Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Spectra (2006), Hardcover, 512 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML: 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 his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans---a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting. Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful---and more ambitious---than Locke has yet imagined. Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men---and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr�??s underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game---or die trying.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Lies of Lock LaMora by Scott Lynch is one of the most original books I have read in a long time. The first book in his Gentlemen Bastards series, I was totally invested in this book from page one. This fantasy book tells the story of an orphan boy, Locke LaMora and his group of friends and
This book is so good on so many levels I hardly know where to begin. The author tosses in descriptions of fantastical things and places here and there until he has built this wonderful medieval fantasy city of Camorr in which to grow his story. The story is interesting, varied, fun and exciting. Full of intricate plots and unforeseen happenings, sometimes we are in the present, and sometimes he takes us into the past of the main characters so we can see for ourselves how Locke came to be the master thief and ringleader of The Gentlemen Bastards. One of many gangs in the underworld of this city, The Gentlemen Bastards live on the edge as they deceive everyone including their underworld boss up to the very heights of society. Their loyalty is only to each other.
A fantasy book quite unlike any other I have read, the author has used many fantasy principles like brotherhood, intrigue, magic and revenge but stamped these plot devices with his own mark. A very creative, humorous, adventuresome book with an edge. Some violence and gore which is only to be expected given the drift of the story. My only minor complaint would be perhaps the lack of a strong female lead, although the book definitely supplies us with a few strong females in lesser roles, but this is the first book, and, this is a character development that could be revealed in a later book. For a fresh look at fantasy, I highly recommend The Lies of Locke LaMorra.
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partners that call themselves “The Gentlemen Bastards”. Con-men and thieves, they develop elaborate, often twisted schemes to rob the rich and fill their own coffers. Yes, that’s right, they are only out for themselves. This book is so good on so many levels I hardly know where to begin. The author tosses in descriptions of fantastical things and places here and there until he has built this wonderful medieval fantasy city of Camorr in which to grow his story. The story is interesting, varied, fun and exciting. Full of intricate plots and unforeseen happenings, sometimes we are in the present, and sometimes he takes us into the past of the main characters so we can see for ourselves how Locke came to be the master thief and ringleader of The Gentlemen Bastards. One of many gangs in the underworld of this city, The Gentlemen Bastards live on the edge as they deceive everyone including their underworld boss up to the very heights of society. Their loyalty is only to each other.
A fantasy book quite unlike any other I have read, the author has used many fantasy principles like brotherhood, intrigue, magic and revenge but stamped these plot devices with his own mark. A very creative, humorous, adventuresome book with an edge. Some violence and gore which is only to be expected given the drift of the story. My only minor complaint would be perhaps the lack of a strong female lead, although the book definitely supplies us with a few strong females in lesser roles, but this is the first book, and, this is a character development that could be revealed in a later book. For a fresh look at fantasy, I highly recommend The Lies of Locke LaMorra.
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LibraryThing member Raven
Locke Lamora is a Gentleman Bastard. So is this book, on the whole: on the one hand, there is the Tolkienesque worldbuilding, the ancient mythical race, the ancient high-fantastical city and on the other hand, there is the unexpected dialogue, which is all piss and vinegar and people saying fuck,
The plot, let's be clear - it's a heist movie. Locke Lamora is a thief, his gang of Gentleman Bastards are thieves. They steal from the rich and they don't give to the poor. Their schemes to get rich are complex confidence tricks, and the joy the author must have taken in thinking them up shines through the pages, and rollicks the story through the first few hundred pages - after that the novel darkens and the body count rises, and it becomes less likeable, but no less good a novel. The main plot is interspersed with interludes from the main characters' backstories and details about the world in which they live, and while I think the placement and distribution of these is clumsy, they're enjoyable for all that.
There are the usual first-novel flaws - sometimes the prose is too flowery, sometimes the dialogue is wooden or could be easily elided - but in my mind, the greatest issue with this book is its distinct lack of female characters. There basically aren't any of note - there is a woman who never appears but conveniently exists for Locke to pine over, there is another woman who makes a couple of token appearances before being summarily killed in aid of male character development, there's another who is the usual fantasy-world prostitute. The situation improves slightly as the novel progresses - it even passes the Bechdel test, a mere ten pages from the end - but generally it does read a little like boys' own fantasy in this regard, which is offputting.
But - it's fun. And I shall read the next one with interest.
