Red Seas Under Red Skies Book two of the Gentleman Bastard Sequence

*** minor spoilers *** Gods! I’ll never tire of saying it: I LOVE this story surrounding Locke and Jean! Not just for the amazing style of writing (in which I could drown in), but for the obvious mastery of storytelling! I’m in awe of how Scott Lynch slowly unravels a plot - with all the twists and turns in it - just as much as I love his attention to the characters. First and foremost the relationship and development of Locke and Jean. It was absolutely refreshing and so authentic to read those two having deep rooted arguments. It would have felt off had they not have been there - especially after what our two MC’s have been through. Those quarrels etc. make this frindship even more authentic and I LOVE their brotherly relationship so so much! Next, we have a fair few badass women in this second book who I enjoyed reading so much! We did get some in the first one too (the Spider comes to mind) but they were just some 'smaller' chess pieces in the plot. In book #2 we meet women that are needed for the plot just as much (and I love me some strong female pirates) but they, or rather one of them in particular, are there to shatter my heart into tiny pieces too. I didn’t think that I would cry because of the romance, as I didn’t reallt anticipate any romance tbh. Yet, I never felt like the romance was forced or didn’t fit into the story, and as it wasn’t the focal point it wasn’t overbearing, but a relief in the plot driven story. Please, someone read this book so I can discuss this particular part with them An honorable mention goes to Zamira Drakasha whom I’ve come to respect more and more as the story evolved - as much as you can respect a pirate, that is ;-). Her role as a mother AND captain of a pirate ship was in equal parts very strange and very comical. Also, her loyalty to Locke and Jean was heartwarming to read and I very much enjoyed the development of her part in Locks life and his plans. Overall, I'm truly amazed at how Scott Lynch drives his plots, moves them forward and ties them together. The way nothing seems to make sense until it does. The way he almost lets us forget about some circumstances or characters until they jump out from behind a bush of yet another important situation. And last but most definitely not least, I am truly baffled at Scott Lynch's use of words and the way he strings them together - marvellous! So, all in all, there's so much I can learn from him to better my own story telling. In the meantime I'll gladly enjoy his next book which I fortunately already own.

"Red Seas under Red Skies" ist der zweite Band der "Gentleman Bastards" (Teil 1 ist "The Lies of Locke Lamora"; weitere Bände sind noch nicht erschienen). Locke und Jean haben Camorr hinter sich gelassen und planen den nächsten Coup: sie wollen ein Casino ausrauben. Aber nicht irgendein Casino, sondern das einbruchsicherste der ganzen Stadt... Red Seas under Red Skies beginnt gemächlicher als sein Vorgänger, ist aber ebenso spannend und einfallsreich. Sehr gute Unterhaltung, mit Witz, Spannung, sympathischen Charakteren und einem mal etwas anderen Raub. Fazit: wem der erste Band gefallen hat, der wird auch mit dem zweiten Band seinen Spaß haben