Review: Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

Locke and his trusted sidekick, Jean, target 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.

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.

Reading Format: Paperback
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 5 stars

This is the second book in the Gentleman Bastards series (and the second Scott Lynch book) that I have read. What a Prologue! It made me want to give up my job so that I could dedicate every waking minute to reading this book to find out what happened! That’s how good it was. I so wanted to find out whether the scene in the prologue was part of one of their hare-brained schemes or whether something had gone so badly wrong to affect Locke and Jean’s friendship so dramatically. The first paragraph of the prologue featured in my first First Chapter - First Paragraph - Tuesday Intro post, so be sure to check it out.

And it wasn't just the prologue. I thought the quarter half of the book started much stronger than the first book and was full of action. I found myself immersed in the world much quicker and it was great to be reacquainted with Locke and Jean. We also had a brief appearance of Chains in one of the “Reminiscence” chapters. These reminiscences in the last book confused me to start off with but then I really grew to like them as it helped build the story and the characters so it was good to see that Lynch was consistent and brought these chapters through in to this book, at least for the first third of the book. And one of my favourite scenes from the first book was included in one of these reminiscences again which was great (Locke as a child travelling on the back of a Gentled goat to see Barsavi with an almighty hangover).

In this book we see how Locke and Jean cope with losing their comrades in arms and set their sights on a new “project” in Tal Verrar. They find themselves in the thick of it, not just in their own long con at The Sunspire Gaming Hall (which makes me think of this book like a Fantasy version of Ocean's Eleven) but also the Bondsmagi catch up with them and they are drawn in to a game which is not of their own making by the Archon of Tal Verrar. They are sent to Sea against their wishes but with very little options given the fact they have been poisoned and must do as they are told in order to keep up a supply of the antidote. Is everyone manipulative bastards on the take in this world? Seems that way! So, new city, new characters and new scrapes for Locke and Jean to get themselves into (and out of). Half of the book is set on dry land while the latter half is set at sea with a good dose of pirate shenanigans. Another great book to the series.

For those of you who loved the first book, you’ll love this one even more and for those who thought the first one was just ok, I’d say give this one a go as I personally thought this was the better book of the two.

Red Seas Under Red Skies: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

Related Articles:
First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro: Red Seas Under Red Skies
Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro: Red Seas Under Red Skies

I found this book meme idea on the blog Bibliophile By the Sea. As the title suggests, the idea is to post the first paragraph of the first chapter of a book that I am currently reading.

So this is my first First Paragraph - First Chapter - Tuesday Intro.

I am currently reading Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch which is the second book in the Gentleman Bastards series.

"Locke Lamora stood on the pier in Tal Verrar with the hot wind of a burning ship at his back and the cold bite of a loaded crossbow's bolt at his neck.

He grinned and concentrated on holding his own crossbow level with the left eye of his opponent; they were close enough that they would catch most of one another's blood, should they both twitch their fingers at the same time."

Red Seas Under Red Skies: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count.

Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards.

Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.

But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming.

A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora . . .

Reading Format: Kindle eBook
Year Read: 2014
Star Rating: 4 stars

I really enjoyed Lynch’s writing style and the way he built the characters and the world they lived in. I enjoyed getting to know Camorr, the town in which the book is set, and how life worked there. Locke Lamora is a strong character which I think has been developed really well. This is quite possibly the first book I have read which focuses on thieves and I really enjoyed the mischievousness of the characters and the banter that goes on between them.

I did think it started a little slowly – just the first 20-30 pages perhaps but then all of a sudden I was sucked in and I can’t say at what point or why. I just was! This book just got better and better as I read!

This books tells the story of orphan boy Locke Lamora, who is taken under the wing of a “priest” who in reality is the garrista (leader) of the band of thieves known as The Gentleman Bastards. These are not just ordinary thieves though – they are confidence men and play the long game. And they are good at it!

The narrative switches around a little, detailing both Locke Lamora's childhood when he first becomes a member of the Gentleman Bastards, and him grown up as their leader. At first I thought this was going to make for a complicated read but I soon got in to the flow of things and I really enjoyed it. This style also fleshed out the characters allowing us to get to know them better.

One of my favourite parts was the women’s shark fighting contests in the first quarter of the book. I also loved the fact that there were floating trees in the canals – random I know! I found it hilarious reading about young Locke Lamora going to see the Capa on the back of a Gentled goat because he had a hang over. This is just one example of humour being included throughout the book which I really liked.

The book finished in the exact opposite way to which I thought the book started – those last 100 pages flew by and was action-packed to say the least.

This book was a great start to the series. I am currently reading the sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies, which I will review and post on here once I'm finished.

The Lies of Locke Lamora: View on Amazon || View on Goodreads