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Red Seas Under Red Skies
(Gentleman Bastard #2)
by
After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke Lamora and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can't rest for long—and they are soon back doing what they do best: stealing from the undeserving ri
...more
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MP3 CD, 0 pages
Published
June 18th 2009
by Tantor Media
(first published June 21st 2007)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastard, #2)
Oct 27, 2013
Patrick
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-would-blurb
I'll be honest, when I first read this book, years ago, my reaction was kinda "meh."
Or rather, I *remember* it being that way. It was a long time back, and I can barely bring to mind what I ate for lunch yesterday. So I'm not terribly reliable that way.
I also vaguely remember that it wasn't as talked-up as Lies of Locke Lamora. There wasn't the same excited buzz about it when it came out, so I remember feeling reasonably justified in my "meh" feeling.
That means reading through it again a seco ...more
Or rather, I *remember* it being that way. It was a long time back, and I can barely bring to mind what I ate for lunch yesterday. So I'm not terribly reliable that way.
I also vaguely remember that it wasn't as talked-up as Lies of Locke Lamora. There wasn't the same excited buzz about it when it came out, so I remember feeling reasonably justified in my "meh" feeling.
That means reading through it again a seco ...more
After reading a Tumblr post Where Lynch responded to a reader's complaints about "political correctness" in this novel, I am intrigued.
Why shouldn’t middle-aged mothers get a wish-fulfillment character, you sad little bigot? Everyone else does. H.L. Mencken once wrote that “Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” I can’t think of anyone to whom that applies more than my own mom, and the mothers on my friends list, with th...more
4.75 stars! Finally the pirate book I've been craving. This is basically Ocean's 11 meets Pirates of the Caribbean.
...more
Apr 13, 2017
Petrik
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
High fantasy fans
Shelves:
favorites
Buddy read with these thieves: Celeste & Sarah
4.5/5 Stars
Contrary to the popular opinion that Red Seas Under Red Skies, the second book in the Gentleman Bastard Sequence series, is weaker than its predecessor, I’m more inclined to say that it’s not inferior nor superior but it’s equally great with The Lies of Locke Lamora in a different way. It retained some elements that made the first book rose to its fame and at the same time, replace some of them with some new factors to the series. I do, ho ...more
4.5/5 Stars
Contrary to the popular opinion that Red Seas Under Red Skies, the second book in the Gentleman Bastard Sequence series, is weaker than its predecessor, I’m more inclined to say that it’s not inferior nor superior but it’s equally great with The Lies of Locke Lamora in a different way. It retained some elements that made the first book rose to its fame and at the same time, replace some of them with some new factors to the series. I do, ho ...more
ive said it once, and i will say it again - locke and jean could rob me of all im worth and i would literally get down on my knees and thank them for the honour. they are the most deceptively clever, enticingly cunning, and gentlemanly bastards i have ever read and i cant get enough of them.
you guys, this story does not suffer from a sophomore slump. its a brand new adventure thats luring, nautical, and full of scoundrels.
its masterfully chaotic - so many subplots, so many characters (yay for ...more
you guys, this story does not suffer from a sophomore slump. its a brand new adventure thats luring, nautical, and full of scoundrels.
its masterfully chaotic - so many subplots, so many characters (yay for ...more
Aug 16, 2015
Sean Barrs
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Joe Abercrombie fans
Shelves:
fantasy,
4-star-reads
Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly, FitzChivalry Farseer and The Fool, Locke Lamora and Jean Tammen: eight men of fantasy who without their counterpart would be nothing.
Indeed, without Jean at his back Locke Lamora would have no chance of success. Both men provide the other with what he lacks, and together they make a deadly, silver tongued, thieving duo that are best summed up in two words: awesome bastards.
A deadly scheme on the high seas!
It was a big surprise to m ...more
Indeed, without Jean at his back Locke Lamora would have no chance of success. Both men provide the other with what he lacks, and together they make a deadly, silver tongued, thieving duo that are best summed up in two words: awesome bastards.
A deadly scheme on the high seas!
It was a big surprise to m ...more
Although I was prepared to bite my thumb at anyone who had a problem with this book up to about 200 pages in, over the course of the 500 pages after that, I began to slowly, reluctantly and finally in complete exasperation, change my mind.
Scott Lynch begins his novel at the same level of quality as his fabulous first novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora. His characters are dealing with the events of the previous novel, in a mostly believable fashion, in a believable time period- its kept from becomin ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I probably enjoyed this book more than the first of the Gentleman Bastard sequence. It starts as fast paced as the previous book ended with Locke & Jean already knee deep in a con involving this worlds equivalent of a Casino known as the Sinspire. The start of the novel flips between this section and also what the characters have been up to since they sailed away from Camorr at the end of book 1. This section showcases a cool transition period which shows the Gentleman Bastard's as less than the
...more
”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 fucking with us.”
Now if that isn't an accurate assessment I dunno! ;-P In fact this is a pretty good summary of the entire book and I could probably leave it at that. Since I’m me and since I always feel an almost overwhelming need to put in my two cents I’ll go a little bit more into detail though. (Don’t say you d ...more
Now if that isn't an accurate assessment I dunno! ;-P In fact this is a pretty good summary of the entire book and I could probably leave it at that. Since I’m me and since I always feel an almost overwhelming need to put in my two cents I’ll go a little bit more into detail though. (Don’t say you d ...more
Feb 23, 2018
Matthew
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Caper and Swashbuckling Adventure fans
This book is 1/3 this:
And 2/3 this:
Quite a fantastic and epic story! A casino caper and a swashbuckling adventure combining action, deception, romance, and humor - this book has it all. Very well written. Even with the length of the story, I never felt that it had gone on too long. Definitely no filler.
This is a sequel and I think I like it better than the first. That is saying a lot because the first was great! In this case, I will say something I don't usually say - I think you could read this ...more
And 2/3 this:
Quite a fantastic and epic story! A casino caper and a swashbuckling adventure combining action, deception, romance, and humor - this book has it all. Very well written. Even with the length of the story, I never felt that it had gone on too long. Definitely no filler.
This is a sequel and I think I like it better than the first. That is saying a lot because the first was great! In this case, I will say something I don't usually say - I think you could read this ...more
I DON'T EVEN HAVE WORDS TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I ABSOLUTELY ENTIRELY COMPLETELY ADORE THIS SERIES. There are books that I love in this universe. And then there are books that I really really really really really really really really really really really really love. THIS SERIES IS THE LATTER. I mean, I do think The Lies of Locke Lamora was better. But this still had everything I absolutely demand of a book and of a sequel.
Stop being so PERFECT, Gentlemen Bastards. My heart cannot handle.
(Also it's ...more
Stop being so PERFECT, Gentlemen Bastards. My heart cannot handle.
(Also it's ...more
“We can slide down chimneys and slip locks and rob coaches and break vaults and do a fine spread of card tricks...but I hate to tell you that the one class of criminal we really haven’t associated with, ever, is fucking pirates!”
Still thoroughly enjoying this series! Locke and Jean are on another impossible mission to swindle the rich out of their money. What they don’t bargain on is the Bondsmagi come for their revenge, using a wealthy man as their means. Locke and Jean end up coerced into d ...more
Still thoroughly enjoying this series! Locke and Jean are on another impossible mission to swindle the rich out of their money. What they don’t bargain on is the Bondsmagi come for their revenge, using a wealthy man as their means. Locke and Jean end up coerced into d ...more
EDIT 22/1/2017: Saw Scott Lynch's reply to a reader who complained that a black, middle-aged badass pirate mom was "unrealistic" and now I love this series more than ever (Underlined parts are the criticism):
Third your characters are unrealistic stereotpyes of political correctness. Is it really necessary for the sake of popular sensibilities to have in a fantasy what we have in the real world? I read fantasy to get away from politically correct cliches.
God, yes! If there's one thing fantasy is ...more
Third your characters are unrealistic stereotpyes of political correctness. Is it really necessary for the sake of popular sensibilities to have in a fantasy what we have in the real world? I read fantasy to get away from politically correct cliches.
God, yes! If there's one thing fantasy is ...more
this series is quickly becoming one of my favorites of all time. Locke and Jaun (sp?) have become my favorite friendship on page. Stories so complex, emotions so high, many hilarious moments, it's just... everything I want
...more
Sep 22, 2019
Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy-all,
paperback-own
It was good 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
Full review now posted!
This review and more can be found on Booknest.
A buddy read with my loves: Petrik and Sarah.
In my humble opinion, pirates make everything better. When I was six or seven, my favorite Saturday-morning cartoon was Pirates of the Dark Waters. (Which so didn’t age well, but nostalgia covers a multitude of sins.) In junior high, I went through a phase where I researched every famous pirate I knew of, just because I found them fascinating. I’ve loved every single one of The Pirat ...more
This review and more can be found on Booknest.
A buddy read with my loves: Petrik and Sarah.
In my humble opinion, pirates make everything better. When I was six or seven, my favorite Saturday-morning cartoon was Pirates of the Dark Waters. (Which so didn’t age well, but nostalgia covers a multitude of sins.) In junior high, I went through a phase where I researched every famous pirate I knew of, just because I found them fascinating. I’ve loved every single one of The Pirat ...more
Welp, seldom has a book made me waver on how much I felt about it. I definitely went into this sequel with high hopes because I loved The Lies of Locke Lamora!
At the beginning of the book, Red Seas Under Red Skies seemed to be heading in the same way. And then it got weighed down. I like when a book has tons of twists and plots so I stayed with the course. But there were sections that got tedious and I struggled, especially with the nautical information that Jean and Locke had to learn. Also, th ...more
At the beginning of the book, Red Seas Under Red Skies seemed to be heading in the same way. And then it got weighed down. I like when a book has tons of twists and plots so I stayed with the course. But there were sections that got tedious and I struggled, especially with the nautical information that Jean and Locke had to learn. Also, th ...more
Full review…
Another absolute slam dunk by Scott Lynch! Gentlemens Bastard 2 does the rare feet of improving on the original formula of the first novel!!
I was so impressed and entertained after the first go round of Gentlemens Bastard, that decided to go right into the second book without pause. In the first novel, Lynch introduces us to the ‘guild of thieves’ and multiple characters including the protagonist Locke and his best bud and confidant ‘Jean’. The world building in the first book was ...more
Another absolute slam dunk by Scott Lynch! Gentlemens Bastard 2 does the rare feet of improving on the original formula of the first novel!!
I was so impressed and entertained after the first go round of Gentlemens Bastard, that decided to go right into the second book without pause. In the first novel, Lynch introduces us to the ‘guild of thieves’ and multiple characters including the protagonist Locke and his best bud and confidant ‘Jean’. The world building in the first book was ...more
Red Seas Under Red Skies is another complicated heist novel with all the danger and glamour of a Bond movie. Incredible set pieces like a Renaissance interzone where the wealthy live beyond the law, a casino high rise made of shimmering glass, and a pirate ship on the high seas lend a cinematic quality to the action. Lynch is meticulous and detailed and it all comes together both believably and unexpectedly.
However, like all the best epics, this is really a story about friendship, recovery, hard ...more
However, like all the best epics, this is really a story about friendship, recovery, hard ...more
Reading with the BB&B group. I have 3 weeks to finish this so I should be okay :P... actually it took me five weeks to read it.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but Red Seas Under Red Skies was a bit meh for me.
Don’t get me wrong, the dialogue between Locke and Jean is still amazing and I love the utter devotion those two have for one another. But the story was a little all over the place and I think my biggest issue is probably that the flashbacks were to a time not that long ago i ...more
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but Red Seas Under Red Skies was a bit meh for me.
Don’t get me wrong, the dialogue between Locke and Jean is still amazing and I love the utter devotion those two have for one another. But the story was a little all over the place and I think my biggest issue is probably that the flashbacks were to a time not that long ago i ...more
3.5*
“Know something? I'd lay even odds that between the people following us and the people hunting us, we've become this city's principle means of employment. Tal Verrar's entire economy is now based on fucking with us.”
The follow-up of the marvellous, funny, dark, The Lies of Locke Lamora, this novel does not manage to reach the greatness of the first volume. Still, I very much enjoyed reading about the adventures of my favourite duo of thieves, Locke and Jean.
One of the reasons that I wasn't ...more
“Know something? I'd lay even odds that between the people following us and the people hunting us, we've become this city's principle means of employment. Tal Verrar's entire economy is now based on fucking with us.”
The follow-up of the marvellous, funny, dark, The Lies of Locke Lamora, this novel does not manage to reach the greatness of the first volume. Still, I very much enjoyed reading about the adventures of my favourite duo of thieves, Locke and Jean.
One of the reasons that I wasn't ...more
I hope writing my review doesn't take as long as reading this did!
Review coming soon........ ...more
Review coming soon........ ...more
I'm probably going to receive a lot of hate for this rating, but I'm just being honest here. I'm bold enough to give this a 3, because that's the highest it can go. The novel is not bad, but it's also not phenomenal.
Am I the only one reminded of Pirates of the Caribbean while reading this? Pirates aside, it had the same vibe to it. I really liked Pirates, but just like Red Seas, both had a lot of dull moments.
Red Seas would've received at least a 4 from me, if it was consistent with its amazing ...more
Am I the only one reminded of Pirates of the Caribbean while reading this? Pirates aside, it had the same vibe to it. I really liked Pirates, but just like Red Seas, both had a lot of dull moments.
Red Seas would've received at least a 4 from me, if it was consistent with its amazing ...more
Happy New Year to you all! it certainly has been some kind of a year. and Happy New Year to Locke and Jean too, or rather, Happy New Life! the thrilling but often horrible and tragic events in their preceding book together certainly warrant some kind of hopeful message.
for the most part they get over it. Lies of Locke Lamora was mainly a whole lot of fun, but the terrible deaths that occurred were genuinely upsetting, and I appreciated how Lynch didn't just rush past the trauma that Jean and esp ...more
for the most part they get over it. Lies of Locke Lamora was mainly a whole lot of fun, but the terrible deaths that occurred were genuinely upsetting, and I appreciated how Lynch didn't just rush past the trauma that Jean and esp ...more
Thieves prosper, the rich remember.
It's been well over half a year since I was acquainted with the Gentlemen Bastards, and The Lies of Locke Lamora made its into my favourites shelf with the ease of Locke's glib tongue charming his way out of trouble. While Red Seas under Red Skies didn't make it as a favourite, it was still highly entertaining and deserved a 4.5-star rating, rounded up.
Scott Lynch is pretty good at keeping the readers dangling as they wonder "what will Locke do next?" or "how ...more
It's been well over half a year since I was acquainted with the Gentlemen Bastards, and The Lies of Locke Lamora made its into my favourites shelf with the ease of Locke's glib tongue charming his way out of trouble. While Red Seas under Red Skies didn't make it as a favourite, it was still highly entertaining and deserved a 4.5-star rating, rounded up.
Scott Lynch is pretty good at keeping the readers dangling as they wonder "what will Locke do next?" or "how ...more
Aug 11, 2011
carol.
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of rogues
Four stars, with reservations
A bit of a slog in the beginning--guess I haven't been in the mood for the great con. Locke Lamora is still at the heart of the narrative, and I don't think he could get from bed to breakfast without hatching or implementing a Rube Goldberg of a plot. It remains a sort of "Oceans Eleven" caper at the beginning, with multiple steps and a long, convoluted plan of attack on the owner of an elaborate and elite gambling facility. However, in true Oceans fashion, even as t ...more
A bit of a slog in the beginning--guess I haven't been in the mood for the great con. Locke Lamora is still at the heart of the narrative, and I don't think he could get from bed to breakfast without hatching or implementing a Rube Goldberg of a plot. It remains a sort of "Oceans Eleven" caper at the beginning, with multiple steps and a long, convoluted plan of attack on the owner of an elaborate and elite gambling facility. However, in true Oceans fashion, even as t ...more
it's really cute that scott lynch thinks hes allowed to end the book like that
can i JUST SAY amidst all the action, friendships, pirating, schemes, death, and my tears, my favourite part of the book was locke totally getting attached to regal, how freaking cute
4.5 stars
rtc ...more
can i JUST SAY amidst all the action, friendships, pirating, schemes, death, and my tears, my favourite part of the book was locke totally getting attached to regal, how freaking cute
4.5 stars
rtc ...more
26/25 (104%) 5 stars.
Well. Whenever I've read an author's first book and simply adored it, like I did with Lynch's first, I'm really, really afraid that the next one won't live up to the high expectations which its predecessor gave me. This is what happened with 'Red Seas under Red Skies', because it hasn't lived up to the heavenly high standards the 'Lies of Locke Lamora' has set - instead, it was even better.
[image error]
Well. Whenever I've read an author's first book and simply adored it, like I did with Lynch's first, I'm really, really afraid that the next one won't live up to the high expectations which its predecessor gave me. This is what happened with 'Red Seas under Red Skies', because it hasn't lived up to the heavenly high standards the 'Lies of Locke Lamora' has set - instead, it was even better.
[image error]
“Know something? I'd lay even odds that between the people followin...more
Review for The Lies of Locke Lamora
So before starting this review I decided to go back and look at what I wrote for the first installment of the series. The three major reasons I enjoyed the first book were World Building, Character Work, and Story. And honestly I can just chalk up these three areas to why the sequel succeeds as well.
The story opens in a new city with a new con that Locke and Jean are trying to pull off because that is what they do and what they are good at. Lynch does a wonderf ...more
So before starting this review I decided to go back and look at what I wrote for the first installment of the series. The three major reasons I enjoyed the first book were World Building, Character Work, and Story. And honestly I can just chalk up these three areas to why the sequel succeeds as well.
The story opens in a new city with a new con that Locke and Jean are trying to pull off because that is what they do and what they are good at. Lynch does a wonderf ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragons & Jetpacks: Red Seas Under Red Skies / Overall Discussion / ***SPOILERS*** | 7 | 42 | Dec 24, 2018 08:08AM | |
| Fantasy Buddy Reads: Red Seas Under Red Skies [Jan 15, 2018] | 102 | 74 | Mar 30, 2018 03:10AM | |
| Fantasy Fanatics: Red Seas under Red Skies | 2 | 4 | Aug 19, 2017 07:18PM | |
| Fantasy Buddy Reads: Red Seas Under Red Skies | 96 | 65 | Jun 07, 2017 10:46PM |
Readers also enjoyed
I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 2, 1978, the first of three brothers. I've lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area my entire life; currently, just across the border in Wisconsin, about half an hour east of the Twin Cities.
The Lies of Locke Lamora, my first novel, was bought by Simon Spanton at Orion Books in August, 2004. Prior to that I had just about every job you usually see in this s ...more
The Lies of Locke Lamora, my first novel, was bought by Simon Spanton at Orion Books in August, 2004. Prior to that I had just about every job you usually see in this s ...more
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“Difficult" and "impossible" are cousins often mistaken for one another, with very little in common.”
—
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“That's a sweet piece," said Jean, briefly forgetting to be aggravated. "You didn't snatch that off a street."
"No," said Locke, before taking another deep draught of the warm water in the decanter. "I got it from the neck of the governor's mistress."
"You can't be serious."
"In the governor's manor."
"Of all the -"
"In the governor's bed."
"Damned lunatic!"
"With the governor sleeping next to her."
The night quiet was broken by the high, distant trill of a whistle, the traditional swarming noise of city watches everywhere. Several other whistles joined in a few moments later.
"It is possible," said Locke with a sheepish grin, "that I have been slightly too bold.”
—
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More quotes…
"No," said Locke, before taking another deep draught of the warm water in the decanter. "I got it from the neck of the governor's mistress."
"You can't be serious."
"In the governor's manor."
"Of all the -"
"In the governor's bed."
"Damned lunatic!"
"With the governor sleeping next to her."
The night quiet was broken by the high, distant trill of a whistle, the traditional swarming noise of city watches everywhere. Several other whistles joined in a few moments later.
"It is possible," said Locke with a sheepish grin, "that I have been slightly too bold.”
