Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, readalong week 2
5 May 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Readalong week 2, Red Seas Under Red Skies, Scott Lynch
Red Seas Under Red Skies
Just finished reading the second installment of Red Seas Under Red Skies. This week’s reading was pretty impressive – more quotes than you can shake a stick at – ‘bend over and bite your own arse’ is my particular favourite (plus ‘haven’t you ever had a lady tell you to get down and use your tongue!!). What about that wasp fighting scene – it gave me the heebeejeebys – I got stung by a wasp a couple of days ago and it’s still itchy, maybe it’s imagination but I could swear it was worse when I was reading that bit. The readalong is being hosted by the Little Red Reviewer who this week also provided the questions and it’s not too late to join the fun. So, let’s begin.. (oh, beware yee who enter here there be spoilers ahead!)
1. Now that we know a little more about Selendri and Requin, what do you think of them? I worry Locke is suddenly realizing this con might be a bit tougher than he expected.
I think they’re a very professional hard assed pair! Funnily enough I don’t dislike them at all. I mean I don’t love them but I do like the parts they play. Particularly Selendri – she’s a real no holds barred don’t suffer fools type of gal! Locke has certainly found himself in a couple of tricky positions up in the tower and facing a potential shortcut to the ground floor. Luckily, he’s a quick thinker! I was wondering what game exactly he was playing with Selendri – is he trying to schmooze her – I don’t see that working particularly as her and Requin seem very loyal.
2. Isn’t the Artificers’ Crescent just amazing? If you could purchase anything there, what would it be?
A Ginger Scald. Only kidding! Gods, this is a tough one, I think ‘ll have a slightly amended version of the poison that was referred to where you can eat whatever you want but not take any nourishment – okay I want to take the nourishment (obvs) but maybe not the fat! I feel like a kid in a sweet shop. I don’t know what to answer this one with and when I read everyone’s else’s answers I’ll be like (doh) ‘why didn’t I think of that’. I’m going to think on it a bit more… actually, not to appear like a raging lush, but I wouldn’t mind a bottle of that wine that Requin poured that keeps changing flavour and colour, one minute drinking a ruby red and the next a sparkling white, yum!
3. What did you think of Salon Corbeau and the goings on that occur there? A bit crueler than a Camorri crime boss, no?
Oh my god – it’s absolutely awful. I felt exactly like Locke standing on the edge watching in horror, can’t drag my eyes away from the book and basically just thinking ‘wtf’. I had just such mixed feelings about the whole affair. On the one hand these people willingly go there and undergo this abuse, on the other hand we have these nobles who think this is entertainment, then we have Locke and Jean who are pulling these complicated heists, basically throwing money around as though it’s going out of fashion – so you have all these different angles to it. I can see the horror, but then I can’t help say what are these people thinking of putting themselves through this – and lets face it they’re not all desperate. It’s all like different levels of greed and desire or something. Still very uncomfortable to read about and here’s to hoping that Locke and Jean knock it on the head!
4. The Archon might be a megalomaniacal military dictator, but he thinks he’s doing right by Tal Verrar: his ultimate goal seems to be to protect them. What do you think he’s so afraid of?
I think he’s scared of not being remembered. He thinks he’s going to make a difference and probably sees everyone remembering him as the ‘one’ who started to make the difference. He’s clearly got some sort of deep rooted dislike of the Bondsmagi – all will eventually be revealed!!!!
5. And who the heck is trying to kill Locke and Jean every few days? they just almost got poisoned (again!)!
Strangely enough I do remember what’s going on here and I’m finding it difficult to answer without being a spoilery so and so. I tell you what though – these two walk on the wild side. They are constantly being attacked. But it makes for some damn fine reading.
6. Do you really think it’s possibly for a city rat like Locke to fake his way onto a Pirate ship?
This is going to be hilarious. Locke has no sea legs at all and gets sea sickness. Jean is just going to chill and get on with it. But, Locke is going to hate it. He is going to be out of his element but he is the consumate actor and his experience will come through.
So, onto the next chapters – I’m looking forward to getting out to sea!
