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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
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
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The second instalment of the Gentleman Bastard sequence. Locke and Jean have ran from the wreckage of their lives and ended up in the city of Tal Verrar. Their next target? To rob the vault of the greatest ever gambling house: the Sinspire. However, their crime is going to have to wait, as someone else plans to manipulate them and utilise their expertise.
After the phenomenal first book, I went into this one with high hopes. I have to say, with this one, it had me wavering at points, but I think Lynch just about pulled it off.
The start felt very reminiscent of the first book, which was brilliant. Proper Oceans Eleven fantasy style- plans to rob a completely impenetrable vault, I’m intrigued. But then it went on a real curveball, and suddenly the bulk of this book was actually very nautical and set on the oceans on a pirate ship. Being honest, I took a lot of convincing.
What I loved about the first book was the intrigue, the scheming and the thievishness of it. ‘RSURS’ felt like a very different vibe, and did feel like a significant jump away from what was so fantastic from the first book.
If I’m being honest, the characters weren’t as compelling, the nautical theme felt just like a distraction from the main story which I actually cared more about, and the sudden switch of theme felt very confusing. It felt like too much of a big, jarring change, like Lynch didn’t quite know what he wanted to do with the book.
But.
But by the end, it just seemed to work. A clash of themes seemed to suddenly make a bit of sense, and it all gave me the conclusion I hoped for- where schemes built from cunning and wit win.
Overall, I liked it. Not as a roaring success as book one, but a solid follow-up, and can’t wait to read book 3.
After the phenomenal first book, I went into this one with high hopes. I have to say, with this one, it had me wavering at points, but I think Lynch just about pulled it off.
The start felt very reminiscent of the first book, which was brilliant. Proper Oceans Eleven fantasy style- plans to rob a completely impenetrable vault, I’m intrigued. But then it went on a real curveball, and suddenly the bulk of this book was actually very nautical and set on the oceans on a pirate ship. Being honest, I took a lot of convincing.
What I loved about the first book was the intrigue, the scheming and the thievishness of it. ‘RSURS’ felt like a very different vibe, and did feel like a significant jump away from what was so fantastic from the first book.
If I’m being honest, the characters weren’t as compelling, the nautical theme felt just like a distraction from the main story which I actually cared more about, and the sudden switch of theme felt very confusing. It felt like too much of a big, jarring change, like Lynch didn’t quite know what he wanted to do with the book.
But.
But by the end, it just seemed to work. A clash of themes seemed to suddenly make a bit of sense, and it all gave me the conclusion I hoped for- where schemes built from cunning and wit win.
Overall, I liked it. Not as a roaring success as book one, but a solid follow-up, and can’t wait to read book 3.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
somebody please shut me up I'm begging you shut me up shut up my little heart it won't stop going pitter patter pitter patter in my silly little chest. stop my silly little tears (they won't stop falling) I can't take this anymore I
It seems today is another day when my vocabulary has simply chosen to fail me and I can't seem to conjure the words to describe this book. When I tell you this was a baffling shit-show cacophony of bad ideas and brave words shaped into an inception-like, spiderweb-like assortment of crime (hey maybe my words aren't failing me), it's quite possibly the only way this book could be summed up.
After the ending of [b:The Lies of Locke Lamora|29588376|The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)|Scott Lynch|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458646334l/29588376._SY75_.jpg|2116675] I wasn't sure how the Gentlemen Bastards could take their heists to further heights? My little head couldn't comprehend anything beating the sheer power of the first boos. To be honest, The Lies of Locke Lamora was so maddeningly good, Red Seas Under Red Skies didn't beat it for me personally, but it sure had me in a chokehold for at least half of it.
Did I like being choked? Not at the time. Would I like to be choked again my Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen? Absolutely, please show them to my chambersokay time to move on, that's enough of that.
The layers of lies and disguises, the politics and piracy, it was all so artfully constructed together. The amount of jobs, within jobs, within plans, within lies, within truths and half-truths, gave me whiplash. And weaved into it all was the bane of my existence - nautical jargon. Trying to make sense of all the boat terms was a waste of my time - reasons being: I do not care for open bodies of water, or boats, nor how they function, or how they are operated.
