Genres
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Humor (Fiction.) HTML:In his highly acclaimed debut, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch took us on an adrenaline-fueled adventure with a band of daring thieves led by con artist extraordinaire Locke Lamora. Now Lynch brings back his outrageous hero for a caper so death-defying, nothing short of a miracle will pull it off. After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can�??t rest for long�??and are soon back to what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves. This time, however, they have targeted the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele�??and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior�?�and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house�??s cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire. Brazenly undeterred, Locke and Jean have orchestrated an elaborate plan to lie, trick, and swindle their way up the nine floors�?�straight to Requin�??s teeming vault. Under the cloak of false identities, they meticulously make their climb�??until they are closer to the spoils than ever. But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo�??s secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough.�?� Praise for Red Seas Under Red Skies �??Lynch hasn�??t merely imagined a far-off world, he�??s created it, put it all down on paper�??the smells, the sounds, the people, the feel of the place. The novel is a virtuoso performance, and sf/fantasy fans will gobble it up.�?��??Booklist (starred review) �??Red Seas Under Red Skies firmly proves that Scott Lynch isn�??t a one-hit wonder. . . . It�??ll only be a matter of time before Scott Lynch is mentioned in the same breath as George R. R. Martin and Steven Erikson.�?��??Fantasy Book Critic �??Grand, grandiose, grandiloquent . . . No critic is likely to fault Lynch in his overflowing qualities of inventiveness, audacious draftsma… (more)
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007-07-31
Publication
Gollancz (2007), Paperback, 640 pages
ISBN
0575079673 / 9780575079670
Similar in this library
Awards
SF Site Reader's Choice (2007)
Prix Imaginales (2009)
RUSA CODES Listen List (Listen-Alike — Listen-Alike to "The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi" — 2024)
User reviews
LibraryThing member pstotts
I absolutely loved Scott Lynch's debut novel "The Lies of Locke Lamora", which I thought was one of the best debut fantasy novels in recent years. It was an incredibly fun and fresh book you never wanted to end, and made the subsequent wait for the release of his next novel completely
Now in the second novel, "Red Seas Under Red Skies", the fearless thieves, Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, return to attempt an even more spectacular heist than last time. A heist that very nearly killed Locke. So will bigger be better, or will Locke and Jean have started something more than they can handle? Well, things don't go as planned for these intrepid and resourceful thieves, and that's is what makes Lynch's novels so much fun.
After the events of the previous novel, Locke and Jean have escaped from Camorr, and traveled to the city of Tal Verrar. Locke is depressed, as he physically and mentally recovers from the brutal bludgeoning he took at the end of "The Lies of Locke Lamora". But thieves being thieves, it isn't long before Locke and Jean select the Sinspire, a famous and very wealthy gambling establishment, as their next target.
During their planning of the heist, a new player emerges who forces Locke and Jean to complete a task suiting his own ends. To successfully accomplish this task, the reluctant Locke and Jean find they must sail the seas posing as pirates. Meanwhile, the Sinspire planning continues, causing them to juggle between their various assumed identities.
Similar to the "The Lies of Locke Lamora", Lynch plays with the narrative structure, though not to the degree of the previous novel. The interludes from the first novel served more as an intrusion as the novel progressed, causing an unnecessary slowing of the pace as the action heated up. The narrative shifts in "Red Seas Under Red Skies" are less intrusiv, making the book flow more readily.
Lynch, clearly, is a wonderful natural storyteller, turning in another breathtaking romp filled with fantastic drama, tragedy and humor. While very good, "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is not as magical as "The Lies of Locke Lamora". But it is utterly unfair to expect Lynch to duplicate the magic of his debut novel. On its own, "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is a fun, sarcastic, immensely humorous and enjoyable three ton beast of a fantasy. I mean, there are pirates, some smartass and profane dialogue, innovative violence, and a killer heist, so what more could you want from a fantasy novel?
Last Word:
For fans of Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora", there is tons to love here, and you won't be disappointed in the effort. Locke and Jean once again charm, and Lynch shows a penchant for juggling many balls at once, and still have everything come together beautifully at the end. I immensely enjoyed the ride, and find myself salivating for the third volume.
Show More
unbearable.Now in the second novel, "Red Seas Under Red Skies", the fearless thieves, Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, return to attempt an even more spectacular heist than last time. A heist that very nearly killed Locke. So will bigger be better, or will Locke and Jean have started something more than they can handle? Well, things don't go as planned for these intrepid and resourceful thieves, and that's is what makes Lynch's novels so much fun.
After the events of the previous novel, Locke and Jean have escaped from Camorr, and traveled to the city of Tal Verrar. Locke is depressed, as he physically and mentally recovers from the brutal bludgeoning he took at the end of "The Lies of Locke Lamora". But thieves being thieves, it isn't long before Locke and Jean select the Sinspire, a famous and very wealthy gambling establishment, as their next target.
During their planning of the heist, a new player emerges who forces Locke and Jean to complete a task suiting his own ends. To successfully accomplish this task, the reluctant Locke and Jean find they must sail the seas posing as pirates. Meanwhile, the Sinspire planning continues, causing them to juggle between their various assumed identities.
Similar to the "The Lies of Locke Lamora", Lynch plays with the narrative structure, though not to the degree of the previous novel. The interludes from the first novel served more as an intrusion as the novel progressed, causing an unnecessary slowing of the pace as the action heated up. The narrative shifts in "Red Seas Under Red Skies" are less intrusiv, making the book flow more readily.
Lynch, clearly, is a wonderful natural storyteller, turning in another breathtaking romp filled with fantastic drama, tragedy and humor. While very good, "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is not as magical as "The Lies of Locke Lamora". But it is utterly unfair to expect Lynch to duplicate the magic of his debut novel. On its own, "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is a fun, sarcastic, immensely humorous and enjoyable three ton beast of a fantasy. I mean, there are pirates, some smartass and profane dialogue, innovative violence, and a killer heist, so what more could you want from a fantasy novel?
