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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
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
While I may not have loved this one as much as Lies, it was still fantastic to take a trip with Locke and Jean and meet, and lose, some fantastic new people. It was also a blast to learn about the sea of glass the sin spire and more. If y loved Lies yang miss this one.
Lynch does it again. Absolutely brilliant. Thieves! Pirates! Money! Poison! Cats! What's not to love? A must-read if you liked Lies of Locke Lamora and if you haven't read the first books, why the hell not?! The world is breathtakingly beautiful and complex but you slide through it easily; the characters are fun, deep, and you really care about all of them, even the bad guys.
Seriously, this is shaping up to be a fantastic series and I think it may well be my favourite read of 2012.
Seriously, this is shaping up to be a fantastic series and I think it may well be my favourite read of 2012.
Fantastic sequel, definitely stands up to a re-reading. Lady pirates! Brass-handed women! Larceny and alchemy on the high seas!
3.5 but rounding to 4. This was okay, but not as good as the first. Review in parts below:
Prologue-Part l
In Tel Verrar, Jean turns on Locke and surrenders him to an unknown enemy.
Jean and Locke are in Tel Verrar, the westernmost edge of the continent, made up of many islands. They gamble under the aliases Masters Ferra and Kosta and plan to steal a fortune at the Sinspire (gambling house). At a market, the Karthain sorcerers use the market sellers’ bodies to warn Jean and Locke they will pay for what they did to the Falconer. Locke meets with the casino owner Selendri and her boss Requin about him cheating in all his games over the last two years. He tells them he was hired to break into the vault and that he wants to help Requin (he’s lying). Afterwards, Locke and Jean are kidnapped by a woman (Merrain) and taken to the Archon (his real name is Stragos). Stragos has files on Jean and Locke and knows everything about them. He recruits them to work for him (on behalf of the Bondsmagi, who want to see Locke suffer). Meanwhile, Requin says if Locke kills Stragos he can join him and work at the Sinspire. They visit Stragos. A few years ago, there was a pirate uprising in the Sea of Brass (It was led by Captain Bonaire) that Stragos was able to end using his navy. He wants Jean and Locke to go and reignite the uprising so that Stragos can defeat them again and reinstate his power with the Priori. A man named Caldris shows Locke and Jean their ship. He is responsible for preparing them to pass as pirates. Locke gifts Requin the chairs he had made. Jean and Locke had a few assassination attempts. Merrain tells them they are to practice sailing with her and Stragos before they set sail. Stragos tells Locke to get a crew together from the prisoners. Locke goes by “Captain Ravelle”. They set sail. Caldris dies by the same poison Jean and Locke have.
Interlude(s):
Jean visits Azura Gallardine (the second Mistress of the Great Guild of Artificers). We learn that in Tel Verrar, The Priori (ruling body of Tel Verrar) and the Archon (city’s master of arms) have tension. Requin works for the Priori and he is very dangerous. Archon doesn’t want to cross Requin.
Jean and Locke in Salon Corbeau. Locke has some special chairs made before leaving for Tal Verrar.
A kid named Trav fails to swindle Jean and Locke out of money but they let him go.
So, regarding the prologue, obviously it’ll be part of a plan for Jean to turn in Locke? I’d be gagged boots if he actually turned on Locke.
Part l had a LOT of back and forth between Stragos and Requin. Definitely a slower start and very repetitive but I get its serving to introduce two new characters and the plot for this book.
Interesting the way they got roped into this was via being poisoned and needing antidote over the span of weeks… it’s obviously a fake? But then when Caldris dies (presumably by the poison) after they set sail… tea… maybe they ARE poisoned?
Also, Merrain is sus and gives the vibe she’ll be a traitor or a bigger antagonist as this story progresses
Part ll
Locke fails to navigate a storm, exposing he isn’t a sailor, and the crew turn on him and Jean flee on a row boat. They’re found by another pirate vessel with Captain Zamira, Ezri, Del, and their crew, who just took over their last ship. Zamira tries to get the truth out of Locke but fails. She keeps them with the other members of their previous ship as workers while they sail to Port Prodigal. The crew pirates another ship. Jean and Locke argue and Jean says he won’t betray the crew on the ship because they’ve grown close over the weeks. Meanwhile, Locke receuits Zamira to help him take down Stragos. Zamira and the crew go to Port Prodigal where she attends the “meeting of captains” with others (Rodanov, a man Pierre Strozzi, Rance, Valterro, & Jaquelaine Colvar) to convince them to join her fight against Archon (Stragos). They trust her and agree. Rodanov secretly recruits Utgar, who works on Zamira’s ship, to spy on her. The crew sets sail and arrives in Tal Verrar. Jean and Locke meet with Stragos to update him. After, Selendri finds them and takes them to Requin. After, Jean and Locke leave and are conferred by men with cross bows (same scene from the Prologue) and Jean turns on Locke.
