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The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)

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The Lies of Locke Lamora (The Gentleman Bastard #1)

by Scott Lynch

4.25 · rating details · 10,209 ratings · 1,240 reviews

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’...more

Hardcover, 499 pages

Published June 27th 2006 by Bantam (first published January 1st 2006)

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Jan 25, 2010

Michael rated it

Shelves: goodest-reads-ever, 2000s, fantasy, goodest-reads-2010, reviews-with-the-most-votes

Ocean's Eleven was great and everything, but know what would've made it cooler? If the setting had been during the late middle ages, possibly the Renaissance. Better yet, a fantasy world version of the Renaissance with an intricate system of magic and a complex set of political conspiracies to add some flair. And what if the city was built upon the ruins of an earlier city, and the earlier city was built by some enigmatic science fiction creatures that have since disappeared?

And ...moreOcean's Eleven was great and everything, but know what would've made it cooler? If the setting had been during the late middle ages, possibly the Renaissance. Better yet, a fantasy world version of the Renaissance with an intricate system of magic and a complex set of political conspiracies to add some flair. And what if the city was built upon the ruins of an earlier city, and the earlier city was built by some enigmatic science fiction creatures that have since disappeared?

And if instead of a handsome, tepid and understated George Clooney in the lead, we had a short guy who can't swordfight a whit, and has a bit of an anger management issue? And he drops unexpected one-liners that make you literally laugh out loud while you're in the breakroom at work and suddenly everyone is looking at you like you're psycho? What if the character went to the Mel Gibson school of Masochism, requiring he gets beat to a bloody pulp and stabbed and drowned in horse urine...oh, I don't know....several times per story arc? How about this character (we'll call him Locke) is absolutely fallible and occasionally screws up on a cosmic level? The kind of screw-up that would get someone less clever killed in mere seconds? And what if, improbably, this protagonist somehow escapes and still--in a manner of speaking--wins?

That sounds like fun. But, it COULD end up a little predictable. So, the author should be a recent graduate of the George R R Martin School of Bumping Off Prominent Characters (Yes, these schools do exist). And the con game Locke is building should hit tons of snags that continue raising the stakes and drawing in new, more dangerous characters, increasing the risk until you just can't stop reading even to put out house fires for the last couple hundred pages. And then, when somehow the Gentlemen Bastards emerge on the other side, coated in their own blood and the blood of others, triumphant, you put the book down and say "Wow."

Furthermore! How about, even though the book is the first book in a ridiculously long series, this hypothetical book is a complete story! (For those of you who read a lot of Very Long Fantasy Serieses, this may be a foreign concept. It may help to wiki the words "climax" and "resolution.") When you finish this one, you aren't forced to keep reading in order to find out how the conflict is resolved. You actually know. That sounds pretty cool.

Well, it is cool. It is witty, profane, violent, over the top, and frequently hilarious. I can't believe this is Scott Lynch's first novel, and I can't wait to read more. This is an incredibly fun adventure novel. Find yourself a copy and read it.
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Dec 28, 2011

Grant rated it

Shelves: favorites

Upon finishing The Lies of Locke Lamora, I immediately stood, stretched and grinned wildly at the novel wishing I could give Scott Lynch a solid and well deserved fist bump. The man got it right. All of the things that made me fall in love with fantasy were contained within The Lies of Locke Lamora and to feel that joy and wonder and depth again was a blessing indeed.

Locke Lamora is an orphan and a thief from birth with a gift for getting himself into trouble in the most fantastic...moreUpon finishing The Lies of Locke Lamora, I immediately stood, stretched and grinned wildly at the novel wishing I could give Scott Lynch a solid and well deserved fist bump. The man got it right. All of the things that made me fall in love with fantasy were contained within The Lies of Locke Lamora and to feel that joy and wonder and depth again was a blessing indeed.

Locke Lamora is an orphan and a thief from birth with a gift for getting himself into trouble in the most fantastic manner possible. He's cunning,dashing and above all incorrigible....the very image of a rogue in the making. Within a short period of time, Locke finds that he's become too great of a liability for his master and is sold (narrowly avoiding death) into the city of Camorr's most exclusive gang. Enter, the Gentleman Bastards, a handpicked group of highly trained con-men who are as talented as they are endearing. Calo and Galdo Sansa, the rakish twins with a love for gambling and eyes for women. Jean Tannen, the orphaned son of wealthy merchants with a mind for numbers, a demon's temper and a possibly god-given talent for violence. And later in the series, Bertilion "Bug" Gadek, the young apprentice of the Gentleman Bastards who wishes nothing more than to be recogized as a full fledged Bastard by his brothers. The Bastards are led by the eccentric Father Chains, a nearly lifelong con artist who has perfected his craft secretly and wishes nothing more than to train a cadre of thieves to carry on his legacy to the future and beyond.

The training that Locke and his brothers recieve over the coming years is as strenuous as it is diverse. Their education is one of deception and misdirection, of disguise and deceipt and they use these tools to wreak havoc among the nobility of Camorr, stealing from them shamelessly and ensuring that the nobles own prideful silence at being taken in a confidence game would keep the Bastards from being known, much less caught. Locke becomes the Thorn of Camorr, a shadowy thief of nearly mythical proportions whispered about in backrooms, feared by the nobility and hunted by the Spider, faceless commander of the Duke's secret police. All of Camorr must beware the Thorn, even the criminal underworld's feared ruler, Capa Barsavi, who is Locke's very own garrista/boss!

