Honestly? The last book I read that captured me this much was "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. But, even then, Rothfuss's poetic tale didn't make me feel as much. I was caught up in its whimsy, not the brunt force of its emotions.

The last 100 pages of "The Lies of Locke Lamora" held me captive. I had no choice but to sit at the bar, ignoring all external stimulus, until I could close the paperback. I'm in love with these characters. With Locke and Jean, The Spider of Camorr, and Captain Reynart. All these people, on opposite sides of the coin, but interwoven. Lynch has written a masterful mix of epic world-building, poetic prose, and a downright magical use of the gritty and vulgar language of the street.

All characters are fully realized, even those who don't have large roles to play (so far). And those that you truly get to know? Well, you cheer at their successes, morn their losses, and feel nauseous right along with them when they have to attempt some death-defying feat just to escape from an even worse fate.

Numerous times.

This book had me all kinds of nervous. I'm lucky I have any fingernails left.

Please, if you like fantasy, if you appreciate richly developed worlds and characters, if mysterious magics and alchemy coupled with thievery and the slightest hint of piracy intrigues you, read this book!