Read Along of Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch Part 1

You can see Redhead’s Part 1 post, and the links to the other blogs taking part, here.

If you haven't read the book, or even if you have, why not join in and read along with the rest of us?

This week we have read up to the end of Chapter 3.

1. The Sinspire. It looks like our heroes (can they really be called that?) find themselves in search of a way into an unbeatable vault. Do you think they have what it takes to make it happen?

Of course they are our heroes! I want to be just like Locke when I grow up! :D

If there is anyone who can think up a way into an unbeatable vault it is Locke Lamora. However, I am fairly certain that it will not be easy and there will be plenty of blood, sweat and tears along the way. I am not certain that they have everything in place just yet, but I am sure they will find it without much of a problem.

2.  Anyone want to guess how they're going to make it happen?

If I can waste a little time making a prediction (that we can all laugh at later), I imagine that getting into the vault is less about the design of its security system and more about Requin's psychology. Of course I am probably wrong: in fact, it is almost certain that any prediction I make about a Scott Lynch novel will be completely wrong. I believe I predicted that the Grey King was Locke's Daddy, so we all know how good I am at this guessing game! :D

Perhaps they will simply cut out the vault and use a tame dragon to carry it away to their island paradise. Why are you looking at me like that? It is a possible solution to the problem: they might have a pet dragon . . . and a way to cut emberglass . . . and some really strong rope . . . and NOBODY would expect that!

3. It's a little different this time around, with us just being focused on Locke and Jean. Is anyone else missing the rest of the Bastards as much as I am?

I feel bad for saying this, but not really. It would be nice for them to gather some replacement Bastards, but I don't think that they are ready to trust people that much just yet, especially Locke. I was wondering what had happened to Ibelius, the dog-leech, then we learnt that he had given up on Locke out of frustrated disgust. It seems like Locke came very close to losing Jean as well, but that the experience brought the two even closer together. The sequence of the 'intervention' was very funny, but moving as well because Jean was making one last desperate attempt to save his friend from himself. I love these guys!

4. I love the section where Jean starts to build a new guild of thieves. It really shows just how well trained and tough he is. Do you think the Bastards will end up training others along the way again like Bug?

I enjoyed that section as well: Jean as the new Chains. 

"Who's the biggest, meanest motherfucker here? Who's the best bruiser in the Brass Coves?"

Although I think that they might train others to play a role in their scheme, I doubt that will see more Gentleman Bastards as such. As I said above, I am really not sure if they can trust anyone that much yet. This distrust will be much worse now that they have been threatened by the Bondsmagi and have the Archon on their case: anyone showing any interest in them will be suspected of being a spy.

5. For those of you looking for Sabetha, we still haven't spotted her yet. Anyone else chomping at the bit to see the love of Locke's life?

'Spotted her'? That makes it sound like we have encountered her, but that she was in disguise or hidden. I can only imagine how extraordinary this woman must be to have captured Locke's heart so thoroughly, so I am looking forward to meeting her. Of course, knowing Mr Lynch, she will probably turn out to be a forty-five year old, cross-eyed, bald, hunch-backed mother to twenty-seven children who has no teeth and farts constantly while Locke gazes at her with adoration.

6. It's early on, but the Bastards are already caught up in plots that they didn't expect. How do you think their new "employer" is going to make use of them (The Archon, that is)?

He is going to try to use them to further his own plans, but will be royally shafted, I suspect. Whatever he has in mind will be very dangerous for our boys as he seems rather cunning and ruthless. I did think that the whole 'Oopsie, sorry about my guards, they are all idiots: bad guards!' was very unsubtle and that it was perfectly obvious that he would drug or poison them. He does seem a little over confident, which usually comes before a disaster if you are an enemy of Locke Lamora.  

Other thoughts:

The Prologue: what??!???!??! Jean selling Locke out?!???!??!? 

I really thought that there would be a question about 'The Revenge of the Bondsmagi'. We all predicted that they would be a little upset about The Falconer, but I didn't expect them to show up so soon in this book. That was a really spooky scene, especially with the little girl as their mouthpiece: it was nice knowing you, Locke and Jean . . . 

Am I the only one who was slightly disgusted by the thought of Izmila Corvaleur eating those chocolate-dust covered cherries, sucking her fingers and then handling the cards? They would have been all sticky and disgusting: ewww!

How cool were the Archon's mechanical insect collection and the sculptures made of coins in the Sinspire and the way into the Archon's keep, through the water fall? Not as cool as a sport involving jumping sharks, but still pretty cool. :)