"The Falconer of Karthain sends his regards." 
 How often do you get an art/casino theft plot + high seas adventure with pirates? While this book has all the humor of the previous one, it's definitely not as light-hearted. Fallout from the events in the previous book weigh heavily on Locke and Jean and continue to shape their path. While the following two books may not reach the height of the first, taken on their own I think they still merit high praise.