Thanks for the questions Andrea
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, final readalong
7 April 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Camorr, Gentlemen Bastards, Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora readalong
And so we come to the end of our readalong and what an amazing experience this has been. Brought to us by some really amazing hosts and involving so many brilliant bloggers. It’s been great:
Even though this is the final week – you’re never too late to join in (well, you’re a bit late but you can still go back to the readalong and check out the questions) and pick up the threads of discussion. More to the point, you’re never to late to pick up this book and be lost in the world of Camorr and the lives of the Gentlemen Bastards. So don’t wait any longer. The following will however contain spoilers so if you haven’t read the book you might want to stop reading now! This week’s instalment brought us constant tension and laugh out loud moments. Personally I loved the whole scene with Locke in the Tower – firstly coming face to face with Merragio whilst wearing the clothes he’s stolen from him and then bumping into the Grey King as well. Without further ado the questions and discussions follow. The hosts for this blog are below:
1. The Thorn of Camorr is renowned – he can beat anyone in a fight and he steals from the rich to give to the poor. Except of course that clearly most of the myths surrounding him are based on fantasy and not fact. Now that the book is finished how do you feel the man himself compares to his legend. Did you feel that he changed as the story progressed and, if so, how did this make you feel about him by the time the conclusion was reached?
I think to an extent the legend that surrounds the Thorn is one of those typical snowball type of theories which gathers size and momentum as it goes downhill. You could argue that Locke is useless in a fight and also that he doesn’t give his money away to the poor – all of which is true. But, you could also say that he’s never shed blood in any of his jobs, he’s a really big softie (as the Spider herself acknowledged after he returned to the Tower to save the nobility), that he managed to defend himself quite well against the Grey King and also that he paid rather a huge death offering by having the plague ship with all his stolen talons on board (which he could have kept). So, really his reputation is not that far from the mark. I did think he changed as the story progressed. I think at the start of the story you didn’t get too much of an understanding for the feelings he had for his fellow GBs but by the end you could certainly feel the strength of feeling and the regard he held them in. He called them his brothers – which I thought was really rather touching! By the end of the story I definitely liked him, a lot. He proved that as well as being able to plot elaborate cons he was able to think on his feet, act under pressure and show that he cared not only for his own little select gang of bandits but also for many more people as well. Funnily enough I think by the end of the story he fitted the description attributed to the Thorn much more than at the start.
2. Scott Lynch certainly likes to give his leading ladies some entertaining and strong roles to play. We have the Berangia sisters – and I definitely wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of them or their blades plus Dona Vorchenza who is the Spider and played a very cool character – even play acting to catch the Thorn. How did you feel about the treatment the sisters and Dona received at the hands of Jean and Locke – were you surprised, did it seem out of character at all or justified?
I really liked both of the above characters to an extent. They’re certainly not soft and fluffy and I don’t think we’d ever be friends. But, I had a certain type of respect for the Berangia sisters and the way they were so kickass. And, the Spider, playing at Locke’s game really and allowing people’s own misconceptions to hide her secret identity for this length of time. All that being said, I felt no sympathy for the Berangias. They knew what they were doing. They plotted to catch and kill Jean and they were completely confident in their own abilities. The fact that they lost is just really too bad! I know who I preferred to win! I did have a certain sympathy for Dona Vorchenza when Locke socked her in the jaw, but he had the decency himself to feel bad for his own course of action and really I can’t see how he could have done any differently. She shouldn’t have under-estimated him but she made the mistake of thinking of them both as intellectuals. But, if Locke had remained trapped – she would undoubtedly have made him suffer and would not have shown sympathy. Plus, if you trap something in a corner it’s going to lunge at you eventually.
3. Towards the end we saw a little more of the magic and the history of the Bondsmagi. The magic, particularly with the use of true names, reminds me a little of old fashioned witchcraft or even voodoo. But, more than that I was fascinated after reading the interlude headed ‘The Throne in Ashes’ about the Elderglass and the Elders and why their structures were able to survive even against the full might of the Bondsmagi – do you have any theories about this do you think it’s based on one of our ancient civilisations or maybe similar to a myth??
