The Spring of the Ram by Dorothy Dunnett was first published in 1987 and it’s the second book in her Niccolo series. The setting is Europe and the Levant in 1461. Honestly I had my doubts that this series would come up to the high standards of her Lymond Chronicles but I was completely wrong about that.
Helped by financial support from Cosimmo Medici Nicholas/Niccolo has kitted out a ship and is preparing to sail from Florence to Trebizond.
Unknown to Niccolo his very spoiled 12 year old step-daughter Catherine has run off with Pagano Doria, his business rival. Doria has promised to buy her a dog and earrings, whereas Niccolo and her mother had refused to allow her to have a dog! Her mother doesn’t even know that she’s missing as she’s thought to be staying with friends. It isn’t enough for Doria to have Catherine and ruin her, he’s also determined to ruin Niccolo.
It’s all part of a family feud with Lymond despising Niccolo, his own son, and doing his best to obliterate him.
This was one of my 20 Books of Summer 2021.
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I enjoyed this one too and loved the Trebizond setting. I slightly preferred the Lymond Chronicles, mainly because I like Lymond better than Nicholas, but both series are great.
Helen,
I really liked Lymond too and was surprised that he became something of a baddie in this one, but I suppose it makes for a more interesting tale.