Republic of Thieves
Hmm... In retrospect, it bothers me a little that I didn't find more to say about Red Seas Under Red Skies back when I read it. It may have felt a little formulaic, but it remains the most atmospheric and authentic-feeling depiction of sea travel in a general "fantasy" era.
Instead of one year, I've been waiting three to see the sequel. I'm not sure it lived up to what I wanted, mostly due to one specific (if volume-spanning) detail, but it was enjoyable.
The premise of pitting fellow/friend/lover rogues against one enough behind the scenes of an election is interesting enough. And the I enjoyed the flashback threads in which the characters deal with the titular play. The end of the book sees a major paradigm shift in the world that is sure (because the books center on them) to involve the Gentleman Bastards again going forward. It was nice to finally (after two books in the series already) get to see the near-mythical Sabetha who is Locke's love interest. I liked how she was shown to be perhaps the more skilled planner, while Locke improvises better. I can totally get her feelings on her place in the gang in their youth.
But... I'm very bothered by how skittish she is when it comes to her relationship with Locke in the "present." While he's largely accepted that he's in love beyond all reason, she still waffles and backs away at the slightest disturbance, culminating in her actions at the end. And in thinking about it, I believe part of the problem may simple be we never get inside her head. There could be a perfectly good reason for her overreactions, but we, the readers, are never privy to such thoughts. Of course, it's also possible the author hasn't worked those reactions out in sufficient depth, but they just seems so... extreme and senseless without any solid backing.
Addendum: I'd also have to say that the book, by and large, lacks any situations with real teeth. The Bondmagi throw around some threats, and Sabetha makes a play against Locke and Jean early in their competition which would be horribly inconvenient, though not by any means lethal, but that's about it. Even the "parting blows" against the rogues are more vague and psychological than I'm used to seeing in the series thus far. The characters are never in any real danger. So while the competition is reasonably entertaining, there don't seem to be any real penalties to loss other than a blow to pride. And that feels like missed potential over the course of an entire novel.
Instead of one year, I've been waiting three to see the sequel. I'm not sure it lived up to what I wanted, mostly due to one specific (if volume-spanning) detail, but it was enjoyable.
The premise of pitting fellow/friend/lover rogues against one enough behind the scenes of an election is interesting enough. And the I enjoyed the flashback threads in which the characters deal with the titular play. The end of the book sees a major paradigm shift in the world that is sure (because the books center on them) to involve the Gentleman Bastards again going forward. It was nice to finally (after two books in the series already) get to see the near-mythical Sabetha who is Locke's love interest. I liked how she was shown to be perhaps the more skilled planner, while Locke improvises better. I can totally get her feelings on her place in the gang in their youth.
But... I'm very bothered by how skittish she is when it comes to her relationship with Locke in the "present." While he's largely accepted that he's in love beyond all reason, she still waffles and backs away at the slightest disturbance, culminating in her actions at the end. And in thinking about it, I believe part of the problem may simple be we never get inside her head. There could be a perfectly good reason for her overreactions, but we, the readers, are never privy to such thoughts. Of course, it's also possible the author hasn't worked those reactions out in sufficient depth, but they just seems so... extreme and senseless without any solid backing.
Addendum: I'd also have to say that the book, by and large, lacks any situations with real teeth. The Bondmagi throw around some threats, and Sabetha makes a play against Locke and Jean early in their competition which would be horribly inconvenient, though not by any means lethal, but that's about it. Even the "parting blows" against the rogues are more vague and psychological than I'm used to seeing in the series thus far. The characters are never in any real danger. So while the competition is reasonably entertaining, there don't seem to be any real penalties to loss other than a blow to pride. And that feels like missed potential over the course of an entire novel.
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