Red Seas Under Red Skies

Gentleman Bastards, Book 2

By: Scott Lynch

Narrated by: Michael Page

Length: 25 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

In his highly acclaimed debut, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch took us on an adrenaline-fueled adventure with a band of daring thieves led by con artist extraordinaire Locke Lamora. Now, Lynch brings back his outrageous hero for a caper so death-defying, nothing short of a miracle will pull it off.

After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke 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 are soon back to what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves.

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.

Brazenly undeterred, Locke and Jean have orchestrated an elaborate plan to lie, trick, and swindle their way up the nine floors...straight to Requin’s teeming vault. Under the cloak of false identities, they meticulously make their climb - until they are closer to the spoils than ever.

But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo’s secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now, it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough....

Praise for Red Seas Under Red Skies

"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)

"Red Seas Under Red Skies firmly proves that Scott Lynch isn’t a one-hit wonder.... It’ll only be a matter of time before Scott Lynch is mentioned in the same breath as George R. R. Martin and Steven Erikson." (Fantasy Book Critic)

"Grand, grandiose, grandiloquent.... No critic is likely to fault Lynch in his overflowing qualities of inventiveness, audacious draftsmanship, and sympathetic characterization." (Locus)

©2007 Scott Lynch (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"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)

"Red Seas Under Red Skies firmly proves that Scott Lynch isn’t a one-hit wonder.... It’ll only be a matter of time before Scott Lynch is mentioned in the same breath as George R. R. Martin and Steven Erikson." (Fantasy Book Critic)

"Grand, grandiose, grandiloquent.... No critic is likely to fault Lynch in his overflowing qualities of inventiveness, audacious draftsmanship, and sympathetic characterization." (Locus)

"The kind of witty romp that reminds you exactly how much fun heroic fantasy is supposed to be." (SFX)

a half step backwards

great story. incredible delivery. I really like these books, but the primary motivational turning point in the book feels a little contrived and feels like it happens too fast to carry the weight it's supposed to. still delivers on the oceans 11 heist vibes in big ways.

Love it!

Gosh these books have some great twists! I have truly enjoyed the adventure so far. The audio book narrator is perfect for this book!

Loves this world!

Great story with complex characters and a rich well developed world. Lynch has a timeless antihero in Locke LaMora

Amazing Locke moments, handful of "Is it over?"

Almost as good as the first book! Love how clever and well-planned most of Locke's capers are. It's cool he had to learn nautical life, but there were embarrassing moments for Locke that I feel he could have lied his way out of and simply...let the bad happen. Lots of fun overall! Excellent voice actor!

Most enjoyable read of the year

Book one is among my favorites and book 2 did not fail to live up to the first. Every other sentence is memorable and clever, funny, or both.

The two beloved characters from the first book continue their journey and meet several new friends and foes along the way.

Great Story and Amazing Narration

The best combination of story and narrative talent, bringing characters to life. Looking forward to the next.

fantastic

if you loved the first book you'll lif love this one too. A great read of oceans 11 but with a pirate theme.

Could not stop listening.

First, Michael Page is a phenomenal narrator!

Okay, I loved Lies of Locke Lamora, the first book in the Gentleman Bastards series and so, I had high expectations for this book. For the most part my expectations were met or exceeded. Locke and Jean are both extremely well written and developed Characters each with his own personality, fults, and quirks. I love them. The side Characters are all fine no real complaints there. The story is not as strong a Lies of Locke Lamora and that took it down a star overall for me.

B@stard

I want to give this book a one-star review, just like I wanted to give the first volume a one-star review.

Unfortunately, the story and the writing are too good to allow such a thing, and the only source of this desire is that Scott Lynch keeps making me fall in love with characters and then killing them in front of me.

Stop it, Scott....

Michael Page might be the very best voice actor I've ever witnessed. He is doubtless the very best choice for this particular series. What a treat.

I cheered, I cursed, and I cried

Wow. This was a really powerful story. lots of twists and turns, typical of Scott Lynch! Once again the question is perpetually 'How could this get any worse?' Inevitably, it does. Can't wait for more. A wide cast of soulful characters amidst wonderful world building with grit and detail.