Red Seas Under Red Skies Reviews

• A sagging middle

  
  By A2WWGZLUJZYISZ on 2007-08-06
  This book was enjoyable and entertaining, but if you're a fan of the first, I say lower your expectations. Overall there's A LOT going on in the plot. I would have been satisfied with just the Sinspire plot, but he also threw in a whole pirate part in the middle. And that's where I personally think this story sags and lags. It's weighed down by a lot of tedious description (I'm sure there are people who enjoy this, I'm not one of them) and not enough robbing. Pirates are fun yes, but unfortunately this seemed a bit out of place and was inconsistent. Which is why I enjoyed the first and last third of the book, and skimmed through the middle. I plan to keep reading the forthcoming books in this series, but I hope to see more of Locke doing some thieving and robbing in the future.
  
  

• Locke and Jean up to their old tricks again

  
  By A28CCN6VYHRUKS on 2007-08-19
  Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch is the second book in the Gentlemen Bastards sequence, the first book being The Lies of Locke Lamora. This is the second novel that Mr. Lynch has published, it is quite evident that Mr. Lynch truly has a gift for weaving an incredible story. If you have not read The Lies of Locke Lamora you really need to do so before you even think about picking up this book. Events and discussions that happen within the pages of this novel will make much more sense having read the first book. Plus, the first book is simply bottled magic and a fantastic read, every fantasy fan should read it in my opinion.
  
  The plot of this book follows Locke and Jean as they plan their next major heist on the shores of Tal Verrar. On the surface this seems like a straight forward plot, however, much like the first book - things aren't always as they seem. This is a much more involved plot that you would think; there are also a couple sub-plots that occur along the way. I don't really want to talk about those sub-plots though for fear of ruining a part of the book for anyone. If you read the first book though, you understand that rarely do things go exactly as planned for Locke and whoever is following him. We'll leave it at that. Suffice it to say that the plot of this novel is well done and succinct and rarely is there a slow moment in the entire book.
  
  The story clearly focuses on Locke and Jean, two of the characters from the first book. There is a great deal of character development for Locke and Jean in this book, much more than the first book for sure. There are also a great deal of additional characters added, which only makes sense sine Locke and Jean completely uprooted themselves and moved to a different place. The addition of these new characters is seamless. They flow right into the existing story and fit perfectly into the grand scheme of things. Each character that Mr. Lynch adds is done with a reason and a greater purpose in mind. Mr. Lynch also has a way of getting the reader to hate certain characters; there are two that come to mind right away. All the characters in this novel, from the main heroes to the beer seller, are all richly detailed with just enough information given that the reader is allowed to form their own picture of what the character looks like, and acts like. They are truly unique characters, no clichés here. Characterization is definitely a strong suit for Mr. Lynch.
  
  I do have two minor criticisms about this novel. While a great deal of this book takes place on a ship, and Mr. Lynch does his best to set the ambiance of life on a ship. There are times when Mr. Lynch has dialog with countless nautical terms. He obviously did quite a bit of research to make that dialog as realistic as possible, however, the dialog during those moments felt forced and didn't flow with the rest of the story. Secondly, as with the first book, Mr. Lynch talks about the all powerful Bondsmagi. However, we learn nothing more about them than we knew after the first book. I am all for keeping things mysterious, however, there should be a little information revealed to keep the reader interested by the mystery. After all, the adage `out of sight out of mind' holds true. I know they are present, but if I don't read much about them, then I will soon forget they are there. I hope that changes in the next installment.
  
  Overall, I enjoyed this novel - although I think it just missed in living up to its predecessor. The magic that was the first books seemed to be slightly off in this one. That could be merely me loving the first book so much that I gave this one unfair expectations. This is a very good book and one many fans will enjoy. If you liked the first one than I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one just as much. In my eyes, Mr. Lynch has cemented himself as one of the best up and comers in the fantasy genre today. I will continue to recommend this series and I can not wait until the third installment hits the shelves.
  
  
  

• As good as The Lies of Locke Lamora!

  
  By A26KR9L8E16F2X on 2007-07-31
  I'm well aware that many of you have been eagerly awaiting this book review. As was the case with me, I'm persuaded that most of you are curious to see if this one lives up to the expectations generated by its predecessor, The Lies of Locke Lamora. Hence, let me put your mind at ease. With Red Seas under Red Skies, Scott Lynch lives up to readers' high expectations!
  
  And by that I mean that if you enjoyed Lynch's debut, you'll undoubtedly like this second volume in The Gentleman [...] sequence. To me, Lynch's books are like summer blockbuster movies. They're big productions with plenty of action, all in all quite the roller-coaster ride. They'll never win an Oscar, but in terms of fun and entertainment they pack a sure KO punch! If you're looking for a grand fantasy epic, don't bother. But if another imaginative and convoluted caper is your cup of tea, then buckle up and enjoy the ride! Think of it as an original cross between Ocean's Eleven and Pirates of the Carribean.
  
  Locke and Jean's newest set of misadventures are sure to thrill fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora. Having screwed up things as bad as humanly possible in Camorr, both were forced to flee and eventually settled in Tal Verrar. Interestingly enough, that's where the Sinspire, the most exclusive and notorious gambling house, can be found. Orchestrating their most perfect crime, Locke has his sight set on the Sinspire's fortune. Unfortunately, Locke's plans have a tendency to go awry, and both he and Jean somehow find themselves among pirates on the Sea of Brass. Mix the Gentlemen [...] and piracy on the high seas, and you find yourself with a recipe for one fun-filled adventure!
  
