Welcome to this weeks question and answers for the Lies of Locke Lamora readalong.    This readalong is being hosted by some lovely and impressive bloggers as follows:

The questions this week are brought to us by SFSignal and are below.  If you haven’t read the book then I suggest you stop reading now as there be spoilers below!  Also, if you haven’t read the book but have a love of fantasy then I strongly recommend Scott Lynch, I love this series.

1. In the chapter “A Curious Tale for Countess Amberglass” we learn of the tradition of the night tea in Camorr. I found that not so much fantastical as realistic – how about you?

I definitely found it had a ‘real’ feeling.  Dona Salvara going to see the Countess for some ‘tea and sympathy’ not to mention a bit of gossip!  What could be more normal than that.   I think the normal elements are what grounds the book – it almost feels in parts as though it’s a parallel universe, things that you’re familiar with and then things that are fantastic.  The tea party is definitely very normal but then there are other elements that bring it back to fantasy.  I suppose the setting was rather fantastic, sitting on a glass balcony above the clouds!  Probably not my ideal spot with a fear of heights!  Then we move on to a rather elaborate cake that sounded a bit amazing – packed with goodies (and calories!)  So a good mixing of fantasy and reality.  Then on top of that we have yet another of Locke’s plans thwarted.  It seemed like such a good ploy by Locke and he seemed to have almost pulled it off!  Makes you wonder what else is going to go horribly wrong.

2.      When Jean meets with what will become the Wicked Sisters for the first time, the meeting is described very much like how people feel when they find their true work or home. Agree? Disagree? Some of both?

It was like he’d found his soulmate!  LOL.  I thought that little story was brilliant, like finally Jean had found something that had been missing.

3.      Salt devils. Bug. Jean. The description is intense. Do you find that description a help in visualizing the scene? Do you find yourself wishing the description was occasionally – well – a little less descriptive? 

No, I didn’t want less description – particularly in this instance!  Okay, I can hold my hands up and admit there’s a lot of description in this story, personally, I really enjoy it, however, okay, you could probably lose a bit of detail about the food/drink/clothing – and it wouldn’t be detrimental – but to lose the description on something like the Salt Devils – it would be criminal to have cut that down.  It was such an exciting scene – massive, spider like creatures, Locke stuck in a barrel (feel like there’s a pun flying around in that statement somewhere), blue ick flying about all over the place and Jean being brilliant slashing and hacking – no, I thought it was just the right amount of detail.  (Was anybody picturing Shelob from LOTR when the salt devils appeared!)

4.      This section has so much action in it, it’s hard to find a place to pause. But…but.. oh, Locke. Oh, Jean. On their return to the House of Perelandro, their world is turned upside down. Did you see it coming?

Oh, this is such a sad scene – I was already prepared for it, but, and even though I hadn’t formed a real connection with Calo and Galdo, it still made me very sad.  In a way yes, I did see this coming.  They were out of the way, the Grey King was at large – he’d clearly been following them and knew where they lived and so it’s not rocket science to assume he’ll want to get his hands on their dosh – after all he thinks Locke is dead – and best irony of all is that he can now use the Bastard’s money to pay the Bondsmage for his services – perfectly despicable methinks.

5.      Tavrin Callas’s service to the House of Aza Guilla is recalled at an opportune moment, and may have something to do with saving a life or three. Do you believe Chains knew what he set in motion? Why or why not?

I just think that Chain’s wanted his GBs to be prepared for all eventualities.  You never know when something will be useful and so he’s given them a bit of a grounding in all things.  And, as we can now see, its paid off.

6.      As Locke and Jean prepare for Capa Raza, Dona Vorchenza’s remark that the Thorn of Camorr has never been violent – only greedy and resorting to trickery – comes to mind again. Will this pattern continue?

I think that things have the potential to become much more violent at this stage!  It’s personal now!!

7.      Does Locke Lamora or the Thorn of Camorr enter Meraggio’s Countinghouse that day? Is there a difference?

I think Locke Lamorra enters the counting house.  I think the Thorn of Camorr no longer exists.  And I think this is seen in the way that Locke has to make a few attempts before he finally succeeds in obtaining a set of clothes.  He’s not being calm and collected, he’s not taking the time to study his opponents, he’s just hellbent.  The Thorn of Camorr was a conman – almost playing with the rich and flaunting his brainpower, ‘look at me, look at how easily I walk among you and deceive you’ and actually not just deceiving them but also pulling the wool over the eyes of the rest of the criminal element.  I think from now on we will only see Locke, I think he will still be clever, and come up with plans, after all he did succeed in the Countinghouse, but he now has a different motivation.  Let’s hope he doesn’t resort to his previous reckless self – revenge is a dish best served cold (or something like that!) or – another quote – fools rush in.. etc. etc.  That was very rambling and incoherent – for which apologies.  Basically, I think the Thorn has now gone and Locke is in the building!

Thanks for the questions

Lynn 😀