The Republic of Thieves
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4.4 • 776 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the third book of the “gorgeously realized” (George R. R. Martin) epic fantasy caper Gentleman Bastard Sequence, Locke Lamora must make the hardest decision of his life . . . or death.
“Fast paced, fun, and impossible to put down . . . Locke and company remain among the most engaging protagonists in fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
ONE OF PASTE’S BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF THE DECADE
With the greatest heist of their career gone spectacularly sour, con artist extraordinaire Locke Lamora and his trusted partner, Jean, have barely escaped with their lives. Or at least Jean has. Locke is slowly succumbing to a lethal poison that no alchemist can cure.
With the end nearing, Locke’s only hope is to accept a mysterious Bondsmage’s offer: act as a political pawn in the Magi elections, and in exchange be healed. But the lifesaving sorcery promises to rival even the most excruciating death, and Locke refuses. Until the Bondsmage invokes the name of Sabetha, the love of Locke’s life, his equal in skill and wit . . . and now his greatest rival. From his first glimpse of Sabetha as a fellow orphan and thief-in-training, Locke was smitten. But after a tumultuous courtship, she broke away. Now they will reunite in another clash of wills.
Faced with his only equal in both love and trickery, Locke must choose whether to fight Sabetha—or woo her. It is a decision on which both of their lives may depend.
Don’t miss any of Scott Lynch’s epic fantasy Gentleman Bastard Sequence:
THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA • RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES • THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Lynch's long-awaited third Gentleman Bastards high-fantasy caper novel (after 2007's The Lies of Locke Lamora and 2008's Red Seas Under Red Skies) abundantly delivers on the promise of the earlier volumes. Quick-witted protagonist Locke is slowly succumbing to poison as his loyal companion, Jean, tries to find someone who can save him. The price of rescue gets the duo involved in running an election campaign in the city-state of Karthain, where the parties are fronts for two factions of terrifyingly powerful mages. The opposition campaign leader is none other than Locke's long-lost love, Sabetha, who knows all of his moves and has a few of her own. A set of flashbacks explores Locke, Jean, and Sabetha's shared past as a theatrical scam goes horribly wrong. Locke and company remain among the most engaging protagonists in fantasy, and Lynch sneaks in some incisive political parody while never overdoing the comedy. The result is fast paced, fun, and impossible to put down.
Customer Reviews
See AllDoesn’t stand on its own feet
Locke is a very well written character and this book has a tall task of standing up to the first, which was an excellent read. The second book was a little convoluted, but eventually found a foothold and sort of made it all worth it despite the ending being what it was leading into this installment. This felt like eating a steak that was 90% fat. The bits that were real meat were real meat, but there’s so much to wade through. One of the things that I both like and dislike about the fantasy genre is that authors want to make a point. This book took two parallel timelines and 20 minor characters to drive a point home when all I wanted was the resolution to about five characters relationships to one another. It was all worth it because of the fantastic character work that is done with the main characters, but I don’t need all the fluff that isn’t integral to what’s taking place. I enjoyed it, but I don’t know that I would have read it knowing where it ends or without being invested in the characters.
Probably not one I’ll reread
It seems to have lost some wit of the first two books. The characters are still good, but there isn’t any new context for what makes them brilliant. The “con” that gets them to the end of the politics plot is so abrupt and unfulfilling. Most of the political stuff felt more like petty scams run by primitives, not the fantastical ideas imagined by professional confidence men. Maybe it was intentional that the schemes were fumbly to emphasize that L and J aren’t politicos. Unlike several reviews, I enjoyed the back story that speaks to all the foreshadowing in the first two books about Sabetha. That “con” felt clunky as well but it should have been expected considering the age of the gang and it was their first group foray outside of Camorr.
Average book, but the cliffhanger has me excited about the next incursion.
More amazing plots and schemes.
Great ride of a book. Glad to see Lynch can still keep me on the edge of my seat while leaving me thirsting for the next entry in the series.