TPL: Part One - The Abbot, 1-2

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Section 1

Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of Part One - The Abbot, 1-2

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling things for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss events from later sections/books. Referring back to events from a previous section/book is fine.

[Suzanne]

So we are off to an interesting start. Uhtred's reaction to his son becoming a priest was pretty extreme, although given some of the things the church has done to him, understandable.

And I wonder who was setting up Uhtred/who really took the wife and children with the fake banner. Anyway, good start.

[Ctgt]

Agreed Suzanne, a nice start. I can see your point about his reaction to his son but he continues to allow himself to be guided by his emotions. I was hoping by this point in his life he would be a bit less impulsive but I guess that's why he makes a great character.
Yes, I'll be interested to see who is behind the kidnapping...Aethelred would be an intriguing twist.
I really like the story behind the boat he bought, "built from trees cut down at midnight", seems appropriate for Uhtred.

[Suzanne]

I started thinking about some of the things the church did to him just in the last book and hmm...yeah I wouldn't want my son to be a priest either if I were him.

[Ctgt]

No you're right he certainly has no love for the church.

[Rob, Mayor of Ghost Town]

Uthred always gets in his own way. Killing a priest because his son was becoming one? And he's a seasoned warrior. He should be able to disable the priest easily without killing him.

My guess about the kidnapping is that Haesten is somehow involved. Not necessarily the mastermind, but probably in league with whoever it is.

I don't think Aethelred has it in him to pull it off, but maybe.

I'm excited that Uthred is finally planning to return home. It'll be interesting to see if he's finally successful in taking it back from his uncle.

[Suzanne]

Yes he has been SO obsessed for so long - it'll be interesting to see if he finally gets what he's wanted.....and THEN what would he do.

[Ctgt]

Yeah but since Aethelred has a new woman pulling the strings....who knows?

[Kat]

I also think Haesten has his fingers in the abduction somehow.

As for kicking him out of Mercia - the Saxons are foolish to do so, but at the same time I'm glad Uhtred is free of their yoke for a bit.

It means the story can go anywhere from here and doesn't have to revolve around the politics of Wessex, which was starting to bore me in the last book.

[Suzanne]

Wow look at you go with these books Kat!

I agree that the books need to take a new direction at this point - they have been turning into a (enjoyable but still...) formula.

[Kat]

I'm on a business trip with nothing to do....