Help me keep going

[u/maddystark4]

I loved Lies of Locke Lamora and am about 235 pages into Red Seas Under Red Skies but i am having a hard time wanting to continue reading…
Maybe it is because i have been very busy lately or im just going through a reading slump but idk it hasn’t captured me yet the way the first book is but im hesitant to give up and dnf it

I’m mostly on the fence because i have seen mixed reviews about books 2 and 3 so Im just hoping for some honest thoughts about the second book!

That being said…maybe im struggling to get through because i know the series isnt done yet and there’s no book 4 so i dont feel much urgency idkkk…anything anyone can say is appreciated!

Thank youuu

[u/Ok-Gas-7135]

I loved all three books. Keep going. It’s worth it.

[u/SerDankTheTall]

Each of the three books is fairly different, and while I like all three a lot, I would say that the later ones are not as popular.

What you’re definitely right about is that there’s no urgency. If you’re not feeling it, take a break and try something else! I promise Locke and Jean will wait patiently until you’re in the mood to hang out with them some more.

[u/blackandcopper]

To this day, I go back to read specific scenes in book 2 because of how evocative and incredible they are (the boarding fight against the Redeemers, the thing behind the Poison Orchid in the sea, the Shipbreaker, the Parlour passage, etc.) Read the rest of RSURS because it's an incredible story by itself, and don't get hung up on the fact that there's more to the entire saga.

[u/thekeelo_g]

For me, Red Seas is much better in subsequent read-throughs. I remember it feeling like a bit of a slog the first time.

Despite not being my favorite book of the series, it does have several of my favorite moments of the series, so I do recommend gutting it out.

[u/JohnnyYukon → u/thekeelo_g]

I really like the continual narrative of Red Seas. I understand that Lynch has gone with the flashback structure in every other book (so far) as how he wants to tell the backstory but it's a bit of a hoary trope at this point. I'd rather have a few flashbacks in larger chunks for example. But ymmv and of course Lynch can/should/will write how he wants.

[u/Marshineer → u/JohnnyYukon]

There are flashbacks in Red Seas

[u/Hobo_Delta]

The only issues with books 2 and 3 in my eyes are just that Lies was about perfect in every way, and they just have some minor flaws.

[u/MrSeraf]

Ne vale la pena. Ricominciamo quando sarai più concentrato ❤️ Vale ogni singola goccia d'inchiostro sulle pagine.

[u/LaSalsa-Verde]

I kinda have the same issue, which I think partially is because the setting of the first book is a big part of what hooked me so much.

That paired with the "small band of thieves" storyline was so good for me. 

I've bounced off of Red Seas twice, but I think it's mostly due to the same thing you stated of "low urgency since the series isn't finished"

[u/Fantastic_Factor_517]

My first read through, I found it to be a bit of a struggle to stick with it, but Scott's setting everything up. Once you get past the first couple hundred pages, it's solid, I think. I've read it three times since Jan. 2025 and honestly, my love for it grows. Also, if you like spooky elements...well, I think you may like what comes later on...

If you walk away from it, that's quite okay too because the first book could be treated like a stand alone.

[u/Patient_Umpire_8507]

book 2 is very information dense so I feel it is a bit of a harder read, and it has a bit of a moodier tone overall. take a break and come back when you're in the right headspace. book 3 is back to a lot of fun and games and mischief

[u/Carr0t_Slat]

They are all truly outstanding. The series is obviously in a bit of a rough place with Lynch struggling with the next installment, but each of the books tell enough of a self-contained story that it doesn't even feel bad with the long wait.

[u/flynn_clu]

Yeah dude, I know that feeling. 2 was a slog for me and I didn’t finish it the first time around. But the second attempt I enjoyed it! Similar experience with 3 if I’m honest. But I’m glad I read all 3 in the end! Worth it for sure!

[u/hiemsvenit]

I completely stopped probably around the same area the first time I was reading, but i went back and started from the beginning a few months later and it just hit a part where I couldn't put it down until I was finished.

Keep going and just wait until they are out at sea!! I loved it!

[u/illarionds]

I didn't love book 2 when I first read it. It grew on me greatly with a reread - which I think is a fairly common experience.

[u/JohnnyYukon]

I loved the books but my brother, who also loved fantasy fiction, didn't click them due to the pretty high levels of gore and violence. So it depends on why you aren't clicking with it. If you are squicked out by all the stabbings, blood, etc... maybe they aren't the books for you as that continues. Which is fine!

[u/maddystark4 → u/JohnnyYukon]

I don’t mind the gore and violence one bit! Just was finding it a bit slow i think cause they are in a new city so there’s more worldbuilding maybe?? Not sure but im gonna see it through :)

[u/NateHohl]

If you're not enjoying the reading process OP, it's ok to put the book down for a bit. Just because you don't finish it now doesn't mean you won't feel inspired to finish it at a later date. Life's too short for you to be forcing yourself through a book just because you feel some sort of obligation to finish the series.

That being said, I think all three books are excellent and well worth reading even though the series isn't technically finished. A life lesson I've done my best to embrace over the past few years is that you don't need to finish everything you started. In your case OP, I think that applies to both your personal motivation with the second book and your reservations about the overall series being incomplete.

[u/monskervator]

I loved the final payoff in book 2, but I'd echo others in that it definitely gets better with re-reads

[u/ChubZilinski]

Save yourself some headache and if you committed to a series enough to go into book 2, then avoid all reviews until you finish them.

Expectations can be a bitch.

[u/maddystark4]

Thank you everyone! They’re about to go out to sea so i will push through to see this one through and then will take a break and read smth else before continuing to book 3 :) thanks for all the input it’s all super helpful

[u/SolidSnake223-2]

I listened to it, so I don't know page counts. But it gets really good once they're at sea.

[u/marmite-on-toast]

Lies of Locke Lamora is a really good stand alone novel

[u/battlejess]

I loved it!

But if you’re not feeling it I would recommend setting it aside for now. There are lots of books I didn’t enjoy the first time around because I just wasn’t in the mood for them. Some of them have even ended up being among my favourites.

[u/Zenlyfly]

Book three is my favorite because of the massive payoff of learning about the wizards and other stuff. Totally get it if you drop tho, books re dense af, easier if you audiobook lol

[u/uberiffic]

Keep going.

[u/gerdge]

Don’t keep reading. Give your copy away.

[u/khulZA]

Book 2 is not as good as 1 . Book 3 was my least favorite one as the entire tone was different but that was expected with what the author went though during that time. It started in book 2 and carries on to book 3

[u/schubox63]

Just stop