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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the most exciting and enjoyable reads I've had in years. Absolutely CRACKING adventure.
The best dialogue I've read in a novel, ever.
This series is fast becoming an all time favourite and I cannot fucking wait to read the next one!
The best dialogue I've read in a novel, ever.
This series is fast becoming an all time favourite and I cannot fucking wait to read the next one!
Понравилось меньше чем первая книга.
Показалось, что слишком много параллельных линий: ограбление, страгос, пираты, помощница страгоса.
Переходы и связи и между линиями не такие изящные как в первой книги.
Вся линия с пиратами ощущается лишней и из-за нее теряется накал линий с ограблением и страгосом.
Показалось, что слишком много параллельных линий: ограбление, страгос, пираты, помощница страгоса.
Переходы и связи и между линиями не такие изящные как в первой книги.
Вся линия с пиратами ощущается лишней и из-за нее теряется накал линий с ограблением и страгосом.
http://bookreviewsbyme2.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/under-seas-under-red-skies-review/
Sometimes a book is so well written that you truly feel that you are living the story. You feel as if you can taste what the characters taste, see what they see, and hear what they hear. The beginning of this book (up until they went to sea) was like that.
I truly loved the first book in this series and while this book certainly wasn’t as good as the first book, it still managed to hold its own.
The plot in this book was really good. There were so many different things going on (there were roughly 3 interwoven plots) that there was never a dull moment in the story. Locke and Jean are up to their usual antics (in a different city this time) and manage to get themselves into a rather sticky situation (involving poison, many, many lies, and complicated stories). I found myself glued to the pages, waiting to see how they would get themselves out of it.
The characters in this book are wonderful. Locke and Jean are still the same old characters that the reader knows and loves, but there are some other interesting characters introduced in this book. The villains in this story are absolutely fantastic! They’re incredibly realistic and evil without being obnoxious. They’re obviously very well thought out.
I thought that the writing in this book was really amazing, up until Locke and Jean went to sea. Once they were out at sea I thought that the descriptions of everything lost a little bit of their magic. I wasn’t able to feel the story like I did in the beginning, and I was little bit disappointed with that.
Overall, while this book wasn’t as good as the first in the series, it was still a plenty enjoyable read!
Sometimes a book is so well written that you truly feel that you are living the story. You feel as if you can taste what the characters taste, see what they see, and hear what they hear. The beginning of this book (up until they went to sea) was like that.
I truly loved the first book in this series and while this book certainly wasn’t as good as the first book, it still managed to hold its own.
The plot in this book was really good. There were so many different things going on (there were roughly 3 interwoven plots) that there was never a dull moment in the story. Locke and Jean are up to their usual antics (in a different city this time) and manage to get themselves into a rather sticky situation (involving poison, many, many lies, and complicated stories). I found myself glued to the pages, waiting to see how they would get themselves out of it.
The characters in this book are wonderful. Locke and Jean are still the same old characters that the reader knows and loves, but there are some other interesting characters introduced in this book. The villains in this story are absolutely fantastic! They’re incredibly realistic and evil without being obnoxious. They’re obviously very well thought out.
I thought that the writing in this book was really amazing, up until Locke and Jean went to sea. Once they were out at sea I thought that the descriptions of everything lost a little bit of their magic. I wasn’t able to feel the story like I did in the beginning, and I was little bit disappointed with that.
Overall, while this book wasn’t as good as the first in the series, it was still a plenty enjoyable read!
I love this series. It’s a great adventure tale and I’m excited for the next.
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Although reading this book was easier for me than the first book, due to already having gotten used to the author's writing style and his extensive descriptions, I must admit that it didn't capture my attention as much as the first book did. Of course, I don't mean to say that I didn't like the book or that I didn't enjoy it; I'm just starting this review by comparing the two volumes. However, I really enjoyed entering a city completely different from Camorr, and perhaps part of why I was better with the descriptions was because the atmosphere of this book was not only much different from the first book but also had a relatively good spatial diversity within the book itself. Moreover, while world-building might not be something that primarily grabs my attention in books, when I read a series and see how that world expands before my eyes in subsequent volumes—especially with the world-building that Scott Lynch has—it's truly enjoyable. During these times, until I get used to the new environment, I feel as if the author has taken me on a trip to show me new things.
Aside from that, one thing that made me really enjoy both this volume and the previous one is that I love to be in the middle of schemes in books. I enjoy seeing what happens when plans go awry, how the characters cope with the outcomes of these failures, and how they devise new plans. These are always much smarter than the initial plans, and I really enjoy that. In this book, we even went a step further, and by the end, the main characters, Jean and Locke, are actually defeated. In the first book, it ended in a way where you first thought, well, at least Locke won; then you would think a bit and realize, but did he really win? In this book, we have an even clearer defeat. It's not pleasant since I liked the characters and I was rooting for them, but from a storytelling potential perspective, it's much more interesting for me.
