In this stunning debut, author Scott Lynch delivers the wonderfully thrilling tale of an audacious criminal and his band of confidence tricksters.
Set in a fantastic city pulsing with the lives of decadent nobles and daring thieves, here is a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part Robin Hood, one part Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling. . . .
An orphan's life is harsh—and often short—in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains—a man who is neither blind nor a priest. A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans—a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards.
Under his tutelage, …
In this stunning debut, author Scott Lynch delivers the wonderfully thrilling tale of an audacious criminal and his band of confidence tricksters.
Set in a fantastic city pulsing with the lives of decadent nobles and daring thieves, here is a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part Robin Hood, one part Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling. . . .
An orphan's life is harsh—and often short—in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains—a man who is neither blind nor a priest. A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans—a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards.
Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting. Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful—and more ambitious—than Locke has yet imagined. Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men—and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game—or die trying. . . .
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A rip roaring, entertaining read. I loved the complete lack of focus on worldbuilding, nothing of the wider world is fleshed out, or plays a part in the story, instead it's all just a cool setting for a fun heist and revenge tale.
I will say the playful tone left me unprepared for the violence when it arrived, and there is no way that halfway through the book I would've expected the body count to reach what it does by the end. This tone discrepancy robs the dramatic moments of some of their emotional heft but it definitely keeps things thoroughly engaging.
If you're looking for a good old fashioned fun time with a book, this is a great option.
I put off reading Lies of Locke Lamora a long time. One reason was the "Nice bird, asshole" quote that comes up all the damn time. Now that I finally read the book I must say that that quote is over-rated. So damn over-rated. But at least the book is still good. It was indeed very entertaining I liked the characters and the world felt very dense. The interludes were a bit annoying, overall. They did add a lot, but there were also a lot of them. Maybe too many. I guess we'll never know.
If you enjoy fantasy with witty characters, if you enjoy con men stealing from the rich then this book might be for you. I will give the next books in the series a try.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
It's a cool book for a number of reasons. The prose is awesome. It walks the spectrum from vulgar to pretentious and back to paint the city of Camorr and its people that walk the same spectrum. Scott Lynch has a talent for words. The text evokes the smells and moods and it is helped by the wonderful names.
For me the made-up names are important. I value the names that are not cliche fantasy names, that feel like they have logic and history behind them, and that sound good in the end. Camorr, Talisham, Emberlain, Capa Barsavi, Don Lorenzo Salvara, Doña Sofia, Lukas Fehrwight, etc. Great names! They have a basis in real-world languages, and they are more evocative for that.
The world that's built has a strong original atmosphere, but functionally it's mostly a generic dark medieval fantasy. There's a lot of detail about geography and cuisine and …
It's a cool book for a number of reasons. The prose is awesome. It walks the spectrum from vulgar to pretentious and back to paint the city of Camorr and its people that walk the same spectrum. Scott Lynch has a talent for words. The text evokes the smells and moods and it is helped by the wonderful names.
For me the made-up names are important. I value the names that are not cliche fantasy names, that feel like they have logic and history behind them, and that sound good in the end. Camorr, Talisham, Emberlain, Capa Barsavi, Don Lorenzo Salvara, Doña Sofia, Lukas Fehrwight, etc. Great names! They have a basis in real-world languages, and they are more evocative for that.
The world that's built has a strong original atmosphere, but functionally it's mostly a generic dark medieval fantasy. There's a lot of detail about geography and cuisine and politics and herbs and a lot of elderglass. But the only novelty in terms of its effects is magic. The magic practiced by the Bondsmagi appears to be extremely rare (suggesting that some apparent impossibility might be the work of a Bondsmage will get you laughed at) and practically limitless. They are like gods for hire. This is a strange setup, and while it's not examined too deeply in this first book, it's enough to get you thinking.
The structure of the book with interludes and occasional changes of viewpoints is okay. It keeps things interesting.
So how's the plot and the characters? I thought it would be a bit better. Locke is this super thief. He proves that as a child, he proves that with the Salvaras. But then he stops being clever. Okay, he cannot do much against a Bondsmage. But why summon the mage just to get tortured? Why believe that the Gray King told him the true plan for the Echo Hole meeting? Why believe that the Salvaras wanted to invite him to the Raven's Reach party out of their fondness for him? Did he forget that they knew he was robbing them? He told them so!
In the end of course he still wins. Is it because he starts being clever again? He does start being clever for a hundred pages when he's got to get a fancy suit. But beyond that he's just relying on deus ex machina to get him through the hard times. Why would he not, if it works so well! Half-dead and never a competent fighter, he still manages to beat the main villain and long-time pirate captain in hand-to-hand combat.
We have a crew of old friends doing amazing heists together and bantering non-stop. Loyalty and friendship are big themes. Yet 60% of the crew gets killed off without much reason. They knew they would likely be attacked and their plan was to just sit at home with all their treasure and wait? It's like the author forgot about Calo and Galdo when writing the ending and he fixed it by going back through the draft and killing them off off-screen after their last mention.
I felt that much of the good and the bad that happened to Locke was not fairly deserved. It was a fun read though when I was not overthinking the plot.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
An incredibly fun read. I was immediately grabbed, though it took a while to get used to every other chapter being an interlude. Engaging setting and characters and delightfully convoluted schemes.
My biggest issue was the writing of women characters - there are only a few, and most of them have no personality beyond being a daughter/wife/etc of a male lead, and/or dying. (The second book is a vast improvement in this regard)
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
I felt that this book started off slowly, I even thought about stopping about half way through. At that point it became more interesting, especially the relationships between the gentlemen bastards. I ended up enjoying the roller coaster of an ending.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Extremely fun. Great characters. Filled with suspense. The interludes killed the flow somewhat and their foreshadowing unfortunately allowed me to see a lot of twists in advance. Well written with often brilliant dialog. I frequently laughed out loud, often felt disgusted and always wanted to pick the book back up immediately when taken away from it.
Extremely fun. Great characters. Filled with suspense. The interludes killed the flow somewhat and their foreshadowing unfortunately allowed me to see a lot of twists in advance. Well written with often brilliant dialog. I frequently laughed out loud, often felt disgusted and always wanted to pick the book back up immediately when taken away from it.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Really great.
Wasn't sure about the pacing, it drags a little in description (although it does very well!). The plot takes a while to pick up and the resolution happens very quickly at the end. Bit of a Sanderson Avalanche.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This series is classified under Fantasy, and while that originally got my attention, the book was more Epic Heist than anything and the story of Locke Lamora kept me reading. Right from the opening chapter I knew this book would be special. The strange names in a place that could be Venice, the aggressive language and all of it around a mischievous boy named Lamora drew me in.
I don't read heist or con stories, my exposure to them in films is the "Ocean's" Trilogy and "Catch Me If You Can", so I had no preconceived notions of what should or shouldn't be in a story and I loved it all. There were cons on top of cons, witty dialogue, and the story kept me guessing right until the very end. The relationships between the characters was well executed with the current and past perspectives and each character was wonderful …
This series is classified under Fantasy, and while that originally got my attention, the book was more Epic Heist than anything and the story of Locke Lamora kept me reading. Right from the opening chapter I knew this book would be special. The strange names in a place that could be Venice, the aggressive language and all of it around a mischievous boy named Lamora drew me in.
I don't read heist or con stories, my exposure to them in films is the "Ocean's" Trilogy and "Catch Me If You Can", so I had no preconceived notions of what should or shouldn't be in a story and I loved it all. There were cons on top of cons, witty dialogue, and the story kept me guessing right until the very end. The relationships between the characters was well executed with the current and past perspectives and each character was wonderful and unique.
For a single book this was a great read. I will keep reading the Gentleman Bastard series but I am hopeful that the repetition of con/being exposed/con/rinse/repeat may be a bit tiresome.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A swashbuckling, rollicking page-turner. Locke Lamora is the unlikely hero, a principled rogue who routinely applies his talents in areas where they usually wouldn't apply. Then there's the setting of the city of Camorr, which is as much a character in the tale as anyone else. This is the best fantasy novel I've read in a long, long time.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Review from October 2012: I liked this one despite the confusing structure with the interludes - there was at least one instance where the timing was very much not "in order". Locke is an interesting character and I had fun following his exploits. I downloaded the second book right after finishing this one, a good sign I'd say.
Review from 2016: This is a fantasy book about a thief named Locke Lamora - obviously - and his gang. The story is set in a city named Camora and begins as they are in the early stages of the execution of the biggest heist they have ever planned. It's somewhat complicated and rather daring and features a few early "oops" moments that made me smile. But then the ante is upped when the Grey King makes his first off-stage appearance killing other gang leaders - colleagues of Locke's. From there on …
Review from October 2012: I liked this one despite the confusing structure with the interludes - there was at least one instance where the timing was very much not "in order". Locke is an interesting character and I had fun following his exploits. I downloaded the second book right after finishing this one, a good sign I'd say.
Review from 2016: This is a fantasy book about a thief named Locke Lamora - obviously - and his gang. The story is set in a city named Camora and begins as they are in the early stages of the execution of the biggest heist they have ever planned. It's somewhat complicated and rather daring and features a few early "oops" moments that made me smile. But then the ante is upped when the Grey King makes his first off-stage appearance killing other gang leaders - colleagues of Locke's. From there on the tension rises and rises and there are many moments where I was sure there was no way out for them ... well and sometimes there really isn't. The gang is well-characterized with the Sanza twins, Bug, and Jean. Even the absent Sabetha. I enjoy the world in which buildings from an ancient civilization create an unlikely city. Magic is extremely rare, and powerful. More common is the art of Alchemy which is described in a round-about but fascinating way giving only hints at what's possible. All in all a great book. But I have to deduct one star because it feels somewhat lengthy (it is long but it shouldn't feel that way, no book should) and the plot tends to meander a bit. Minor I'd have liked to have the Grey King tied into Locke's early life somehow, maybe through foreshadowing him in those parts with Chains. But he isn't and so he comes out of nowhere.
Sometimes I wonder if Sanderson was inspired by the interwoven story of Locke's early life for Way of Kings. If he was, he should have looked closer because as much as I love [b: Way of Kings|7235533|The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1)|Brandon Sanderson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1448127430s/7235533.jpg|8134945] this book does it better. I enjoyed those little episodes from the past way more than I did Kaladin's backstory in Way of Kings.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Great characters, interesting world. I VERY MUCH like the introduction of the world through short stories, flashbacks, etc. Beats the heck out of Robert Jordan-style ponderous histories and 10-page-long expositions. It's not a real world, people! I shouldn't have to learn a full dynastic succession to appreciate your story.
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
An incredible story about a world that reminded me of Venice, Italy in atmosphere and environment, and an elaborately detailed description of the colourful people who live there. Absolutely a book to read if you like exotic places, plots and different cultures. And that's no lie.
