Red Seas Under Red Skies(Scott Lynch)

Synopsis of "Red Seas Under Red Skies", second book of "Gentleman Bastard" by Scott Lynch:After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can’t rest for long—and are soon back to what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves. This time, however, they have targeted the grandest prize of all: the Sinspire, the most exclusive and heavily guarded gambling house in the world. Its nine floors attract the wealthiest clientele—and to rise to the top, one must impress with good credit, amusing behavior…and excruciatingly impeccable play. For there is one cardinal rule, enforced by Requin, the house’s cold-blooded master: it is death to cheat at any game at the Sinspire. Brazenly undeterred, Locke and Jean have orchestrated an elaborate plan to lie, trick, and swindle their way up the nine floors…straight to Requin’s teeming vault. Under the cloak of false identities, they meticulously make their climb—until they are closer to the spoils than ever. But someone in Tal Verrar has uncovered the duo’s secret. Someone from their past who has every intention of making the impudent criminals pay for their sins. Now it will take every ounce of cunning to save their mercenary souls. And even that may not be enough.…

Escaping from the attentions of the Bondsmagi, Locke Lamora, the erstwhile Thorn of Camorr, and Jean Tannen have fled their home city. Taking a ship, they arrive in the city state of Tal Verrar, where they are soon planning their most spectacular heist yet: they will take the luxurious gaming house, the Sinspire, for all of its countless riches. No one has ever taken even a single coin from the Sinspire that wasn't won on the tables or in the other games of chance on offer there. Locke and Jean soon find themselves co-opted into an attempt to bring the pirate fleet of the notorious Zamira Drakasha to justice. This is unusual work for thieves who don't know one end of a galley from another. All the while, the Bondsmagi are plotting their revenge against Locke, the one man who has humiliated them and lived.