However, now that we're discussing the plot of the story, there are some issues in this regard as well. One of them that I've seen mentioned is that the story takes a direction that we didn't expect at all and is not very aligned with its initial path. While this isn't inherently problematic, the issue arises when these two main paths are kept alongside each other and moved forward simultaneously. Personally, I didn't have much trouble with this duality, but there were some storylines that I felt remained unused or unresolved. An example is the individual who almost robbed them in one interlude and Locke told him that if he ever found himself there again and needed help, he should do whatever he could in exchange for being left alive. I thought that in this book one of Locke's plans would need this individual, but the book ended, and we completely left Tal Verarr without any reference to it. I hope that in future books at least this piece will be utilized because otherwise, I don't even know what its purpose was. Another relates to the city where Locke went to order chairs he gifted to Requin and those games he saw there. Again, I think it would be good if we return to this city and this game in future books and even explore what trouble Locke could bring to its organizer instead of it just being something that showcases Locke's view on thievery and that awesome dialogue “Thieves prosper, the rich remember.”
But generally speaking, who wouldn't want to read a story mixed with pirates and clever ground plans with a dash of politics?
Another thing I like about this series is that the characters are clearly better than average and ordinary people, but they aren't the best or flawless. Their difference from ordinary people is actually much less than one might think, and the fact that these stories, these plans, and these actions are carried out by people who aren't too far removed from being ordinary makes it even more fascinating. Unfortunately, I want to compare it again with Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows because he was portrayed as someone far above an ordinary person. I really prefer to see slightly better-than-average characters and how they create stories rather than extremely cool characters or those with very special powers. It’s more enjoyable for me, and I have more respect for characters of this kind. And well, there’s really no doubt that the flaws of these characters, which make them transform from mere characters into 'people' in the reader's mind, are something the author doesn't shy away from. At the beginning of the book, we see Locke dealing with his grief in a completely unhealthy way, struggling with the troubles he has faced, and how long it takes him to even get close to his former self. He's completely given up at that point.
This is a good opportunity to mention again how much I love the dynamic between Locke and Jean. I saw a comment saying that it seems like the bromance between Locke and Jean and their friendship is only starting to become clear in this book rather than the first, which I strongly disagree with; however, I do agree that it carries more weight in this book. In the previous book, we had a crew of characters who had dynamics and worked together, and Locke and Jean were simply a more prominent dynamic than the others. In this book, only these two remain from that crew, so it seems they attract more attention to themselves. What I really love about their dynamic is that you can largely say their friendship is unconditional, but that doesn’t make anyone 'weaker' in this friendship—though perhaps that's not the right way to put it. But this is an issue I have with some dynamics that are so... emotionally charged, where it seems one person in the dynamic takes the other under their wing and offers protection in such a way that the second person can no longer protect themselves without the presence of the first and becomes dependent. I really dislike that. If you truly care for someone, you help them to be able to protect themselves on their own because you know it's not feasible for you to always have their back. Therefore, I really appreciate that these two accept each other completely with all their flaws and shortcomings, yet they still argue, blame each other for mistakes, and simply... don’t 'accept' everything. I really love this aspect. Oh, I could put it this way: I love fierce loyalties that don’t trap individuals within a dynamic. And well, you see, I suffered a bit because of this in the book, but I love how they seem to throw themselves against walls just to save each other. Honestly, saying they’d go through hell for each other seems an understatement. The author also played with us well regarding this. At the beginning of the book, I genuinely thought Jean was going to betray Locke and was very disappointed by this possibility; then when I found out what was really going on, I felt embarrassed for even thinking that Jean might betray Locke one day. It’s absolutely impossible. This is the same man who, when the crew wanted to throw Locke into the sea, said, 'If he swims, I swim.'
*Jack and Rose: if you jump, I jump×
Jean Tennan: He swims, I swim✓*
But seriously, it was a great hook. I might have used some colorful language for the author, but it was truly a compelling and effective hook to start a book with.
And now about the new characters! I'm currently reading the third book and want to briefly mention Izri and Zamira here because that will probably be very relevant for what I want to say in that future review. They were truly unique and well-crafted characters that I really liked, especially Zamira. When I think about how she was a mother but at the same time the captain of a very famous pirate ship raising her children to one day be king and queen of the sea, I like her even more. And these two show that if Scott Lynch wants to, he can write female characters very well.
And... that's it. I didn’t have much to say about this book. Let’s see how the third volume is because I've heard it's somewhat weaker than the first two books. Until then, goodbye.
Aside from that, one thing that made me really enjoy both this volume and the previous one is that I love to be in the middle of schemes in books. I enjoy seeing what happens when plans go awry, how the characters cope with the outcomes of these failures, and how they devise new plans. These are always much smarter than the initial plans, and I really enjoy that. In this book, we even went a step further, and by the end, the main characters, Jean and Locke, are actually defeated. In the first book, it ended in a way where you first thought, well, at least Locke won; then you would think a bit and realize, but did he really win? In this book, we have an even clearer defeat. It's not pleasant since I liked the characters and I was rooting for them, but from a storytelling potential perspective, it's much more interesting for me.