  As was the case with the author's debut, worldbuilding doesn't play much of a role in Red Seas under Red Skies. Even less so than in The Lies of Locke Lamora, truth be told. Although the action was more or less restricted to the city of Camorr in the first volume, Lynch created a veritable living and breathing locale as the backdrop for his story. Camorr sort of became a character in and of itself. The imagery wasn't quite the same with Tal Verrar, Port Prodigal and the other locations where the action takes place in this sequel.
  
  The aspect which elevates this novel to another level is the characterization. Red Seas under Red Skies is a character-driven book, and Locke is once again the heart and soul of the tale (though Jean ups his game considerably in this one). The relationship between both characters is further fleshed out, making them even more endearing. Although he can craft an exciting, action-packed story, with witty dialogues throughout, I feel the characterizations remain Scott Lynch's bread and butter. He truly excels in that department. Which is why, I believe, I was a bit disappointed by the supporting cast. There are too many clichéd "tough chicks" for my taste, and what feels like an inordinate amount of female pirates (ferocious, every last one of them, of course). Somehow, that rang a little false. I'm all for strong female characters, but other than Ezri Delmastro I found the rest too clichéd in comparison.
  
  The pace is brisk for the better part of the novel, though the rhythm becomes a bit sluggish in certain instances while the boys are at sea.
  
  Kudos go out to Lynch for closing the show in unexpected fashion! Once more, Red Seas under Red Skies is an extremely entertaining adventure. Conventional wisdom says that the author will likely not be able to maintain this level of interest with a different caper in every volume of this seven-book cycle. And yet, conventional wisdom said that the James Bond franchise couldn't last. Still, Lynch's style ensures that this tale remains fresh in a genre that is too often known for its stagnancy. In any event, there are some hints of an overall and more ambitious story arc, so I'm curious to see what Lynch has in store for us in the forthcoming Republic of Thieves.
  
  You can safely pre-order this one!:-) Red Seas under Red Skies may not be the best fantasy novel you'll read this year, but I doubt you'll have more fun reading anything else!
  
  Check out my blog: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
  
  

• A disappointment

  
  By A1ZQV2TGIXVFXR on 2007-08-01
  I loved The Lies of Locke Lamora but didn't like Red Seas Under Red Skies much. My worst complaint is the women. Do they all take alchemical testosterone? A very short woman fighting a lot of strong men and winning? Punching men twice her height and weight? Please. Maybe in Scott's universe women are different, but it felt very unnatural to me. There are better ways to write strong female characters. Make them like Sofia, an excellent alchemist, or that other woman that dropped Jean out of her house. Or like Brienne in Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, who is certainly not your average woman, she is one in a million. She is special because there is only one like her. Please drop the women-with-balls theme. We women do know what our own strengths and weaknesses are.
  
  Ezri was a shallow character. The plot was too convoluted. Too many different parties. Requin. The Archon. Merrain. The Bondsmagi. The pirates. The Priori.
  
  Overall an annoying book. I would have enjoyed it a lot more if Scott had kept to a few characters and made them really good. And less pirates with a literary bent.
  
  

• One good book is far better than two great books...

  
  By A1IRDE7ZUJPWBC on 2008-05-20
  Even more so, when neither book is good. It's very difficult to satisfy two very different audiences, and in this case, Scott Lynch fails miserably. As a fan of Lies of Locke Lamora, I was excited when I learned about this sequel. Most authors get better with experience, but, unfortunately, there is the exception that proves the rule, where Red Seas over Red Skies is that exception. Lynch makes the following mistakes in this book.
  
  1. He believes he's capable of writing a sea adventure. He is no Patrick O'Brian, Robert Louis Stevenson, or C.S. Forester. Reading up on several nautical terms does not give an author the understanding to do so, and changing them does not make a good story. The old adage, "write what you know" applies here. Lynch didn't follow that rule.
  
  2. Fantasy cliches abound: pirates with hearts of gold, who look like Xena but act like Rowling's Hermione, corrupt military leaders trying to instigate wars in order to secure their ruling position, and thieves who bumble from near-death experience to near-death who survive because the author refuses to end the novel. Stock characters and elements can be fine when you want to make things familiar, but they should not be your entire story!
  
  3. Heroes who survive on the might of strawmen and divine fate to carry them through the plot. In life sometimes you are saved by dumb luck, but no one has the winning streak of Jean and Locke. After three or four times everything becomes contrived and the reader loses all suspense of what may come. When ill befalls our heroes, we know their salvation is only five pages away.
  
  4. The Interludes were a wonderful literary device in Lynch's first novel, but he tries to reach their magic with a similar approach and gives up half-way through the book. The Reminiscences are hit and miss, but they continued to provide much needed depth to this story. The plot in the first book worked so well, because everything was a product of the rich history Lynch created. Characters long dead were the motivations and inspiration for the present events: Father Chains lived on through the Gentleman Bastards and Capa Barsavi's murders survived in the Grey King. There is no parallel in this novel.
  
  I could go on, but let me get to the heart of the problem. I wouldn't mind this book such a disappointment, except Lynch departed in so many ways from what made his first story grand. In Lies, Lynch found his writing voice, which he used abundantly in Red Seas, but this novel lack the focus, grit, and creativity of its predecessor. The last 200 pages of Lies were an easy read, but looking back, those chapters were the most poorly written, and, while he kept that tone throughout this book, he also kept the bad ideas. Lynch needs to find a balance between his witty fast pace writing style, and the careful detail which he crafts his worlds. That was not the case with Red Seas.
  
  
  
• Swashed
  By A1EW1OILI6AGGC on 2007-12-10
  I totally loved the first book in this series, The Lies of Lock Lamora, but I have mixed feelings about this one. It's got some great characters hurling some of the best insults I've read, and the odd smattering of humor kept me going. The pacing of this adventure was uneven. For a swashbuckling adventure, the buckles could have been swashed a bit harder. After a bit of plodding plotting the resolution comes ridiculously swiftly. The energy in the last 20 pages would have been welcome throughout. The cliffhanging ending is more irritating than intriguing. It's got some great bits, but on the whole It's Just OK.
  