So, this bit was still a little bland but certainly picked up. Pirates are always fun in fantasy to me so I still def enjoyed seeing more of the world and the intricacies of their piracy.
Jean and Ezri are so cute… peep them having a blossoming relationship. The way her and Jean were fucking on that boat !!! Yes !!!! And so what if they make little noise!! I want Jean and Ezri to get a happy ever after so bad but it doesn’t make sense for them as pirates to get that.
Really fucked with Captain Zamira and I love her kids. She’s low key so right about living on the sea low key being safer for her kids than the land (plagues, crime, natural disasters, revolutions, etc.).
The kitten on the ship being named Regal is so cute I was living for that.
Jean turning on Locke… cliff hanger for sure. Good ending to part ll. I still refuse to believe it’s real and that he’s just playing a long con but I’m going to be upset if Jean actually turned on him.
Part lll-Epilogue
Back in Prodigal, Captain Rodanov and Captain Jacquelaine talk about how it was wrong to have given their oaths to Zamira. They agree to stop Zamira from giving Stragos what he wants and kill her. Meanwhile, Locke, Zamira, and the crew start ransacking a port and sailing.
Rodanov and his crew attack Zamira and hers. Ezri sacrifices herself to keep their ship from blowing up, allowing Zamira and her grew defeat Rodanov and his.
At port, Jean and Locke go to hunt down a member of the Priori named Cordo who they learned is responsible for the assassination attempts against them. He was working on behalf of the Karthani Bondsmage. Jean and Locke agree to steal from Requin and then handle Stragos. Instead of the vault, they actually steal all of Requin’s artwork. When they return to Stragos, he tries to betray them, but they defeat him. However, Xandrin, the alchemist who made their poison, died (they only have 1 antidote). Locke and Jean take Stragos to Zamira. Meanwhile, Requin meets with the Inner Seven (heads of the Priori—including Tiga, Lyonis, Cordo, Fioran. Requin essentially takes control of the Priori and names Selendri the head of their new secret task force.
Jean and Locke learn they didn’t actually steal the real art and set sail on a yacht. Locke tricks Jean into drinking the antidote.
Part 3 was really giving me oceans 8 heist vibes. Jean and Locke replacing the guards of Stragos (“The Eye”) and them being their friends in disguise to help them defeat Stragos?? Literally was so smart. And then they stole the art from Requin, yay! Except, IT WAS FAKE?! That blows, but also very smart of Requin. But damn now they’re poor again RIP.
So, yeah, not surprised Ezri died but booo!!! She had a meaningful death though and I am content with that— but poor Jean :(
Love that Locke secretly gave Jean the antidote. But also, fuck, now what is Locke gonna do lol. Also, I still wanna know homeboys real name!!!
———
So, overall, I’d probably give this like a 3.5 (but generously rounding to 4). This book was still fun and I enjoyed the piracy and getting more of Jean and Locke but it just didn’t hold up the same as the first one by any stretch. This book was just a lot of build up, but I think it sets up the story for book 3 well? I’m interested to see how this all wraps up…
Prologue-Part l
In Tel Verrar, Jean turns on Locke and surrenders him to an unknown enemy.
