Cliff's notes to the Lymond Chronicles

[rachelmanija]

yhlee is contemplating reading Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles after repeatedly bouncing off the first fifty pages of the first book. In case she decides to actually do this, can a few of you suggest an easier entry point (perhaps the archery contest? perhaps the second book?) and summarize the action up to that point?

(I confess, this is as much for my own amusement as it is for her edification.)

Humungous spoilers in comments, obviously.