  
• A surprisingly worthy followup...
  By A2CB0DNKYCIQE8 on 2008-03-26
  ...albeit a tad frustrating, at least at first. After reading all of the negative or mediocre reviews, I was expecting to find a lesser book than Lies. I didn't find that at all. The quality of writing, the sympathetic characters, the sharp and funny dialogue, the action: it's all here. I think the reason people are turned off by it is because it's a very different book than the first one.
  
  Red Seas wastes no time as it starts off. We begin with Locke and Jean pulling a scheme on the most successful chance house in Tel Verrar, the Sinspire, to rob from the owner itself. The book continues with a pace similar to the first book with every other chapter interluding to a past segment, in this case, filling the 2 year gap between Lies and the present day timeline. Locke and Jean are obviously present, but most everything else has changed. Obviously they've fled Camorr so the environment is completely new, though no less captivating. Lynch continues showing his skills in world building, creating a city with a rich history and realistic environments that jump out of the page. Even with the change of scenery, the theives seem right at home in their new setting. They're pulling tricks, being stalked by cut-throats and even the Bondmagi have made it known that they've not forgotten about their poor Falconer. Where the book takes a radical change however, is when Locke and Jean go pirate.
  
  I don't want to spoil the particulars of this plot thread, but I have to say that I enjoyed it thoroughly. At first it seemed out of place, like a speedbump in the rest of the story. But as the plot moves on I found that it ties in very well and by the end, everything comes full circle. I am not much for nautical books, but it seems that Lynch really did his homework and knows his stuff, at least from the perspective of someone who knows as little as sailing and ships as I do. This section of the book may seem like a sidetrack at first, but really it's the meat and potatos of the story, with the bulk of the new characters and the action. Drakasha and Ezri are wonderful additions and seeing their relationships with Locke and Jean go from borderline enemy to comerade is amazing. As I've said, Lynch is a master of character development.
  
  Even though this book ends with a slight cliff hanger and the plot threads don't wrap up as nicely as they do in Lies (one in particular... argh!), I can recommend Red Seas to anyone who has read the first book and enjoyed it. I won't say it's as good as The Lies of Locke Lamora, because it isn't, but I enjoyed the hell out of it anyways. Bring on Republic of Theives!
  
  
• Great fun!
  By A2F88R8N9OS6AW on 2007-08-11
  I preferred the first book in the series (The Lies of Locke Lamora) but still enjoyed Red Seas Under Red Skies. Another review described them as similar to summer blockbuster movies and I have to second that (although most of the blockbuster movies lately have been tedious and these books rise above that).
  
  The plot this time is sometimes hard to keep track of - just plain too much going on. I was sorry to see the death of one character who greatly livened up the "learning to be pirates" sequence and the death of a certain female character was such a cliche that I sighed in disappointment.
  
  I disagree with whoever said there isn't much world-building. For me, there was enough world-building, background and fun gimmicks to set the scene but not get in the way of or slow down the story.
  
  Lots of fun and an interesting not-quite-cliffhanger of an ending.
  
  P.S. I do have 2 nitpicks on the writing - well, one's more than a nitpick and that's titles. "The Lies of Locke Lamora" is a a plain-out bad title and "Red Seas Under Red Skies" isn't much better. You definitely shouldn't judge these books by their titles. The other nitpick is the overuse of the phrase "alchemical lamps [lanterns, lights]". After the first dozen times, we get that the lights are alchemical and it became annoying and even jarring to keep being reminded. They're lights or lamps or lanterns. Period.
  
  
• A somewhat disappointing second book!
  By AUX9KZUUB3YCE on 2007-09-16
  Less impressive than the first book ("The Lies of Locke Lamora")
  
  I had looked forward to this second in the Locke Lamora series by Scott Lynch. However I found myself less and less enthralled by this effort as I read on; mainly because of three perceived shortcomings...let me explain.
  
  1.)My first concern with this novel was with the characters themselves. I found a number of them had very similar personality traits (with some exceptions); most were thieves (and I've no complaints with that), but all were nice, all were reasonable and all were fairly well educated. It seemed to me, that having all these same type of pleasant, courteous individuals just didn't seem realistic for a fantasy/pirate tale.
  
  2.)Profanity...as with the first book, was an ongoing issue for me; profanity used continually and indiscriminately made me feel as if I was listening in on a group of 13-14 year olds trying to impress one another with their 'grown up' attitude. And what made me more concerned was that every one in this novel spoke this way, not just one or two individuals. To me realism in a novel is an important part of making a story somewhat believable (even for fantasy); I just found the profanity usage here was unrealistic and thus tended to make the entire story somewhat unbelievable. Makes me wonder what the editors and proof readers were doing.
  
  3.)No map; maybe this book was not as confusing geographically as the first book, but it's hard to think of why a map would not have been included in this book/series.
  
  On the positive side, this is a good tale that is well written and interesting; also, it was sprinkled with spots of good humor...however, these redeeming traits could not make up for its shortcomings. 2 to 2 1/2 Stars.
  
  R. Nicholson
  
  
• A Fun Page-Turner
  By AHRG3YO9G4JCH on 2007-10-16
  I thoroughly enjoyed Scott Lynch's debut novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora, and had high expectation for this sequel. While it is a fun adventure story set in a well realized world, it does not quite live up to the expectations set by its predecessor.
  
