Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch: A Review

SteveF said:
...the resolution of the opening cliffhanger is pretty lame.
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Agreed. Sometimes, when you see the resolution of some plot element, it makes you go "Wtf? That's it?!", but then you notice there's more to it than meets the eye. This was one of those times when there is no such depth.

I read it this summer and was a bit disappointed, probably because I had expected it to exceed my expectations (if such a thing is possible), but overall, it's a good book. Not as good as Lies, despite probably being better technically, because the story didn't capture me quite as much.
 
I think I am going to take the same approach with these books as I did with Martin, and Hobb and I should have with Jordan and Erickson, which is to not read them until the whole series is out. So... anyone know how many more books I can expect before I finally pick them up and start reading?
 
With a projected seven books, and only two out, and knowing how these series often turn out, I wouldn't dare make any guesses.
 
Red Seas was a big disappointment for me. I love Lies and always knew it would be hard for Lynch to deliver a worthy follow-up (in my own eyes) and I was sadly proved justified in this concern.

While Red Seas is a decent enough read, here are some problems I had with the book, when compared to its predecessor:

- The characters are not as interesting
- The plot is not as tight or as gripping
- Tal Verrar seems half-baked compared to Camorr
- The nautical part of the story is fairly average (and in my eyes a missed opportunity)
- Some parts of the story are simply included as a means to an end, such as the Villa with the human chessboard chapter
- The book is too long, with a rushed conclusion
- Jean's relationship with Delmastro (and the way it pans out) is too predictable

There are probably a few more problems I have with the novel but this is all I can think of as I try to write this without my boss noticing.

I hope the next book will come closer to the standards Lynch set out in Lies.
 
I'm reading Red Sea second or may be third month already, and still at the beginning. On the positive side I'm intending to finish it eventually.
 
Still digesting the book, overall a great read and an interesting continuation of Lies. I can see where Lynch might but Locke and Jean on pause and explore the rest of this world. So much to see and do, I look forward to the next GB installment but also hope he takes a page from Malazan and does a novella or two.....
 
bigbry said:
So much to see and do, I look forward to the next GB installment but also hope he takes a page from Malazan and does a novella or two.....
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Lynch has already confirmed details of two novellas: The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic and The Choir of Knives.

One of them is apparently meant to focus on the story of how Locke and Jean aquired the cask of Autershalin brandy in Lies.
 
JamesL said:
Lynch has already confirmed details of two novellas: The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic and The Choir of Knives.

One of them is apparently meant to focus on the story of how Locke and Jean aquired the cask of Autershalin brandy in Lies.
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If Lynch would start writing fill-ins and side-quests the series would become second wheel of.. and we will never be able to observe bondsmages terrible end...
 
Just found the synopsis for book 3, due on August 26th.

"Scott Lynch continues to astound and entertain with his thrillingly inventive, wickedly funny, suspense-filled adventures featuring con artist extraordinaire Locke Lamora. Now, in his most captivating novel yet, readers reunite with Locke-and meet the only female Gentleman Bastard… George R.R. Martin has called Lynch "a bright new voice" and his hero, Locke Lamora, "a charming rogue." In THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES, having pulled off the greatest heist of their career, Locke and his trusted partner in thievery, Jean, have escaped with a tidy fortune. But, poisoned by an enemy from his past, Locke is slowly dying. And no physiker or alchemist can help him. Yet just as the end is near, a mysterious Bondsmagi offers Locke an opportunity that will either save him-or finish him off once and for all. Magi political elections are imminent, and the factions are in need of a pawn. If Locke agrees to play the role, sorcery will be used to purge the venom from his body-though the process will be so excruciating he may well wish for death. Locke is opposed, but two factors cause his will to crumble: Jean's imploring-and the Bondsmagi's mention of a woman from Locke's past: Sabetha. The love of his life. His equal in skill and wit. Locke was smitten with Sabetha from his first glimpse of her as a young fellow-orphan and thief-in-training. But after a tumultuous courtship, Sabetha broke away. Now they will reunite in yet another clash of wills. For the opposition knows of Locke's recruitment and has cleverly secured Sabetha as their countermeasure. Faced with his one and only match in both love and trickery, Locke must choose whether to fight Sabetha-or to woo her. It is a decision on which his life may depend. Lynch's debut novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora (Spectra, July 2006), won the #1 Reader's Choice for Best Novel of 2006 on SFSite.com, and was nominated for the World Fantasy Award and the Compton Crook Award for Best First novel, 2006. And Booklist has written of Red Seas Under Red Skies (Spectra, August 2007): "Fast paced, colorful, funny, with a fiendishly intricate plot... A virtuoso performance, and sf/fantasy fans will gobble it up, though they'll have to fight with caper novel aficionados for every crumb" (starred review). Warner Brothers has optioned Locke Lamora for a major motion picture. Scott Lynch lives in Wisconsin with his wife."
 
Red Seas Under Red Skies

Just finished Lynch's second & I don't know what to think about it. Asking Opinions.
 
Well basically when i read the book i felt as though i'd already read it. Because i had read the first book. The first 300 pages were plot build up. The last 3 pages were plot closing
 
finished Red Seas last night and then popped over here to see if anyone else thought Lies of Locke Lamore was better. turns out most of my gripes have already been mentioned :
- the sense of deja vu
- the lack of focus
- the rushed ending
- the lameness of the resolution for the opening scene
- the sketchy tall verrar
- the Delmastro finish was obvious to those who read the first volume
It was overall an entertaining book, and i will definitely pick up the next one, but if it follows the ocean 11 franchise downward trend it will become a borrow instead of buying kind of series.
 
Man, I remember when I couldn't wait to get this, and now it's been out for like more then a year...and I still haven't read it. I need to though.
The Sabetha out of the picture thing is a little grating, she's gonna have to be pretty damn cool.
 
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