Red Seas Under Red Skies Read Along Week Three
The third week of the read along was very interesting. This section was very different and quite far removed from everything that came before, it’s almost like it’s own short story. With so many different plot threads involved now it’s hard to imagine how everything’s going to come together in the end. Whatever happens it’s a really fun journey. Here are this weeks questions and my answers:
1. Locke and Jean’s ability to find themselves at the center of a serious mess seems unparalleled. At this point, do you think that Stragos will get the return he expects on his investment in them?
Locke and Jean are continually bouncing from one bad situation to another. It’s very different to the first book where a lot of the time they had the upper hand or at least had a plan to deal with whatever situation they found themselves in. Here though they seem to be struggling just to keep themselves alive. I like that the two books are different in this way, we’re getting a different sort of adventure this time around.
No one ever seem’s to get what they expect from Locke and Jean and since nothing has gone to plan so far I can’t imagine that Stragos is going to get what he wants.
2. Merrain’s activities after our boys leave Windward Rock are interesting. What do you think her plans are?
Another character who defies expectations. Lynch is so good at pulling the rug out from under us that it’s difficult to predict anything about anyone’s future plans. Just keeping up with what’s going on right now is hard work!
3. Does anyone know why having cats aboard the ship is so important?
It’s an interesting custom and one that’s apparently taken very seriously. I was thinking that they are there as a kind of sacrifice to the gods.
4. The word “mutiny” creates a lot of mental pictures. Were you surprised? Why or why not?
Not really surprised. At this point I pretty much expect Locke and Jean to get themselves into as much trouble as possible whatever they’re doing and there can’t be any situation worse for a ships captain than a mutiny.
5. Ah, the Poison Orchid. So many surprises there, not the least of which were the captain’s children. Did you find the young children a natural part of the story?
I thought the children were a perfectly natural element to the story. I think you would expect a ships captain to keep her children around. Seeing the captain act as a mother adds an important element to her character and does a lot to humanise her.
6. Jean is developing more and more as a character as we get further in to the book. Ezri makes the comment to him that “Out here, the past is a currency, Jerome. Sometimes it’s the only one we have.” I think several interesting possibilities are coming into play regarding Jean and Ezri. What about you?
Jean has developed an awful lot in this book and the shifting relationship between him and Locke has been the highlight of the book so far. Jean’s priorities seem to be starting to change while Locke is still dead set on his original goal. There are a lot of different ways this could go.
7. As we close down this week’s reading, the Thorn of Camorr is back! I love it, even with all the conflict. Several things from their Camorri background have come back up. Do you think we will see more Camorri characters?
I’d love to see The Spider make an appearance in this book. Great to see Locke thinking of himself as the Thorn of Camorr again. Shows how far he’s come since the first book where he didn’t take the title seriously.
I love your answer to No.5 – I had mixed feelings about this and was trying to decide if the danger outweighed the positives. I like your take on it and I think you’re right it does add a different side to the captain. One minute she’s playing word games and the next she’s dumping someone over the side of the ship and leaving him as shark bait.
Locke and Jean could get into trouble in an empty room – it is amusing to read though.
And, it certainly will be interesting to read how their relationship changes now Jean has somebody else in his sights. I think Locke has already felt the difference during the attack with the Redeemers when Jean didn’t really have his back for most of the fight.
Lynn
I agree. The fact that Jean didn’t come to rescue Locke said a lot about the changing dynamic between them. At the same time, I was glad that Locke was able to take care of himself and didn’t just have to hold them off until Jean got there. Locke’s been relying on Jean to be an almost mothering figure lately, and that’s going to backfire.
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I wonder if some people would question a male captain having his male children on board a pirate ship? Hmmm…..
I would also love The Spider to show up in some form too, even if it is just a love note.
Sacrificing kitties to a god!!!??!??!??! :O
You are right that it is good that this is not a simple reworking of tLoLL. I would never had thought that we would end up on a pirate ship, even though there is a book on the cover! I do love how the plot is so twisty and turn that it is impossible to see what will happen in advance: it keeps me chuckling at the sudden changes in direction.
I think it’s great that Jean gets more developed in this book, and you’re right, his priorities have suddenly changed. is Locke going to get jealous of Jean’s relationship with Ezri, and leave him behind? Jean deserves some happiness, but the two GB’s have all these plans that are already in place, and it’s not like they can just take Ezri home with them and bring her into their plans, right?
hmm, some Camorri characters showing up? I didn’t think about it until I started going through everyone’s answers and comments, but i think Locke is still so haunted by the loss of the other GB’s that there will be three Camorri in his shadow all the time.
Even if Locke and Jean somehow manage to get the pirates ready for a war, I don’t think they are particularly motivated to help the Archon. They will more likely get a brief reprieve with the antidote and then try to take their revenge.
http://blog.akki.me/2012/05/12/red-seas-under-red-skies-read-along-week-three/
My first thought on the kids was–wow, easy prisoners. It seems to me that it’s a dangerous idea to bring the kids on board as well since they could be used as a bargaining point should a mutiny ever occur.
Of course, that gives the captain that much more incentive to make sure she has the right crew and keeps them, I guess.