  Back are all the thieves, magi, capers, fights, witty banter, betrayals, double-crossing, and convoluted plots of the first novel. Locke and Jean are back and the story focuses this time on their friendship. They are trying to make their way in the world by pulling off a major heist in Lynch's fantasy version of Las Vegas (or Monte Carlo if you prefer).
  
  The story begins in media res, and uses flashback chapters to fill in all the backstory between the end of Lies and the beginning of Red Seas Under Red Skies. I thought this technique was effective as it gets the action going right away. The characters are all well developed, including the many new faces, and all exhibit growth over the course of the novel. The reading experience is greatly augmented by Lynch's fine sense of humor.
  
  Where this novel falters, for me at least, is with the plot. Lynch once again uses a very convoluted, very complex plot - which I love and fits the style of his novels perfectly. The beginning of the book it very well plotted as all the different players are introduced and their motivations are developed. The plot loses it tightness during a long middle section that features a piratical adventure. I usually love pirates, and the pirates hear are great fun to read about - they just don't add much to the plot that was developed in the first third of the book. The pirate interlude leads to an ending that felt rushed. More plot threads are left dangling here then were in Lies. Important characters are introduced that played absolutely no role in the first two-thirds of the book.
  
  Despite it shortcomings I still recommend this book. If you can deal with the plot issues you'll have a great time with this book. I look forward to future books in the series.
  
  
• Not Free SF Reader
  By A1X8VZWTOG8IS6 on 2007-11-08
  Piracy problems.
  
  
  This is also a book with a few problems, too. In particular, pace and structure. What Lynch has here is a caper book with some piracy or a pirate book with some thieving, but it is close to 600 pages.
  
  Now that it is not necessarily a problem. The work is divided into three books, with the first the period after they get out of town in the end of the first novel.
  
  This part has flashbacks, flashforwards, flashsideways that get quite annoying after awhile and will likely leave some readers slightly confused, and occasionally they are pointless shipboard interludes.
  
  For this sort of book the extended learning to be sailors middle book also drags a little.
  
  The whole adventure is wrapped up at almost blistering speed in the last few pages - running out of space then, perhaps?
  
  Anyway, not sure if it is the author or edito/publisher with problems or length demands, but it certainly spoils the book.
  
  Lynch is quite entertaining at the page level, and his dialogue can be very funny at times, so it is disappointing the experience is spoiled by the rest.
  
  The basic storyline here is they have to stir the pirates up into causing a threat to enable the Archon to restore his military powerbase, or they die.
  
  A decent book, but the series continues to frustrate in not achieving its potential.
  
  
• Lackluster sequel
  By A25KVA6E00PP0R on 2008-02-19
  It's really too bad that the Lies of Locke Lamora was such a solid first book, because this sequel pales in comparison. The first book was often compared to Ocean's 11: an ensemble caper story with a fantasy twist. This book isn't that.
  
  Red Seas starts with Locke and Jean on the run and in a rut before the next big caper. The sad part is that the plot that slowly unfolds is actually a lot smaller in scope and less satisfying than the first novel. In fact the main thrust of the narrative isn't even the caper itself, but a digressive sea voyage where Locke and Jean pretend to be pirates. Lynch is pretty cheeky with his pseudo-naval jargon having his sailors say "larboard" instead of "port" for the left side of the ship(it's like a Bizarro-world Pirates of the Caribbean!).
  
  That's not to say that parts of the story aren't entertaining, but if you were hoping for any real character development, elaboration of magic and the nature of elderglass (all that juicy grist of epic fantasy) then prepare to be disappointed. The fantasy backdrop is just that: a backdrop. I won't ruin the ending, but expect to be disappointed. Maybe it's just the purist in me talking, but what ever happened to fantasy novels with real endings with plot resolution-- is everyone just looking to be the next Robert Jordan with endless cliffhangers and no end in sight?!?
  
  
• Ocean's Eleven Does Fantasy
  By A2CGRKZN5AK128 on 2007-07-31
  Just ...wow. This is one fantastic book, and one worthy sequel to the already amazing The Lies of Locke Lamora.
  
  Scott Lynch is about to become the next big name in fantasy. Outrageously funny, unerringly clever, incessently fast-paced: all accurately describe Red Seas Under Red Skies. But it's also a book that is at times chilling, sometimes tragic, and at times touching.
  
  Recovering from the carnage in Camorr, their gang reduced to a duo, Jean and Locke are back, with a heist that is even more dangerously ambitious than before. But their tangled lives are about to become even more complicated when the Archon of Tal Verrar takes an interest in the two con men, and the bondsmagi of Karhain make known their displeasure with Lamora. As the novel progresses, Locke must juggle an inumerable number of plans and identities, when any misstep might leave all their deceptions crashing down around them.
  
  If you read fantasy at all, this series is a must-read. And if you ever wondered what the genre is all about, this is it. Red Seas Under Red Skies is a thoroughly wonderful book.
  
  
  
• Mediocre sequel to a brilliant start
  By A35OZBE1LPKDAP on 2008-01-31
  I would like to start by saying that I may judging this book more harshly than most because I had very high hopes for it after reading the first novel in the series "The Lies of Locke Lamora".
  Red Seas under Red Skies isn't bad exactly, it's just very average. From the perspective of a stand alone novel, the book has a good amount of intrigue, interesting characters and a couple decent plot twists. Unfortunately, it does not possess enough of these qualities to really stand out in the field of medieval fantasy, and would be hard to recommend by itself. It's greatest value comes from the character and world development that occurs and relates to the overall series of Locke Lamora and I am glad that I read it simply because it will allow me to read the third book, which I hope will give Lynch a chance to redeem himself as one of my favorite new authors.
  