Ultimately, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a story of the bonds of love and loyalty forged between friends, the torture and pain of innocence lost and the lengths to which people will go to find vengeance as well as justice. Along the way, we're treated to the witty banter and good natured ribbing of the Gentleman Bastards and it's oh so hard to not fall in love with their roguish charms.

The novel is a fast paced, easy read which seldom if ever becomes stale and is the perfect pace from beginning to end. It is the first in what is to be a trilogy by Scott Lynch however it could easily be read as a stand alone novel since it has a very gratifying and definite conclusion. There are certainly plenty of open storylines for future novels however all the major plot developments are neatly and pleasantly tied up by novels end making for a very, Very satisfying conclusion.

I would recommend this highly to any fan of the fantasy genre or of high adventure. I'll leave you with this:

"I only steal because my dear old family needs the money to live!"
Locke Lamora made this proclamation with his wine glass held high; he and the other Gentleman Bastards were seated at the old witchwood table. . . . The others began to jeer.
"Liar!" they chorused
"I only steal because this wicked world won't let me work an honest trade!" Calo cried, hoisting his own glass.
"LIAR!"
"I only steal," said Jean, "because I've temporarily fallen in with bad company."
"LIAR!"
At last the ritual came to Bug; the boy raised his glass a bit shakily and yelled, "I only steal because it's heaps of fucking fun!"
"BASTARD!"

*Grins* Come on. You gotta love it.(less)

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May 29, 2010

Jon rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: Alternative World October 2009 Selection

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, read-in-my-40s

The lies and deceit took center stage in this story. Only Jean and Locke garnered anything close to full character development. Nearly all the other characters were reduced to plot devices. The fantasy elements played bit parts with the exception of the unbelievably powerful Bondsmage.

The profanity in the dialogue at times put me off. I just find obscenities distracting in contemporary or dark fantasy. Curse creatively, please, just don't re-use the same old expletives I overh...more

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Oct 09, 2009

Ben Babcock rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, own, 2008-read, 2009-read, urban-fantasy

(Second review on October 9, 2009.)

In case the following new review doesn't make it absolutely clear, on a second reading, my admiration of The Lies of Locke Lamora has only increased. Even though I knew what would happen and anticipated every twist, I still enjoyed the book. While I don't think "re-readability" is a requirement for a great book, it certainly helps.

I quite enjoyed the story. It starts out as a con game and quickly becomes about intra-city poli...more

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Feb 18, 2009

Kelly rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-and-scifi, fiction, wits-and-fools, owned

From the first threat to use someone's balls as fish bait to the last attempt to drown someone in horse piss, I absolutely adored this book. It is absolutely everything it should be, and then some. Emphasis on the and then some because it completely defied my expectations on many levels, both genre-wise and quality wise.

Set in a freaky, mystical alternate Renaissance Venice, the story takes place amongst the underworld thieves and gangs of the city. Our protagonist (I definitely won'...moreFrom the first threat to use someone's balls as fish bait to the last attempt to drown someone in horse piss, I absolutely adored this book. It is absolutely everything it should be, and then some. Emphasis on the and then some because it completely defied my expectations on many levels, both genre-wise and quality wise.

Set in a freaky, mystical alternate Renaissance Venice, the story takes place amongst the underworld thieves and gangs of the city. Our protagonist (I definitely won't call him a hero), Locke Lamora, and his title implied lies, guide us through a twisted, involved, and incredibly fucking fun (as they would say themselves) plotline that bounces all over the place back and forth and winds to its improbable and yet not unbelievable conclusion. There's thieving, impersonating identities, lots and lots of lies (some well done, others less so), very creative swearing that often made me laugh out loud, gang fights, plenty of gore, and all the intrigue, politics and sweet sweet revenge you could possibly want. And even amongst all this filth and twisted dirtiness, it still manages to be about love and revenge and wonderful, awesome friendship.

I really loved how this book went right through and around genre expectations. Our protagonist Locke Lamora is not good looking, he isn't at all good in a fight, and we get to watch him be impotent in bed, an arrogant little snit who gets slapped down several times, and taking very very petty, not noble revenge on a bunch of people. He's just really smart. But realistically so. Sometimes even his spectacular ability to lie fails, and he has to go to Plan B. Sometimes Plan C. Sometimes Plan Z, until he's at the end of his tether, before he finally catches a break- and by that point he might be black and blue and humiliated and mutilated in a lot of nasty ways that don't usually get to happen to a hero. They also make no bones about the fact that he is a thief, and not in any Robin Hood sense at all, and no, there is no secret noble quest underneath that. Just deal with it. Love it.

Scott Lynch is also not afraid to kill people. Yup, George RR Martin, you have evil pupils. HAPPY NOW? Nobody is safe in this book, and you geniunely believe that anyone left alive could die on the next page by a random unlucky strike to the back of the head from a penny dropped from a height. He also is not close minded in his plots. He has created an incredible world, and he involves that world in the plot. Sometimes things go awry just... 'cause. Not everyone in the city is part of their plot. Shit happens. I love that as well. His world creation is absolutely incredible, by the way. No, not by the way. That's a main point. It's vibrant and pulsing and real, and you will absolutely be drawn into its fold. He's meticulous in detail, and yet not boring with it. He spent five pages describing an alien glass garden of roses and I was riveted- I thought it was some of the best pages of the book. He's a very very skilled storyteller, and his descriptions are just a part of that. He's able to keep things at a very brisk pace and indulge us all the while building his plot and enriching the background.

I read this in four days, you guys. There were many many reasons for that. I give this book four stars just 'cause I'm stingy with the five stars, but it is really a five star book for the fantasy genre, it absolutely is.

