The Republic of Thieves

At the start of the third Gentleman Bastard novel, Locke Lamora is dying of poison and Jean Tannen is running out of ways to save him. Their sworn enemies, the Bondsmagi of Karthain, make an offer: Locke's life in exchange for helping their faction win a city election. The opposing party has hired Sabetha, Locke's former partner in the Gentleman Bastards, whom he has not seen in years and who is every bit his equal at the con.

The present-day contest alternates with flashbacks to the gang's youth, when Locke, Jean, Sabetha and their friends are pulled into staging a play called The Republic of Thieves while their teacher Father Chains is out of the picture. The two storylines play off each other, setting a political duel of schemes and counter-schemes against the history of Locke and Sabetha's relationship.

It follows Red Seas Under Red Skies and is followed by The Thorn of Emberlain.