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shit and arse. Together they make a kind of alchemical steampunk, a believable mess of well-though through fantasy and likeable, engaging characters.The plot, let's be clear - it's a heist movie. Locke Lamora is a thief, his gang of Gentleman Bastards are thieves. They steal from the rich and they don't give to the poor. Their schemes to get rich are complex confidence tricks, and the joy the author must have taken in thinking them up shines through the pages, and rollicks the story through the first few hundred pages - after that the novel darkens and the body count rises, and it becomes less likeable, but no less good a novel. The main plot is interspersed with interludes from the main characters' backstories and details about the world in which they live, and while I think the placement and distribution of these is clumsy, they're enjoyable for all that.
There are the usual first-novel flaws - sometimes the prose is too flowery, sometimes the dialogue is wooden or could be easily elided - but in my mind, the greatest issue with this book is its distinct lack of female characters. There basically aren't any of note - there is a woman who never appears but conveniently exists for Locke to pine over, there is another woman who makes a couple of token appearances before being summarily killed in aid of male character development, there's another who is the usual fantasy-world prostitute. The situation improves slightly as the novel progresses - it even passes the Bechdel test, a mere ten pages from the end - but generally it does read a little like boys' own fantasy in this regard, which is offputting.
But - it's fun. And I shall read the next one with interest.
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LibraryThing member veevoxvoom
Summary: Locke Lamora is a scruffy orphan with a brain for mischief and a gift for lying. Along with his gang, the Gentleman Bastards, he devises a daring plot to steal twenty five thousand crowns from one of the nobles of Camorr. However, another plot is snaking through the city, a plot that may
Review: I’d heard a lot of good reviews for this book but I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it as much as everyone seemed to think I would. The thieves and rogues genre isn’t one that I normally enjoy. I tend to find overly clever characters insufferable in their arrogance. Yet after finishing the first chapter of The Lies of Locke Lamora, I changed my mind. I do enjoy this because Scott Lynch makes it impossible not to. The man is a golden storyteller. He could probably write a story about accountants and it would still be rollicking, witty, and creative.
Thankfully, this is not a story about accountants. It’s a story of cunning, brotherhood, revenge, and growing up. It’s dark when it needs to be dark — and it has a high body count, higher than I expected — and it’s funny when it needs to be funny. Lynch writes with a grim, tongue-in-cheek humour that perfectly suits the kind of people Locke hangs out with.
The characters were all compelling, each and every one of them. The interludes to the past were integrated smoothly with the present-day plot, allowing you to get a glimpse of who Locke was without disturbing the adventure of who Locke is. The dashes of creativity and culture fleshed out the world of Camorr. The little mysteries — the mention of Sabetha, Locke’s real name — were left to whet your appetite for the books to follow.
This is a real swashbuckler, the kind I haven’t read in a long time. It breathes life into the tired thieves and rogues genre, and if this is the future I’m glad to be clinging on to the ship.
Conclusion: Top-notch fun.
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take the entire criminal underworld by storm.Review: I’d heard a lot of good reviews for this book but I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it as much as everyone seemed to think I would. The thieves and rogues genre isn’t one that I normally enjoy. I tend to find overly clever characters insufferable in their arrogance. Yet after finishing the first chapter of The Lies of Locke Lamora, I changed my mind. I do enjoy this because Scott Lynch makes it impossible not to. The man is a golden storyteller. He could probably write a story about accountants and it would still be rollicking, witty, and creative.
Thankfully, this is not a story about accountants. It’s a story of cunning, brotherhood, revenge, and growing up. It’s dark when it needs to be dark — and it has a high body count, higher than I expected — and it’s funny when it needs to be funny. Lynch writes with a grim, tongue-in-cheek humour that perfectly suits the kind of people Locke hangs out with.
The characters were all compelling, each and every one of them. The interludes to the past were integrated smoothly with the present-day plot, allowing you to get a glimpse of who Locke was without disturbing the adventure of who Locke is. The dashes of creativity and culture fleshed out the world of Camorr. The little mysteries — the mention of Sabetha, Locke’s real name — were left to whet your appetite for the books to follow.
This is a real swashbuckler, the kind I haven’t read in a long time. It breathes life into the tired thieves and rogues genre, and if this is the future I’m glad to be clinging on to the ship.
Conclusion: Top-notch fun.
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LibraryThing member ow1goddess
I had heard such good things about this book that I made the effort to get into it, and I'm glad I did. The beginning isn't bad, but it does take a little while to set the stage. It also took me a little while to like Locke as a protagonist- I originally lacked empathy with him since he is a con
Lynch does several things very well in this book; he is very technically proficient and his descriptions and dialogue sparkle with polish. His world has a good balance of the familiar and the fantastic. I loved Camorr, his take on Venice, and his additions to make a unique culture fit in well. He has the skill to make you see, and enjoy, a city that is not "nice", and he doesn't cover the ugliness, but he also does a good job making you care about people who aren't very nice. There's a way to tell this story so the Thorn of Camorr is the villain, or at least a villain, and if you are like me you may feel somewhat ambivalent about Locke and his Gentleman Bastards. It takes time to get into them, to see who they are and how they are an inescapable product of the environment. They are sometimes hilarious and, as we find out, not such bad guys after all. Lynch also has a knack for female characters- I liked all the women in this book, which is rare, and although none of them are main characters there are a couple important support roles. I will be interested to see what he does with Locke's love interest, the oft-mentioned but never seen Sabetha.
My only problems with the book did not merit removing stars, but here they are- the beginning of the book switches from young Locke to current Locke, alternating chapters. This was annoying sometimes as it would interrupt the flow of one story to go back to another, and at first the flashbacks are more compelling than the set up for the con. If you don't like it, be patient; as the main storyline gets rolling the interludes get shorter and almost disappear, and I found after the fact I liked it as a way to get in the critical back story without holding off on the main action. I was also vaguely dissatisfied with the ending, but I can't put my finger on it. Something I wanted did not materialize, but perhaps it will resolve in future books, as he seems to have great plans for the sequence. (More of the Salvarras would make me happy, but it doesn't sound like they are in the second book.)
Anyway, this is a fun book- slick, witty, funny, sometimes brutal, and a set up for a long and involved series. I liked it and would recommend it to others.
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man, with the added strike that I really liked the Salvarras, his marks. However, the early events of the book are really leading up to some major shifts in plot at about the half way mark, when the focus switches from the Gentleman Bastards' elaborate confidence game to the actual meat of the book; kind of like eating a bunch of bread with your soup and salad without realizing there's a main course still to come.Lynch does several things very well in this book; he is very technically proficient and his descriptions and dialogue sparkle with polish. His world has a good balance of the familiar and the fantastic. I loved Camorr, his take on Venice, and his additions to make a unique culture fit in well. He has the skill to make you see, and enjoy, a city that is not "nice", and he doesn't cover the ugliness, but he also does a good job making you care about people who aren't very nice. There's a way to tell this story so the Thorn of Camorr is the villain, or at least a villain, and if you are like me you may feel somewhat ambivalent about Locke and his Gentleman Bastards. It takes time to get into them, to see who they are and how they are an inescapable product of the environment. They are sometimes hilarious and, as we find out, not such bad guys after all. Lynch also has a knack for female characters- I liked all the women in this book, which is rare, and although none of them are main characters there are a couple important support roles. I will be interested to see what he does with Locke's love interest, the oft-mentioned but never seen Sabetha.
My only problems with the book did not merit removing stars, but here they are- the beginning of the book switches from young Locke to current Locke, alternating chapters. This was annoying sometimes as it would interrupt the flow of one story to go back to another, and at first the flashbacks are more compelling than the set up for the con. If you don't like it, be patient; as the main storyline gets rolling the interludes get shorter and almost disappear, and I found after the fact I liked it as a way to get in the critical back story without holding off on the main action. I was also vaguely dissatisfied with the ending, but I can't put my finger on it. Something I wanted did not materialize, but perhaps it will resolve in future books, as he seems to have great plans for the sequence. (More of the Salvarras would make me happy, but it doesn't sound like they are in the second book.)
Anyway, this is a fun book- slick, witty, funny, sometimes brutal, and a set up for a long and involved series. I liked it and would recommend it to others.
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LibraryThing member pstotts
Expectations to me are often the harbinger of disappointment. Hype, that flimsy, distorted bubble promising a transcendent experience, lures me inside, often only to pop, and leave me with the wet, soggy truth. Hype and reality may occasionally be bed mates, but mostly they gaze wistfully at each
This time around, the grand Marshall of the hype parade is Scott Lynch’s “The Lies of Locke Lamora”. Extremely positive early reviews of Lynch’s debut novel had quickened my enthusiasm. How can one ignore a book that is receiving proclamations of awesomeness from the fantasy literati? Would it live up to its own hype? Could it live up to its own hype, or would my expectations doom it?