(Also: Yes indeed, people who have read this, Jean Tannen is awesome. The last two hundred pages made me a convert.)(less)

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May 06, 2008

Christopher rated it

This was a beautiful book with a fuckin' ugly ass cover (which I should sy right away is NOT the cover that they show here). I'm in a few online groups for people who like the sort of things that Neil Gaiman, China Mieville, George R.R. Martin, Peter Straub, Elizabeth Hand and their ilk are writing. I still haven't see a good label for that group.

The New Wave Fabulists. I hate that one. But they brought it on themselves.

The New Weirdist. I might hate that on even m...more

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Aug 03, 2009

± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ± rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: dark-fantasy, action-adventure

2 1/2

I'm not really sure what I think of the book.

I liked it from the outset - the description of all the trouble little Locke gave the poor Thiefmaker was fun. For a large part of the first half of the book, I actually enjoyed the "Interludes" more than I did the plot they were setting up. I felt too much time was spent with the Salvaras and setting all that up, and even though it became relevant, it still coulda been cut down, I think.

Also, t...more

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Jan 21, 2012

Becky rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, osga-challenged, 2012, highly-recommended, humorous, mystery-and-thrillers, nook, political, religion-related, reviewed, blog_osga

4.5 Stars

If books were boys, with the exception of two really awesome but short flings, my relationships in 2012 would be stuck firmly in the dreaded friend-zone.

But this book, this book took me by surprise. For about 200 pages, I thought this was another book for the friend-zone. It was good, smart and funny, but it didn't really hook me until almost the mid-point. After that, I couldn't get enough. After that, when everything started to come together, I realized how master...more4.5 Stars

If books were boys, with the exception of two really awesome but short flings, my relationships in 2012 would be stuck firmly in the dreaded friend-zone.

But this book, this book took me by surprise. For about 200 pages, I thought this was another book for the friend-zone. It was good, smart and funny, but it didn't really hook me until almost the mid-point. After that, I couldn't get enough. After that, when everything started to come together, I realized how masterful this book is, and how it snared me without my even realizing it. I kept coming back for more because I just needed to know what would come next. If books were boys, this one would be my boyfriend.

Well... for a while, anyway. ;)

If I were to name a flaw, I would have to place it firmly in the area of dialogue. Sometimes, when the action was getting wild, I wanted less decorum and more urgency. There were times that I just didn't feel that things were as dire as they should have felt, because always the 'please' and 'thank you' and 'if you wouldn't mind terribly' manners and niceties were in place. This one thing took me out of the moment, and it was hard to get back. Don't play nice, I can take it! This is an odd complaint to make, because usually people refer to this book as pretty foul-mouthed. And I like that... I just wanted it to be consistent. Be foul-mouthed when you're with the boys, when shit is hitting fans, when you're not in character as someone less foul-mouthed... Talk dirty, damn it!

Otherwise, I really, really loved it. I loved the characters, the plot, the way things fit together neatly, the way I never knew what to expect. I loved the concept, the way it was written, the interludes setting the stage as well as expertly foreshadowing events to come. I loved how the Gentlemen Bastards knew their strengths and played well to them, and that they knew their weaknesses and just didn't give a shit. I loved how the story built layer upon layer and how each little bit was parceled out just enough so that I was kept on my toes without ever feeling manipulated. This was expertly done... to be able to watch the characters playing cat and mouse with each other, none ever knowing who is playing which role, and allow the reader to slip in and play along without ever feeling that their own strings are being pulled... Well played, Scott Lynch. Well played, indeed.

So Locke and I might have a lasting relationship here... and open one, but we're OK with that. We'll just have to see where the next stage in our relationship takes us...

Here's what I imagine the love child to look like. Innocent looking little tyke, isn't he? ;)
Photobucket

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Mar 05, 2008

Josh rated it

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Shelves: fantasy, favorite-books

This is one of the best books I have read, in the fantasy genre or otherwise. Reading this, it's hard to imagine that this is Scott Lynch's debut novel, as it reads like a book from someone who has had plenty of time to master their craft.

I hate always bringing a comparison to George R.R. Martin, but here it's inevitable, for me anyways. First, I bought the book because of Martin's blurb of praise on the cover. Martin has great recommendations and he's never let me down. But not onl...moreThis is one of the best books I have read, in the fantasy genre or otherwise. Reading this, it's hard to imagine that this is Scott Lynch's debut novel, as it reads like a book from someone who has had plenty of time to master their craft.

I hate always bringing a comparison to George R.R. Martin, but here it's inevitable, for me anyways. First, I bought the book because of Martin's blurb of praise on the cover. Martin has great recommendations and he's never let me down. But not only is it a great book, Lynch's style draws comparison to Martin in many ways. It has the simple yet easy flowing prose, the sarcasm, the grittiness, the unpredictability. Yet it has a depth of character that I find more reminiscent of Robin Hobb, (just much less sadistic, as any fan of Fitz might know) as it follows mainly one character as he grows and learns his trade. If Martin and Hobb were to collaborate on a book about thieves, The Lies of Locke Lamora might be the outcome.

Not to say that Lynch pulls heavily from other authors. This book is a breath of fresh air and very different from fantasy that's out there today. Honestly, I normally wouldn't be entirely interested in a book about thieving, but I found this entertaining as hell. It's loaded with action, numerous plot twists, flawed characters, sharp (and often times filthy) dialogue and plenty of moments where I laughed out loud and got strange looks from my wife.