Last Word:
For fans of Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora", there is tons to love here, and you won't be disappointed in the effort. Locke and Jean once again charm, and Lynch shows a penchant for juggling many balls at once, and still have everything come together beautifully at the end. I immensely enjoyed the ride, and find myself salivating for the third volume.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Aerrin99
Although not quite up to the very high standard set by the previous Gentlemen Bastards book, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Lynch's sequel is still far more engaging, engrossing, and exciting than most books manage on a good day.
Lynch does an amazing job of giving us two main characters desperate and
We shift locations as the two struggle to pick up and move on, and they choose a tough task for their first game - the casino-like Sinspire.
This book is, as many have said before me, a little Ocean's Eleven, a little Pirates of the Carribean. That in itself is both terribly fun and its primary fault. This book is a little less sure about what its main story is, the settings aren't as strong, and the plots don't seem to work together as neatly. You feel the loss of the history that Camorr offered as a setting. The early Ocean's Eleven thread seems to fall almost entirely off the map halfway through the book, when pirates appear quite abruptly, and its resolution is a little weak.
That said, both pieces are amazingly enjoyable, and my real complaint here is that we don't get more time spent on both, not that I didn't like one or the other. The secondary characters in the latter half of the book are particularly nice, as are several of the superstitions that make up Lynch's world. This book, too, made me gasp aloud at several points, and it kept me turning pages quickly.
I am positively /rapid/ for the third book in this series (and those beyond, please!). Here's hoping we meet the mysterious Sabetha and one day return to Camorr... among other things!
Lynch does an amazing job of giving us two main characters desperate and
Show More
grieving, of picking up in the aftermath of the first book without also lingering in depression. I admit that Jean was perhaps my least favorite Gentlemen Bastard in Lies, but he rapidly grew on me here, and the friendship between the two is beautifully constructed, believable and moving. We shift locations as the two struggle to pick up and move on, and they choose a tough task for their first game - the casino-like Sinspire.
This book is, as many have said before me, a little Ocean's Eleven, a little Pirates of the Carribean. That in itself is both terribly fun and its primary fault. This book is a little less sure about what its main story is, the settings aren't as strong, and the plots don't seem to work together as neatly. You feel the loss of the history that Camorr offered as a setting. The early Ocean's Eleven thread seems to fall almost entirely off the map halfway through the book, when pirates appear quite abruptly, and its resolution is a little weak.
That said, both pieces are amazingly enjoyable, and my real complaint here is that we don't get more time spent on both, not that I didn't like one or the other. The secondary characters in the latter half of the book are particularly nice, as are several of the superstitions that make up Lynch's world. This book, too, made me gasp aloud at several points, and it kept me turning pages quickly.
I am positively /rapid/ for the third book in this series (and those beyond, please!). Here's hoping we meet the mysterious Sabetha and one day return to Camorr... among other things!
Show Less
LibraryThing member BeezerMN
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch is the second book in the Gentlemen Bastards sequence, the first book being The Lies of Locke Lamora. This is the second novel that Mr. Lynch has published, it is quite evident that Mr. Lynch truly has a gift for weaving an incredible story. If you have not
The plot of this book follows Locke and Jean as they plan their next major heist on the shores of Tal Verrar. On the surface this seems like a straight forward plot, however, much like the first book - things aren't always as they seem. This is a much more involved plot that you would think; there are also a couple sub-plots that occur along the way. I don't really want to talk about those sub-plots though for fear of ruining a part of the book for anyone. If you read the first book though, you understand that rarely do things go exactly as planned for Locke and whoever is following him. We'll leave it at that. Suffice it to say that the plot of this novel is well done and succinct and rarely is there a slow moment in the entire book.
The story clearly focuses on Locke and Jean, two of the characters from the first book. There is a great deal of character development for Locke and Jean in this book, much more than the first book for sure. There are also a great deal of additional characters added, which only makes sense sine Locke and Jean completely uprooted themselves and moved to a different place. The addition of these new characters is seamless. They flow right into the existing story and fit perfectly into the grand scheme of things. Each character that Mr. Lynch adds is done with a reason and a greater purpose in mind. Mr. Lynch also has a way of getting the reader to hate certain characters; there are two that come to mind right away. All the characters in this novel, from the main heroes to the beer seller, are all richly detailed with just enough information given that the reader is allowed to form their own picture of what the character looks like, and acts like. They are truly unique characters, no clichés here. Characterization is definitely a strong suit for Mr. Lynch.
I do have two minor criticisms about this novel. While a great deal of this book takes place on a ship, and Mr. Lynch does his best to set the ambiance of life on a ship. There are times when Mr. Lynch has dialog with countless nautical terms. He obviously did quite a bit of research to make that dialog as realistic as possible, however, the dialog during those moments felt forced and didn't flow with the rest of the story. Secondly, as with the first book, Mr. Lynch talks about the all powerful Bondsmagi. However, we learn nothing more about them than we knew after the first book. I am all for keeping things mysterious, however, there should be a little information revealed to keep the reader interested by the mystery. After all, the adage `out of sight out of mind' holds true. I know they are present, but if I don't read much about them, then I will soon forget they are there. I hope that changes in the next installment.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel - although I think it just missed in living up to its predecessor. The magic that was the first books seemed to be slightly off in this one. That could be merely me loving the first book so much that I gave this one unfair expectations. This is a very good book and one many fans will enjoy. If you liked the first one than I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one just as much. In my eyes, Mr. Lynch has cemented himself as one of the best up and comers in the fantasy genre today. I will continue to recommend this series and I can not wait until the third installment hits the shelves.
Show More
read The Lies of Locke Lamora you really need to do so before you even think about picking up this book. Events and discussions that happen within the pages of this novel will make much more sense having read the first book. Plus, the first book is simply bottled magic and a fantastic read, every fantasy fan should read it in my opinion. The plot of this book follows Locke and Jean as they plan their next major heist on the shores of Tal Verrar. On the surface this seems like a straight forward plot, however, much like the first book - things aren't always as they seem. This is a much more involved plot that you would think; there are also a couple sub-plots that occur along the way. I don't really want to talk about those sub-plots though for fear of ruining a part of the book for anyone. If you read the first book though, you understand that rarely do things go exactly as planned for Locke and whoever is following him. We'll leave it at that. Suffice it to say that the plot of this novel is well done and succinct and rarely is there a slow moment in the entire book.