Well, the most obvious comparison that I could come to with this would be the Roman Empire. The Roman’s went all over conquering and ruling – but they didn’t always stay and yet they left a legacy behind wherever they went. But, the thing I was thinking about most when reading about the Elderglass was the City of Atlantis – and don’t ask me why – I can’t explain myself but I’ve always pictured Atlantis as being contained in a huge, glass bubble!
4. We have previously discussed Scott Lynch’s use of description and whether it’s too much or just spot on. Having got into the last quarter of the book where the level of tension was seriously cranked up – did you still find, the breaks for interludes and the descriptions useful or, under the circumstances did it feel more like a distraction?
I actually still enjoyed the interludes and the description. I did have a moment towards the end where I was almost cursing and thinking ‘not bloody now for godssake’ but then as usual with these little mini stories I got sucked in. To some extent I do think it lessens the tension but on the plus side it felt as though it made me slow down and think a bit more than I otherwise might of and so I accredit this with stopping me from just simply racing ahead and finishing as quickly as possible.
5. Now that the book has finished how did you feel about the conclusion and the eventual reveal about the Grey King and more to the point the motivations he declared for such revenge – does it seem credible, were you expecting much worse or something completely different altogether?
I really enjoyed the conclusion – particularly the whole Grey King and Locke fighting to the death scenario (which does make me sound a bit bloodthirsty!). Just, they both had their own individual reasons and at that particular juncture they both pretty much hated each other – Locke because of the GBs and all that he and Jean had also been put through and the Grey King because of his sisters, his plans being thwarted and the sinking of his means of escape together with all the money which he thought he’s gained! It’s difficult to remember how I originally felt about the motives of the Grey King, I think what he and his family suffered was terrible but I kind of lost all sympathy for him because he didn’t care who he affected in his plans for revenge. He just went hell for leather and swept everyone up in is plot. The GBs had never done anything to hurt or offend him and look how badly they fared in his scheming. I suppose it would be childish to say he was unfair – but he was!
6. Were you surprised that Locke, being given two possible choices (one of which could possibly mean he would miss his chance for revenge on the Grey King) chose to go back to the Tower – especially given that (1) he would have difficulty in getting into the building (2) he would have difficulty in convincing them about the situation and (3) he would have difficulty in remaining free afterwards? Did anyone else nearly pee their pants when Locke and the rest were carrying the sculptures up to the roof garden?
I actually was surprised that Locke returned to the Tower to rescue the nobility but I think it’s one of the finer turning points of the story which helps to emphasise the true nature of the man. And, I was so tense when they were all carrying the sculptures up to the top – even though I knew the ending. That whole wraithstone thing was so nasty!
7. Finally, the other question I would chuck in here is that, following the end of the book I was intrigued to check out some of the reviews of LOLL and noticed that the negative reviews mentioned the use of profanity. How did you feel about this – was it excessive? Just enough? Not enough?
I really didn’t find the swearing a problem at all, in fact, on rereading I was surprised because I thought it seemed that there was less of it than I remembered! I probably wouldn’t mind a bit more – it makes me laugh when they’re all cussing at each other and the air turns blue!
8. Okay one further, and probably most important but very quick question – having finished, will you pick up the sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies?
Hell yes!
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, readalong
31 March 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Readalong, Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora
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 😀
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, readalong
24 March 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Readalong, Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora
Okay, we’re on to the third week’s readalong of Scott Lynch’s Lies of Locke Lamora. This week we stopped at a particularly tense part of the book – and can I just ask who the hell came up with that stopping point!!! You raging maniac you! I have managed to not read on, but I have read this before and I want to take my time with this readalong. This readalong is being hosted by some lovely and impressive bloggers as follows:
If you haven’t read this book – then really, I would recommend it m0st heartily. Plus, come and join us all, we’re having a great time. If you have read it and want to readalong then get in touch with one of the lovely people above and they’ll add you to the info. And, be aware, ‘there be spoilers ahead’.