After a couple pages of what feels like just pure nautical language, I found myself zoning out (on multiple occasions) and just imagining *vague sailor stuff in the distance that I've probably seen in Pirates of the Caribbean* instead of actually paying attention to it. If you're planning on reading this book, I'd highly recommend you do the same as I did, unless you're weirdly into boats and water.
I was, in fact, obsessed with Ezri and Drakashka. Sea-hardened women who handle swords incredibly well, take no shit and wear diamond encrusted chestplates? Yes please. And Jean deserved the entire world, if I could protect this man forever, I would.
This book has made me realise that I really just love found families. After everything Locke and Jean have been through together, now joining Drakashaka's crew and becoming family with them, it's enough to make a grown man cry. Also every interaction where Locke is constantly going "how fucking dare you care about me" to Jean, and Jean flipping shit yelling back "because you're my brother and I love you" with the tasteful voice crack . It's just *chef's kiss*.
In this review, I've elected to ignore the final pages of the epilogue for my own emotional stability. Thanks.
The timing was slightly oddly-placed though. I felt the pre-Ravelle parts of the book dragged on for quite a while. I understand it was necessary to get all the backstory to the heists and subplots but ehh. In comparison, the ending seemed rather rushed.
But other than that, I adored this book. 5 stars.
It seems today is another day when my vocabulary has simply chosen to fail me and I can't seem to conjure the words to describe this book. When I tell you this was a baffling shit-show cacophony of bad ideas and brave words shaped into an inception-like, spiderweb-like assortment of crime (hey maybe my words aren't failing me), it's quite possibly the only way this book could be summed up.
After the ending of [b:The Lies of Locke Lamora|29588376|The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)|Scott Lynch|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458646334l/29588376._SY75_.jpg|2116675] I wasn't sure how the Gentlemen Bastards could take their heists to further heights? My little head couldn't comprehend anything beating the sheer power of the first boos. To be honest, The Lies of Locke Lamora was so maddeningly good, Red Seas Under Red Skies didn't beat it for me personally, but it sure had me in a chokehold for at least half of it.
Did I like being choked? Not at the time. Would I like to be choked again my Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen? Absolutely, please show them to my chambers
The layers of lies and disguises, the politics and piracy, it was all so artfully constructed together. The amount of jobs, within jobs, within plans, within lies, within truths and half-truths, gave me whiplash. And weaved into it all was the bane of my existence - nautical jargon. Trying to make sense of all the boat terms was a waste of my time - reasons being: I do not care for open bodies of water, or boats, nor how they function, or how they are operated.
After a couple pages of what feels like just pure nautical language, I found myself zoning out (on multiple occasions) and just imagining *vague sailor stuff in the distance that I've probably seen in Pirates of the Caribbean* instead of actually paying attention to it. If you're planning on reading this book, I'd highly recommend you do the same as I did, unless you're weirdly into boats and water.
I was, in fact, obsessed with Ezri and Drakashka. Sea-hardened women who handle swords incredibly well, take no shit and wear diamond encrusted chestplates? Yes please.
Spoiler
To say I was absolutely distraught after Ezri's death, would be an understatement. I adored Jean and Ezri's relationship so much. Comparing fighting techniques, drinking dark liquor under the stars together, trading stories of their childhoods and quoting poetry and literature to one another. Are you fucking kidding me???? They were so utterly beautiful, which made me absolutely certain that Scott Lynch being Scott Lynch, wouldn't let this relationship last the book. I was heaving in the middle of a cafe, cursing when Ezri died. The fact that she was so broken beyond recognition, Jean couldn't hold her tore me up.This book has made me realise that I really just love found families. After everything Locke and Jean have been through together, now joining Drakashaka's crew and becoming family with them, it's enough to make a grown man cry. Also every interaction where Locke is constantly going "how fucking dare you care about me" to Jean, and Jean flipping shit yelling back "because you're my brother and I love you" with the tasteful voice crack . It's just *chef's kiss*.
In this review, I've elected to ignore the final pages of the epilogue for my own emotional stability. Thanks.
The timing was slightly oddly-placed though. I felt the pre-Ravelle parts of the book dragged on for quite a while. I understand it was necessary to get all the backstory to the heists and subplots but ehh. In comparison, the ending seemed rather rushed.
But other than that, I adored this book. 5 stars.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An almost flawless continuation
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
No