The story clearly focuses on Locke and Jean, two of the characters from the first book. There is a great deal of character development for Locke and Jean in this book, much more than the first book for sure. There are also a great deal of additional characters added, which only makes sense sine Locke and Jean completely uprooted themselves and moved to a different place. The addition of these new characters is seamless. They flow right into the existing story and fit perfectly into the grand scheme of things. Each character that Mr. Lynch adds is done with a reason and a greater purpose in mind. Mr. Lynch also has a way of getting the reader to hate certain characters; there are two that come to mind right away. All the characters in this novel, from the main heroes to the beer seller, are all richly detailed with just enough information given that the reader is allowed to form their own picture of what the character looks like, and acts like. They are truly unique characters, no clichés here. Characterization is definitely a strong suit for Mr. Lynch.
I do have two minor criticisms about this novel. While a great deal of this book takes place on a ship, and Mr. Lynch does his best to set the ambiance of life on a ship. There are times when Mr. Lynch has dialog with countless nautical terms. He obviously did quite a bit of research to make that dialog as realistic as possible, however, the dialog during those moments felt forced and didn't flow with the rest of the story. Secondly, as with the first book, Mr. Lynch talks about the all powerful Bondsmagi. However, we learn nothing more about them than we knew after the first book. I am all for keeping things mysterious, however, there should be a little information revealed to keep the reader interested by the mystery. After all, the adage `out of sight out of mind' holds true. I know they are present, but if I don't read much about them, then I will soon forget they are there. I hope that changes in the next installment.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel - although I think it just missed in living up to its predecessor. The magic that was the first books seemed to be slightly off in this one. That could be merely me loving the first book so much that I gave this one unfair expectations. This is a very good book and one many fans will enjoy. If you liked the first one than I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one just as much. In my eyes, Mr. Lynch has cemented himself as one of the best up and comers in the fantasy genre today. I will continue to recommend this series and I can not wait until the third installment hits the shelves.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
This sequel to the acclaimed The Lies of Locke Lamora is well-written, but lacks that sparkle that made the first book so extraordinary. That was apparent within the first few chapters, and it puzzled me. After all, the same wit was there. The setting was quite different; the first book is set in a
But as I read on, I realized the setting--that absent, glorious dark mood from the first book--was only part of the problem.
The stakes weren't as high. This book felt like it was all about greed. The first one, set in their home city, was personal. Here, I knew they didn't have as much to lose. Physically and mentally, they weren't tortured enough. The one big loss they do experience, near the end, was completely predictable.
The element of magic was largely missing. The creepy, almost omnipotent powers of the Bondsmagi makes a brief appearance and then those bad guys vanish, and what negative ripples they do cause don't seem all that bad compared to what they are capable of.
The book also feels episodic. The entire middle of the book takes place on ships at sea. If I wanted to read a book of naval adventures I would have sought out a series with that bent. That wasn't what the first book was about, and it's not what I wanted here, either.
Make no mistake, it's not a badly written book. Maybe the problem is that the first book was so strong, so unique, that everything else pales in comparison. I have no interest in reading on in the series.
Show More
Venice-like city where most residents live in squalor, and Locke and his comrades connive the rich out of their beloved coins. Red Seas begins in a city that's like a steampunk Las Vegas.But as I read on, I realized the setting--that absent, glorious dark mood from the first book--was only part of the problem.
The stakes weren't as high. This book felt like it was all about greed. The first one, set in their home city, was personal. Here, I knew they didn't have as much to lose. Physically and mentally, they weren't tortured enough. The one big loss they do experience, near the end, was completely predictable.
The element of magic was largely missing. The creepy, almost omnipotent powers of the Bondsmagi makes a brief appearance and then those bad guys vanish, and what negative ripples they do cause don't seem all that bad compared to what they are capable of.
The book also feels episodic. The entire middle of the book takes place on ships at sea. If I wanted to read a book of naval adventures I would have sought out a series with that bent. That wasn't what the first book was about, and it's not what I wanted here, either.
Make no mistake, it's not a badly written book. Maybe the problem is that the first book was so strong, so unique, that everything else pales in comparison. I have no interest in reading on in the series.
Show Less
LibraryThing member RebeccaAnn
Despite how much I loved this book, I'm glad to be done with it. Now, I'll finally be able to sleep again :P
Scott Lynch has done it again. Locke and Jean have been tricked into serving the archon of Tal Verrar, Maxilan Stragos, and are on a new adventure. This time, while attempting to pull of an
The brief summary may sound a bit confusing (and it doesn't do the book justice at all), but with almost 800 pages to the book, there are lots of twists and turns that make it too intricate to properly summarize but rest assured, it's nearly impossible to put this book down once it's started. The writing is phenomenal and the imagery - well, it's damn cinematic at times. The final battle took my breath away.
And of course, Lynch had again created fantastic characters that are so vivid you can almost see them moving on the page. Lynch doesn't shy away from creating strong female characters either. The captain and first mate of the pirate ship, Poison Orchid, seem to make it their hobby of getting the best of our protagonists.
This is an amazing book. It's exciting, visually stimulating, and touches all your emotions. I was left laughing in many places (including the surprise twist in the epilogue) and a couple scenes almost left me in tears. I will say I thought the ending felt a tad rushed, but I enjoyed this book regardless. It ends on one hell of a cliffhanger though! I will definitely be awaiting the next in the series, to be released in a few months!
Scott Lynch has done it again. Locke and Jean have been tricked into serving the archon of Tal Verrar, Maxilan Stragos, and are on a new adventure. This time, while attempting to pull of an
Show More
extremely large heist on the most famous gambling house in Tal Verrar, they must also figure out a way to start a war. Stragos, head of the city's navy, has been losing his power with no one to fight. He's nearing the end of his life and decides to go out with a bang. He wants the people of Tal Verrar to remember that they need him and so employs an unwilling Locke and Jean to go to sea and bring a fleet of pirates ready to attack Tal Verrar. Stragos will then slaughter the pirates and be remembered as a hero. Locke and Jean, of course, decide to make things difficult and deceive everyone, all the while attempting to rob everyone blind.The brief summary may sound a bit confusing (and it doesn't do the book justice at all), but with almost 800 pages to the book, there are lots of twists and turns that make it too intricate to properly summarize but rest assured, it's nearly impossible to put this book down once it's started. The writing is phenomenal and the imagery - well, it's damn cinematic at times. The final battle took my breath away.
