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eimear14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
matthewjbenedict's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
This is my favorite of the three so far. I loved the structure, shifting back and forth from past to present, the past segments informing developments of the present ongoing lethal craziness that you expect to be boiling around Locke and Jean's ears.
There was one relationship that exasperated me for the first half of the book, but in a minor way as there was so much story going on around it. Then in the second half that shifted, developed, and I loved it. I don't know that I completely buy the horrific reason beneath certain emotional boundaries, but it was a reason, the fallout was believable, and the result most satisfying.
Cliffhanger alert . . . but we've seen that, too. I wanted to go straight back and reread the whole theater section, which was wonderfully done. Jean and Locke are so good a pair, and I adore their crude humor, their banter, their everything. There was one scene that had me wheezing with laughter.
Looking forward to the next!
There was one relationship that exasperated me for the first half of the book, but in a minor way as there was so much story going on around it. Then in the second half that shifted, developed, and I loved it. I don't know that I completely buy the horrific
Spoiler
red-haired rape to death thing, as so far this is a world in which women fight, and have agency and power same as men; I think I would have bought it more if it had been red-haired children at such stomach-turning riskCliffhanger alert . . . but we've seen that, too. I wanted to go straight back and reread the whole theater section, which was wonderfully done. Jean and Locke are so good a pair, and I adore their crude humor, their banter, their everything. There was one scene that had me wheezing with laughter
Spoiler
Jean's first time, and Locke walking in on themLooking forward to the next!
randomhero19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.25
perusinghannah's review against another edition
2.0
Well, that's done. And it only took me a month of my life.
This series so far has been a bumpy ride for me, and this third book is my least favorite yet. To make it extra sour, it actually started out the strongest for me out of all three. For a minute there at the start, I thought "There. He's settled into his own style", and genuinely thought this would be the continuation of an upward trend.
And then, Sabetha. Elusive Sabetha, who I've been curious about since book one, turned out to be such a massive bummer of a disappointment that I found myself irritated in a way I haven't in a very long time. To me, she reads exactly like a man's stereotypical idea of a strong woman, and that has rarely been a good thing for my reading enjoyment (and not only because Locke keeps calling her bitch, but as a 'compliment'). Obviously anyone's mileage may vary, but I found Sabetha both flimsy and boring.
Now why is that so much of a problem, you ask? Well, the whole bloody book is about her and her relationship with Locke (who, as a result of their... whatever it is... has now not only lost my respect for him as a thief, but also just genuinely as a human being. Yikes, dude). Yea, there's a hint of a political plotline somewhere, and yea, we get a glimpse of our main characters partaking in it here and there for a second or two, but let's be real - the plot was so thin you could read a newspaper through it. And as an added bonus, we get a past timeline that also seems to exist for no other reason than to give us Sabetha and Locke backstory. Joy.
The one thing I actually steadily enjoy in these books is Jean, and he's the only reason I stuck with this book at all.
As of now, no fourth book seems to be on the horizon, and honestly even if it was I don't think I'm willing to continue on with the series. I can sincerely say I gave it my very best shot, and it's just not the sort of fantasy for me.
This series so far has been a bumpy ride for me, and this third book is my least favorite yet. To make it extra sour, it actually started out the strongest for me out of all three. For a minute there at the start, I thought "There. He's settled into his own style", and genuinely thought this would be the continuation of an upward trend.
And then, Sabetha. Elusive Sabetha, who I've been curious about since book one, turned out to be such a massive bummer of a disappointment that I found myself irritated in a way I haven't in a very long time. To me, she reads exactly like a man's stereotypical idea of a strong woman, and that has rarely been a good thing for my reading enjoyment (and not only because Locke keeps calling her bitch, but as a 'compliment'). Obviously anyone's mileage may vary, but I found Sabetha both flimsy and boring.
