Because it was part of a series I wanted to read, I just jumped in without knowing the plot. It starts out with a casino heist reminiscent of Ocean’s 11, and then turns into Pirates of the Caribbean if it was made by HBO instead of Disney. I enjoyed Red Seas even more than I enjoyed Lies, for several reasons. It also has what I have quickly come to think of as Lynch’s trademark world building (which is fabulously, overwhelmingly detailed) and fantastic characters (including my new favourite pirate captain). It makes for a story that’s quite different to Lies, but just as dangerous and thrilling. Refusing to do it, leads to an even more certain death.

Locke and Jean are faced with an impossible con – to pose as a pirate captain and first mate when they know next to nothing about sailing, and trick a group of people who could easily see through them and slit their throats. Stragos uses them for his own political machinations, sending them to sea as undercover pirates. The Bondsmages operate only through other people, eventually delivering Locke and Jean up to Maxilan Stragos, Tel Verrar’s military leader. The terrifyingly powerful sorcerers want revenge for the Falconer, who Locke mutilated in his attempt to stop the Grey King. Of course, Locke and Jean have been cheating there for months as part of their plan to steal a bigger fortune than the Gentleman Bastards have ever taken.Įverything runs smoothly until the Bondsmages start sending them eerie messages.

It’s almost impossible to cheat on the gaming tables, and anyone who is caught trying will accidentally ‘fall’ from the ninth storey. The Sinspire is a high-class casino with a huge but impenetrable vault. Devastated by the deaths of Calo, Galdo and Bug, he wallows in self-pity and cheap wine, becoming so bitter and angry that even Jean is on the verge of just letting him die as he seems to want to.īut we know that Locke somehow recovers from his melancholy because the main narrative sees him and Jean in the middle of a casino heist that they’ve been working on for two years. Locke heals slowly, largely because his growing depression becomes a far greater problem than his wounds. One picks up shortly after the events in Lies, with Jean tending to a grievously injured Locke as they escape Camorr and head for Tel Verrar by ship. Like The Lies of Locke Lamora, Red Seas Under Red Skies uses narratives from different timelines.

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch