#Scarlett and Browne

[hauntingthenarrativepod]

We have some bonus content already planned and possibly even recorded about Scarlett & Browne because of the recent release of book 3 in the UK! We don't currently have plans to cover Bartimaeus (most of us haven't read it yet) but I (Meg) agree that this would be super fun!

Friends, members of LockNation, people of Tumblr.com:

We are working on a grab bag question episode. Do you have any questions for us or topics you'd like us to discuss on the podcast? Let us know!

[lejay-the-impossible]

Happy late birthday to @jonathanstroud. Bartimaeus got here from the Other Place to say hi, Lockwood got you a cup of the finest tea and Scarlett is gonna try not to swear much (she pays extra today)

[pompomnium]

This was drawn at the end of 2023.

Because I had pre-ordered the signed set of all the volumes, I haven't read the Scarlett and Browne third volume yet… It should probably arrive tomorrow or the day after. And I can't wait, so I've started listening to the audiobook, which has just been released. I can't understand anything, but I could tell that a development worth celebrating had come in chapter 8. I'm excited to think that I'll soon be able to see the ending. I'm really looking forward to it.

[narinick]

Celebrating the final book of the series…I’m not even finished but already heartbroken in a thousand ways. Shiva, it‘s so fucking good.

[mo-racca]

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne

[mellowkotto]

The legendary scarlett and browne is gonna murder everyone including myself

No WAY it's actually over. I'm in denial wdym no it's not whatever whatever whatever it's not over no way it's over

Didn't feel like rendering this one

[womaninwinter]

non-spoilery things i loved about S&B 3:

short king with the muscle tone of cooked spaghetti gets absolutely jacked girlfriend who's completely mushy about him (dynamic of all time)

burnout boy who thinks of himself as broken rediscovers purpose through fatherhood (other dynamic of all time)

BIG "simply walk into Mordor" vibes

Stroud being the freaking king of intimacy again. He gets it. He knows that sometimes you can say more by not showing something than by showing it. The negative space in the narrative will have you thinking about it for days and weeks, where a kiss would have been skimmed over and forgotten instantly. KING

blackest black humour moments, including the gang being interrupted while trying to hide a smoking corpse and just freeze framing like the scooby doo crew

[hailqiqi]

Attended the Scarlett & Browne launch tonight!

Took hardly any pictures, but had a whale of a time & got Book 3 signed!

[edmeom]

[vryfmi]

[id from alt text: four images of sketches of Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne (The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne).

two main characters are walking next to each other. Albert is ahead of Scarlett, he's babbling something, his walk is relaxed. Scarlett looks annoyed and her walk is stern.

two sketches of Scarlett: a headshot with her looking pissed, and a very simple full body sketch, text next to it reads "idk".

a plain skech of Albert's headshot.

Scarlett and Albert are sitting with their backs turned to the viewer, they wear much lighter clothes and Scarlett's hair is down. only Albert's face is visible and he's looking at Scarlrtt with a gentle smile./end id]

tosab sketches from aggie io session with @edmeom (check the post over here)

[bobbys-not-that-small]

ngl I lot of the things I want to talk about re: Scarlett and Browne I feel like I wouldn’t even be able to post about in a year’s time because they are MASSIVE spoilers for all 3 books! so… not sure what to do about that… rb if you want to join my carrier pigeon mailing list about Scarlett and Browne I guess

[hauntingthenarrativepod]

Lockwood did his annual New Year's goal setting and reflection recently (post-The Screaming Staircase)... and so did we! January podcast plans & schedule below the cut.

Our January podcast schedule goals:

8th Jan - Ghost Economics 101 (a macro look at the economy in the Problem universe)

22nd Jan - What the **** is Ezekiel? (three theories are presented for you to vote on)

Late Jan or Early Feb - The Notorious Scarlett & Browne, babes (BONUS EP because the whole fandom is sleeping on this series!)

5th Feb - Locklyle, my heart (let's talk about how to write a romance without the kiss)

[nathaniel-underwood-is-an-intj]

Literally just finished Notorious Scarlett and Browne

In that hyper stage where I just have to share my thoughts so excuse the ramble. (Spoilers!)

Sneaky Bartimaeus reference? Very reminiscent of Nat and Kitty's parting. I love how It's easy to find similarities between Storud's stories and characters without it feeling too repetitious.

The revelation about Thomas didn't surprise me- I'd read the summary for the third book but before that I felt it was kinda obvious she was like the reverse of Lockwood. But her middle name being Josephine absolutely did surprise me (unless I missed it being mentioned before?) but omg does the name suit her!! Made me realise we don't know what Jo and Ettie's surname is which I'd like to know!

Lighthearted moments I liked:

But also I was so confident Albert was my favourite character (love all of Stroud's psychologically messed up male protagonists anyway so it wasn't exactly a competition) but then in came Mallory omg - a more fucked up version of Albert that has absolutely no qualms about killing people?? Sign me tf up baby I love him so much! I said Nat has Catholic guilt vibes but oh boy Mallory is the BLUEPRINT for catholic guilt 🤌🏼🤌🏼

Maybe an unpopular opinion? But he definitely deserved better! I want to see him developed more as character and see more of his personality shine through rather than just be a vague threat from Stonemoor. I found his self assurance and egotistical nature really interesting considering years of child abuse - we kind of see it with Nathaniel but it's mostly an act and bravado whereas that does seem to just be what Mallory is like.

I'm loving the found family vibe as well - it was nice to see Jo and Ettie have stayed with Scarlett and Albert and the addition of Sal Qin at the end is really sweet. And I just think Mallory would fit in perfectly with the found family trope. None of them are really great people so he fits in so well 😭 I know I'm deluding myself thinking two people with the same power and background could be given equal space in the book so Mallory's end is probably final. But it was a little more vague so maybe? 🥹 What do we think does anyone else want him back? Also I know mentions of an adaptations are out there and I can't get the image how the last chapter would look on screen: Albert and Scarlett discussing the fight, thinking about the future joking about how Mallory is under several buildings and the future looks so bright. And then post credits we just see him come crawling out the revine. Or is that too cliche? But a small dose of cliche is healthy in a western vibe book right?

Mallory goading Albert before their fight was actually really cute as well; he was 🤏🏼 this close to being a mentor to Albert like an annoying af big brother or something 😭 I can picture him flirting with Scarlett as well purely to be irritating.

And I understand Albert being upset about Mallory killing the watchman - Albert does feel bad about hurting people even in self defense and it contrasts to Mallory not caring at all, but I was surprised that it was such a strong catalyst for his rage? Mallory kind of inadvertently helped them by getting rid of someone who could sound the alarm.

I just really love Mallory's pursuit of perfection leading to his own self hatred and I feel like it could be explored more with him as a character. Nathaniel gradually became more fearful of uncleanliness and disorder as he lost control of his life but it's cool to see the concept of a character viewing themself as impure and being filled with self hatred because of that (again gimmie those catholic guilt vibes all day long.)

I also like how he hasn't got the fear of his power that Albert has; Albert fears himself Mallory hates himself instead. But he also hates 'normal' people too which is really interesting, he just seems so lonely that's why I want him to join the little ragtag group 😭

Dr Calloway's death felt very justified but Mallory's (potential?) death just felt hollow because he's exciting and doesn't feel like his story was filled out enough. But then again we don't have any information about Calloway- not even a first name. The effect it gives is of a faceless entity of an institution. Even the description of her wearing glasses gives the impression of dehumanising her- If anyone knows anything about the Stanford Prison Experiment that's the impression she leaves. And that lack of knowledge about her is fulfilling in a way. No real personality shines through because she's been dehumanised. But Mallory is different - we see little glimpses of his personality, he's less of a faceless entity.

And even when Albert is trying to convince him to join them (whether this was supposed to be a trick or genuine I wasn't sure- Albert is kind enough to have been genuine but also I don't know if he'd want to risk Joe, Ettie and Scarlett) his reaction shows the cracks in his confident swagger. He's furious when Albert suggests society hates him, even though he's stated it himself many times and says he's accepted that fact. It kinda gave me the impression he's just trying to convince himself he's okay with being an outcast an completely alone but hearing it from someone else reminds him of the trauma of having it pointed out by Drs in Stonemoor and the defence mechanisms start to kick in.

And during his fight with Albert we see him have a real connection with someone- he and Albert share strange moments bordering on bonding with each other. I think it's a connection they both need because no on else has such similar shared experiences. I don't even want a redemption arc for him- he's irredeemable in the same way Scarlett and Albert are which is why he fits in with them so much!

Anyway what do people think? Do you think Mallory will return? Do you want him to? I'm so excited for the last book to come out and so scared I'll be disappointed 🥲

Aside from Mallory; the will they won't they of Scarlett and Albert is stressing me out! I can't decide if they're even meant to be shipped or not. It doesn't help that Albert's age is left really vague - Scarlett makes him sound quite young in comparison to her but Albert says she's hardly older than him so idk. I know Stroud tends to keep these things vague on purpose but this seems more so than usual which makes me think I'm crazy when they have adorable moments together.

I kind of get the impression Albert has a sort of crush on Scarlett but she views him as a little brother. How does everyone else see them?

[pompomnium]

The Notorious Scarlett and Browne, available today! I would like to say that it is, but in fact it is not yet. The publisher said it was today, but apparently stores will start releasing the book on the 22nd. I guess I was too early, hehe. Still, I am sooooo happy that it will be on sale soon! Can't wait.

↓In addition, I will also include the Albert that I painted before.

[creaturebuff]

Hey LockNation! If you haven't seen the fabulous interview with Jonathan Stroud on the Writing Community Chat Show (@writing_show on Twitter) you totally should do so now (link below)!

He'll be back this Friday, 8 p.m. (UK time). Don't miss it!

[mo-racca]

My UK editions of l&co and s&b arrived today. How serendipitous that it’s the 2 year show anniversary. And the L&Co books are signed by Stroud!!! I am so happy ☺️