From reading this series I've come to the conclusion that being a Royal Stewart isn't a good thing. Robert III set the precedent when he set aside his father, Robert II, who lived out his life imprisoned in a Stewartry castle. Robert III's brother, the Duke of Albany, starved his nephew, who was the heir to the Scottish throne, to death after imprisoning him. His other nephew spent 19 years in English captivity while Albany ruled Scotland in Robert III's name. James I returned to Scotland and brought down his Albany relatives but in turn was assassinated by disaffected nobles. James II broke the power of the Douglas family but not before getting himself in a sticky situation by murdering a Douglas earl. Which brings us to James III who wasn't very good at following the advice of his councilors and flaunted some his favorites in the face of the Three Estates while advancing relatives who had committed flagrant acts of treason against him. He appeared to specialize in rubbing his nobility the wrong way and the last two years of his life constantly made poor decisions that led to his ruin. A very good book that I enjoyed very much. ( )