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A review by ioanaj
The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
4.0
Ok, I loved it. It seemed to be somewhat closer to the first book than to the second.
The flashbacks were my favorite part. I've always wanted to know more about their life as Gentlemen Bastards and how Sabetha fit in their circle and this volume delivered while at the same time it left more than enough aside for another book (Sabetha's life before Shade's Hill, more details about her education since it was probably quite different from the boys', her adventures while away, more about her relationship with Locke etc.).
The "now" main storyline was as interesting as the flashbacks because it gave me more insight into their relationship and interactions. It was also quite entertaining even though it was far from the intricacies and complexity of their first adventure. The dialogue was as witty as before, their repartee very enjoyable and refreshing.
The entire volume seems to be more of a bridge or a build up towards bigger/more important revelations.
There were a few things I did not perfectly agree with. Locke falling in love with Sabetha at first sight, his inability to see her flaws, his "beaten puppy/she can do no wrong" attitude towards her, even though somewhat explained towards the end, were not to my taste and seemed a bit out of character.
Sabetha herself was not quite what I expected but after I thought a bit about it I came to the conclusion that she is actually a perfect sum of her past (insecurities, resentment and all).
The end (Patience, Falconer, the twist concerning Locke) felt a bit contrived to me. (Patience, for example, is presented as super powerful but in the end she seems to be very easy to circumvent and conveniently does not have the prescience to see her own future).
Also, I have a feeling of unease that the future contains more magic, huge magic, the hugely powerful things in the shadow or even a magic Locke, which would be a problem for me. I like the thief, I liked their education, I do not want them turned into something else and I'd love an ending which is not so close to a Pyrrhic victory.
The flashbacks were my favorite part. I've always wanted to know more about their life as Gentlemen Bastards and how Sabetha fit in their circle and this volume delivered while at the same time it left more than enough aside for another book (Sabetha's life before Shade's Hill, more details about her education since it was probably quite different from the boys', her adventures while away, more about her relationship with Locke etc.).
The "now" main storyline was as interesting as the flashbacks because it gave me more insight into their relationship and interactions. It was also quite entertaining even though it was far from the intricacies and complexity of their first adventure. The dialogue was as witty as before, their repartee very enjoyable and refreshing.
The entire volume seems to be more of a bridge or a build up towards bigger/more important revelations.
There were a few things I did not perfectly agree with. Locke falling in love with Sabetha at first sight, his inability to see her flaws, his "beaten puppy/she can do no wrong" attitude towards her, even though somewhat explained towards the end, were not to my taste and seemed a bit out of character.
Sabetha herself was not quite what I expected but after I thought a bit about it I came to the conclusion that she is actually a perfect sum of her past (insecurities, resentment and all).
The end (Patience, Falconer, the twist concerning Locke) felt a bit contrived to me. (Patience, for example, is presented as super powerful but in the end she seems to be very easy to circumvent and conveniently does not have the prescience to see her own future).
Also, I have a feeling of unease that the future contains more magic, huge magic, the hugely powerful things in the shadow or even a magic Locke, which would be a problem for me. I like the thief, I liked their education, I do not want them turned into something else and I'd love an ending which is not so close to a Pyrrhic victory.