The Prophecy Con by Patrick Weekes

Book Two in the Rogues of the Republic series. Who would have thought a book of naughty poems by elves could mean the difference between war and peace? But if stealing the precious volume will keep the Republic and the Empire from tearing out each other's throats, rogue soldier Isafesira de Lochenville--"Loch" to friends and foes alike--is willing to do the dishonest honors. With her motley crew of magic-makers, law-breakers, and a talking warhammer, she'll match wits and weapons with dutiful dwarves, mercenary knights, golems, daemons, an arrogant elf, and a sorcerous princess. But getting their hands on the prize--while keeping their heads attached to their necks--means Loch and company must battle their way from a booby-trapped museum to a monster-infested library, and from a temple full of furious monks to a speeding train besieged by assassins. And for what? Are a few pages of bawdy verse worth waging war over? Or does something far more sinister lurk between the lines? From Patrick Weekes, one of the minds behind the critically acclaimed Mass Effect video game series, The Prophecy Con continues the action-packed fantasy adventure that kicked off in The Palace Job.

Better than the first, looking forward to reading the third.

The main story was good, but it was the characters that I LOVED. After reading the first book of the series I thought it was just going to be another build up to a heist job. But coming into this second story I didn't need to learn these characters but, instead, got to know them even better. Each character different and imperfect and radiant. Can't wait to get into the third book.

Reread in July 2021

I...really enjoy this series. Honestly, I wish I could find more books like these: fun books that don't shy away from things. (Also that have a healthy dose of diversity.)

Anyway, like the second book more than the first because everyone seems fleshed out better and like they are in less of a comedy fantasy book and more in a fantasy book where comedy things happen (like, all the time).

Other than that, I just can't figure out why it's taken me so long to reread this series because it is fun!

(Side note: I dithered about adding my m/m tag to this book, but there is a couple scenes between a pov male character and another male character wherein they are going to find a room to rent (and there's enough blushing and innuendo that you know what the room is for) - this is, really, neither more or less attention given to any other pairing in the book - except for Loch's romance, I don't think any of the others have been seen kissing. (Except the manipulator in the first book. I think there was a kiss there.) Anyway, I think you can tell how uncertain I am if I should have this tag here, but it does meet all my requirements and...I had half forgotten about this until I started rereading the series. So, for now, it stays.)