Jean and Locke are in Tel Verrar, the westernmost edge of the continent, made up of many islands. They gamble under the aliases Masters Ferra and Kosta and plan to steal a fortune at the Sinspire (gambling house). At a market, the Karthain sorcerers use the market sellers’ bodies to warn Jean and Locke they will pay for what they did to the Falconer. Locke meets with the casino owner Selendri and her boss Requin about him cheating in all his games over the last two years. He tells them he was hired to break into the vault and that he wants to help Requin (he’s lying). Afterwards, Locke and Jean are kidnapped by a woman (Merrain) and taken to the Archon (his real name is Stragos). Stragos has files on Jean and Locke and knows everything about them. He recruits them to work for him (on behalf of the Bondsmagi, who want to see Locke suffer). Meanwhile, Requin says if Locke kills Stragos he can join him and work at the Sinspire. They visit Stragos. A few years ago, there was a pirate uprising in the Sea of Brass (It was led by Captain Bonaire) that Stragos was able to end using his navy. He wants Jean and Locke to go and reignite the uprising so that Stragos can defeat them again and reinstate his power with the Priori. A man named Caldris shows Locke and Jean their ship. He is responsible for preparing them to pass as pirates. Locke gifts Requin the chairs he had made. Jean and Locke had a few assassination attempts. Merrain tells them they are to practice sailing with her and Stragos before they set sail. Stragos tells Locke to get a crew together from the prisoners. Locke goes by “Captain Ravelle”. They set sail. Caldris dies by the same poison Jean and Locke have.
Interlude(s):
Jean visits Azura Gallardine (the second Mistress of the Great Guild of Artificers). We learn that in Tel Verrar, The Priori (ruling body of Tel Verrar) and the Archon (city’s master of arms) have tension. Requin works for the Priori and he is very dangerous. Archon doesn’t want to cross Requin.
Jean and Locke in Salon Corbeau. Locke has some special chairs made before leaving for Tal Verrar.
A kid named Trav fails to swindle Jean and Locke out of money but they let him go.
So, regarding the prologue, obviously it’ll be part of a plan for Jean to turn in Locke? I’d be gagged boots if he actually turned on Locke.
Part l had a LOT of back and forth between Stragos and Requin. Definitely a slower start and very repetitive but I get its serving to introduce two new characters and the plot for this book.
Interesting the way they got roped into this was via being poisoned and needing antidote over the span of weeks… it’s obviously a fake? But then when Caldris dies (presumably by the poison) after they set sail… tea… maybe they ARE poisoned?
Also, Merrain is sus and gives the vibe she’ll be a traitor or a bigger antagonist as this story progresses
Part ll
Locke fails to navigate a storm, exposing he isn’t a sailor, and the crew turn on him and Jean flee on a row boat. They’re found by another pirate vessel with Captain Zamira, Ezri, Del, and their crew, who just took over their last ship. Zamira tries to get the truth out of Locke but fails. She keeps them with the other members of their previous ship as workers while they sail to Port Prodigal. The crew pirates another ship. Jean and Locke argue and Jean says he won’t betray the crew on the ship because they’ve grown close over the weeks. Meanwhile, Locke receuits Zamira to help him take down Stragos. Zamira and the crew go to Port Prodigal where she attends the “meeting of captains” with others (Rodanov, a man Pierre Strozzi, Rance, Valterro, & Jaquelaine Colvar) to convince them to join her fight against Archon (Stragos). They trust her and agree. Rodanov secretly recruits Utgar, who works on Zamira’s ship, to spy on her. The crew sets sail and arrives in Tal Verrar. Jean and Locke meet with Stragos to update him. After, Selendri finds them and takes them to Requin. After, Jean and Locke leave and are conferred by men with cross bows (same scene from the Prologue) and Jean turns on Locke.
So, this bit was still a little bland but certainly picked up. Pirates are always fun in fantasy to me so I still def enjoyed seeing more of the world and the intricacies of their piracy.
Jean and Ezri are so cute… peep them having a blossoming relationship. The way her and Jean were fucking on that boat !!! Yes !!!! And so what if they make little noise!! I want Jean and Ezri to get a happy ever after so bad but it doesn’t make sense for them as pirates to get that.
Really fucked with Captain Zamira and I love her kids. She’s low key so right about living on the sea low key being safer for her kids than the land (plagues, crime, natural disasters, revolutions, etc.).
The kitten on the ship being named Regal is so cute I was living for that.
Jean turning on Locke… cliff hanger for sure. Good ending to part ll. I still refuse to believe it’s real and that he’s just playing a long con but I’m going to be upset if Jean actually turned on him.
Part lll-Epilogue
Back in Prodigal, Captain Rodanov and Captain Jacquelaine talk about how it was wrong to have given their oaths to Zamira. They agree to stop Zamira from giving Stragos what he wants and kill her. Meanwhile, Locke, Zamira, and the crew start ransacking a port and sailing.
Rodanov and his crew attack Zamira and hers. Ezri sacrifices herself to keep their ship from blowing up, allowing Zamira and her grew defeat Rodanov and his.
