My last read of January and by the Gods what an epic one it was! Scott Lynch has once again outdone himself with the second instalment of the Gentleman Bastard sequence - and we all know how hit and miss sequels can be!! We pick up with Jean and Locke a couple of years after we last saw them, but through some cleverly placed 'Reminiscence' chapters, we're soon caught up to speed with their latest antics and in the know about their new 'game'.
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Although they are still thieves on a scale you've never seen before, the second adventure is completely new, fresh, exciting, and there's PIRATES!!! Badass, merciless, FEMALE PIRATES who take no shit and even let their children run around on board because PIRATE CHILDREN. Yes this book makes me happy. I saw on Goodreads that someone complained (not the reviewer) that Scott Lynch is *too* politically correct and is just giving up to wish fulfilment having mothers as badass pirates... like what?! WHAT THE HELL, INTERNET?! Just shows that you can never please everybody on the Internet, and they can just go fuck because Scott Lynch has something for everyone!!
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Red Seas Under Red Skies is SO complex, so intricate, so violent, so funny, SO ASTONISHINGLY CLEVER - I am in awe of how much research and detail Scott Lynch puts into his books. Sure some of the nautical details went over my head but damned if it doesn't make for a bloody good atmosphere. Also I have no idea how he keeps track of all the deception, double-crossing, triple-crossing, quadruple-crossing, like seriously just don't trust anyone or anything you read until basically the last page.
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But there's still no sign of Sabetha?! WHERE IS SHE SCOTT LYNCH?
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Anyway I think I've said enough... clearly it's 5 epic stars for me!