1. This section is where we finally get to sneak a peek at the magic in The Gentleman Bastards books. From what we read, what are your initial impressions of the magic Lynch is using? Is there any way that Locke and Company would be able to get around the Bondsmage’s powers?I guess I would say I’m more puzzled, or intrigued, by the magic we’ve seen used. There isn’t much of an explanation this far into the story about ‘why’ the Bondsmage can use magic or where they draw their power from – although I could be missing something here! I enjoyed Chains story about the Bondsmage and how they became such a force to be reckoned with. It’s all part of the world building that I enjoy so much about this book.
2. Not a question, but an area for rampant speculation: If you want to take a stab at who you think the Grey King might be, feel free to do it here. Even though I seem to have forgotten such a good deal about my original reading I’m not going to take a guess because if it turns out to be in any way remotely connected it will look like a big fat spoiler (or as though I’m trying to be a tremendous smartypants)! I am intrigued though (and I have really not a clue – how is that even possible?)
2.5 (since 2 wasn’t really a question) Anyone see the Nazca thing coming? Anyone? Do you think there are more crazy turns like this in store for the book? Would you like to speculate about them here? (yes, yes you would) Again, I would love to speculate about the crazy turns in store – but spoilery! Dang!! And, believe it or not I’d forgotten about Nazca – I knew in my tiny brain that her and Locke were not going to get it on, but I had forgotten about her being murdered. Strangely enough I remembered the whole scene with the barrel full of horse urine – what is up with me, really? The other thing about this is – I was really quite enjoying the character of Nazca and here she is getting bumped off – I think that’s a really difficult thing for an author to do and I really respect it. I’m not saying I enjoy losing the characters that I like but sometimes it is necessary and it’s a hard decision. Big respect for not being too precious to lose a character if the plot needs it.
3. When Locke says “Nice bird, arsehole,” I lose it. EVERY TIME. And not just because I have the UK version of the book and the word arsehole is funnier than asshole. Have there been any other places in the books so far where you found yourself laughing out loud, or giggling like a crazy person on the subway? I have been laughing out loud a lot – but I think you probably hit on what was, for me, the funniest scene – when Locke met the Grey King and his bondmage for the first time. ‘Nice bird, arsehole’ is pretty hilarious! I always feel really odd about using ‘asshole’ – just the whole ass/donkey thing! I did think of a couple of lines I really enjoyed: “When you don’t know everything that you could know, it’s a fine time to shut your fucking noisemaker and be polite.” and the story about the half crowns where Tesso says “because I can’t imagine that you shit-wits would really be sitting there right where we beat the trouser gravy out of you just yesterday”. Trouser gravy? LOL! There are others, but I’ll leave it now (it could become an essay!)
4. By the end of this reading section, have your opinions changed about how clever the Bastards are? Do you still feel like they’re “cleverer than all the rest?” Or have they been decidedly outplayed by the Grey King and his Bondsmage? Well, as much as I hate to say it, I feel that they’ve been ‘bested’ at this point. The Grey King knows exactly what they’re up to and how to turn the screw. They are between a rock and a hard place and don’t even have the option to run because they’ll never get away with it now. I suppose if they’d got out of there years ago – and it seems like they probably had enough money to do so, but they kept just wanting to put in one more job – then they wouldn’t be in this mess – but hindsight is a thing of beauty! (I wonder if you can buy hindsight glasses – I want a pair of those)
5. I imagine that you’ve probably read ahead, since this was a huge cliffhanger of an ending for the “present” storyline, but I’ll ask this anyway: Where do you see the story going from here, now that the Grey King is thought to be dead? Won’t elaborate on this as I have already read. Also, can’t remember and haven’t actually read ahead! And, I don’t have the first bloody clue.
6. What do you think of the characters Scott Lynch has given us so far? Are they believable? Real? Fleshed out? If not, what are they lacking? I really enjoy the characters so far, we get little glimpses into the history behind the relationships and I think that slowly but surely we have a world being developed with really easy to picture characters. To be honest, I think Jean may be my favourite character – I’m not sure why. I like his nature, he’s very real. But I also like that he can just totally look after himself!
