Red Seas Under Red Skies: Read Along Wk1

Yay! We have now moved on to the second Gentlemen Bastards book RSURS by Scott Lynch as part of our read along.  🙂

The questions, supplied by  Bryce over at My Awful Reviews,  cover the start of the book all the way up to Chapter 3.

I’d like to start of first by saying:   Goddamn Mages!!!!!

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?

I think you can call them heroes, certainly after the events of the last book, even if their ‘day jobs’  aren’t so heroic… Do they have what it takes? Hmmmm…  Its a bit hard to say when I’m not 100% sure what the plan is, I worry that they don’t really have enough back up, there’s only two of them. If something goes wrong (what would Locke have done if he hadn’t persuaded Requin?) they don’t have much room to manoeuvres.

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

Looks like Locke’s hoping that by getting on to Requin’s security that should give them further access to everything? Perhaps keys? Knowing just what the routine is etc etc? A complete confidence trick, but surely Requin is going to be suspicious that someone might try this?

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?

Yes, well Bug at least I don’t think we got to know the twins as well, but as the youngest and newest member of the group Bug added that little extra something to the dynamic. (I’m not quite sure what though, perhaps something that make Locke feel like he should perhaps be a little more careful…. or maybe not.)

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?

It makes sense that they should at some point, they need a bit more support. But I guess the problem is that while it has been 2 years since the events of book one so the wounds won’t be as raw, they’re a) right in the middle of a major scam (2 years?! Thats dedication!) and b) the Bondsmage’s have turned up. (Did they Locke & Jean really believe the matter was settled?)  I really wonder if there is perhaps some way that they can protect Jean from being controlled by them.

I have to say I also loved the argument between Jean and Locke at the end of this section. I was laughing out loud and getting funny looks from the hubby as Jean barricaded Locke in. 😀

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?

I am curious, but currently I’m more curious about just how Locke thinks he’s going to steal from the Sinspire. And just what was that going on in the prologue? (A cunning plan of double dealings I assume – potentially part of the whole Sinspire shenanigans? with Jean pretending to double cross Locke?)

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)?

Edited: So somehow I missed that I was also supposed to read Chapter 3 for this first week. I have now read it and here’s my answer. 🙂

I’m going to guess it’s something political, he’s worried that perhaps someone is doing something/going to make a move that will knock him off the top spot? But who knows with Lynch that could be completely wrong! 🙂  Poor Locke having someone poison him again in order to get something out of him (I do wonder whether that is just a lie from the Archon though). Its understandable why L&J are pissed (I was highly suspicious when the Archon was going on about how it was all a mistake..) but I worry that Locke is going to go in over his head. (Like he hasn’t already with the Bondsmagi)

What if what the Archon wants is something ‘nice’ something beneficial that could help lots of people (he probably doesn’t but playing devils advocate here..), we know Locke won’t work for money.. well he might say he would but he would totally get bored. But if someone presented that case to L & J.. might they have helped without the need for added persuasion? They are nice people we know this from the first book. Would they help?

Also the entrance to the Archon’s palace? That sounds amazing! I have to wonder how many poor souls have fallen over at the entrance though.