The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1) in /r/Fantasy Discussion Group

Apr 10, 2012 Michael rated it really liked it

This book reminded me a great deal of Ocean's Eleven taking place in a fantasy setting (which is a good thing). I liked the way it played out and will be definitely going on to the next book in the series. While I've gone on record as not liking gritty and dark fantasy, the infusions of humor in this book conveyed by the witty on-liner helped to lighten the mood. And hey how could I not like a story about a band of thieves? A very good debut novel and I will definitely be reading the second in t ...more

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Apr 02, 2014 Jessica Halleck rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, reading-challenge-2015

At first, The Lies of Locke Lamora suffered from the perplexing ability to be well-written and objectively interesting, but unable to hold my attention.

I just wasn't engaged. No investment. People were plotting cons and fighting sharks and I would catch myself putting the book down--sometimes mid-sentence--for the umpteenth time to go do something else.

But the interludes were clever and the banter between Locke's crew was smart and I thought, hey, stick with it. This deeply realized Renaissance ...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Bee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite, fantasy, hero-fantasy

Excellent! One of the best fantasy novels I've read in a a long time. Even more enjoyable than The Name of the Wind by Rothfuss. Likeable and realistic characters in "a wonderfully realised world" (George RR Martin). I doubt I'll be able to resist starting the sequel tonight. ...more

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Mar 12, 2014 Alice rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I just finished reading this, this evening.

Cannot describe in words what a wonderful treat it was! Delicious, fulfilling, satisfying in every regard. Wit, plot, character development, twists, actual writing style...

I've read a lot of books, and a lot in this genre. Compared to its' contemporaries, this one deserves at least 7/5 stars. ...more

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May 08, 2013 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 100-in-2013, fantasy, 80-in-2017, 80-in-2018, 95-in-2019, author-scott-lynch, re-reads

This is a very swashbuckling adventure with tons of twists and turns mixed with an Ocean's 11 heist. There is of course a lot more to it than that, but I hate spoilers.

In basic terms, Locke Lamora is (with his small group of friends/co-thieves) a master thief and actor setting up elaborate cons to steal money from the richest people in town without getting caught. Needless to say things get complicated and the schemes get more and more insane as they struggle to stay one step ahead of the game.

T ...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Tamsin rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, 2012, sword-and-laser

A twin timeline approach kept the pace of the story interesting - we have a couple of chapters of Locke in the present and then have the story of Locke growing up running simultaneously in the chapters in between. The story however reminded me very much of the first Mistborn novel, but this didn't detract from enjoying the deceptions, plot twists and great banter between the different members of the Gentlemen Bastards. There were a few things that i didn't feel was explained very well and didn't ...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Brandon Barnes rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

I've had this on my list for a long time, but for some reason I am just now getting around to reading it. Excellent 'thief fantasy' novel. On to book 2! ...more

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