Yet even with all of that, I think Lynch's greatest strength may be his world building. Throughout the book there are interludes that flash back to Locke's past, as well as the past of other key characters -namely Jean- that provide a rich back story. These interludes aren't intrusive at all, and work really well to propel the story as a whole. It shows how the characters change and grew so much from the past to the present. This is done wonderfully. And then there's the world itself. I can tell that the author put a lot of time into the environment. I had no problem at all imagining the setting with the strange Elderglass buildings and Venice-like layout of islands and canals.

From the seedy underbelly to the rich towers of the nobility, Camorr is a city worth visiting; where the villains steal and murder and the heroes... well they steal and murder too. I really have nothing negative to say about this book. Although it's the first in a series, it is a complete story within itself. The author simply uses his skill and devilishly addictive writing to ensure that you'll come back again anyways. I recommend The Lies of Locke Lamora, and its author, whole heartedly. (less)

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Feb 28, 2009

Lori rated it

I am so excited to finally read this.

Well I've finished, and at the risk of ire from all my great friends here at GR who loved this book, I'm giving it a 3. The characters were well developed and I liked all the ones I'm supposed to like; the world was beautifully realized and very interesting; the author can clearly write BUT it just didn't grab me. In fact I skimmed the end.

Once again, I think alot had to do with timing - all I want to do is get back to this intense se...more

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Sep 27, 2011

Eh?Eh! rated it

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Shelves: goodreaders-made-me, babble-added, weep

Fantastic! This was so much fun! Some fantasies or adventures have a distinctly grim pall to them, Very Serious Stories, ones you feel like you have to read with a solemn face. This one, even when the situation was going to heck, had a wink and an elbow nudging you in the side. The audacity and cheek of the main character had me laughing, especially when he failed. Not that this was a farce or even a comedy. There was plenty of blood, guts, and pain, including perhaps the most yucky death ...moreFantastic! This was so much fun! Some fantasies or adventures have a distinctly grim pall to them, Very Serious Stories, ones you feel like you have to read with a solemn face. This one, even when the situation was going to heck, had a wink and an elbow nudging you in the side. The audacity and cheek of the main character had me laughing, especially when he failed. Not that this was a farce or even a comedy. There was plenty of blood, guts, and pain, including perhaps the most yucky death possible. I'll definitely be catching the rest of the series! I'll bend my "no epic fantasies" rule, again. This was a complete story that didn't end with a freaking cliffhanger. I totally approve.

While the modern cusses and liberal use of italics distracted, it gave the dialogue a cheerful flair. The writing, when it wasn't just plain fun, was well-crafted and enjoyable to read as it described the places. Pleeeeeeeenty of clothing porn, sheesh. The fighting was well done. I liked how the chapters broke the story up, setting up reveals and providing a bit of history to make the the next scene work. Oh man, I think there was a little bit of a tribute to The Princess Bride, with a Miracle Max type of scene; they even tally their assets!

I've gotten sick of books that spend a bunch of time describing all the members of the team, each one with a special skill. There's this other author in particular I remember was awful about that, every book and series of his following the same basic outline: this one about a berserker swordsman with a secret, a bowman with one eye, a savage shaman, and a red-haired whore; that one about a sensitive thief, a wily wizard, a half-man half-wolf hybrid, and a golden-haired whore; oh, and the one about the exiled nobleman, the northern axe-wielder, the dwarf acrobat, and the raven-haired warrior maiden...who was once a whore! This book snuck up on me with its team-building exercise and I didn't mind it. And, while the world presented in The Lies of Locke Lamora is definitely a man's world, most of the women who had a part were competent, significant, and not whores. But, hah!, the little historical blurb about whores is probably one of the best things I've read. By golly, I believe this book even passes the Bechdel test.

Can I say it? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!(less)

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Jul 20, 2011

David rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Thieves, Con-men, the Capa of Camorr

Shelves: audiobook, fantasy, fantasy-medieval, crime, fantasy-dark

This impressive debut fantasy novel does not quite rise to the literary greatness of The Name of the Wind or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, but Scott Lynch is still better than most fantasy authors his first time out. The Lies of Locke Lamora is about the title character, Locke Lamora, an orphan who grew up, Oliver Twist-style, on the hard streets of Camorr mentored by a priest who is actually the leader of a band of thieves. "Father Chains" is father figure to the Gentleman Bastards...moreThis impressive debut fantasy novel does not quite rise to the literary greatness of The Name of the Wind or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, but Scott Lynch is still better than most fantasy authors his first time out. The Lies of Locke Lamora is about the title character, Locke Lamora, an orphan who grew up, Oliver Twist-style, on the hard streets of Camorr mentored by a priest who is actually the leader of a band of thieves. "Father Chains" is father figure to the Gentleman Bastards, who become the most daring thieving crew in the city.

Basically, this is the book for you if you like fantasy with a gritty edge, thieves' capers, and roguish antiheroes. The Gentleman Bastards devise a scheme to rip off the city's nobles for a large fortune. Thanks to Locke's brains and disguise abilities, the caper is going just fine as they milk their marks dry, until they find themselves in the middle of a war for control of the city's underworld, the Duke's spymaster is put on the trail of the Gentleman Bastards, and Locke and his friends find themselves caught in an ever-changing web of double-crosses, betrayals, deceptions, and schemes by multiple parties.

At every turn, the Gentleman Bastards' situation gets worse, Locke finds a way out of it, and then things get even worse. I was very impressed by Lynch's ability to keep turning the screws while keeping the plot moving and never inserting any deux ex machinas or relying too much on improbable coincidence. The pieces of the plot all fit together from start to finish, and every character in the large cast behaved according to their role. Not every character was fully fleshed out, but the protagonists and their chief adversaries were. The worldbuilding was detailed but not belabored, and the little infodumping that was done added color. Lynch's writing does rely a bit too much on random f-bombs and occasional gratuitously grimy details, but he manages to keep from overdoing it, and there's actually (surprisingly) not that much sex and only a few deaths.

The ending wraps things up nicely while still setting our crew up for a sequel. Well done, Mr. Lynch, this book had me entertained from start to finish, never bored or grinding my teeth, and wanting to read your follow-up novel.(less)

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Sep 24, 2009

Elijah rated it

Shelves: favorites

I love a lot of books, and I don't hesitate to give a five-star rating if I come out of one feeling that it deserves such. But at times like this I wish that I was more stingy with those ratings, because then this five would mean more.

The Lies of Locke Lamora won't be for everybody. It's largely freewheeling escapism: schemes, hideouts, magic, etc. It's also not very tame, containing much violence and a fuck-ton of cursing. But it does everything that it does so very well, makes ever...moreI love a lot of books, and I don't hesitate to give a five-star rating if I come out of one feeling that it deserves such. But at times like this I wish that I was more stingy with those ratings, because then this five would mean more.

The Lies of Locke Lamora won't be for everybody. It's largely freewheeling escapism: schemes, hideouts, magic, etc. It's also not very tame, containing much violence and a fuck-ton of cursing. But it does everything that it does so very well, makes every character so interesting, and rounds every twist and turn (and there are a lot of them) so damn perfectly that it immediately leaps up to being one of my absolute favorites.

Let me put it this way, I read the first half in a matter of weeks, which is normal for me, and the second half in a matter of days. Two of them, actually.

While I'm still quite happy with the basic tenets of epic fantasy, this is an incredibly refreshing break from them. I could describe it (in the first half, at least) as Ocean's Eleven in a fantasy version of Renaissance Venice, but that would really sell it short. The world is wonderfully realized, with long passages of details that manage to stay light and interesting--that sort of thing can be poison to me sometimes. The characters seem a bit distant at first but grow on you awfully fast. In fact, I ended up so invested in them as people that I would often have to use a bit of hindsight to realize just how bad-ass or ingenious something that they would do was.

I could go on about the incredibly interesting religion at play in this world, and the fact that just about everyone is religious, albeit in strange and interesting ways. Or I could rant about how I ended up genuinely hating the villains, and not because they hit the regular "villain" signals in an adventure story, but because of what they actually did. I could mention that I laughed out loud and had my heart pounding ridiculously in my chest... but all of those things would (and do) sound awfully cliche. The fact is, I can recognize, logically, that this was the sort of story that pushes all the right buttons for me (a fantasy/mystery/swashbuckler/heist/hardboiled/crime/thingy) but that doesn't change the fact that it was all written extremely well. Not everyone will love it like I did, but I think a damn good number of people can get a lot out of it.(less)

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Aug 17, 2008

Sandi rated it

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Recommended to Sandi by: Beyond Reality September Fantasy BOM

Shelves: fantasy, 2008

I am completely ambivalent about "The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch. On the one hand, I liked the characters and really got caught up in their adventure. On the other hand, I hated how Lynch told us several times about a character who never once makes an appearance. I hated how he just dropped the storyline of Locke and the Gentleman Bastard's youth without completing it. I like how he wrapped up the main storyline and gave it a sense of finality, but left it open for more a...more

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Aug 30, 2007

Asher rated it

Shelves: fantasy

I wanted to like this book. For the most part, I did. However, a year(ish) later, all that I remember from this book are a few scattered images: a Sting-like caper. The "shark"-dancing. A really big tower and a party. And oh yes, the really squicky way that someone dies. At least, I hope he died. The rest of the book is subsumed into the knee-jerk disgust of a scene that happened in the first third? half? of a fairly long story.

While I'd like to read the second book in the ...more

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Feb 21, 2011

mark monday rated it

Shelves: operatik-sword

this was a wonderful, wonderful experience. it is hard to give a specific rationale for why i loved this book - there are so many reasons! it has adventure, flair, great characters, a robust narrative, a satisfying conclusion, is exceedingly clever and well-written, and just heaps of fun. it is a good-hearted book. terrible things do happen, but the book has at its core a love of humanity, of life, of loyalty, of kindness, of the ways that family can be created, of the ways that children can sur...morethis was a wonderful, wonderful experience. it is hard to give a specific rationale for why i loved this book - there are so many reasons! it has adventure, flair, great characters, a robust narrative, a satisfying conclusion, is exceedingly clever and well-written, and just heaps of fun. it is a good-hearted book. terrible things do happen, but the book has at its core a love of humanity, of life, of loyalty, of kindness, of the ways that family can be created, of the ways that children can survive terrible things, of the ways that adults can live with their own kind of honor, even as thieves.

strangely enough, there was no romance whatsoever. this was a pleasure to discover! i don't mind romance, when it is done well, but so often it bogs down books that are built on pure narrative - books like this one. no such bogging down occurs.

although pretty dark at times, this is also a humorous novel, and i laughed out loud at a lot of the clever moments and at many of the one-liners. maybe not the most subtle use of humor, but i'll take a real laugh when i can get it. as a cynical old man, usually when i laugh out loud at a book, it is in derision.

the world-building does not take precedence but it is there, and clearly thought out. i was slightly reminded of both tanith lee's Veniss (Venice by another name) and, strangely, Makkathran from the latest peter hamilton mega-opus. the city really comes alive at certain points. the novel is rich with details of the strangeness of Camorr.

the parallels with Ocean's 11 have been made repeatedly, and i suppose it is there. there are also many obvious uses of mafia culture, venice as noted, and italy in general. but put all together, it felt original to me, less derivative and more of a pastiche than a parody. and really, confidence games are timeless.

