TLOLL: Final Thoughts

[Nick]

Ditto to most all other comments. I was ready to skip this one to catch up on my own backlog, but after the previous podcast o decided to give it another go,and glad I did.

Can't wait to start book 2, dang another one for the backlog.

[Ryan]

How do we keep picking books that are only marginally non-sucky? Seriously, I love the group, love the podcasts and love the discussions but, I am not loving our selections. I think I am nearing the point when I will pick which books to avoid like the plague based on the groups selections. Harsh, I know but lets quite picking all the indie sci-fi and fantasy books.

[Ryan]

Hmm, according to Google, Lies was his first book and thus far Gentlemen Bastards is is comprised of his only published novels to date. There are other titles listed but they are tagged as "forth coming".
Not sure why he would be one of the biggest names in fantasy today. I find his prose to be OK but not great, his story was weak and this felt like a first novel. Not saying he won't eventually become great but he isn't there yet. After Rule 34 and Reamde, this was just one more disappointment than I can take. To recover, I am reading Neverwhere, Rune Lords and King Raven.

[Leavey]

I liked it. It was a quick, fun read and I loved the snark.
Also it was like tv on paper. We don't get to look into the characters heads, we just see their actions and have to arrive at conclusions from there. (That might have added to the feeling that Locke doesn't realy "wan't" anything.)
My only gripe is, that it felt very "constructed". I don't realy know how to explain this properly, it's just that every detail introduced seemd to end up being a plotpoint in some way.

So it won't end up as one of my favorite books, but it was good enough for me to invest 5,- on the KindleVersion of the second one.

[Boots]

Matt wrote: "I loved it. I'm a sucker for the con-game premise in general so this was right in my wheelhouse. It wasn't perfect but overall it was very fun to read and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series."

I think I liked this novel for the same reason, stories about long cons are appealing to me. I was really starting to wonder after reading a lot of negative comments why I even liked this book in the first place, but I think you nailed it.

Ryan wrote: "Harsh, I know but lets quite picking all the indie sci-fi and fantasy books."

I have to disagree on this. When I look at the S&L bookshelf I can't see any indie books. Virtually every title is backed by a major publisher and I find it unlikely that a self published book or a book printed by an independent publisher would ever be chosen because of a lack of availability.

[Sinkline]

Louis wrote: "People mentioned this was like Oceans eleven, but I would go more for The Sting. The ending is different because of the deaths, but if you remember, the best con is one where the money can never b..."

I think the second book is much more oceans 11 then the first.

[Philip]

I have enjoyed this in audio format so much so that I have to purchase the book. Curious to see how they compare.
Loved the characters and their propensity toward naughtiness (pretty sure I went to school with some Gentleman Bastards) and although I could feel it coming I was saddened when several met with sticky ends but this obviously heightened my elation at the finale. All in all the world Scott Lynch created has me intrigued to learn more.
On the subject of Bondsmage and the adage that power corrupts, surely it is just a matter of time before they make a bid for world domination. Of course we know just the guys to stop 'em.

[Ian]

I liked it as well, enough to carry on into book 2.
I would rate it probably 4/5, in general very good, witty fun and potentially up there as one of the better modern fantasy series' I've read in the last few years (assuming the series carries on in the same vein).
Agree with Leavey that things felt a bit 'constructed' (good way to put it) and there are a few plot holes and minor niggles, but overall a good choice and I'm pretty happy to have had this recommended, not something I would have picked up otherwise.

[terpkristin]

I'll write more in the podcast thread, but listening to Scott on the show made me decide to give the second book a go, even if the first want all I'd hoped it would be. I'll probably listen to the audio, and won't do it immediately, but the show changed my mind.

[Hamish]

5/5 for me. This books Characters and Narrative style are so much more vivid and fleshed out then almost any other fantasy book I have ever read. Right up there with the first 3 Song of Ice and Fire books (before it went to shit).

It took a while for me to get into it but in hindsight it was only because it was such a rich story telling method. Once the story got going though it was fantastic.

It astounds me that this is his first book and I can't wait to read more.

[Mike]

I really enjoyed the book. It was't exactly weighty literature, but it had a fun plot and I liked the characters. I gave it 4 out 5 stars and I'll definitely pick up the next in the series at some point.

[Michael]

I ended up liking the book quite a bit. However, it did take me more than 100 pages to start liking it. I really enjoy con artist stories, but this book had a problem that so many other stories of the type do. For me to really get into it, I need to feel that I'm part of the team. But here, other than the fact that I knew a game was being run, I didn't know much more than the marks. I want to be part of running the game, not one of the sheep being tricked.

The artificial tension of the unexpected happening because I didn't know what was going on was boring. The real tension when the bottom fell out of the plan was when I actually got into the story. From there on, I really started to care about the characters and appreciate the world being revealed. By the end, I knew I'd be reading the next book at some point. But not right away.

[Ian]

I loved this book. I absolutely loved the city of Camorr and the world/lore. I loved the Gentleman Bastards and the scope of the scams. The only awkward part was near the end when (view spoiler)[ Locke was tring to get audience with the Spider to save the nobles (hide spoiler)]

Was really glad to find this new author, about to start on the second book now, I hope it maintains the same quality.