Challenge Corner discussion

In this stunning debut, author Scott Lynch delivers the wonderfully thrilling tale of an audacious criminal and his band of confidence tricksters. Set in a fantastic city pulsing with the lives of decadent nobles and daring thieves, here is a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part "Robin Hood", one part Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling...

An orphan's life is harsh — and often short — in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains — a man who is neither blind nor a priest.

A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans — a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.

Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful — and more ambitious — than Locke has yet imagined.

Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men — and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game — or die trying...

I'm reading this in December. :) Who is reading this month?

C.P. wrote: "I'm reading this in December. :) Who is reading this month?"

Charley Girl, from Team Caramel Brulade, requested a thread for this weekend :)

I could edit the dates so the buddy read would count for both months :)

That's ok. Currently I'm not on a team so points aren't a big deal. I will chat with people if they are reading at the same time though.

14% Done. Just getting into it. I like it though. Sort of set in old Victorian time. That is my sense of Camorr. The master is harsh and the orphans comic.

C.P. wrote: "That's ok. Currently I'm not on a team so points aren't a big deal. I will chat with people if they are reading at the same time though."

Oh, I knew that! I'll wait for CP. I have others I can read and it will be nice to chat at the same time.

I started reading this again. CP started too, right?

Yes! Have only read the prologue, which was interesting but didn't completely capture me. Hopefully I can get some more read soon. How far are you now?

I haven’t finished 100 pages yet. Hasn’t intrigued me yet either but I haven’t had time to just sit down and read it. Hopefully this week.

Well hopefully we can both get more into it soon!

28% done. I'm getting there. I find that I'm into it and then I start drifting. I've heard such good things about this book! Please grab my attention!

Not sure if I will pick this one up again right now. I've been kind of depressed and not really feeling a couple of the books I've started. I think it's a timing issue more than anything.

Sorry to bail in you!

Awe...I'm sorry. I hope you feel better soon! Maybe it is the holiday season? Chin up! A New Year is starting and things can change!

Thanks! Not sire what it is, probably a mix of things including crazy family. But I'm doing a lot better right now than I was last week, so I'm on the upswing.

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RESTARTING SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2022

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RESTARTING AUGUST 17TH, 2024

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Prologue - Part 1: Ambition

(view spoiler)[ I like how this book is written. It's not fast, but it's not dragging either, and all the information you need to know about the society is only given when it's needed.

I like how there is a mix of the past and present, but I kind of want to find out what's going to happen next. I thought for a moment that the Midnighters were going to be the problem that Locke and his crew need to overcome to complete their goal, but it was fun to see in the next chapter how Locke and his group planned that.

I'm curious about Sabetha because she was mentioned in the past scenes and then there seemed to be a big falling out with Locke, but it's not gone into detail at all. I think maybe she's the shadow that seems to be appearing everywhere, or at least the shadow answers to her - maybe it's a bird because it said somewhere that the shadow flew away?

Maybe the conflict will be with the Thiefmaker? Could he have just forgotten about the past?
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Part 2: Complication

(view spoiler)[ How is Locke going to get out of the situation he's in now? Unless he somehow knew about the plan with the casket, but maybe the others will help retrieve him. Was this the Gray King's plan? I'm assuming that he was the Capa's mysterious informant so how does this help his cause? What does he even want? I can see him appearing again once Locke gets out and demanding more from him, so what's the end goal?

Also, Locke thought that the Gray King looked familiar so is he someone Locke knew in the past? Or did Locke meet him during one of his jobs and didn't pay attention to?

Sabetha is mentioned quite a bit, especially considering the fact that she's not present, so is she going to appear at all? Could she be the Gray King? I don't think there is enough information about her to even guess where she is. She's always away during the interludes but it's always vague about what she's doing.

I don't really care for the paragraphs that talk about the setting or the history and then don't really relate to the story overall. Maybe it will become relevant at the end?

I like the interludes (seeing Locke train and how he gets to know the other Gentlemen Bastards) and I like seeing the complications that they are facing because I can't wait to see how they're going to deal with them.
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Part 3: Revelation

(view spoiler)[ I thought that this was a standalone, but so many things have happened and I don't think they can be solved in what is left of the book.

I was shocked throughout this whole part.

For a second, I thought that everyone was going to die, but I still wasn't expecting the twins and Bug to die - I kept thinking that there was going to be a trick and that they would get up.

Even though I wanted to get back to Locke's POV, the scene with Dona Vorchenza was interesting, especially since I'm assuming that it means that she's the Spider. Since Locke and Jean have no money, maybe they'll go to the Salvaras to try to get some money? But the trap will be in place so could they start working for the Midnighters/Spider? And get their revenge that way?

I'm curious what the Gray King told the Capa, but I don't think it will be in this book. Also, how is the Bondsmage still working for the Gray King? I don't think it's going to be revealed in this book though.
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Part 4: Desperate Improvisation - Epilogue

(view spoiler)[ Things kept getting worse, and I was sure that nothing would be solved, but somehow it managed to end well.

I liked the reveal of the Gray King and how Locke still managed to manipulate the Spider a little bit at the end.

I'm kind of curious what Locke's real name is and if it has any significance apart from keeping it away from Bondsmagi.

I liked this book, but I'm not sure what Locke and Jean are going to do now. Maybe look for Sabetha? Continue being thieves in another city?

I might continue the series in the future, but the fact that it's still not finished is a bit worrying so I might just wait to see if it does get finished (just in case there is a cliffhanger).
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