the end of Pawn was in fact the fallout

Me, too. For a long while, I was like, huh? What happened? Then I caught on.

Yeah! I was all put out because Lymond was not in total and complete angst, and then I realized what he had done to himself as a preventative measure.

He is such a whacked guy. It's a good thing Phillipa will be around to knock sense into him.

Try to slow down at the beginning of Checkmate...there is an utterly splendid scene that must be savored. (One word: traboules.)

My favorite male character was Austin Grey, despite the auctorial hand, though Danny Hislop was close.

Traboules!

::happy sigh::

Although I disagree with you on Austin, I felt bad for him but... sigh. I'm too easily manipulated by Lady D. Loved Danny. And there's that one marvelous scene he gets with Marthe, which just breaks my heart for the openness of his soul. He's so great.

Re Austin, one of my friends said way back in '76 when Checkmate first came out, that except for the author's hand at the end, Austin seemed the sort of person who would always remember your birthday, whereas Lymond was the sort who would always remember his own, and throw a party so he could entertain his fascinated auditors with witty stories of his own sufferings.

I always remembered that. (Especially during the years I worked in the film industry, and had to deal with far too many would-be Lymonds.)

I still love the books, though.

>Austin seemed the sort of person who would always remember your birthday, whereas Lymond was the sort who would always remember his own, and throw a party so he could entertain his fascinated auditors with witty stories of his own sufferings.<

Hee, I like this analogy.

Except to me, Austin would be the sort of person who would remember your birthday and throw you a party, but he'd be so intent on you enjoying your party that you'd have to be on your best behavior and reassure him that yes, yes, of course you're enjoying himself.

And Lymond would remember your birthday and come to the party, but he'd come late, disheveled, and slightly drunk, and then he'd crush some poor girl's heart by flirting with her and then making a cruel remark, and you'd be about to toss him out when he would coolly present you with *just* the present you wanted.

I think you're right.

Oh I like that.

Doh. I must have read that sometime when I was halfway falling asleep.

Must reread!

Wait... must finish book first!

Oh, I love Danny!! And Austin!! (well, so far... halfway through Checkmate, and I feel so bad for Austin!)

>Shall attempt to not read Checkmate at breakneck speed....<

Ha ha ha. Good luck with that. I finished that at 4 in the morning.

I've never gone back and reread the Russia parts of RC, but I adore the voyage. Chancellor is my sekrit boyfriend.

Yeah, it is quite unfortunately not working ;).

Although I'm slowing down a little just because there are so many wonderful and angst-filled scenes that I have to just reread. And reread.

OMG THE ANGST!!

I was so sad when Chancellor died!!

I am quite enthralled now and most of what's going through my mind is "THE ANGST!! Waaaaaah!"

Dunnett, Dorothy - The Ringed Castle

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