7. Now that you’ve seen how clever Chains is about his “apprenticeships,” why do you think he’s doing all of this? Does he have an endgame in sight? Is there a goal he wants them to achieve, or is it something more emotional like revenge? Ha, I can’t actually remember whether Chains had any other goal such as revenge. I like Chains and I like the way he sometimes doles out his lessons – like the way he taught Locke a bit of humility when Jean first came to stay! I feel as though he thinks he’s like a master tutor and he’s giving his apprentices the best, the fullest, the most comprehensive education in how to be a trickster – he’s like the Ivy League of conman tutors!
Comments from other bloggers:
Nashville Book Worm
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Rememorandum / Logan K Stewart
The Hugo Endurance Project
Booky Pony
John Ayliff
Numbers Words and Ramblings
Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch readalong, week 2
This is week two of the LoLL readalong. This week the questions were supplied by Dark Cargo. If you’re on twitter? use #lynchmob.
If you haven’t read the LoLL then please be aware that this post will contain spoilers. The last week’s reading took us through Chapter 3 to the end of the Interlude: The Boy Who Cried for a Corpse.
1) Do you think Locke can pull off his scheme of playing a Midnighter who is working with Don Salvara to capture the Thorn of Camorr? I mean, he is now playing two roles in this game – and thank goodness for that costume room the Gentlemen Bastards have!
I think he’s being very ambitious, particularly when you weigh is scheme against the fact that the Grey King is running around the place knocking people off willy nilly and nobody seems to know why! And, also, when you consider that for years the Gentlemen Bastards have not just been pulling elaborate cons but they are also conning Capa Barsavi who thinks they are fairly low key thiefs. There’s a lot going on with the potential for huge disaster. I love the costume room – who wouldn’t?
2) Are you digging the detail the author has put into the alcoholic drinks in this story?
I must say that I like the idea of the Brandy that doesn’t give you a hangover! Although it may be a false blessing as you would have nothing to deter you from over doing it! Pickled liver anyone?? I’m not sure about the Ginger Scald – I like things to be spicy – but do I really want to drink something that sounds like it’d take the skin off the roof of your mouth?
3) Who is this mysterious lady Gentlemen Bastard Sabetha and what does she mean to Locke?
Don’t think I should really answer this as I’ve already read the book.
4) Are you as creeped out over the use of Wraithstone to create Gentled animals as I am?
It is really creepy – I don’t like the idea of stripping every bit of personality from the animals – they seem to be little more than shells.
5) I got a kick out of child Locke’s first meeting with Capa Barsavi and his daughter Nazca, which was shortly followed up in the story by Barsavi granting adult Locke permission to court his daughter! Where do you think that will lead? Can you see these two together?
Similar to the answer to question 3 – as I’ve already read it’s difficult to answer this question without giving away spoilers. Although I will say I did enjoy Locke’s first meeting with Nazca – she’s a bit of a handful! Personally, I don’t think a relationship between the two would ever be able to get around the fact that Locke is Nazca’s Pezon and I think both of them would always be very conscious of that and couple that with the fact that neither of them seem to have any interest in the other on a romantic level then it does seem a bit of a none-starter.
6) Capa Barsavi is freaked out over rumors of The Gray King and, in fact, us readers are privy to a gruesome torture scene. The Gray King is knocking garristas off left and right. What do you think that means?
I think he’s very afraid. He’s holed himself and his children up in an attempt to stay protected but he’s fumbling around in the dark really. He’s torturing people to death who genuinley don’t seem to know anything and yet he can’t seem to see this – it’s almost as though he’s become a bit panic stricken or hysterical.
7) In the Interlude: The Boy Who Cried for a Corpse, we learn that Father Chains owes an alchemist a favor, and that favor is a fresh corpse. He sets the boys to figuring out how to provide one, and they can’t ‘create’ the corpse themselves. How did you like Locke’s solution to this conundrum?
This was Locke’s first con! It was great. He accomplished the task he was set and actually made money as well. I suppose I did feel a bit badly for the people in the district of Videnza though – they didn’t seem like a bad lot really.
Books and travelling with Lynn 