Red Seas Under Red Skies: The Gentleman Bastard Sequence, Book Two

Product Information

This time, however, they have targeted the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele — and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior... and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house's cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire. you guys, this story does not suffer from a sophomore slump. its a brand new adventure thats luring, nautical, and full of scoundrels. Don't get me wrong: first books are hard, especially in secondary-world fantasy. You have to introduce an entire world. You're constantly walking the knife-edge between boring people by explaining too much, and confusing them by explaining too little.

Red Seas Under Red Skies: The Gentleman Bastard Sequence

There are several major problems with Red Seas Under Red Skies. The plot takes a number of abrupt turns for no apparent reason other than, perhaps, the author growing bored with the previous plot thread. Shut up…I want you to use your misplaced acorn of a brain before the squirrel comes looking for it again..”The world building is really wonderful with all the alchemical concoctions and such as well as the deadly and cruel games that the nobility of different lands like to play. I will never look at a chess game in quite the same way after this. Lynch hasn’t merely imagined a far-off world, he’s created it, put it all down on paper—the smells, the sounds, the people, the feel of the place. The novel is a virtuoso performance, and sf/fantasy fans will gobble it up.” — Booklist(starred review)

Books by Scott Lynch

Gender Is No Object: As with other Gentleman Bastard books, women are just as likely to be found in traditionally masculine roles like fighting and ship captaining. In fact, the tradition of the Twelve Gods requires at least one woman per ship, preferably an officer. The buildup took too long to get to in this book and the details were a bit tedious, so that’s why I have to give this 4 stars instead of 5. But overall, a fantastic sequel!sighs* I adored them so much! They were really damn cute and I found myself grinning when they interacted. Yes, they were that sweet! They were a fine match indeed which made it even sadder that Ezri died while saving them all. That woman was so perfect for Jean, I swear! She gave her life for her friends and family just like Jean would have done. And I think the worst thing about it all is that Jean can’t even be angry at her because if given the chance he would have done exactly the same thing. >_< I’m actually kind of pissed off myself and have an axe to grind with Lynch as well! How dare you to introduce such a great woman just to kill her off again? It’s not fair!! *sniff* I shipped them really hard but I also knew that it wouldn’t last. Truth be told I was afraid Ezri would die the moment Jean really fell for her. It was too good to be true. T_T He realized that he was strangely disquieted that Jean hadn’t followed him, relentlessly at his heels, looking after him as always.”

Red seas under red skies : Lynch, Scott, 1978- author : Free Red seas under red skies : Lynch, Scott, 1978- author : Free

Something else I really loved: there’s not even a hint of sexism in Lynch’s writing, which is refreshing in fantasy. Modern fantasy writers are getting much better at portraying female characters as women instead of props, but Lynch is one of the best I’ve ever read in this regard. His women are real. And women populate every profession in the books with equality to their male counterparts. Women are guards and soldiers and pirate captains, and I love how no one ever questions a woman’s ability to fight as well as any man. What a week it was too! I honestly can’t think of many books which start as excitingly and with as much intrigue as Red Seas Under Red Skies does. Not only that, but there is such a huge variety of emotions you are led through as a reader that really add to the experience too. its darkly humorous - oh my gosh. the banter! the jokes! the quips! the characters are so well-written and their interactions are always memorable. Welcome to Tal Verrar! The city of gambling where winning will get you to the next level! At least in the questionable establishment of the Sinspire which truth be told, actually sounds like a legendary place to be! *lol* Selendri and Requin the owners of said gambling den don’t mess around though so prepare to be spoiled at every gambling table! Spoiled AND robbed of course! Keep your enemies close and your money closer! ;-P The kind of witty romp that reminds you exactly how much fun heroic fantasy is supposed to be.” — SFX

Even the mansions at the top of the Golden Steps, though, are not the finest establishments in Tal Verrar. That title is held by the Sinspire, a 150 foot tall elderglass tower with 9 levels, each circled with alchemical lanterns that light the sky with the colours of Tal Verrar. It is the most well-guarded building on the islands and is open sunset to sunrise for those wealthy enough to enter. Each floor is more luxurious than the next and you must earn access to the next level with good credit, impeccable play and amusing behaviour. Over the years solari upon solari has been spent by the wealthy trying to climb levels and gain the favour of the Sinspire’s Master. Anyone caught cheating will be put to death, whether it is on the steps of the building or quietly a few days later – an accidental fall or overdose, maybe – no one gets away with cheating at the Sinspire. 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 one without reading the first and be just fine. While they do bring up some events from the first book, the author does a great job making this book it's own. How they managed to infuriate an entire city? Well, I think you’ll have to find that out for yourself, all I’m going to say is that they seem to have a special talent to attract the unwanted attention of bigger fish. And I’m not talking about sharks here, I’m talking about sea monsters. *lol* Both figuratively and quite literally speaking. XD They have more enemies than you can count and if this wouldn’t already have been enough the Bondsmagi of Karthain are still pissed off because of their – let’s say – quite unique way of dealing with one of their own. I swear the scene at the market gave me the creeps. *shudders*