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.