And of course, Lynch had again created fantastic characters that are so vivid you can almost see them moving on the page. Lynch doesn't shy away from creating strong female characters either. The captain and first mate of the pirate ship, Poison Orchid, seem to make it their hobby of getting the best of our protagonists.
This is an amazing book. It's exciting, visually stimulating, and touches all your emotions. I was left laughing in many places (including the surprise twist in the epilogue) and a couple scenes almost left me in tears. I will say I thought the ending felt a tad rushed, but I enjoyed this book regardless. It ends on one hell of a cliffhanger though! I will definitely be awaiting the next in the series, to be released in a few months!
Show Less
LibraryThing member lam.rock
Serious let down after the first book was so good. I literally couldn't go on, and stopped reading it about half-way through. Thoroughly uninteresting. I don't understand how it happened as the characters were among my fave of all time in the first book!
LibraryThing member seitherin
I'm not sure when I became such a prude that a little - OK, a lot - of foul language would become so unpleasant to wade through. I've been known to toss out words that could make a sailor blush, but I use them sparingly and to great effect. Lynch just uses them - to death.
LibraryThing member DRFP
Unlike most people, I found this superior to the first novel.
TLoLL was a very fun, enjoyable read, but it was filled with a lot of cliche. Okay, we're dealing with pirates this time and an attempt to rob a casino, yet somehow it felt a little more convincing and original.
Some people say they
This is basically more of the same from Lynch. If you liked his first novel you're certain to enjoy this one too. He's not trying to write "A Song of Ice and Fire", just a very entertaining fantasy series, and I think he's doing quite well.
TLoLL was a very fun, enjoyable read, but it was filled with a lot of cliche. Okay, we're dealing with pirates this time and an attempt to rob a casino, yet somehow it felt a little more convincing and original.
Some people say they
Show More
found elements of the story predictable - and yes, the end result of the story's opening pages was easy to guess - but after the surprisingly high body count in the first novel I wasn't too sure what Lynch might be willing to go through with.This is basically more of the same from Lynch. If you liked his first novel you're certain to enjoy this one too. He's not trying to write "A Song of Ice and Fire", just a very entertaining fantasy series, and I think he's doing quite well.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sageness
Wow, that took ages to read, but was ultimately worth it.
yay: I love the 'verse (hell, I requested fic in this 'verse for Yuletide) and all of its characters. It's fantastic to see a sexually egalitarian society. Male heroes, female heroes, male villains, female villains; gay, bi, straight,
As a very tiny woman, I'm also delighted to see a very tiny woman kicking ass and being respected for it. No jokes about how cute she is. No demeaning comments about her being hot and feisty. She is what she is *at face value*, without any of that annoying (male) commentary pointing out an author's supposed concessions to feminism.
Fantastically played death-scene, too. No, I'm not happy that Ezri died, obviously, but I knew in this 'verse someone had to and it was most likely to be her. Thing is, I'm content with it and even proud of her. (Why yes, I do self-identify. :P)
The byzantine plots are cool, but then I enjoy Hammett-/Chandler-style convoluted backstabbing. *g*
boo: This book took me more than a month to read and it's only 558 pages long. Like TLOLL, it's *too* dense. And in the case of RSURS, the ending (post-battle against the Sovereign) feels wildly uneven...as if Lynch were three weeks from his manuscript deadline and had to tie up two primary plots and ten subplots in forty pages. Which, hello, is hard. To me, it reads like there ought to be another ninety pages instead of forty. It makes me wonder what he cut out to get under word-count, or else what other scenes he had outlined but failed to get written.
yay: But for all that, the book is a wild ride, a crazy emotional roller coaster, vividly cinematic, and just damned exciting. Trouble is having to stop and process between chapters, otherwise you lose track of who scammed whom and are lost when it comes to matter later.
sum: This book is better-written than Lynch's last, which is awesome, since this is his second novel. I'm looking forward to the third and to the rest of the series. It'll be awesome to see what his style is like ten years from now. :)
yay: I love the 'verse (hell, I requested fic in this 'verse for Yuletide) and all of its characters. It's fantastic to see a sexually egalitarian society. Male heroes, female heroes, male villains, female villains; gay, bi, straight,
Show More
celibate; and sex roles as much a non-issue as they possibly can be. Likewise with people of all colors and sizes. Long-overdue and nicely done.As a very tiny woman, I'm also delighted to see a very tiny woman kicking ass and being respected for it. No jokes about how cute she is. No demeaning comments about her being hot and feisty. She is what she is *at face value*, without any of that annoying (male) commentary pointing out an author's supposed concessions to feminism.
Fantastically played death-scene, too. No, I'm not happy that Ezri died, obviously, but I knew in this 'verse someone had to and it was most likely to be her. Thing is, I'm content with it and even proud of her. (Why yes, I do self-identify. :P)
The byzantine plots are cool, but then I enjoy Hammett-/Chandler-style convoluted backstabbing. *g*
boo: This book took me more than a month to read and it's only 558 pages long. Like TLOLL, it's *too* dense. And in the case of RSURS, the ending (post-battle against the Sovereign) feels wildly uneven...as if Lynch were three weeks from his manuscript deadline and had to tie up two primary plots and ten subplots in forty pages. Which, hello, is hard. To me, it reads like there ought to be another ninety pages instead of forty. It makes me wonder what he cut out to get under word-count, or else what other scenes he had outlined but failed to get written.
yay: But for all that, the book is a wild ride, a crazy emotional roller coaster, vividly cinematic, and just damned exciting. Trouble is having to stop and process between chapters, otherwise you lose track of who scammed whom and are lost when it comes to matter later.
sum: This book is better-written than Lynch's last, which is awesome, since this is his second novel. I'm looking forward to the third and to the rest of the series. It'll be awesome to see what his style is like ten years from now. :)
Show Less
LibraryThing member Winterrain
This book does away with what I felt was the main flaw of the prequel- a poor meshing of the past storyline with the current one. The same device of telling the backstory in tandem with the main story is used here, but more successfully- I could see the plot coming together as I read. Besides that,
Show More
it was a well-written, thrilling read and left me wanting more, just as a book in a series should. Lynch's strength as a fantasy author is writing those four-hundred page volumes so common in the genre without ever allowing the plot to drag. Show Less
LibraryThing member saltmanz
I loved this book; thought it was almost as good as the first. The only real knock(s) against it that I could come up with were the fact that the transition from the "casino heist" plot to the "pirates" plot was awkwardly done, and that the two were tied back together rather abruptly. Thinking
Show More
about it more, I think maybe it might have worked better had the pirate stuff been the "main" plot, with the Sinspire job told in flashback. (Though what Lynch would have done with the flashbacks told during the Sinspire plot, I don't know.) Show Less
LibraryThing member Temporalis
I found Red Seas Under Red Skies an even better read than the first in the series, building on the already solid foundation in that book. Another book which I had difficulty putting down, I'm excited to read the next one, whenever it is available.
