I can't help. I got recommended to Lymond by two friends who I ordinarily trust and -- oh, I don't remember the name of the book they said I should try with but it had human chess pieces and every time a chess piece got taken Lymond had to decide who would get killed as in really dead.

I thought it was so gratuitous and stupid I took a long time to forgive Dunnett in any way. But I got over my prejudice long enough to read King Hereafter (not Lymond, Macbeth), and I've forgiven her -- but the Lymond books are definitely Not Necessary For Human Consumption, in my lights. Just read the Macbeth book. It's excellent, excellent, excellent.