  Don't read this book by itself, read Lies of Locke Lamora first, and only read this book if you loved the first and wish to read the third.
  
  In order to not totally trash the book, here are some things it does well:
  1.) Humorous, Locke and sidekick are still amusing and clever to a certain degree, and this adds alot to the depth of characters and plot.
  2.) Dark and real, The world of Locke Lamora is dangerous and no character is invulnerable to death or maiming.
  3.) Intricate plot, main plots and subplots entwine to keep you guessing. The tapestry is not as satisfying as the first novel, but still well done in a field that is littered with straight forward and bland plots.
  
  
• Scott Lynch delivers again.
  By A2BWY08L8HCXH8 on 2007-09-23
  Red Seas Under Read Skies is the second book in the Gentlemen Bastard series, as stated by other reviewers. While this book is good enough to be read as a stand alone, it is imperative that you read Lies of Locke Lamora before reading this, because many of the characters and events from the first book serve to set up the story in the second book. It is also worth noting that Scott Lynch has seven books planned for the series, the next being The Republic of Thieves which as of this review doesn't have a planned released date announced.
  
  Without giving away any key plot points, I can say for sure that we see a little more about the world in which Locke and Jean live, and without a doubt we are left thirsty for more. World building doesn't feel forced, like so many fantasy novels where we as the reader are almost dragged by our nose with an explanation of the world.
  
  I disagree with the reviewer who said the excessive language took them out of the world or spoiled the experience. Certainly there is a lot of use of cursing, but these are hardened men, dealing with even harsher adversaries and sailors. It felt real and not overused to me. Also there was a lot going on in the plot, but this is targeted at an older audience and it shouldn't be too hard to follow for most fantasy readers.
  
  I only had a couple of issues with this book. Mainly, it was that it didn't have the same power that the flashback style storytelling had in the first book. As we got to know the characters in the present, we also saw them developing in the past, and that element was sorely missed in this book, although it might have felt forced if included. Also, there were tons of threads in the plot that felt like they should have been addressed that were left unresolved, but the quick answer to that complaint is that Scott Lynch has seven books planned out, so we have to be left wanting a little more, like information about Locke's lady love...
  
  Personally I found the book to be very enjoyable. I was tremendously impressed with Lies of Locke Lamora, and Red Seas Under Red Skies has the same sort of feel despite the change to a nautical setting. Although it may feel like a little too much is going on, it is a great book overall and well worth the purchase.
  
  
  --Chantry
  
  P.S. The upcoming book titles for anyone who is interested, as enumerated on Scott Lynch's home page:
  
  III: The Republic of Thieves
  IV: The Thorn of Emberlain
  V: The Ministry of Necessity
  VI: The Mage and the Master Spy
  VII: Inherit the Night
  
  
• fun follow-up to Lies of Locke Lamora
  By AFN32PGTZ31MV on 2007-10-04
  Red Seas Under Red Skies is Scott Lynch's follow-up to his debut fantasy Lies of Locke Lamora, and the second in the planned Gentlemen Bastards sequence. The firs book asked the question: what would happen if all the guys from Ocean 11 were teleported into the usual fantasy setting? Red Seas asks: what would Brad Pitt and George Clooney do if the rest of Oceans 11 were killed off in movie one?
  The answer, of course, is they'd continue to steal. And that's what happens here. The analogs to Pitt and Clooney are Locke Lamora himself (the title character of book one) and his best friend/partner in crime Jean. The two of them, after suitable mourning of their friends from book one, are now involved in trying to rob the famed Sinspire, the greatest, grandest gambling house in Tel Verrar.
  That caper is the main plotline of Red Seas. But other main plots soon appear, along with a plethora of subplots. Tel Verrar is a city-state dominated by a triad power structure. The head of the Sinspire is one leader, the powerful Archon of Tel Verrar, leader of the army and navy, is another. The merchant's council is the third. Locke and Jean soon find themselves caught in the power struggle between the Archon and the Sinspire head and, as a result, somehow find themselves becoming pirates for a large chunk of the book. Yes, pirates.
  Red Seas has many strengths. Characterization is one. The two main characters are interesting in their own rights but their individual interest is enhanced by their relationship as portrayed throughout the book. Most of the secondary characters are equally enjoyable and in different fashion. The dialog tends toward sharp banter and there are many laugh-out-loud lines tossed back and forth (the more serious dialog suffers somewhat in comparison, feeling a bit strained sometimes). The various subplots keep the reader hopping and they are nicely juggled, weaving in and out, diverging only to come back seamlessly at the end. The lightness of tone has a darker, more serious balance and while, as mentioned, sometimes this is a bit clumsily handled via dialogue, in interior monologue and actual plotting it plays much more strongly and effectively.
  The structure is highly effective. The book begins with a bang of a scene, then flashes back at a pivotal moment. This shift back and forth continues throughout and is handled quite smoothly, effectively ratcheting up the tension and mystery.
  There are a few weak points. Some of the more serious dialog, as mentioned. There is a definite pacing issue when the nautical section of the book begins. The book starts to drag at that point and one wishes Lynch had cut down the lead-in to the pirating adventures severely, but once one moves out of that section the pace picks up again and never flags after that point. The Bondsmagi, who play a major role in both books, are still a bit too abstract for my liking (mysterious is fine but I prefer a somewhat more tangible mystery), as is the greater world around the events. But these are relatively minor complaints, save for the pacing issue. In the end, Red Seas delivers, as did Lies of Locke Lamora. It's a fun, mostly fast-paced, humorous read with some a few good caper puzzles at its core. The ending nicely wraps up the main plot while leaving several major questions unanswered, including some pretty urgent ones. Red Seas leaves you happy and wanting more--what more could you ask for?
  
