The exquisitely-researched standalone prequel series to Dorothy Dunnett''s revered Lymond Chronicles, following the ancestors of Francis Crawford of Lymond in Continental Europe.

Niccolo Rising is Book One in The House of Niccolo series.

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''It began with sea, and September sunlight, and three young men lying stripped to their doublets in the Duke of Burgundy''s bath . . .''

Meet Caes - Nicholas vander Poele - an eighteen-year-old orphan and dyer apprentice''s working for the widow Marian de Charetty in Bruges. After fetching up in jail for accidentally sinking a lighter and breaking the leg of a nobleman, his young life seems over before it is even begun.

However, fate and the fifteenth century have great expectations for Nicholas and he soon finds himself leading the Charetty company into adventures and intrigues both mercantile and military, even as enemies plot their downfall.

Through cunning, bravery, wit and an unexpected wisdom, Nicholas begins to lay the foundations for the House of Niccolo . . .

''As brilliant and interesting as Lymond. A generous feast'' Daily Telegraph

''A series that will give us our fill of high Renaissance adventure and espionage'' Guardian