At port, Jean and Locke go to hunt down a member of the Priori named Cordo who they learned is responsible for the assassination attempts against them. He was working on behalf of the Karthani Bondsmage. Jean and Locke agree to steal from Requin and then handle Stragos. Instead of the vault, they actually steal all of Requin’s artwork. When they return to Stragos, he tries to betray them, but they defeat him. However, Xandrin, the alchemist who made their poison, died (they only have 1 antidote). Locke and Jean take Stragos to Zamira. Meanwhile, Requin meets with the Inner Seven (heads of the Priori—including Tiga, Lyonis, Cordo, Fioran. Requin essentially takes control of the Priori and names Selendri the head of their new secret task force.
Jean and Locke learn they didn’t actually steal the real art and set sail on a yacht. Locke tricks Jean into drinking the antidote.
Part 3 was really giving me oceans 8 heist vibes. Jean and Locke replacing the guards of Stragos (“The Eye”) and them being their friends in disguise to help them defeat Stragos?? Literally was so smart. And then they stole the art from Requin, yay! Except, IT WAS FAKE?! That blows, but also very smart of Requin. But damn now they’re poor again RIP.
So, yeah, not surprised Ezri died but booo!!! She had a meaningful death though and I am content with that— but poor Jean :(
Love that Locke secretly gave Jean the antidote. But also, fuck, now what is Locke gonna do lol. Also, I still wanna know homeboys real name!!!
———
So, overall, I’d probably give this like a 3.5 (but generously rounding to 4). This book was still fun and I enjoyed the piracy and getting more of Jean and Locke but it just didn’t hold up the same as the first one by any stretch. This book was just a lot of build up, but I think it sets up the story for book 3 well? I’m interested to see how this all wraps up…
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I do like Locke and Jean. I like the chats they have, the insults and the scrapes they encounter.
In this book though, the duo have a plan as usual to get rich. The plotting starts and lasts for the first 25-30% of the book with flash backs to the where the first book left off to catch you up.
Then it all changes and they become pirates, I won't go in to why to avoid spoilers.
Not being a sailor myself, Lynch could well have been simply making up phrases but it did sound piratey )Is that even a word?) so I went with the flow.
I really did enjoy the whole pirate vibe although you slowly find out that it's not really about looting and plundering and more about , life on the ocean as a pirate really complete with painting, drinking, shifts and swabbing the decks. I couldn't help but keep asking myself when this pirate section would actually link to the scam started in the first 25%,
At 95% and a mini Love story, the Pirate story ended and the duo were concluding their scam.
70%+ of the book revealed itself to be complete and utter filler !!!!
I enjoyed the Pirates but you could absolutely skip it entirely and lose nothing form the main Heist/Scam. The Pirates ended up being a wardrobe, some weapons and a little cash for the Duo as well as a taxi back to shore.
As with the 1st book, the ending was completely rushed and for 70% of the book we never really touched the main heist except for 2 visits to the city which were a few pages each time and the odd mention of it.
I enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong but it really could have been 500 pages shorter and lost nothing to the story.
In this book though, the duo have a plan as usual to get rich. The plotting starts and lasts for the first 25-30% of the book with flash backs to the where the first book left off to catch you up.
Then it all changes and they become pirates, I won't go in to why to avoid spoilers.
Not being a sailor myself, Lynch could well have been simply making up phrases but it did sound piratey )Is that even a word?) so I went with the flow.
I really did enjoy the whole pirate vibe although you slowly find out that it's not really about looting and plundering and more about , life on the ocean as a pirate really complete with painting, drinking, shifts and swabbing the decks. I couldn't help but keep asking myself when this pirate section would actually link to the scam started in the first 25%,
At 95% and a mini Love story, the Pirate story ended and the duo were concluding their scam.
70%+ of the book revealed itself to be complete and utter filler !!!!
I enjoyed the Pirates but you could absolutely skip it entirely and lose nothing form the main Heist/Scam. The Pirates ended up being a wardrobe, some weapons and a little cash for the Duo as well as a taxi back to shore.
As with the 1st book, the ending was completely rushed and for 70% of the book we never really touched the main heist except for 2 visits to the city which were a few pages each time and the odd mention of it.
I enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong but it really could have been 500 pages shorter and lost nothing to the story.
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes