GB Readalong: Week 5

Red Seas Under Red Skies begins today!

And while we're starting a new book, it seems like it would be a good idea to remind you about the Thorn of Emberlain giveaway. It's never too late to enter! Check it out at the bottom of this post.

If you're just joining in, check out the intro post for the schedule and other details!

What we're reading this week

Red Seas Under Red Skies | Prologue, Ch1-4

Recap from last week

Flashbacks:

“Someday, Locke Lamora,” he said, “someday, you’re going to fuck up so magnificently, so ambitiously, so overwhelmingly that the sky will light up and the moons will spin and the gods themselves will shit comets with glee. And I just hope I’m still around to see it.”
“Oh please,” said Locke. “It’ll never happen.” 

Present Day: The falconer is tortured but not killed, Capa Raza smuggles Wraithstone into the Elderglass tower, Locke saves the day with the help of Dona Vorchenza, Locke beats the crap out of the Gray King, and Jean carries a stubborn, half-dead Locke home

Observations/Theories/Questions

I loved the sequence where Locke runs into Meraggio at the festival and then Meraggio does a double take. It seems like Locke can smooth-talk his way out of truly any situation!

That coat looks very familiar...

Another scene I loved: Locke bringing back the "I just have to keep you here until Jean gets back!" And then after Locke has gotten the beating of his life and is blubbering about leaving him to die, Jean gives him the verbal equivalent of a bitch slap. 

"Hell no. You're not going anywhere without me."

THE FEEEEELS.

Okay, I'm done now.

Food for thought:

• "It's no choice at all": When the Falconer taunts Locke by saying he can either save the innocent peerage or take his revenge on The Gray King, Locke says that it's no choice at all and frankly I didn't know which way he was going to go. The nobility haven't exactly been kind to Locke, after all. I think it's telling that even though he swore revenge on behalf of his fallen Gentleman Bastards, Locke considers it his first priority to prevent more innocent deaths. Awww, little Locke has grown up!
• The Falconer's punishment: Do you really think Locke and Jean are going to survive maiming the Falconer? The rule is technically not to kill a Bondsmagi, but this to me seems even more insulting than killing someone.
• Locke killing Capa Raza: Locke has spent so many years repenting and paying for the deaths he caused as a child. He isn't a killer anymore, but his thirst for revenge leads him to murder Capa Raza. How do you think that's going to affect him in the future? Do you think Locke is more willing to kill now, or is this a one time thing?

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So...what did you think of The Lies of Locke Lamora? Will you be sticking around for Red Seas Under Red Skies?