Scott Lynch spends more time on character
The storyline is exciting, amusing, and full of thrills. The capers mesh better than the first, and their conclusion was more unexpected than the first - yet better planned and executed. This series has really picked up with its second installation, and may yet become one of my favorites that I reread over and over.
Scott Lynch spends more time on character
Show More
development which addresses some of my issues from the first book, but isn't consistent in its application. At times I found the backstory and character motiviation well done, believable, and in depth. Other times characters simply do things, or act out of their explained character, and their interactions are simple and unbelieveable. These moments are however less frequent than I saw in the first book, and the flaws are easier to ignore in light of the other improvements.The storyline is exciting, amusing, and full of thrills. The capers mesh better than the first, and their conclusion was more unexpected than the first - yet better planned and executed. This series has really picked up with its second installation, and may yet become one of my favorites that I reread over and over.
Show Less
LibraryThing member readafew
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch is the second book in the Gentleman Bastards series. Scott continues with the time line games that I enjoyed in the first book. start at a seemingly random point in the story and then flash back or forward to another scene to help explain a previous one or
Locke and Jean survived their escape and sea voyage to live to steal another day. Locke is wallowing in self pity and self recriminations and trying to drink himself into oblivion, Jean mean while takes it upon himself to find a gang he can take over and mold into an effective crime unit. Jean finally has enough of Locke's mopping and pushes him into reacting, which causes a hasty exit from their new home and looking for another, preferably one with lots of rich people to swindle.
Overall the book was a fast read and was action packed for 760 pages worth. Even as big as it was the climax felt rushed, though everything was wrapped up fairly nice with a pretty bow. Locke and Jean have many death defying adventures and many laugh out loud scenes. Once again with all of Locke's fancy and believable lies, it is the truth that finally gets him out of trouble again.
Show More
set up for a future one. I can see where some people might find it a little hard to follow but personally I thought Lynch did an excellent job and I thoroughly enjoyed it.Locke and Jean survived their escape and sea voyage to live to steal another day. Locke is wallowing in self pity and self recriminations and trying to drink himself into oblivion, Jean mean while takes it upon himself to find a gang he can take over and mold into an effective crime unit. Jean finally has enough of Locke's mopping and pushes him into reacting, which causes a hasty exit from their new home and looking for another, preferably one with lots of rich people to swindle.
Overall the book was a fast read and was action packed for 760 pages worth. Even as big as it was the climax felt rushed, though everything was wrapped up fairly nice with a pretty bow. Locke and Jean have many death defying adventures and many laugh out loud scenes. Once again with all of Locke's fancy and believable lies, it is the truth that finally gets him out of trouble again.
Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: After the events of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Locke and Jean wash up in the island city of Tal Verrar. They've been there for two years, planning a long job at the Sinspire, the city's most glamorous and wealthy casino, with a purportedly impenetrable vault and a standing death sentence
Review: If it weren't for the fact that I didn't seriously start writing book reviews until about the time that this book was published, I'd swear that Scott Lynch read my blog (or my mind) and wrote Red Seas Under Red Skies specifically for me. (And if I'm wrong, and Scott Lynch *is* reading my blog (or my mind): Hi Scott! Thank you for writing me such an awesome book!) Because seriously, this book is jam-packed full of so many of the things that I love that it can't be just a coincidence.
To start with: this book is hilarious. Its snarky, sarcastic sense of humor almost exactly matches my own, and while I was considering copying some of the bits that I found funny into my review, there was so much funny stuff that I would have wound up copying about half the book. The best part, unsurprisingly, was the banter between Jean and Locke; if you like witty, snarky banter, this is the best you'll ever find. (I would even go so far as to say that it is equal to if not better than Buffy at its peak.) It's also some of the most colorful and creative invective I've ever read, although it's pretty coarse in places, so if your delicate ears are likely to be blistered by swearing, you may want to steer clear.
To add to the excellent dialogue, this book also involves ships! I'm repeatedly on record regarding my love for the Age of Sail, and it turns out that Lynch's fantasy sailors are just as good as the British Navy. Lynch writes ship-board action clearly and in a way that feels authentic, at least for this land-lubber. Plus, there are pirates! How can I resist?
But, apart from the snark and the pirates, this book was really all about the characters. In The Lies of Locke Lamora, there was a little bit of a feeling of Locke as the clever charmer and Jean as the muscle, but Jean really comes into his own as a full, complex, intelligent, and just plain wonderful character. The relationship between Jean and Locke is really the central story of the book, and it's developed slowly but elegantly throughout. The book starts off with this hint that one is going to betray the other, and you're all "no, that can't be right, they're buddies for life", but as the book progresses, there's always the niggling little question and you're never entirely sure one way or the other, and that's an impressive feat for an author to pull off.
The Lies of Locke Lamora starts out as a happy carefree heist tale, and then takes a turn into some seriously dark territory about halfway through. I didn't think Red Seas Under Red Skies was as dark as Locke Lamora as a whole, although there were certainly a few individual scenes that qualified. The heist plotline was also more evenly distributed throughout the book; there were a lot more twists, turns, double- and triple- and quadruple-crosses going on, and everyone has their own plans and their own master(s). I thought it was going to be hard to keep everything straight, but it all eventually made sense, and it all came together wonderfully at the end. 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Love love love. Read it. But read the equally excellent The Lies of Locke Lamora first, since the backstory is important for parts of the plot, and is never summarized in any detail.