  
• Fantastic Story!
  By A2RKXIEQUMIGAJ on 2007-08-02
  Locke Lamora and his pal Jean are now in Tel Verrar hoping to pull off the theft of their dreams. The two of them are thieves. While Locke is the brains, Jean is definitely the brawn. Their goal, to get inside the famed vault of the Sinspire, the richest gaming hall in all of Tel Verrar. They've put two years into this plan finally making it to the fifth level in the Sinspire. After so much hard work and thought, they don't intend to let anything interfere with their plans. Not, that is, until the Archon of Tel Verrar decides they will be the perfect pawns to use to regain his power and gives them a slow-acting poison to ensure their cooperation. As long as they do his bidding, the Archon will give them the antidote--not enough to cure them, only to keep them healthy for a time.
  
  Meanwhile, Locke has already put his plan into action by going to the owner of the Sinspire and telling the man he is being paid to get into the safe. So now, Locke is working for not only this man, but also the Archon.
  
  How are Locke and Jean going to satisfy both masters? Can they? Will they live long enough to do so, or will the poison take effect? Will they remain as puppets of the Archon for the rest of their lives?
  
  RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES is one of those books hard to set down. The action starts on the first page and continues throughout. Of course, plans go awry for Locke and Jean and it's amazing just how quickly they adapt to their new circumstances. Somehow, they always manage to land on their feet. The dialogue is particularly witty in this story and I love the way Jean kept quoting from one of the great writers in their time with his love interest. This story will make you laugh; it will make you cry and it will definitely keep you turning pages. And I definitely plan on picking up a copy of THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA and reading it as soon as I possibly can, along with anything else this author writes.
  
  
  
• Confidence men, thieves, spies, and pirates,..all the Right People
  By A32EULVVPEZZHV on 2007-09-13
  I don't know what it is about rogues that we fantasy readers love, but Mr. Lynch has given us a new twist to the charismatic thief with his Gentleman Bastard series.
  
  Blessed by the Crooked Warden, Locke and Jean continue their dedicated service to that Nameless Thirteenth and being a priest and servant of the Thiefwatcher, the Benefactor, Father of Necessary Pretexts, defiantly has its fringe benefits. These guys couldn't go to church without snatching the offering plate. But don't let their shenanigans fool you, cross these boys from Cammor, and you'll get a lesson in what vengeance means.
  
  This being only the second book by Scott Lynch, his writing can be just a tad clumsy at times. The story has its lulls but I'm not sure if it's really that it has slow parts or just seems that way in between the parts of intense intrigue and action. Its not quite as good as the first book; Lies of Locke Lamora, but still well-worth the read and I think Mr. Lynch has the potential for becoming one of the more successful and popular authors.
  
  
  
• Good. Truly. And yet...
  By A38XOWUZC56X2S on 2008-08-22
  When you set out to write seven books, it turns out you have to find a way to fill seven books. And that's the basic problem with Red Seas Under Red Skies, the second book in Scott Lynch's...septology?
  
  Lynch left himself with a lot to work with from the first book, The Lies of Locke Lamora. What is all that Elderglass? How will the bondsmagi try to take their revenge on Locke and Jean? How the heck does that magi stuff work in this world anyway? What has happened to Camorr after their caper's semi-success? Who's going to run the underworld now that the Grey King and Capa Barsavi are both gone? When will we get to find out more about that gal that Locke's pining after?
  
  Rather than answer any of those questions, Lynch gives us two books in one: a pirate-romance novella sandwiched inside Locke and Jean's main caper, an elaborate attempt on the Sinspire, the most opulent den of iniquity in the city-state of Tal Verrar. Characters march on and off stage as if by rote, ideas are dropped almost before they're begun, and multiple machinas are elevated to deus status at various points to keep the plot creaking along.
  
  Fortunately for the reader, Lynch's sarcasm and propulsive prose eventually overbalance what turns out to be basically an 800-page diversion, and the book, despite itself, is pretty enjoyable at that level. So long as you don't expect the larger arc of the Gentleman Bastards to move very far down the track, Red Seas Under Red Skies can be the kind of readable romp that makes for good vacation or airplane material.
  
  
• For Locke fans, this won't disappoint...
  By A1EVDRGLVCYYVP on 2008-09-03
  Was Red Seas as good as Lies? No...but that only makes it about the second-best book I've read this year.
  
  Red Seas finds Locke and Jean licking their wounds after their battle with the Grey King. They have sailed to Tal Varrar, the Monte Carlo/Las Vegas of Lynch's created world, to escape the mess they left behind in Camorr. After a few months of regrouping (and Jean pulling Locke out of a major funk) the two are back to their old games--this time with their sights set on The Sinspire, a grand tower casino ruled by a ruthless Mafioso-type who kills anyone who he finds cheating in his establishment.
  
  As you would expect, Jean and Locke soon find their neat little plan to cheat the Sinspire goes awry--so awry, in fact, that they find themselves forced to learn how to sail and lead a pirate war.
  
  A large chunk of the book takes place at sea, and the nautical terminology is plentiful. Coming from someone who has absolutely no knowledge of sailing, I found the generous use of terminology to be a little head-clogging, but in all honesty, you could skim over the technicalities and still understand what was happening. I do have to question the benefit of this--after I'm skimming through three or four pages of "Turn that line to the larboard over to the oar mast, and make sure the front sail isn't upsideover from the side-sail..." etc., but it does lend an air of authenticity, so I'll give it that (of course, not knowing anything about sailing, I'm not one to ay how authentic any of it really is!)
  
  The things I loved about Lies were still in this book for me--the masterful, witty dialogue, the many plot twists and turns that were blessedly impossible for me to predict. It doesn't tie up as neatly as Lies; the ending is a definite cliffhanger on multiple fronts. Of course, all that means is I'm chomping at the bit for February!
  
  
• No sophomore slump here!
  By A3ROPB3CSLJHOE on 2007-08-09
  If you liked The Lies of Locke Lamora you will not be disappointed here. The plot is complex but that's what you expect with these stories. Overall, very nice follow up to a great debut book. Can't wait for the next one.
  
  
• Wonderful second title
  By A2FTKO0J167SVF on 2007-10-23
  This is a Great book and a wonderful followup to the first one.
  You can also read it without reading 'Lies' but it is helpful to start at the beginning.
  Well written and a great plot. Fun twists and a great love story.. which you barely notice.
  Overall I was impressed.
  
  
• A little repetitive
  By A236HHH93L0JUR on 2007-10-29
  The writing was still excellent, as were the charachters, however little real process was seemingly made in the series as a whole. It almost seemed like "lies" retold in a different setting. I;m excited to see where the series goes, but if it continues to progress this slow I might never see its end.
  
  
• Nice work, but doesn't live up to the reputation of its predecessor
  By A35JTVM6A5T2VF on 2008-02-17
  Scott Lynch's first novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora, got a fair amount of approving notice last year, but I missed it. I was happy to try the sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies. I can say that it is not necessary to have read the first book to enjoy its successor -- though I suspect that would be the preferred course of action. (There are a number of references to the past in the new book that I am sure are clearer if you have read the first one.) And I can say that I can see why readers enjoyed the The Lies of Locke Lamora: Red Seas Under Red Skies is a good deal of fun. That said, it isn't anything earth-shaking -- the plot elements, and the fantastical elements, are, well, pretty familiar. And the general construction of the plot had me shaking my head -- again and again, I simply didn't believe in the good fortune visited on the main characters. And for a final complaint, I have to say that the caper aspect of the book -- the plot the main characters execute against one of the villains -- is something of a letdown. But I must say that all these quibbles run together seem unfair -- in the end, I really did like the book.
  
  The book is structured just a bit unusually, opening with a scene extracted from late in the book, for no particular reason. (It is a dramatic scene, but so?) And for the first half of the story, chapters set in the present of the action alternate with flashback chapters. That works OK (though the strategy is then abandoned) -- but again I'm not entirely sure I agree with the artistic decision, or see the necessity. I think the book would have worked as well told in straight chronological fashion. But so be it -- I can't really say that the out of order narrative causes the reader serious problems either.
  
  So what happens? Locke Lamora and his friend Jean Tannen have apparently suffered a disastrous setback (presumably detailed in The Lies of Locke Lamora), leading to the deaths of all their compatriots, and a serious injury for Locke. On the bright side, they did defeat an evil Karthain Bondsmage. Eventually they land in the city of Tal Verrar, and they hatch a plot to steal from the Sinspire, an exclusive gambling den. However, their plans are complicated by the politics of Tal Verrar, which seem to rotate about three poles: the proprietor of the Sinspire; the military leader of the city, the Archon; and the political leaders, the Priori. Locke and Jean end up forced to table their Sinspire plans after the Archon dragoons them into a plot to increase his influence by exaggerating the danger of piracy. In essence, the two landlubbers are expected to take over a pirate ship and incite sufficient action near Tal Verrar that the need for an increase in the Archon's power will become obvious.
  
  Thus, about halfway through, the novel seems to switch from a caper story to a pirate story. And pretty successfully. Locke and Jean are captured by REAL pirates -- female pirates, yet, complete with a love interest for Jean. Naturally we learn that these pirates are more or less good guys -- given how bad the legitimate authorities are this may not be a surprise. Which really puts the two in a bind -- how can they stay on the "right" side but still discharge their (rather well enforced) obligations to the Archon, not to mention getting a chance to finish their Sinspire caper. It all works out acceptably -- if, as I suggested, not ideally. The pirate action scenes are extremely well done. The characters are nicely imagined and portrayed. The fantastical elements are less impressive -- there is nothing much new here. In sum -- a good book, not a great one.
  
  
  
• The fun ride continues with Locke and Jean
  By A326P7NAOKG8KZ on 2008-06-19
  I absolutely loved Scott Lynch's debut novel "The Lies of Locke Lamora", which I thought was one of the best debut fantasy novels in recent years. It was an incredibly fun and fresh book you never wanted to end, and made the subsequent wait for the release of his next novel completely unbearable.
  
  Now in the second novel, "Red Seas Under Red Skies", the fearless thieves, Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen, return to attempt an even more spectacular heist than last time. A heist that very nearly killed Locke. So will bigger be better, or will Locke and Jean have started something more than they can handle? Well, things don't go as planned for these intrepid and resourceful thieves, and that's is what makes Lynch's novels so much fun.
  
  After the events of the previous novel, Locke and Jean have escaped from Camorr, and traveled to the city of Tal Verrar. Locke is depressed, as he physically and mentally recovers from the brutal bludgeoning he took at the end of "The Lies of Locke Lamora". But thieves being thieves, it isn't long before Locke and Jean select the Sinspire, a famous and very wealthy gambling establishment, as their next target.
  
  During their planning of the heist, a new player emerges who forces Locke and Jean to complete a task suiting his own ends. To successfully accomplish this task, the reluctant Locke and Jean find they must sail the seas posing as pirates. Meanwhile, the Sinspire planning continues, causing them to juggle between their various assumed identities.
  
  Similar to the "The Lies of Locke Lamora", Lynch plays with the narrative structure, though not to the degree of the previous novel. The interludes from the first novel served more as an intrusion as the novel progressed, causing an unnecessary slowing of the pace as the action heated up. The narrative shifts in "Red Seas Under Red Skies" are less intrusiv, making the book flow more readily.
  
  Lynch, clearly, is a wonderful natural storyteller, turning in another breathtaking romp filled with fantastic drama, tragedy and humor. While very good, "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is not as magical as "The Lies of Locke Lamora". But it is utterly unfair to expect Lynch to duplicate the magic of his debut novel. On its own, "Red Seas Under Red Skies" is a fun, sarcastic, immensely humorous and enjoyable three ton beast of a fantasy. I mean, there are pirates, some smartass and profane dialogue, innovative violence, and a killer heist, so what more could you want from a fantasy novel?
  
  Last Word:
  For fans of Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora", there is tons to love here, and you won't be disappointed in the effort. Locke and Jean once again charm, and Lynch shows a penchant for juggling many balls at once, and still have everything come together beautifully at the end. I immensely enjoyed the ride, and find myself salivating for the third volume.
  
  
• Worth reading, but somewhat erratic
  By AP1WE2DB14IL1 on 2008-08-06
  For those who enjoyed Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora, his follow-up book, Red Seas Under Red Skies, will likely be a mixed bag. As other reviewers have commented, it doesn't quite measure up to the first book and the intertwining plots would have been better served had they been done in two novels instead of one. The jumping around in time sequences and locations gets confusing, the resolutions of some of the plot threads are rushed, and the ending is decidedly dissatisfying on a couple of levels, particularly in what amounts to not so much a cliff-hanger as a cliff-tease.
  
  One particular disappointment for me was a great scene involving Jean taking over a gang of street kids and starting to teach them how to be _real_ thieves. It felt like the beginning of something really interesting, plot-wise, but no sooner does it get going than it's summarily abandoned. Very annoying.
  
  These things said, however, Red Seas Under Red Skies is still worth the read. The parts where it works are thoroughly engaging, with individual scenes that are true delights and dialogue that rises to memorable comic brilliance as can be seen in this particular rant of Locke's:
  
  "Have we ever been _less_ in control of our lives than we are at this moment? We can't run away from the archon and his poison, which means we can't just disengage from the Sinspire game. Gods know we can't even see the Bondsmagi lurking, and we've suddenly got assassins coming out of our a******s. Know something? I'd lay even odds that between the people following us and the people hunting us, we've become this city's principal means of employment. Tal Verrar's entire economy is now based on _f*****g_with_us_."
  
  Also on the plus side, I particularly liked how the novel gets into an actually plausible rational for the thieves' theology of the Crooked Warden, i.e. that the role of thieving has a purpose in the grand cosmic scheme of things. I also, unlike some reviewers, actually liked the pirate section of the book more than I liked the on-land con. It's always good when you can tell that an author has done their homework, and Lynch definitely did his on pirates, working in a number of details that really added to the texture and feel of those scenes. Parts of it are pure fantasy, of course - it is a fantasy world after all - but I still appreciate authors who work to make it as real as it can possibly be in that context.
  
  So overall, I do recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy and/or who liked The Lies of Locke Lamora. It's a good if not great read, and there's enough of Locke and Jean in it to keep you going until Lynch's next novel comes out.
  
  
  
  
• Excellent Fantasy
  By AFVQZQ8PW0L on 2007-08-11
  Con artists Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen plan to swindle the renowned gambling house, Sinspire. Tight security makes any attempt futile and cheating breaks the first commandment, which if caught also means break the felon's bones as death is the response to the worst crime anyone can commit.
  
  However, Locke and Jean feel they have a perfect scheme so they are in the city state of Tal Verra completing their final preparations. However, someone knows what the two thieves plot to do and is determined to insure they not fail but are caught. Let the games begin because Locke and Jean will not allow an unknown adversary prevent their latest caper from succeeding.
  
  Locke and Jean are quite the pair as these bold con artists work on a scheme that seems impossible and made even more difficult by their enemy. The fast-paced story line is at its best when the two thieves, their opponent, and the casino staff work towards a final altercation even as the audience expects the antiheroes to succeed (need to read to see if they actually do), but not know how they can pull off the ploy. Although there are well written epic sea battles with pirates, that sidebar feels like an intruder as this fantasy belongs to the scam.
  
  Harriet Klausner
  
  
  
  
• Great second installment
  By A27194IPAGZ2TB on 2007-10-07
  I have high hopes for this series and this author. Scott Lynch has really got something good going here. I'll be buying the next book in hardcover, which is my strongest endorsement of an author. This is a great adventure story with less magic and more subterfuge and legerdemain than The Lies of Locke Lamora.
  
  
• The Sophomore Slide
  By A2ZA4R5NP63NMD on 2007-11-04
  Compared to The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies is a bit of a change! The clever storyline is still there, but the witty protagonist is a little more challenged, to say the least. As the author recently noted in an interview, the plot rather got away from what he origianlly intended - the characters got sidelined by forces outside their reckoning. On it's own, this book falls into the shadow left by the first, but at the same time, you can tell that it sets up some important things for the next half-dozen books planned in the series; and like the book before it, it reads at a good, fast pace.
  
  
• Great follow up.
  By A3A4WX83NZASRQ on 2007-12-13
  Jean and Locke feel like brothers to me, first Lies of Lock Lamora (which I wrote a review for and amazon wouldn't publish it) and now this adventure. Basically it stated it was one of the best books I've ever read. This one isn't quite as good, but wasn't a dissapointment by any means. I'm hooked, I hope Scott Lynch writes fast, because I'm ready for his next five of this series.
  
  

• The Lies of Locke Lamora
• The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1)
• The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One)
• Before They Are Hanged (The First Law: Book Two)
• Last Argument of Kings (First Law: Book Three)