Though our cast of heroes (okay, non-villains) is still sadly reduced to just too-cunning-for-his-own-good Locke Lamora and his formidable counterpart Jean Tannen, Lynch does not falter in this sophomore entry in the Gentlemen Bastards Sequence. The dialogue is just as lively and clever as ever, and the plots - and counter-plots, and counter-counter-plots (you get the idea) - remain twisty and surprising without feeling gimmicky. 
 Lynch also ties in repercussions from the first novel - though Locke and Jean may have escaped to a new city, the Bondsmagi have tracked them down and are... less than pleased with the treatment their fellow received earlier, a sentiment they convey in a thoroughly creepifying manner, just in case you were in any danger of forgetting what utter s***s they are. 
 Lynch also broadens his (and his protagonists') horizons in this entry - as the title alludes to, Locke and Jean don't get to stay in their wildly hazardous yet more familiar mode of con-men extraordinaire all the time, but manage to get themselves swept up in a veritable maelstrom of piratical adventure as they try frantically to keep all their balls in the air despite the malicious interference of the Bondsmagi. Good times. Good, horribly dangerous and traumatic times. 
 Basically, if you liked the first book in this series (and if you didn't, what's wrong with you?), you won't be disappointed in the followup in the least. The stage is very neatly set for the tension to kick in right off the bat in the next book too - it can't come soon enough for me.