Gentleman Bastards Books in Order

The Recommended Gentleman Bastard Reading Order

Unlike some sprawling epic fantasy series that feature complicated timelines, multi-character perspectives, or dozens of spin-offs, Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard sequence is straightforward. It follows a linear progression centered around the life, crimes, and companions of Locke Lamora. For the best experience, you should read the main novels in their publication order.

Here is the recommended reading path for the main series:

1. The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)
2. Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007)
3. The Republic of Thieves (2013)

While this core path is simple, the world of the Gentleman Bastards is expanding. Between short stories published in magazines and a planned trio of bridging novellas, readers have a few extra pieces of Therin history to explore. Below, we break down every published work, upcoming release, and chronological detail you need to know.

The Core Novels in Detail

1. The Lies of Locke Lamora (2006)

This is where it all begins. Set in the lush, canal-laced city of Camorr, the novel introduces the Gentleman Bastards—a small crew of elite thieves who ignore the unspoken agreement between the criminal underworld and the nobility. Instead of picking pockets, they orchestrate elaborate, high-stakes confidence games targeting the ultra-wealthy. Led by the charismatic but physically unimposing Locke Lamora, the crew pulls off brilliant heists until they are dragged into a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by a mysterious figure known as the Grey King. The novel features a dual narrative structure, alternating between Locke's present-day struggle and flashbacks to his training as a young orphan under the tutelage of Father Chains.

2. Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007)

Following the devastating events of the first book, Locke and his loyal partner Jean Tannen flee to the glittering city-state of Tal Verrar. There, they target the Sinspire, an exclusive gambling house where cheating is punished by death. However, their plans are derailed when they are blackmailed into taking to the high seas. Forced to pose as pirate captains despite having no sailing experience, Locke and Jean must navigate mutinous crews, naval battles, and deep political conspiracies. Like the first book, it balances a fast-paced heist with themes of friendship and recovery.

3. The Republic of Thieves (2013)

After their adventures at sea, Locke and Jean find themselves in desperate straits. Poisoned and near death, Locke is offered a miraculous cure by the mysterious Bondsmagi of Karthain—on one condition. He and Jean must act as political operatives in a highly contested, theatrical election. To make matters more complicated, the opposing faction has hired Sabetha Belacoros, Locke’s first love and former fellow Gentleman Bastard. The novel alternates between this high-stakes political game and flashbacks detailing the crew's teenage years as they staged an outdoor play, showcasing the roots of Locke and Sabetha's complex relationship.

The Road to Emberlain: Bridging Novellas and Short Stories

For readers who want to dive deeper into the world of the Therin Throne Empire, Scott Lynch has penned or planned several shorter works that supplement the main novels:

• 'Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent' (Published in Grimdark Magazine issues #40 and #41, 2024–2025): A canonical short story set during Locke’s teenage years. This story offers a glimpse into a minor heist during the crew's formative years in Camorr and is a fun, quick read for fans wanting to see the original crew in action.
• The Road to Emberlain Novellas (Upcoming): Scott Lynch has planned a trilogy of novellas designed to bridge the narrative gap between The Republic of Thieves (Book 3) and the upcoming fourth novel, The Thorn of Emberlain. The planned titles for these novellas are:
  • More Than Fools Fill Graves
  • The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic
  • The Choir of Knives
  These novellas are slated for an initial limited publication by Subterranean Press, followed by general release. Lynch has stated that while they provide valuable context, they are optional bridging stories and not strictly mandatory to understand the plot of Book 4.

Exploring the Cities of the Therin Throne Empire

One of the greatest joys of reading the Gentleman Bastard series is experiencing the unique settings of each novel. Scott Lynch does not keep his characters in one place; instead, each book acts as a tour of a distinct city-state within the shattered remains of the Therin Throne Empire.

Camorr (The Lies of Locke Lamora): A Venice-like city built around ancient glass towers left behind by an extinct, pre-human race known as the Eldren. Camorr is a city of canals, strict class divides, and a highly organized thief guild system. The contrast between the dirty canals and the glowing, indestructible Elderglass structures sets the visual tone for the entire series.

Tal Verrar (Red Seas Under Red Skies): A grand, island-bound city-state governed by an oligarchic Archon and famous for the Sinspire—a massive, luxury gambling palace built atop a mountain. Tal Verrar is cleaner and more highly regulated than Camorr, but its political underbelly is just as lethal.

Karthain (The Republic of Thieves): The home of the Bondsmagi, a powerful syndicate of mages who wield terrible, mind-controlling magic. Karthain is a city of clean streets, towering monuments, and strict laws designed to keep non-magical citizens in check. It is the backdrop for the series' most overt political schemes.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

Because the novels frequently use flashbacks (particularly The Lies of Locke Lamora and The Republic of Thieves), the story of Locke's life is revealed non-linearly. However, we strongly advise against trying to rearrange the chapters chronologically. The flashbacks are explicitly written to mirror, contrast, and explain the emotional stakes of the present-day narratives. Reading them in any order other than the published text would ruin the pacing and spoil key character developments.

If you want to read everything in chronological order based on the setting of the main plots (ignoring the internal flashbacks), the order remains identical to the publication order, with the short story 'Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent' serving as a prequel set during Locke's youth.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you pick up the first book, here are a few practical tips to set your expectations:

It is a planned seven-book series: Scott Lynch originally outlined the Gentleman Bastard sequence as a seven-part epic. However, publication has been slow. Following the release of The Republic of Thieves in 2013, the fourth book, The Thorn of Emberlain, has faced significant delays as Lynch has openly discussed his struggles with severe anxiety and mental health. The series remains unfinished, but the published books still offer satisfying, self-contained adventures.

Books can be read somewhat stand-alone, but continuity matters: The first book, The Lies of Locke Lamora, works remarkably well as a standalone novel with a definitive ending. If you are hesitant to start an unfinished series, you can safely read the first book and decide if you want to stop there. However, the subsequent books build heavily on the emotional fallout and character relationships of the previous volumes, meaning they must be read in order.

The tone is gritty, vulgar, and incredibly charming: The series is famous for its creative profanity, dark humor, and high violence. While the characters are lovable rogues, the world they inhabit is unforgiving. Expect equal parts hilarious banter and heartbreaking tragedy.