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

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The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1)

by Scott Lynch (Goodreads Author), Michael Page (Narrator)

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 28,586 ratings · 2,392 reviews

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...more

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Published May 18th 2009 by Tantor Media (first published June 27th 2006)

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Apr 02, 2012 Nataliya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of fantasy full of humor, adventures, and blood.

Shelves: favorites, 2012-reads, first-in-a-series, location-is-the-true-protagonist

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a love child of Ocean's Eleven and The Godfather. With blood, deaths, betrayals, money, and drowning in horse urine. With a sh*tload of non-PG humor. All for the price of one. And it's SO. GOOD.

“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.”

-...more

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Jan 25, 2010 Architeuthis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2000s, goodest-reads-2010, fiction-that-speculates

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 if instead of a...more 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 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.
(less)

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Feb 18, 2009 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · 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't call him a...more 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'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 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.

Scott Lynch is also not afraid to kill people. 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. Stuff 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. 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 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. 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.(less)

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Dec 28, 2011 ☠The Dread Pirate Grant☠ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 manner possib...more 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 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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Feb 21, 2011 mark monday rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantastickal

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...more 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 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! it's awesome.(less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy

It took me over a month to read this, not because it was a bad book, but because I had a couple of tough classes to get through. Still, it was a very enjoyable and much needed break and maybe one of these days I’ll read it again. Oh, how I hate those real-life intrusions that keep me from getting immersed in a story!

Many comparisons have been made to the film, Oceans Eleven. While I enjoyed the film when I saw it a few years ago, I cannot remember a single detail now. I have a feeling that this...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Kay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: circumspect people

Recommended to Kay by: those with larceny in their hearts

Shelves: fantasy, heroes-flawed-n-great, poetry-in-motion, quirky

This is one of the most unique books that I've had the utmost pleasure of reading in a long, long time. The best way to describe this book is that is has a dam-breaking volume of pure, unadulterated

People compare this book to the likes of The Godfather and Ocean's Eleven. I'll follow the pattern and compare the book to the grit and vulgarity of Goodfellas! But such flattering associations notwithstanding, this book is undeniably unique and stands strong by itself.

This book is an opus of careful...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Jon added it · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: Alternative World October 2009 Selection

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

3 stars

The lies and deceit took center stage in this story. Pales in comparison to the Amazon-GoodReads tale from late March 2013 though. To get to the truth and sift through the facts, look no further than my review here: http://bit.ly/Z23RcL

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Apr 08, 2013 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of rogues, fantasy readers

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

Scott Lynch has made a name for himself in fantasy circles with The Lies of Locke Lamora. It is an enjoyable read that focuses on the initiation of a roguish Locke into the underworld of Camoor, a city that bears no small resemblance to Venice (minus the sharks, I suppose). It is populated with interesting characters, has a swiftly moving plot, and takes place in an interesting fantasy setting, so there's something to appeal to most fantasy readers.

From the beginning, dialogue is a strength in t...more Scott Lynch has made a name for himself in fantasy circles with The Lies of Locke Lamora. It is an enjoyable read that focuses on the initiation of a roguish Locke into the underworld of Camoor, a city that bears no small resemblance to Venice (minus the sharks, I suppose). It is populated with interesting characters, has a swiftly moving plot, and takes place in an interesting fantasy setting, so there's something to appeal to most fantasy readers.

From the beginning, dialogue is a strength in the writing. 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.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult

So this one was an interesting journey. I can't recall the last time it took me so long to finish a book (not counting the Song of Ice and Fire books and that was only because I was reading along with the t.v. show one episode at a time). Was it two weeks about to get through Lies of Locke Lamora? I don't even know now but it took for-flipping-ever.

You'd think if the book was so hard to soldier though, I would have quit out. Well Crystal and I were buddy reading this and I think we both stubbor...more

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Oct 09, 2009 Ben Babcock rated it 5 of 5 stars · 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 politics, class warfare, and revenge. No...more

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May 06, 2012 Jax rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

BRILLIANT!! A work of sheer genius!

I would not have believed this to be Scott Lynch��s debut novel.

Locke Lamora, an amoral genius, and his small but highly capable team of con-artists manage to hook you in from the very start. Orphans all �� they are bought by the ��Blind�� Priest (Chains) �� under whose tutelage they become the city of Camorr��s most savvy thieves, lead you through an intricately woven series of intriguing plot twists, lies, deceit, betrayal, murder, friendship and broth...more

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Nov 01, 2009 Abigail rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fantasy Fans

Recommended to Abigail by: Kelly

Shelves: fantasy-sf

Review Temporarily Removed.

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Aug 04, 2012 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-challenge, fantasy-sci-fi-challenge, gritty-reads

The Lies of Locke Lamora was an interesting novel that I very much liked but not quite enough to love. It was one of those few novels that sit awkwardly between: very much liked it and it was okay. So what I have decided to do is to quickly write three points on what worked for me and three points on what did not work for me.

What works well?

1) The setting

The world which Scott Lynch created was spectacular and interesting. A world where thieves rule and are ruled so long as their actions keep to...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Alicia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, series-quit, own-kindle

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 a story a...more 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 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 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 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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Jan 28, 2011 Jayaprakash Satyamurthy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A rolliciking fantasy adventure, remniscent of Fritz Leiber's tales of Fafhrd and Grey Mouser. The rating should be seen within the context of the moribund fantasy genre. I was rather enthusiastic when I first read this novel, and typed out the following review at the time:

I've read a lot of fantasy fiction over the years, most of which I'm perfectly happy never to read again. Others I've been surprised, challenged and impressed by - path-breaking classics that have changed my vision of what ca...more A rolliciking fantasy adventure, remniscent of Fritz Leiber's tales of Fafhrd and Grey Mouser. The rating should be seen within the context of the moribund fantasy genre. I was rather enthusiastic when I first read this novel, and typed out the following review at the time:

I've read a lot of fantasy fiction over the years, most of which I'm perfectly happy never to read again. Others I've been surprised, challenged and impressed by - path-breaking classics that have changed my vision of what can be done within the fantastic genre, and even approach the condition of literature by illuminating concerns far beyond the usual good vs. evil dynamics. And then there are the books which I return to time and again, simply because I want to, because they're fun - Fritz Leiber's tales of the arch-thieves Fafhrd And Grey Mouser, for example, or Jack Vance's chronicles of his very anti-heroic anti-hero, Cugel, or even Robert E Howard's robust, lurid tales of Conan The Barbarian. It's been too long since I've read something in the genre that approaches that level of sheer fun and wonder, without being hopelessly derivative or just plain badly written.

ImageScott Lynch's debut novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a lot like these stories. It's incredibly kickass and gripping storytelling, which also functions at a very high level of creativity, without weighing itself down with delusions of profundity or tricky avant-garde literary foppery. This is a fairly long novel, at just over 600 pages in paperback, but it never feels lengthy. Lynch hits the ground running with a cast of memorable, engaging characters who inhabit a genuinely intriguing and richly detailed world, and he keeps us locked into their travails and triumphs with sufficient transitory cliffhangers to sustain the pace, alternating between the main narrative and a slowly unfolding backstory.
The novel revolves around Locke Lamora, one of many petty thieves in the Venice-like city of Camorr, and the leader of a small band of thieves - the Gentlemen Bastards. The Bastards maintain the appearance of a thoroughly minor gang, one of the local godfather, Capa Barsavi's smallest associates. In reality, the Bastards, trained by the canny, devious Father Chains, a mentor figure whose absence from the present-day thread will no doubt be explained in future volumes, are the most succesful confidence artists the city of Camorr has ever seen. They prey exclusively on the wealthy nobility, pulling off capers that would put to shame the collective skills of however many accomplices Danny Ocean is currently surrounding himself with at the box office. In fact, they are almost too succesful for their own good, having stolen more wealth than they know what to do with. Still, conning is the only life they know, so they keep on with it in a sporting spirit, while making sure that no one knows just how wealthy they really are - an important precaution in the cut-throat atmosphere of Camorr.

When the story opens, they are seting up a typically cunning ploy to relieve a young noble couple, Don and Dona Alvara, of a considerable chunk of their fortunes. It's an elaborate, drawn-out scheme which requires Lamora to worm his way further and further into their confidence, making them transfer more and more money to him until he finally makes away with a spectacular haul. This is a well conceived and audacious plan in itself, and I'd have been perfectly happy to read the fantasy equivalent of a caper film about such appealing, if untrustworthy, characters, but then Lynch raises the stakes. A mysterious figure known only as the Grey King is systematically wiping out Capa Barsavi's most loyal and well-protected gang leaders one by one. Lamora has to make sure he himself, and his men, are safe, an effort only made harder by the fact that everyone suddenly wants Lamora to be a part of their plans both Capa Barsavi and the Grey King, to say nothing of the city's mysterious thief-catcher, The Spider, who has determined to capture Lamora, who, in his character as Camorr's most audacious and succesful conman is known to the world only as the Thorn of Camorr.

Things get more and more complicated Lamora and his friends, and there is much bloodshed, dark magic, betrayal and heartache along the way. Of course, I already knew that Lamora will survive because there's a sequel, but there are times when Lynch really makes you wonder how he's going to pull it off. Quite apart from the hi-jinks, Lamora and his accomplices are a real coup - they're witty, argumentative, and really stand out in your heads as an ensemble of memorable characters, rather than a gallery of talking heads. The interaction between them is one of the major charms of the narrative. It gives the novel that vital touch of humour, and it never descends to the banal levels of banter in a David Eddings novel.

Somewhere halfway through the novel does seem to bog down a little - the backstory sequences seem more intrusive as the main story really takes off, and there's a shift to darker tone, but bear with Lynch. There's no self-indulgence going on here, no worldbuilding for the sake of worldbuilding - every little aside and interlude has a bearing on something crucial later on in the story. This really is a very economically told story, for all its comparative length.Thre are no wasted words or ideas in it, except the ones that one assume serve as set-up for elements which will be dealt with in the larger series. But there's little enough of that, and The Lies Of Locke Lamora is that rarest of entities in contemporary fantasy - a rollicking, roistering yarn that provides entertainment without condescension or cliche.(less)

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May 06, 2008 Christopher rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 more.

Somewhere along the line,...more

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May 22, 2013 Uncommon Sellsword rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, disappointing

A rather disappointing, albeit competent work of fantasy. The Lies of Locke Lamora, though a bulky read, is thoroughly entertaining. And in the tradition of Fritz Leiber, his world is both intriguing and fun.

Unfortunately, the wonderment of his fantasy is wanting. His magic is technical, airy, lilliputian and too convenient. However, though his pseudo-historical setting only aids the story aesthetically, it creates a most befittingly sinister atmosphere.

The novel's first quarter was rather pol...more A rather disappointing, albeit competent work of fantasy. The Lies of Locke Lamora, though a bulky read, is thoroughly entertaining. And in the tradition of Fritz Leiber, his world is both intriguing and fun.

Unfortunately, the wonderment of his fantasy is wanting. His magic is technical, airy, lilliputian and too convenient. However, though his pseudo-historical setting only aids the story aesthetically, it creates a most befittingly sinister atmosphere.

The novel's first quarter was rather polarizing. It seemed slow and meandering, before long it became obvious that this portion was intrinsic and necessary. It still remains however, a rather poor opening as the enticing factor lies in the novel's opening progression and had me wanting to put it down before anything elating actually occurred.

That being said, I rather enjoyed the characters. Locke particularly, written with a brevity of flaws but a surplus of wit and human qualities. He isn't morally ambiguous, but certainly doesn't allow his ethics transcend nor impede a job that needs to be done.

His cognizant, laid back demeanor certainly helped in giving the novel a consistent flow. Yet he's not the only one. There's a large cast of characters that build upon the story's ominous narrative arc, with their distinctive and unpredictable alacrity.

I also enjoyed the harsh tongue of the characters, who abstained from medieval formalities. It was a relaxed, more hard-nosed manner of speech that brought the story and characters to life. And this style did not lie only within the character's speech but their demeanor in general. The way they react to situations are unrestrained, harsh and honest.

This is mostly seldom, as most authors write their perspectives from a Manichaean view point, where their characters (be them hero or villain) would act or see things in a black or white fashion. Normally, this would consist of either a restrained protagonist who'd refrain from brutal measures or a totally unbridled anti-hero who has absolutely no sense of morality.

As a heist novel, I was rather underwhelmed. The bulk of the book's heists consisted of vastly drawn-out confidence games, which basically meant formal conversations, plot devices and exposition. Of course there were excellent bits where the novel's famed thieving factions were put to use.

I was attracted to the novel's small scale story amongst a grand setting, yet even that format couldn't vindicate the diminutive sense of wonder and fantastic. Though I found the concept of gangster/hit-men for hire sorcerers adroit and intriguing, the magic displayed was disappointingly subdued. It acted in restrained, small doses, often hindering the characters but not nearly wild or spectacular enough to give his subcreation the fantastic boost I anticipated.

Going into this with high expectancies, I was ultimately disappointed. However, this doesn't devalue the merits The Lies of Locke Lamora all ready pertains. It was a well-wrought novel with wit, emotionally compelling characters, a broodingly atmospheric world and a cohesive narrative. Unfortunately, I was left underwhelmed by the over all “thieving” concept and even the shortfall of fantastic wonder.(less)

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Feb 07, 2012 J.P. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I know a book is outstanding when I can't find a single fault with it. In this book I could identify with every major character. The plot runs a veritable gamut of emotions. The pace is relentless. And Locke Lamora is the coolest fictional hero since Lisbeth Salander.
I usually don't compare authors, but in this case I think it's necessary to give justice to this book. Take the mystique of Neil Gaiman, add the extraordinary imagination of China Mieville and toss in the derring-do escapes of Ian F ...more

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Aug 03, 2009 Colleen rated it 2 of 5 stars · 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, the disjointed time-line in the beginning, that luc...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, osga-challenged, 2012, highly-recommended, humorous, mystery-and-thrillers, nook, political, religion-related, reviewed, blog_osga, challenge-1010

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 masterful this book is, an...more 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 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

(less)

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Mar 05, 2008 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 only is it a gr...more 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 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 (Hellian) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 series I'm in the middle o...more

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Mar 04, 2012 Boots rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, sword-and-laser

I read this book with the The Sword and Laser book club and I'm glad I did. This book seems to be popular with fantasy fans and I can see why.

I really thought the character development in this book was excellent to the point that I loved all the characters including the bad guys. Although I probably shouldn't use the term bad guys because there aren't really any good guys, all the characters are just different shades of gray. The protagonists are antagonists? or the antagonists are protagonists?...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Kyle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

All other authors who want to make their novel debut, take note! Scott Lynch has shown the world what a successful one should look like.

This book was an absolute delight. It had swag. It had pizzazz. It had bling, and zing, and bada-bing; oh, who am I kidding? It was just pure fun.

The book moves back and forth between different timelines a lot, and I'm not sure if I feel it was necessary. But whether it was an example of good narration, or an example of writing noise, the bottom line is: by...more
All other authors who want to make their novel debut, take note! Scott Lynch has shown the world what a successful one should look like.

This book was an absolute delight. It had swag. It had pizzazz. It had bling, and zing, and bada-bing; oh, who am I kidding? It was just pure fun.

The book moves back and forth between different timelines a lot, and I'm not sure if I feel it was necessary. But whether it was an example of good narration, or an example of writing noise, the bottom line is: by the time I was halfway through the book, I didn't even care. The book was simply too enjoyable to let narrative style get in the way.

The book also had some awkward moments and placements of exposition and description, even though the moments themselves were well-written. Again, even though I noticed them and thought they were awkward at the time, I quickly forgot them because the book was just too much damn fun!

The book itself is actually about many things, but never tries to beat the reader over the head with any of its messages. The main characters themselves become extremely lovable, and the bond of brotherhood between them is heartwarming as well as humorous.

This book is most commonly compared to Ocean's Eleven, and though I don't think it's an invalid comparison, it is, however, a limiting one. This book is certainly about heists, and cons, and scams, but it doesn't stop there. The cons, scams and heists are wonderfully realized and constructed, and the setting is a beautiful place to for all these said misadventures. It's a sort of Renaissance Venice-ish setting, and though there is magic in the world, it's not pervasive. Magic takes a back seat in the story, and it makes the characters and their actions that much more believable and exiting.

If you're looking to take a break from dark, morose, and depressing books for a while, step right up and dive right in to The Lies of Locke Lamora. It's charming, humorous, and heaps of fun. You're in for a treat.

I'll leave you with Michael's review which I particularly enjoyed:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...(less)

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Feb 28, 2013 Bill rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

One of my Goodreads friends put it best: this is the novel that made me want to read fantasy again.

Just about every review I've read of The Lies of Locke Lamora compares this story to Oceans Eleven. Even though I've never seen the movie, I can certainly agree. I'll throw in Oliver Twist to boot.
The whole story is caper upon caper, and it is a delight to read. Scott Lynch wrote a fairly lenghy novel here, about 500 pages, but the plot moves along like gangbusters. His characters are aptly drawn,...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Shauna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aficionado-s-top100-fantasy

The worldbuilding in this novel is a thing of beauty. The rough streets of Camorr, it’s history, it’s inhabitants-Lynch has created something really complex and wonderful with this. In Camorr, a ‘Secret Peace’ exists between nobles and thieves-the nobles being off-limits in exchange for a blind being turned- and as the saying goes, you can’t blame a match for a house made of straw. Enter Locke Lamora.

Everything ties together beautifully-except, that is, for the elusive Sabetha. She’s set up as t...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Eh?Eh! rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 possib...more 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 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 4 of 5 stars · 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, who beco...more 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, 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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Mar 31, 2009 Kat Hooper rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I picked up Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora with high hopes because I've really got a thing for stories about confidence men. I don't know why. I guess that's something to philosophize about another time...

I did like Locke Lamora. Lynch has created a unique and fascinating world full of wonderful creations such as a crime boss who rules his empire from a houseboat, his little daughter who sits on his lap drinking ale and kicking subordinates with he...more ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

I picked up Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora with high hopes because I've really got a thing for stories about confidence men. I don't know why. I guess that's something to philosophize about another time...

I did like Locke Lamora. Lynch has created a unique and fascinating world full of wonderful creations such as a crime boss who rules his empire from a houseboat, his little daughter who sits on his lap drinking ale and kicking subordinates with her steel-toed boots, a blind priest who begs for alms and eats gourmet meals off fine plates in his luxurious cellar, noblemen who live in glowing glass towers, a blood-sucking rose garden, alcoholic oranges, and women who fight jumping man-eating sharks for sport. This is truly entertaining stuff!

The pace of the novel was quick and the plot was simple, but interesting. Flashback interludes often broke up the action, which was occasionally irritating. At first I wondered if the editor had dropped the manuscript and not got it put back together in order, but I soon realized that these flashbacks serve to give us information about the world without major info-dumps, and backstory on the characters without having to watch them grow up. The pace escalated during the last 100 pages or so, and I couldn't put it down.

Scott Lynch generally writes very well, but I do have three minor complaints in that regard. First is that the first half of the book is slightly over-written. The dialogue is too witty and clever. The smartest and best-educated people you know would have felt dull-witted while conversing with Locke and his gang of thieves. The narrator, also, tries a bit too hard to impress, and this makes for some slightly awkward prose. But the writing was toned down in the latter half of the book as the action picked up and things got more serious. I expect, now that Mr Lynch has proved himself, his writing style will become more natural, and better for it.

Second is the profanity. While I don't mind reading profanity in a fantasy novel (especially one whose main characters are the dregs of society), if it is overused, it loses its potency. I once remarked to one of my grad school professors that he needed to coin some new curse words because he cursed so much that it was impossible for his students to know when he was really mad. Likewise, Locke and his friends curse so often for no apparent reason that, by the end of the novel, when those words would have been most meaningful and appropriate, they lose all effect and the climactic scenes lose a bit of poignancy. I don't doubt that Locke and his friends would curse as much as Mr Lynch portrays but, since we can't actually hear inflections and tones of voice, Mr Lynch would do better technique-wise to make those words count by using them to give us clues about a character's state-of-mind.

Third, there are 499 pages in my hardback edition, and I think the word "alchemical" was used 499 times in this story. If you've got some friends who want to read The Lies of Locke Lamora with you, I suggest getting together with a bottle of your favorite liquor, appointing a designated reader (and driver), and every time he or she reads the word "alchemical"....

But these are minor complaints -- enough to keep this from being a 5-star book, but not enough to keep me from greatly enjoying it. I'm looking forward to the next installment. If there's anything I like nearly as much as stories about confidence men, it's stories about pirates, so the two combined should be just my thing. And I really look forward to exploring more of Scott Lynch's world.
Read more Scott Lynch book reviews at Fantasy literature. (less)

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About Scott Lynch

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

The Lies of Locke Lamora, my first novel, was bought by Simon Spanton at Orion Books in August, 2004. Prior to that I had just about every job you usually see in this s...more

More about Scott Lynch...

Books by Scott Lynch

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

The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard, #3)

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”.” — 235 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.” — 161 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6289268-the-lies-of-locke-lamora?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328774468l/6289268.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6289268-the-lies-of-locke-lamora?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch[/url]

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1)

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