Show More
for anyone caught cheating at cards. However, their schemes are interrupted when they come face-to-face with the archon, the head of Tal Verrar's military, and its dictator in all but name. The archon knows exactly who Locke and Jean really are, and how best to get them on a leash... and how to use them as tools to provide him with exactly what he wants. Soon the duo find themselves over their heads: they're landsmen, but now they have to sail the Brass Sea and deal with pirates. They're also caught in a web of false identities, questionable loyalties, double-crosses, elaborate cover stories, and even more elaborate plots, and they'll have to keep all of their lies straight if they hope to get out of things not only with the money, but also with their lives.Review: If it weren't for the fact that I didn't seriously start writing book reviews until about the time that this book was published, I'd swear that Scott Lynch read my blog (or my mind) and wrote Red Seas Under Red Skies specifically for me. (And if I'm wrong, and Scott Lynch *is* reading my blog (or my mind): Hi Scott! Thank you for writing me such an awesome book!) Because seriously, this book is jam-packed full of so many of the things that I love that it can't be just a coincidence.
To start with: this book is hilarious. Its snarky, sarcastic sense of humor almost exactly matches my own, and while I was considering copying some of the bits that I found funny into my review, there was so much funny stuff that I would have wound up copying about half the book. The best part, unsurprisingly, was the banter between Jean and Locke; if you like witty, snarky banter, this is the best you'll ever find. (I would even go so far as to say that it is equal to if not better than Buffy at its peak.) It's also some of the most colorful and creative invective I've ever read, although it's pretty coarse in places, so if your delicate ears are likely to be blistered by swearing, you may want to steer clear.
To add to the excellent dialogue, this book also involves ships! I'm repeatedly on record regarding my love for the Age of Sail, and it turns out that Lynch's fantasy sailors are just as good as the British Navy. Lynch writes ship-board action clearly and in a way that feels authentic, at least for this land-lubber. Plus, there are pirates! How can I resist?
But, apart from the snark and the pirates, this book was really all about the characters. In The Lies of Locke Lamora, there was a little bit of a feeling of Locke as the clever charmer and Jean as the muscle, but Jean really comes into his own as a full, complex, intelligent, and just plain wonderful character. The relationship between Jean and Locke is really the central story of the book, and it's developed slowly but elegantly throughout. The book starts off with this hint that one is going to betray the other, and you're all "no, that can't be right, they're buddies for life", but as the book progresses, there's always the niggling little question and you're never entirely sure one way or the other, and that's an impressive feat for an author to pull off.
The Lies of Locke Lamora starts out as a happy carefree heist tale, and then takes a turn into some seriously dark territory about halfway through. I didn't think Red Seas Under Red Skies was as dark as Locke Lamora as a whole, although there were certainly a few individual scenes that qualified. The heist plotline was also more evenly distributed throughout the book; there were a lot more twists, turns, double- and triple- and quadruple-crosses going on, and everyone has their own plans and their own master(s). I thought it was going to be hard to keep everything straight, but it all eventually made sense, and it all came together wonderfully at the end. 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Love love love. Read it. But read the equally excellent The Lies of Locke Lamora first, since the backstory is important for parts of the plot, and is never summarized in any detail.
Show Less
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
I've got one word for you: Pirates.
There. Are we all done now? We really ought to be because I don't know about you, but for me the only thing better than pirates would be pirate ninja assassin zombies and how often do you read about that?
These aren't romance novel pirates, by the way. These are a
While I didn't enjoy Red Seas Under Red Skies as much as I enjoyed the Lies of Locke Lamora, this was a cracking good read full of humor, fun, and lots of adventure. Highly recommended.
There. Are we all done now? We really ought to be because I don't know about you, but for me the only thing better than pirates would be pirate ninja assassin zombies and how often do you read about that?
These aren't romance novel pirates, by the way. These are a
Show More
mixed bunch of mercenary, chaotic neutral pirates - male and female, noble and poor, on big ships run under various political systems. They kind of rock.While I didn't enjoy Red Seas Under Red Skies as much as I enjoyed the Lies of Locke Lamora, this was a cracking good read full of humor, fun, and lots of adventure. Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mdhershman
I loved "The Lies of Locke Lamora" but couldn't get into this one. Too much Ocean's Thirteen, not enough George R R Martin.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
A rollicking good yarn, but lacking in a few crucial details here and there. And a map. If a book needs a map, you can be sure of a few things - the plot is going ot be complicated, and the author isn't that good at describing locations. Sadly both are true here as well, but overall it doesn't
The story picks up two years afetr the end of Lies with Locke and Jean now have new identities in Tal Verrar another city, much the same, but also different from Camorr. And once again Jean and Locke have a cunning plan, this time it's to raid the famous impregniable vault of the Sinspire - a huge gambling tower where all the rich and famous entertain themselves. However the ruling Archeon has other plans for them, and the resident master of Sinspire isn't that pleased either. The end result is that Locke and Jean take the part of thieves of the sea - otherwise known as pirates. Shame they don't know their larboard from their marlinspike, but a good bluff can get around almost anything!
I wasn't totally convinced by all the plots and the ease at which various people on power believed in them. But is was good fun! Especially noteworthy is the slowly developing consience of Locke, I hope we get to see more of this, and answers to the conundrum of is there honour amoung thieves? We get a bit more character development, especially in the beginning (as flashbacks) where Locke has to come to terms with the beating he recieved, and the number of times Jean's saved him. Unfortunetly Jean still doesn't get any more characterisation than as a big lump. Which considering the situation he finds himself in, is a huge waste. Also vastly missing, is more of the world building details. What happened to the GhostWinds, why/who/what/where is the voice in the fog? Just blithely dismissing these as 'mysteries of the sea' doens't hep the reader. There is also a surprisingly lagre plothole. Locke is still moping about his missing love, no more details provided than in the last book - but given a free reign of anywhere in the world to go to, he hasn't opted or even discusssed going to look for her.