in my misguided excitement after finishing the last page, i started reading reviews on amazon and here in GR. i noticed something very irritating: people complaining about the frequent cursing and dropping of f-bombs. okay, now i can understand this if you are normally a fan of Regency romance or, say, classic adventure along the lines of rafael sabatini. or less violent fantasy in general. then i can understand the complaints and even respect them. but if you are a fan of rowdy modern adventure & fantasy, genres that frequently include blood & guts & murder & mutilation & slaughter....THEN GET A FUCKING GRIP ALREADY AND GET YOUR FUCKING PRIORITIES IN ORDER! my gosh, reading that kind of almost insanely unbalanced perspective really gets me agitated - you can read about humans being bloodily killed or tortured and yet the word FUCK gets your panties in a bunch? in a novel that depicts a city that hangs child thieves in public, it is swear words that really bother you?

i hate to end a review of a book i loved on such a negative note, but i had to get that off of my chest. so i'll end the review like this: if you like adventure, read this book! its awesome.(less)

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May 19, 2011

Hirondelle rated it

Shelves: fantasy

There is a set of fantasy books that I mentally assign to personally defined subgenre, the post-GRRM dude "gritty" multivolume epic fantasy. And I while I love GRRM´s writing and that particular series, I have had no luck with the subgenre it seemed to have spawned (or at least encouraged to publication and popularity) - with Erikson (gameish fantasy wishfulfillment stuff disguised as a novel), with Abercrombie (meh, do not care for any of his characters), with Scott Bakker (do not car...moreThere is a set of fantasy books that I mentally assign to personally defined subgenre, the post-GRRM dude "gritty" multivolume epic fantasy. And I while I love GRRM´s writing and that particular series, I have had no luck with the subgenre it seemed to have spawned (or at least encouraged to publication and popularity) - with Erikson (gameish fantasy wishfulfillment stuff disguised as a novel), with Abercrombie (meh, do not care for any of his characters), with Scott Bakker (do not care for anything. Though will give it another try), with the so acclaimed Rothfuss (21st century Terry Brooks. Mary Sue land totally).BTW those are all personal opinions, tastes vary and all that - but still, that is what I thought for your easy reference of what my taste is. Books usually highly rated (wonderful prose! compelling characters! Believable female characters whose "believability" consists of hot chicks just gagging for the probably foul smelling "gritty" male main character. Oh wait, believable female characters is not something they worry much about. YMMV) by a peculiar demographic, the dudes who can not have an ounce of respect for any fiction with any elements slightly ya-know-cooties-carrying girly.

Yes, I am bitter and I am picky (and if you got other recs, do let me know). But my mental image of this book was rather different, and worse, than what it turned out to be, so just explaining my misconception and So while I wanted to try this, just in case, it languished on my TBR pile for quite a few years.

And this is good, even very good, and dear dude post-GRRM "gritty" multivolume epic fantasy (maybe I need an acronym for this) genre, you are sort of redeemed in my eyes. Great atmospheric setting, interesting characters (including many of the secondary or tertiary characters), twisty plot details, nice writing.

Stopping it from being perfect, well I got some quibbles. Our main character is not, when his actions are analyzed, as smart as he is supposed to be (view spoiler). The plot sometimes feels a bit patched, for example some events on the buildup for the ending, as well as some of the bad dudes´s skills and motivations feels a bit contrived (view spoiler). The narrative style is not totally linear. A subjective, or even more subjective, complaint while very readable and a very fast read on points ( the flashbacks mostly), there was an occasional lull to the rhythm. But in all I liked it a lot AND respect it.

Some spoilerish questions, because google is failing me at finding discussions for these topics(view spoiler)
(less)

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Jun 30, 2009

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

For me this book is between 3 and 4 stars. Lynch does a wonderful job of creating a world and characters. The characters, overall, breath. The world is believable and enjoyable. This book is almost a fantasy version of The Godfather. Locke Lamora is an engaging character as his friend Jean. It's pace is well done, and the twists are enjoyable. Some of the scenes in you can see staged in your mind.

That said there are some problems with the book. Of the two strong, good female ...more

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Aug 12, 2011

Kevin Xu rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-finish

I heard so many recommends and good things about the author and this book, but I just found nothing there for me in this book, there was no story. I read the book for the first day I got it, then did not return to it.

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Jul 17, 2011

Tessa rated it

I picked this up on a whim, and am so glad I did. I really enjoyed it.
Locke is a thief, a conman, a liar, with his small gang of "gentleman bastards" they happily prey on the nobility of the faux Venice, Camorr, and decieve the criminal overlord. Then one day they encounter the grey king, who is killing off the thieves loyal to their master.

This is a pleasant change from fantasy quest novels, you actually care about the characters whether you like them or not, you want t...more

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Jul 11, 2009

Dan rated it

Locke Lamora is an entertaining book with likable protagonists and despicable villains--with the exception of the primary antagonist, who proved somewhat anticlimactic. The book's plot moved quickly and actually surprised me with some of its twists. It ain't a bad read by any measure.

I really liked the setting; Mr. Lynch did a good job establishing the city of Camorre and indeed its entire world. Well, okay, not the entire world: The profanity of the fictional setting is identical to...more

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Jul 30, 2008

Felicia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Sorry, I did not LOVE this book. I LIKED it. I know I'm in the minority, and I think it might be more Guy leaning, so if you like swashbuckley adventure sorts, with a Oceans-13 bent, this might be for you.

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Aug 27, 2011

Jennifer rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: flights-of-fantasy

This is a rolicking story of cons, conmen, lives hanging in the balance and revenge.

There are some good twists and turns, and clever cons. There is some very funny banter between the lead characters. And for world building, you really don't leave the city confines of Camorr, which is a very brutal and religious Coastal City.

And that was what I liked about it.

On the reverse side of the literary coin, the character of Locke Lamora, is developed as a man of act...more

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Jan 25, 2012

Anna rated it

Recommended to Anna by: friend on Westeros

This book was ridiculously entertaining. Normally the crazy mix of elements combined here would come off as something awful from fanfic.net.. but this guy makes it work!

Its like reading a mafia/Boondock Saints flick, with ~~splicers~~ alchemy~land Venice and occasional proper magic sprinkled in for the "fantasy" label requirements. And while it tries to be a sorta late-middleages in terms of setting, any and all anachronistic things are quickly explained via "oh yeah, aliens...more

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Nov 08, 2011

Shy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, favourites, read-in-2011, genre_fantasy-high-or-epic

What an excellent piece! I have not feel this satisfied with a book in quite awhile. Highly recommended =)

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Jul 26, 2011

Alicia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, fantasy

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, there were some really great things about it. For example, the fantasy world was fully formed and described, and the main character was a highly-entertaining, unapologetic liar and confidence man. But on the other hand, some things just did not work for me. For example, I felt bogged down in the numerous and overly thorough descriptions of the world. And the fantasy elements were too sparse for my taste.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is...moreI have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, there were some really great things about it. For example, the fantasy world was fully formed and described, and the main character was a highly-entertaining, unapologetic liar and confidence man. But on the other hand, some things just did not work for me. For example, I felt bogged down in the numerous and overly thorough descriptions of the world. And the fantasy elements were too sparse for my taste.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a story about a confidence gang that happens to exist in a fantasy setting. Outside of the world itself, the only remnant of fantasy found in this book a single character who is a Bondmage (i.e., sorcerer bad-guy dude). The Bondmage makes the gang's plans rather difficult to carry out. The Bondmage was fun, in an evil bad-guy sort of way, and I appreciated his presence in the story.

Other than the Bondmage, the fantastical elements of the story were nothing more than a backdrop. I found this quite frustrating, because the fantasy backdrop was amazing, and I wanted so badly for it to be relevant. The land in which the story took place had been previously inhabited by some alien beings, who left their alien buildings behind. Also, lots of lighting and nature described in the book were provided by "alchemical" means. But these fantastical elements were never integrated into the plot. Rather, they were simply things for the author to describe--in great detail through which the reader must suffer despite the lack of direct relation to the story. While reading, I eventually wished that the world was a little less fantastical, so that I wouldn't have to hear about it all the time. I found myself skimming over descriptions in order to get back to the story.

Let us now pretend that this book was about two-thirds a long as it actually was, and all the superfluous, irrelevant world description has been excised from the text. . . . I liked the story. It wasn't really a fantasy story, but I liked it nonetheless.

Locke Lamora (not his real name) is a likable, flawed character. I loved the idea of his being a priest of the Nameless Thirteenth god, of whom the other Twelve gods are ashamed. The Nameless Thirteenth is the Crooked Warden, the God of Thieves. Love that! As a priest of the Nameless Thirteenth, Locke was able (to my great amusement) to justify his dubious actions by asserting his devotion to the will of the Crooked Warden!

Locke Lamora (still not his real name) always had another trick up his sleeve. He devised plots to steal money from the nobility and to squeeze himself and his gang out of tight spots. And when tragedy struck, he turned his attentions to plans of revenge. It really is a wonderful story, and Locke is a wonderful character.

Despite the things I liked about this book, I do not see myself reading any other books in the Gentleman Bastards series. I simply do not look forward to suffering any more descriptions of that world.(less)

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Jul 02, 2011

Carol rated it

Shelves: action, fantasy, time-period-fantasy, male-lead

An enjoyable read: interesting characters, a swift moving plot, an interesting world.

I found myself laughing at the very beginning at the banter between the Shadowthief and Locke, and them and Father Chains. Clever stuff, although I would have to agree with some of the reviewers who feel the cursing is both off-putting and incongruent. Nonetheless, the dialogue is snappy, building exposition and character in a dynamic way from the very beginning.

The story is told in piece...moreAn enjoyable read: interesting characters, a swift moving plot, an interesting world.

I found myself laughing at the very beginning at the banter between the Shadowthief and Locke, and them and Father Chains. Clever stuff, although I would have to agree with some of the reviewers who feel the cursing is both off-putting and incongruent. Nonetheless, the dialogue is snappy, building exposition and character in a dynamic way from the very beginning.

The story is told in pieces, with chapters alternating between Locke's growth with Father Chains and the Gentlemen Bastards, and the current time. The technique works surprisingly well, as Lynch does a nice job of breaking the sections to somehow relate--the past often partly foreshadows or illuminates the present. He does such a good job of building tension, however, that I was skimming the past parts by the end of the book so that I could find out how Locke extracts himself and Jean from the ultimate fiasco.

Locke has a fatal flaw a mild wide, and it's apparent from a very young age. Father Chains goes through great lengths to help him learn this lesson, but it becomes apparent the message has bypassed Locke. Unfortunately, it means his own cleverness usually outmaneuvers him and puts loved ones at risk. It's a bloodthirsty book, from the "games" prisoners can go through to win lighter sentences or freedom, to the shark-dancing women performing on special occasions. Locke's final justice to the Falconer is bloody, and it too will come to haunt him.

There's a section told by "Spider," head of the secret section of the Duke's security, and it's a confusing bit. While well done and interesting, it truly does not well fit the rest of the story. Maybe Lynch was at a loss for how to build greater tension. I'm guessing that's the best reason for the section about her, as it otherwise fails to fit into the general narrative. When I first started reading the chapter, I half expected it to be about the female Gentleman Bastard the guys keep referring to--that would have made more sense.

There's also a tiny narrative bit near the end from the Grey King, a piece that seemed unimportant. Lynch had done such a good job of building him as a villain, it hardly mattered what his background was. The attempt to humanize him mostly fell short as it was a boilerplate family revenge tragedy--maybe the point is that he is the same as Locke? Could be, could be. It does contribute to the overall sense that pursuing revenge will ruin you. In that, Lynch achieves a very delicate balance. While many will applaud Locke's daring and ingeniousness, in the end, revenge is cold comfort.(less)

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Apr 17, 2011

Laura rated it

Shelves: fantasy, ya, for-reading-challenges, all-time-favorite, best-main-character, other-worlds, own-ebook, surpassed-expectations, reviewed, assassins, favorite-series, best-title, what-a-twist

If I was wearing a hat it would be off to Scott Lynch. This book is amazing. Going into it though, is like going into Million Dollar Baby: it's all fun and games and win after win and you think you've got a handle on where it's going and then BAM! It all goes to hell and you NEVER saw it coming.

Never before has a cast of characters so delighted me. Locke is brilliant and funny and ballsy as all hell. Probably my favorite part is when we learn that Locke was told once when he was younge...moreIf I was wearing a hat it would be off to Scott Lynch. This book is amazing. Going into it though, is like going into Million Dollar Baby: it's all fun and games and win after win and you think you've got a handle on where it's going and then BAM! It all goes to hell and you NEVER saw it coming.

Never before has a cast of characters so delighted me. Locke is brilliant and funny and ballsy as all hell. Probably my favorite part is when we learn that Locke was told once when he was younger not to piss off a Karthian Bondsmage. So what's the first thing he says when he comes face-to-face with one? "Nice bird, asshole." And that, right there, tells you a lot of Locke Lamora. He's arrogant but so damn smart that he can afford to be so. It was amazing seeing how all of his cons would unravel and suddenly make sense. He's always five steps ahead of everyone else around him.

The rest of the Gentleman Bastards are simply the greatest as well. Tough and loyal Jean Tannen, the comical and sneaky Sanzo twins and adorable Bug who is just trying to keep up with the men. But beyond the Gentleman Bastards are a whole host of other characters that are fascinating and so three dimensional from the rich Salvaras to The Gray King and even Ibelius, the questionable healer.

This book might not be for everything. There's some rather strong language (which I loved to death as I curse like a sailor in everyday life) and people get cut up, eaten, tortured, stabbed, burned, etc. This is a book about thieves, and some of those thieves don't have the strong morals that our main character does, and even Locke's morals only go so far and when he's pushed, he drops the fun attitude and becomes a force to be reckoned with.

And I loved the way the book was structured, how the reader gets interludes that jump back in time to round out the city of Camorr or how the Gentleman Bastards came to be as awesome as they are. I foresee this is a book I will want to read many, many times in the future... just after I read Red Seas Under Red Skies.(less)

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May 03, 2011

Marc Aplin rated it

Well, I set myself a challenge just over a week ago. There were 10 days left of 2010 and I wanted to find a fantasy book that had me turning the pages quick enough to finish it in time for our book club on January 1st 2011. I shouted out over Twitter for suggestions and through our forums and after a number of people said it... I went with; ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ by ‘Scott Lynch’.

The basic story is that ‘Locke’, a young orphan, finds himself in the hands of; ‘The Theifmaker’. It is...more

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Sep 25, 2010

Jan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, z-2010

Dammit this book was fun.
It mixes the genius schemes from Hustle (the BBC series), with the revenge plots of the Count of Monte Cristo, set in a fantasy version of Venice. It was delicious, people drowned in horse piss included.

Locke is an amazing main character. Very antihero, totally arrogant and too sure of himself, and well, a master thief. But he's also fiercely loyal, and a bit of a sissy when it comes to women I think. The other characters are all quite marvelous too, an...more

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About Scott Lynch

He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 2, 1978, the first of three brothers. He's lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area his entire life; currently, he's just across the border in Wisconsin, about half an hour east of the Twin Cities.

The Lies of Locke Lamora, his first novel, was bought by Simon Spanton at Orion Books in August, 2004. Prior to that he had just about every job you ...more

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Books by Scott Lynch

Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastard, #2)

The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard, #3)

2 pbs: The Lies of Locke Lamora & Red Seas Under Red Skies

The Bastards and the Knives (Gentleman Bastard, #0)

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Quotes from The Lies of Locke Lamora

“Some day, Locke Lamora,” he said, “some day, you’re going to fuck up so magnificently, so ambitiously, so overwhelmingly that the sky will light up and the moons will spin and the gods themselves will shit comets with glee. And I just hope that I’m still around to see it.”
“Oh please,” said Locke, “it’ll never happen”.” — 118 people liked it

“... It's perfect! Locke would appreciate it."

"Bug," Calo said, "Locke is our brother and our love for him knows no bounds. But the four most fatal words in the Therin language are 'Locke would appreciate it.'"

"Rivalled only by 'Locke taught me a new trick,'" added Galo.

"The only person who gets away with Locke Lamora games ..."

"... is Locke ..."

"... because we think the gods are saving him up for a really big death. Something with knives and hot irons ..."

"... and fifty thousand cheering spectators.” — 72 people liked it

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The Lies of Locke Lamora (The Gentleman Bastard #1)

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