However, now that we're discussing the plot of the story, there are some issues in this regard as well. One of them that I've seen mentioned is that the story takes a direction that we didn't expect at all and is not very aligned with its initial path. While this isn't inherently problematic, the issue arises when these two main paths are kept alongside each other and moved forward simultaneously. Personally, I didn't have much trouble with this duality, but there were some storylines that I felt remained unused or unresolved. An example is the individual who almost robbed them in one interlude and Locke told him that if he ever found himself there again and needed help, he should do whatever he could in exchange for being left alive. I thought that in this book one of Locke's plans would need this individual, but the book ended, and we completely left Tal Verarr without any reference to it. I hope that in future books at least this piece will be utilized because otherwise, I don't even know what its purpose was. Another relates to the city where Locke went to order chairs he gifted to Requin and those games he saw there. Again, I think it would be good if we return to this city and this game in future books and even explore what trouble Locke could bring to its organizer instead of it just being something that showcases Locke's view on thievery and that awesome dialogue “Thieves prosper, the rich remember.”
But generally speaking, who wouldn't want to read a story mixed with pirates and clever ground plans with a dash of politics?
Another thing I like about this series is that the characters are clearly better than average and ordinary people, but they aren't the best or flawless. Their difference from ordinary people is actually much less than one might think, and the fact that these stories, these plans, and these actions are carried out by people who aren't too far removed from being ordinary makes it even more fascinating. Unfortunately, I want to compare it again with Kaz Brekker from Six of Crows because he was portrayed as someone far above an ordinary person. I really prefer to see slightly better-than-average characters and how they create stories rather than extremely cool characters or those with very special powers. It’s more enjoyable for me, and I have more respect for characters of this kind. And well, there’s really no doubt that the flaws of these characters, which make them transform from mere characters into 'people' in the reader's mind, are something the author doesn't shy away from. At the beginning of the book, we see Locke dealing with his grief in a completely unhealthy way, struggling with the troubles he has faced, and how long it takes him to even get close to his former self. He's completely given up at that point.
This is a good opportunity to mention again how much I love the dynamic between Locke and Jean. I saw a comment saying that it seems like the bromance between Locke and Jean and their friendship is only starting to become clear in this book rather than the first, which I strongly disagree with; however, I do agree that it carries more weight in this book. In the previous book, we had a crew of characters who had dynamics and worked together, and Locke and Jean were simply a more prominent dynamic than the others. In this book, only these two remain from that crew, so it seems they attract more attention to themselves. What I really love about their dynamic is that you can largely say their friendship is unconditional, but that doesn’t make anyone 'weaker' in this friendship—though perhaps that's not the right way to put it. But this is an issue I have with some dynamics that are so... emotionally charged, where it seems one person in the dynamic takes the other under their wing and offers protection in such a way that the second person can no longer protect themselves without the presence of the first and becomes dependent. I really dislike that. If you truly care for someone, you help them to be able to protect themselves on their own because you know it's not feasible for you to always have their back. Therefore, I really appreciate that these two accept each other completely with all their flaws and shortcomings, yet they still argue, blame each other for mistakes, and simply... don’t 'accept' everything. I really love this aspect. Oh, I could put it this way: I love fierce loyalties that don’t trap individuals within a dynamic. And well, you see, I suffered a bit because of this in the book, but I love how they seem to throw themselves against walls just to save each other. Honestly, saying they’d go through hell for each other seems an understatement. The author also played with us well regarding this. At the beginning of the book, I genuinely thought Jean was going to betray Locke and was very disappointed by this possibility; then when I found out what was really going on, I felt embarrassed for even thinking that Jean might betray Locke one day. It’s absolutely impossible. This is the same man who, when the crew wanted to throw Locke into the sea, said, 'If he swims, I swim.'
*Jack and Rose: if you jump, I jump×
Jean Tennan: He swims, I swim✓*
But seriously, it was a great hook. I might have used some colorful language for the author, but it was truly a compelling and effective hook to start a book with.
And now about the new characters! I'm currently reading the third book and want to briefly mention Izri and Zamira here because that will probably be very relevant for what I want to say in that future review. They were truly unique and well-crafted characters that I really liked, especially Zamira. When I think about how she was a mother but at the same time the captain of a very famous pirate ship raising her children to one day be king and queen of the sea, I like her even more. And these two show that if Scott Lynch wants to, he can write female characters very well.
And... that's it. I didn’t have much to say about this book. Let’s see how the third volume is because I've heard it's somewhat weaker than the first two books. Until then, goodbye.
I love the Gentleman Bastards - and this time they're learning how to be pirates, yaaargh.
Twists, turns, fast thinking, big damn heroes and big damn tears... suffice to say I'm starting the next instalment asap
Twists, turns, fast thinking, big damn heroes and big damn tears... suffice to say I'm starting the next instalment asap
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes