Red Seas Under Red Skies

English language

ISBN:
978-0-553-58895-8
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4 stars (13 reviews)

Red Seas Under Red Skies is a fantasy novel by American writer Scott Lynch, the second book (of a projected seven) in the Gentleman Bastard Sequence series. It continues the adventures of protagonist Locke Lamora and his friend Jean Tannen as they arrive on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar, where they must face the dangers of their past, as well as new rivals that wish to stop them at all costs while they try to pull their most ambitious con yet.

4 editions

More of the same, less torture

4 stars

If you're a quarter of the way through and wondering when the seas are going to make an appearance: don't worry, it's just a little longer. Then suddenly the book pretty much changes tack (aha) entirely and stops being urban and becomes nautical.

The world building is again interesting - there's not pages of stuff to inhale, just little facts. Cats are mandatory on boats, for instance, for good luck.

One tiny complaint is that the book starts in media res, and it's a complete waste of time. It's only a few pages but I didn't get any drama and it was almost irrelevant to the plot. But it is only a few pages, so it's not the end of the world.

The end feels a bit rushed, but I was getting worried it was going to be a two-parter, so perhaps my relief is buoying the star rating.