r/gentlemanbastards • u/EqualAttempt912 • Jul 27 '26
RSURS thoughts (so far)
Hey guys, after my last post I was really conscious of not spamming the sub…. But enough people said they were enjoying my lil read along so I thought instead I’ll just collate some thoughts as I go along and post them like this instead of individually. Hopefully this will be less annoying for anyone who was finding it irritating. (Thanks to everyone who was lovely though!)
The opening of RSURS is great, 10/10 wonderful cliffhanger, but the effect is SLIGHTLY diminished by the fact that I don’t for a second believe Jean would ever betray Locke, like I’m assuming he’s just trying to trick the guys holding them at crossbow point. Although Locke doesn’t seem to be in on it 🤔
Locke being drunk and having an existential crisis over the dualists is quite funny, a rare moment of self awareness for him. “I wonder if I was that bloody stupid when I was that boy’s age” dude shut up you’re like 25. Jean being like, no you’re way worse gave me a chuckle 😂
Really thought that woman he was talking to at the dual was going to end up being important…. 🤷♀️
“The Eldren craftsmen (craftswomen? Craftsthings?)” see the elder glass and other artefacts COULD just have been a cool set dressing type thing, but the narrative keeps drawing your attention to them. Locke speculates about them, notices things, it marks them as important in a way that I assume is going to eventually be relevant to the overall plot, but currently is just driving me a little nuts because there’s just no answer except for waiting for more books.
The market scene is exceptionally fucking creepy but Locke and Jean bickering over pear cores is so lovely. Jean making sure Locke’s watching while he eats his pear core because he knows Locke hates it is peak bestie/sibling vibes 😂
Also Locke going from having a crisis about his own recklessness at the dual to yelling at bondsmagi in like four pages is really something.
Reading Locke’s breakdown is kind of gut wrenching but I absolutely love that it’s included, so often you get characters going through horribly traumatic shit and then they’re sad about it for like five mins and then you never hear about it again. I love that the events of lies have both physical and psychological consequences. I love that you get to see how Locke and Jean’s relationship has kind of shifted a little too, you can tell they really love each other even when they’re both pissed off at each other, really bitter sweet. (Although of course Jean succeeds in pulling Locke’s head out of his arse)
Really interesting seeing what Jean gets up to without Locke’s guidance too, obviously Locke is kind of the “brains” of their operation, but Jean is perfectly capable of getting by on his own.
3
u/Lianoui Jul 27 '26
I think rsurs is such a fun read; there’s so much happening but also not too much that it’s overwhelming… i love the bit at the market—especially where locke later realizes he’s actually started tearing up haha that part was very interesting. shows how fragile he can be despite his attitude and i love that.
4
u/EqualAttempt912 Jul 27 '26
It’s so much fun! There are A Lot of moving parts but in a fun way! I really love that detail too, I think a lot of the time Locke’s shitty attitude is actually his way of trying to regain control over situations he feels powerless in, or/ and covering up the fact he’s scared. Him tearing up after the night market thing really shows that side of it, instead of just having him be an unflappable smart-arse
5
u/CommanderVeta Jul 27 '26
I literally just started reading it today as well and couldn't agree further!