Camorr - News and Views from Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora books

Age: Unknown, though one can make a reasonably accurate guess using the script provided. When Locke is nine-years-old Chains says: ‘Sabetha was breaking out in spots last we saw her’, suggesting that she has already hit puberty. If this is the case she must be at least four years older than Locke, making her about thirty at the end of Red Seas Under Red Skies.

Ethic Descent: Unknown, though her red hair suggests a mixed descent.

Hometown: Camorr.

Physcial Appearance: Little is revealed of her appearance in the actual books, except the colour of her hair: red. However, the Republic Of Thieves cover art features Sabetha, so if the illustration stays true to the text it paints a reasonable picture.

Status/occupation: Unknown. She was once a member of the Gentlemen Bastards.

Personal History

Little is known about her history. From the excerpt, it is known that she lived in Shades' Hill as a child, which is where she first met Locke. For reasons yet to be explained, she is very conscious about hiding her hair; when Locke meets her it has been dyed brown and she wears a cap. She disappeared from Shades' Hill around the age of 8/9, probably because Chains adopted her into the Gentlemen Bastards.

For reasons unexplained, Chains sent Sabetha away at a young age, though where we do not know. Chains does say in The Lies of Locke Lamora: ‘You’ve reached a certain age when many boys seem to just sort of fold up their better judgement and set it aside for a few years. Hell, Sabetha’s done it too. Part of the reason I sent her off to where she is at the moment.’
Sabetha’s precise role within the Gentlemen Bastards is still unclear, though Chains states that she is an ’ornament’ to their gang and intriguingly described her as ‘the born queen of all the charmers that ever lived.’

Locke and Sabetha’s relationship is still shrouded in mystery, though we know it was turbulent, riddled with rivalry and as a result, it becomes a touchy subject that Locke isn’t inclined to dwell upon, hinting at a deep connection that ended unpleasantly, reinforced by Calo’s reprimand: ‘I don’t recall her fucking things up without your able assistance’. From the excerpt, it is made clear that Locke's love for her is expressly one way to begin with.

The exact date Sabetha left the Gentlemen Bastards is unclear, though the book hints that she left four years prior to The Lies Of Locke Lamora.

It is hinted that while Locke is named the ‘Thorn of Camorr’, Sabetha is titled the ‘Rose of Camorr’.

According to the Sanza twins, she now dwells in Parlay, a canton of the Kingdom of Seven Marrows, ‘thousands of miles away’ from Camorr.

Brief Description

Again, little is known about Sabetha. The Sanza twins suggest that she is arrogant and impetuous (‘Maybe we could have her back a little less crazy, though.’ ‘And humble. Humble would be good’). Locke reinforces this claim by describing her as ‘so mad and so lovely’.

In Red Seas Under Red Skies Locke also implies that Sabetha has a love for climbing. Sge also appears to be a talented thief as she was part of the exclusive Windows crew in Shades' Hill.

Quotes

“Well, look here, you little shit. I’ve heard all about you, so just shut your mouth and stay close. You and I both know the rules, but I swear to the gods, if you give me one hint of trouble, I will heave you off a bridge and it will look like a bloody accident.”

Extras

Sabetha will make her long awaited debut in the third book, the Republic Of Thieves and, as Lynch described, she will be the ‘centrepiece’ of the novel.

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