(This review doesn't really contain spoilers until the second part, when I say there are spoilers. However, some vague information about earlier books is drawn upon in the first part. If you're being cautious, don't read this review.) 
 Upon first discovering its impending release... 
 Sabetha?! 
 ...Wait. Wait, you mean we actually get to meet Sabetha? 
 Well, Jesus. I've been wanting to meet this 'Sabetha' forever. If she's the reason Locke is both obsessed with and wary of red-heads, I want to know who she is. If saying 'What would Sabetha think of you, right now?' can shock Locke out of a depressed stupor, I want to know why. If he swoons upon thought of her, grimaces upon hearing her name, and gets defensive upon mention of his feelings towards her...well, you get the picture. I want to know who the frick this woman is to be able to make the Bastard a gibbering mess of self-pity. 
 Locke's match in skill and wit? Really? There actually is such a thing? 
 I suppose for someone as vain as our dear Locke, his infatuation must be just so. 
 Now... he will oppose her? I'm not sure if I'm excited for him, or if I feel bad for him. 
 We haven't even seen her 'in scene' in any of the reminiscences. Just her name mentioned, her whereabouts just partially revealed, or something vaguely said about her general appearance. We know for sure that Locke finds her attractive. She is the only female Gentleman- excuse me- Lady Bastard. She's done something unforgivable, though it is unclear what. We know she is far, far away. We know that she's a genius (a freaking MATCH IN WITS with our dear Locke). She is the Rose of Camorr, whereas Locke is the Thorn. She's most likely older than him, as Chains mentions signs of puberty appearing in her much earlier than in Locke. She's a red-head, which isn't a secret. She's mad, insane, as according to anyone who had ever met her. Locke still loves her... or her memory at least, I suppose. 
 I'm going to assume she is nearly identical in personality to Mr. Lamora. Mostly because, well, Locke is a self-obsessed narcissist at times. Sure he's had his moments of self-judgement. But mostly he's a conceited asshole. I'm not saying we don't love him for it, I'm just listing facts. 
 I'm also going to assume that when Locke lays eyes on her again, Jean will have to hold up his slack, inanimate body. I'm just guessing, but you have to agree that it's rather logical: take into consideration both Locke's image of her as described by Lynch, and some of Lynch's character reaction tendencies, and there you go. Consider it a theory. 
 I'm excited, if you didn't pick that up already. 
 Edit 8/6/12: 
 God, I hope it's really coming out this month. Oh, Lord, I pray to thee... 
 Edit Later: 
 Whatdayaknow? It's not. 
 Edit Even Later: 
 GODDAMMIT, LYNCH. 
 Edit Even Even Later: 
 Oooooh, so now it's coming out October this year, 2013? I'm almost afraid to hope so. 
 But I really, really hope so. 
 Edit Much Later: 
 YEEEEEESSSSS IIIIII HAAAAAAAAVVVVVVEEEEEE IIIIIITTTTTTTTTT! 
 Edit Upon Finishing: 
 Oh. My. God. 
 It wasn't a love story (love stories make me angry) but it was just right in that it portrayed love, but still kept it in the background of the overall story. 
 And when the book DID reveal it and decided to play with it a little bit, the story reached heavenly proportions. Oh my God. 
 Spoiler-free overview: 
 The Story: 
 He's in love. 
 But his 'long-ago-lover' left him years and years ago. However, when he finally joins her again, she is his enemy by design. 
 They are working against each other, much as they did in childhood (revealed through Interludes), to achieve opposing ends. 
 And in the end, Locke's true ancestry is revealed. 
 (There is brief foreshadowing of his ancestry, by the way... you may catch it). 
 The Interludes: 
 Sabetha was Locke's first Minder, an older child assigned to himself and some others as an overseer during his earlier childhood. 
 Upon first sight, when she spoke her first word to him, he fell in love (though he didn't know this yet). 
 Later in life, they are both assigned to Chains, and as they age, things become more complicated between them. 
 Eventually, Chains sends them away during these 'awkward years,' to get a hold of themselves and relearn to work together as a team, rather than argue like old men and women. 
 They are sent away to work for a man named Jasmer Moncraine, an actor, head of the Moncraine Company, preparing to preform a play entitled 'The Republic of Thieves.' 
 And despite the fact that this goes horribly wrong, the group of young Brother (and Sister) Bastards do become reliant on each other, once more.