Now why is that so much of a problem, you ask? Well, the whole bloody book is about her and her relationship with Locke (who, as a result of their... whatever it is... has now not only lost my respect for him as a thief, but also just genuinely as a human being. Yikes, dude). Yea, there's a hint of a political plotline somewhere, and yea, we get a glimpse of our main characters partaking in it here and there for a second or two, but let's be real - the plot was so thin you could read a newspaper through it. And as an added bonus, we get a past timeline that also seems to exist for no other reason than to give us Sabetha and Locke backstory. Joy.
The one thing I actually steadily enjoy in these books is Jean, and he's the only reason I stuck with this book at all.
As of now, no fourth book seems to be on the horizon, and honestly even if it was I don't think I'm willing to continue on with the series. I can sincerely say I gave it my very best shot, and it's just not the sort of fantasy for me.
lunaliz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.75
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
There is so much I want to say about this book. So much that it kept me awake last night thinking about it all. I've really enjoyed this series so far. Red Seas Under Red Skies went on my favorites list. Then came The Republic of Thieves. I almost want to cry a little bit, I'm so disappointed.
First off, both the back story and the present time story started off really slow. I was bored, and it was too easy to find something else I'd rather be doing than reading, which is unusual. But then both story lines really picked up, things got good, and I had a hard time putting it down.
So what was the main problem? Sabetha. She ruined everything. If she had just been a member of the Gentleman Bastards, I would have thought she was just fine. Even as a clever opposition to Locke, no problem there. But the stupid "love" story, I just can't. I don't buy it, there's no love there, and it took up way too darn much of the story.
I'm not sure what Scott Lynch wants us to think of Sabetha. Does he think she's a strong female character that readers will love? (Maybe some will, I can't speak for all readers) Was he trying to write the most annoying character I've ever read? Did he think their love story was romantic? I just really want to know what he was thinking.
Sabetha was cruel, selfish, and completely unlikable. She took offense at every little thing Locke did or said. She was a complete bitch. But it was Locke who would come crawling to her, apologizing every single second. She made me hardly recognize Locke. Who is this spineless, sniveling, silly little boy? Man up, Locke!
And the romance was such a central part of the story. It seemed liked everything revolved around it. Or, because we were in Locke's head, he was always thinking about it, and nothing else. It got boring after awhile, the same thing over and over. Locke apologizing, Sabetha being bitchy and getting mad at Locke for nothing, Locke apologizing, repeat throughout the whole book.
So, to sum up. I like Scott Lynch's writing. I still like this series, and will keep reading, hoping that #4 comes back to the quality of the first two. I don't want to read any more romance in this Gentleman Bastard series. Let's move on from that, now that we've had our fun, shall we?
First off, both the back story and the present time story started off really slow. I was bored, and it was too easy to find something else I'd rather be doing than reading, which is unusual. But then both story lines really picked up, things got good, and I had a hard time putting it down.
So what was the main problem? Sabetha. She ruined everything. If she had just been a member of the Gentleman Bastards, I would have thought she was just fine. Even as a clever opposition to Locke, no problem there. But the stupid "love" story, I just can't. I don't buy it, there's no love there, and it took up way too darn much of the story.
I'm not sure what Scott Lynch wants us to think of Sabetha. Does he think she's a strong female character that readers will love? (Maybe some will, I can't speak for all readers) Was he trying to write the most annoying character I've ever read? Did he think their love story was romantic? I just really want to know what he was thinking.
Sabetha was cruel, selfish, and completely unlikable. She took offense at every little thing Locke did or said. She was a complete bitch. But it was Locke who would come crawling to her, apologizing every single second. She made me hardly recognize Locke. Who is this spineless, sniveling, silly little boy? Man up, Locke!
And the romance was such a central part of the story. It seemed liked everything revolved around it. Or, because we were in Locke's head, he was always thinking about it, and nothing else. It got boring after awhile, the same thing over and over. Locke apologizing, Sabetha being bitchy and getting mad at Locke for nothing, Locke apologizing, repeat throughout the whole book.
So, to sum up. I like Scott Lynch's writing. I still like this series, and will keep reading, hoping that #4 comes back to the quality of the first two. I don't want to read any more romance in this Gentleman Bastard series. Let's move on from that, now that we've had our fun, shall we?
kaebear94's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
bsleeman25's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0