Reread this book for the third time. Once to read it. Second time to set myself up for Red Skies. And now, the third time because of the Republic of Thieves.
I keep forgetting how good this book is! Even despite knowing the tricks and plots beforehand, I'm always shaking my head at how clever these Bastards are.
I love that Lynch doesn't make it easy for his characters. He puts them in crapholes and forces them to scheme their way out of it. I love it.
The flashbacks and present day plots are juggled very well. Inserts tension, inserts history. Well done.
Only slight flaws is that his descriptions are terribly boring and I find myself skimming through details of the city rather than soaking in images of setting.
It's easy to fall in love with these characters, that's all I can say.
3.5 stars. Not exactly a story that moves me, so it's hard to give it 4 stars. But I really might have to bump it up to 4 stars if I keep rereading it.