I stole this from James at Speculative Horizons:

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch

After their adventures on the high seas, Locke and Jean are brought back to earth with a thump. Jean is mourning the loss of his lover and Locke must live with the fallout of crossing the all-powerful magical assassins the Bonds Magi. It is a fall-out that will pit both men against Locke’s own long lost love. Sabetha is Locke’s childhood sweetheart, the love of Locke’s life and now it is time for them to meet again. Employed on different sides of a vicious dispute between factions of the Bonds Sabetha has just one goal – to destroy Locke for ever. The Gentleman Bastard sequence has become a literary sensation in fantasy circles and now, with the third book, Scott Lynch is set to seal that success.

I’m rather partial to the original style of covers for the series (well, the original UK covers, at least), but can’t deny that the art is astounding. I’m not terribly sold on the nebulous grey background/buildings, but the characters fit the Venetian vibe of the novels, and are suitably garbed in black and red (a colour scheme you couldn’t botch if you tried). I like the originally leaked cover better (or was it the cover for The Bastards & The Knives? I can never tell…). Either way, Lynch has to be happy with the covers he’s been getting. Hopefully the novel’s so successful a mix of sophistication and bloody daggers as the cover!

Discussion
  • Tom Lloyd May 25, 2010 at 1:31 am

    Really like that, far more so than the first one, or even the style of the first two which always seemed to me to have sounded better in the artwork brief than they ever actually looked. Would reduce the amount of blood coming off the knives though – less is more when it comes to blood on covers I think, except where LOTS is even more than that ;0)

  • Lou Anders May 27, 2010 at 6:16 am

    I really like this. I believe the artist is Benjamin Carre.

  • aidan May 27, 2010 at 6:43 am

    Thanks, Lou! I’ve added his name to the original post. Now, time to browse his portfolio!