The writing cntinues to be fast paced and enjoyable through, and the annoying interuptions of flashbacks soon peter out. As events concatenate and the various schemes all come to head we find out just how much of a bluff Locke can call - beware the massive Cliffhanger of an ending though
Show More
detract from the fun too much.The story picks up two years afetr the end of Lies with Locke and Jean now have new identities in Tal Verrar another city, much the same, but also different from Camorr. And once again Jean and Locke have a cunning plan, this time it's to raid the famous impregniable vault of the Sinspire - a huge gambling tower where all the rich and famous entertain themselves. However the ruling Archeon has other plans for them, and the resident master of Sinspire isn't that pleased either. The end result is that Locke and Jean take the part of thieves of the sea - otherwise known as pirates. Shame they don't know their larboard from their marlinspike, but a good bluff can get around almost anything!
I wasn't totally convinced by all the plots and the ease at which various people on power believed in them. But is was good fun! Especially noteworthy is the slowly developing consience of Locke, I hope we get to see more of this, and answers to the conundrum of is there honour amoung thieves? We get a bit more character development, especially in the beginning (as flashbacks) where Locke has to come to terms with the beating he recieved, and the number of times Jean's saved him. Unfortunetly Jean still doesn't get any more characterisation than as a big lump. Which considering the situation he finds himself in, is a huge waste. Also vastly missing, is more of the world building details. What happened to the GhostWinds, why/who/what/where is the voice in the fog? Just blithely dismissing these as 'mysteries of the sea' doens't hep the reader. There is also a surprisingly lagre plothole. Locke is still moping about his missing love, no more details provided than in the last book - but given a free reign of anywhere in the world to go to, he hasn't opted or even discusssed going to look for her.
The writing cntinues to be fast paced and enjoyable through, and the annoying interuptions of flashbacks soon peter out. As events concatenate and the various schemes all come to head we find out just how much of a bluff Locke can call - beware the massive Cliffhanger of an ending though
Show Less
LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: The plot is split into three separate sections chronologically, and those sections are then told all at the same time. It makes for a rather confusing overall storyline, and worked a lot better in the first book. The pacing is off, with the center section of the story blowing up to epic
Characters: Characterization is well done, with plenty of attention to the little details. The new characters come in two sections - the interesting ones, and the not-quite-realistic ones. The latter are something of a distraction at times. The bad guys are nicely done, with motives working well and with their plans well plotted.
Style: It's nice and fluent to read, with good humor and just the right dose of foreshadowing at times. Descriptions are sufficient, and dialogue feels convincing. It's not a book I'd read for the style, but it's not something that distracts from anything else.
Plus: It's an entertaining read, and it never turns boring.
Minus: The structure makes it too confusing to really appreciate it on the first round. This is a book that takes two reads, minimum, to get it.
Summary: Good, but not quite as good as the predecessor.
Show More
proportions with little overall plot progress, while the ending is dealt with far too quickly. Overall it's a fast-paced story with plenty of twists and turns. Characters: Characterization is well done, with plenty of attention to the little details. The new characters come in two sections - the interesting ones, and the not-quite-realistic ones. The latter are something of a distraction at times. The bad guys are nicely done, with motives working well and with their plans well plotted.
Style: It's nice and fluent to read, with good humor and just the right dose of foreshadowing at times. Descriptions are sufficient, and dialogue feels convincing. It's not a book I'd read for the style, but it's not something that distracts from anything else.
Plus: It's an entertaining read, and it never turns boring.
Minus: The structure makes it too confusing to really appreciate it on the first round. This is a book that takes two reads, minimum, to get it.
Summary: Good, but not quite as good as the predecessor.
Show Less
LibraryThing member WinterFox
This second book in the Gentlemen Bastard series sees our heroes, Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, starting off with a plan to rob the biggest and most secure casino in the city they're living in now. Things get complicated pretty quickly, not surprisingly, and soon there are a whole merry bunch of
The writing is still strong, and the plot is very good, and the characters... well, Jean certainly feels a good deal more fleshed out now, Locke gets some advancement, and the rest of the secondaries are by and large believable and interesting, although not all of them. Some, like Requin, feel fairly straight out of central casting. Still, they do the job well enough; it's probably just that they come across not quite as good as the first book.
The pacing in the book, though, is the main point; it comes and goes from the main city, which is okay in and of itself, but the main part on the sea with pirates doesn't show until a few hundred pages in, and much of the action at the end goes by very quickly. The bits with the main city during the pirates part felt a bit out of place, too, even if they made sense for plot reasons; it's just that it's snuck in, almost, in the larger arc of the story.
On the whole, though, still a very strong effort, and a very enjoyable read. I'll pick up the next one when it's out, for sure.
Show More
plots and counterplots all weaving around each other. They all come together pretty nicely in the end, and just about everything important is mentioned at some point, so it's all pretty fair play. I liked that part of it, as usual.The writing is still strong, and the plot is very good, and the characters... well, Jean certainly feels a good deal more fleshed out now, Locke gets some advancement, and the rest of the secondaries are by and large believable and interesting, although not all of them. Some, like Requin, feel fairly straight out of central casting. Still, they do the job well enough; it's probably just that they come across not quite as good as the first book.
The pacing in the book, though, is the main point; it comes and goes from the main city, which is okay in and of itself, but the main part on the sea with pirates doesn't show until a few hundred pages in, and much of the action at the end goes by very quickly. The bits with the main city during the pirates part felt a bit out of place, too, even if they made sense for plot reasons; it's just that it's snuck in, almost, in the larger arc of the story.
On the whole, though, still a very strong effort, and a very enjoyable read. I'll pick up the next one when it's out, for sure.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rbe500
I was so impressed with Lynch's first volume that I pulled out a handful of copper pennies and eagerly purchased the next book in the series, Red Seas under Red Skies. It certainly lived up to my high expectations. About half of this book is set on the high seas and one reviewer has likened it to a
Will Lynch be able to maintain this high level of freshness and interest over the remaining five volumes? Well, crime series fiction seems to work e.g. Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks, Ian Rankin’s Rebus, Colin Dexter’s Morse. But, it doesn’t happen very often in the fantasy genre. Time will tell, and in the meantime I’ve got five books for my ‘wanted’ list. The next books in the sequence are entitled: The Republic of Thieves, The Thorn of Emberlain, The Ministry of Necessity, The Mage and the Master Spy, and Inherit the Night
Show More
cross between Ocean's Eleven and Pirates of the Caribbean. Locke and Jean are set to pull off the perfect crime when their carefully laid plans are thrown off course by a dastardly plot to exploit their talents and they end up among pirates on the Sea of Brass. Where LLL was primarily about creating a colourful and viable world-setting, this is more character-driven with the relationship between the two anti-heroes pushed to the limits and a lashing of love interest to boot, but not in a soppy way. Another excellent book, and highly recommended.Will Lynch be able to maintain this high level of freshness and interest over the remaining five volumes? Well, crime series fiction seems to work e.g. Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks, Ian Rankin’s Rebus, Colin Dexter’s Morse. But, it doesn’t happen very often in the fantasy genre. Time will tell, and in the meantime I’ve got five books for my ‘wanted’ list. The next books in the sequence are entitled: The Republic of Thieves, The Thorn of Emberlain, The Ministry of Necessity, The Mage and the Master Spy, and Inherit the Night
Show Less
LibraryThing member NightHawk777
Another good one in this series.
There are so many reviews for it, I don't feel as if there is much I can add.
After finishing this, I decided to get both this, and the Lies of Locke Lamora in hardback :)
There are so many reviews for it, I don't feel as if there is much I can add.
After finishing this, I decided to get both this, and the Lies of Locke Lamora in hardback :)
LibraryThing member Studia
Escaping from the attentions of the Bondsmagi Locke Lamora, the estwhile Thorn of Camorr and Jean Tannen have fled their home city. Taking ship they arrive in the city state of Tal Varrar where they are soon planning their most spectacular heist yet; they will take the luxurious gaming house, The
Show More
Sinspire, for all of its countless riches. No-one has ever taken even a single coin from the Sinspire that wasn't won on the tables or in the other games of chance on offer there. But, as ever, the path of true crime rarely runs smooth and Locke and Jean soon find themselves co-opted into an attempt to bring the pirate fleet of the notorious Zamira Drakasha to justice. Fine work for thieves who don't know one end of galley from another. And all the while the Bondsmagi are plotting their very necessary revenge against the one man who believes e has humiliated them and lived; Locke Lamora. © DnBB AS Show Less
LibraryThing member sensitivemuse
Ever seen one of those bank heist movies where Person A is working for Person B, they both want to get rid of Person C but Person C wants them to kill Person D. On the other hand Person E and F have other plans for Person A and B, and then Person G was the one really all behind it? you with me so
What I liked about the novel? I was attached to Locke in the first book and he was still entertaining and funny here. Being a cat lover, I loved the little incidents with the kittens and with Regal the kitten and Locke. That was cute! More new characters were introduced in this book which was fine. It kept the book interesting for a moment until the static flatness started all over again.
Eventually I ended up skimming a lot of the book in the last 200 pages. I just got fed up with this whole thing and wanted to get to the bottom of the plots and sub plots and see where this series is headed. At least the ending had some excitement although it wasn’t worth reading through 500 pages to get to the last four to find some good stuff.
From what I heard, it’s going to be another 5 or so books after this one? I just hope they turn out more exciting than Red Seas Under Red Skies.
Show More
far? yeah that’s what I thought. You had to really pay attention in this novel to get everything all straight. Red Seas Under Red Skies continues the adventures of Locke and Jean. Word to the wise: Read The Lies of Locke Lamora first. You have to, to get the understanding of everything. Not that this book will help you understand anything at all either. Mind you, I rather liked The Lies of Locke Lamora. It was pretty good. Then I decided to read this one, thinking it’s just as good. I was a bit disenchanted. Not only did the book really drag, but it was just so long winded that I noticed I was putting the book down a lot and reading other things and finishing them. It wasn’t until I realized that I can’t renew the book anymore that I decided to actually finish this book. I don’t understand why it has to be 500 pages for this book. You could have condensed everything and make the book about 350 pages max. I found that in this book, you had a lot of fast paced action, and then for about 40 pages you get slow events where you just felt like putting the book down. Then it goes back to some action, and then more flatness. The whole entire book was like that except the ending.What I liked about the novel? I was attached to Locke in the first book and he was still entertaining and funny here. Being a cat lover, I loved the little incidents with the kittens and with Regal the kitten and Locke. That was cute! More new characters were introduced in this book which was fine. It kept the book interesting for a moment until the static flatness started all over again.
Eventually I ended up skimming a lot of the book in the last 200 pages. I just got fed up with this whole thing and wanted to get to the bottom of the plots and sub plots and see where this series is headed. At least the ending had some excitement although it wasn’t worth reading through 500 pages to get to the last four to find some good stuff.
From what I heard, it’s going to be another 5 or so books after this one? I just hope they turn out more exciting than Red Seas Under Red Skies.
Show Less
LibraryThing member majkia
The first part of Red Seas Under Red Skies is painful to read. Scott Lynch went where far too many writers don't fully go. At the end of book 1 of the series, he put his characters through Hell. And he unflinchingly deals with the aftermath in both physical as well as mental terms, and their
Jean takes control of Locke who is devastated as well as hurt and moves them both out of Camorr. It isn't long until Jean at least is back, and he drags Locke back into the world by sheer stubborn love and determination.
Then they begin to set up a long con, which, of course, manages to become more and more complicated, made worse by the fact that someone they can't identify is trying to kill them at every turn. Not to mention them being captured by someone else entirely.
And Pirates!
There are a ton of twists and turns and surprises and the ending made me grit my teeth and curse the author, it was so ... so Gentleman Bastardly.
Highly recommended.
Show More
consequences.Jean takes control of Locke who is devastated as well as hurt and moves them both out of Camorr. It isn't long until Jean at least is back, and he drags Locke back into the world by sheer stubborn love and determination.
Then they begin to set up a long con, which, of course, manages to become more and more complicated, made worse by the fact that someone they can't identify is trying to kill them at every turn. Not to mention them being captured by someone else entirely.
And Pirates!
There are a ton of twists and turns and surprises and the ending made me grit my teeth and curse the author, it was so ... so Gentleman Bastardly.
Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member FremdeB
Not as good as Lies of Locke Lamora but I'm looking forward to the 3rd in this series.