So tempering my enthusiasm with a healthy does of scepticism, I was greatly pleased that “The Lies of Locke Lamora” was even better than I had anticipated. Oh yes, there is joy in Lockeville. Much joy!
In fact, the novel’s greatest strength is the joie de vivre that continuously bubbles through to the reader. Try to not smile, have fun and root for Locke Lamora, Lynch dares you. It is at these moments that the story becomes charming and magical. And when the latter half of the novel turns suddenly dark, the sharp contrast gives the conclusion even more gravitas.
Set exclusively in the Venetian-inspired city-state of Camorr, where a grid work of canals differentiates the city’s diverse districts, “The Lies of Locke Lamora” follows, not surprisingly, Locke Lamora, orphan, con-artist, rapscallion, and the reputed ‘Thorn of Camorr’. And with a moniker comes expectations. Only characters who are legendary and ooze with flair and style, may earn them. And Locke does not disappoint. Locke is the leader of a young band of grifters called the Gentlemen Bastards, who through elaborate schemes and deceptions target the Camorr upper class. The Gentlemen Bastards criminal misdeeds have earned them a place among the vast Camorrian criminal underworld headed by Capa Barvasi. Before you can say ‘Mafioso’, Locke and the Gentlemen Bastards find themselves embroiled in a gang war between Capa Barvasi and a mysterious newcomer, the Grey King. All the while, the Camorrian authorities, no longer willing to tolerate Locke’s deceptions, are spinning a tight web around Locke. Embattled from within and without, Locke must struggle to save himself and the Gentlemen Bastards. And he must do it with style. Pesky moniker!
Lynch’s strengths revolve around his vivid characterizations, particularly of the main characters, Locke and his best friend Jean, and his storytelling tendencies. The banter between the characters, which is heavily infused with a male-posturing and sarcasm similar in style to that found in movies like Ocean’s Eleven or Reservoir Dogs, serves as Lynch’s primary means of in-depth characterization. It is dialogue clearly written with an eye cast toward the coolness factor. If this strikes you as too testosterone intensive or you are allergic to anything snarky, you may wish to look for greener pastures, elsewhere.
The main storytelling is straightforward, for the most part, following a three act narrative structure. Interludes, which fill in background information on the characters, come between the chapters dedicated to the overall plot. These interludes are slightly jarring and seem more appropriate to film, where the narrative is more linearly constrained, than in a novel, where mental asides convey thought in a character. This is a minor quibble, though, and does no real harm to the novel. In the light of awesomeness, flaws become transparent.
Last Word:
The Lies of Locke Lamora is an auspicious debut by Scott Lynch and a very promising start to a new fantasy series. Infused with an infectious joie de vivre, the novel transcends into the magical, charming you to the very end. And leaving you to eagerly anticipate the next volume. Let the hype begin!
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other from across the room.This time around, the grand Marshall of the hype parade is Scott Lynch’s “The Lies of Locke Lamora”. Extremely positive early reviews of Lynch’s debut novel had quickened my enthusiasm. How can one ignore a book that is receiving proclamations of awesomeness from the fantasy literati? Would it live up to its own hype? Could it live up to its own hype, or would my expectations doom it?
So tempering my enthusiasm with a healthy does of scepticism, I was greatly pleased that “The Lies of Locke Lamora” was even better than I had anticipated. Oh yes, there is joy in Lockeville. Much joy!
In fact, the novel’s greatest strength is the joie de vivre that continuously bubbles through to the reader. Try to not smile, have fun and root for Locke Lamora, Lynch dares you. It is at these moments that the story becomes charming and magical. And when the latter half of the novel turns suddenly dark, the sharp contrast gives the conclusion even more gravitas.
Set exclusively in the Venetian-inspired city-state of Camorr, where a grid work of canals differentiates the city’s diverse districts, “The Lies of Locke Lamora” follows, not surprisingly, Locke Lamora, orphan, con-artist, rapscallion, and the reputed ‘Thorn of Camorr’. And with a moniker comes expectations. Only characters who are legendary and ooze with flair and style, may earn them. And Locke does not disappoint. Locke is the leader of a young band of grifters called the Gentlemen Bastards, who through elaborate schemes and deceptions target the Camorr upper class. The Gentlemen Bastards criminal misdeeds have earned them a place among the vast Camorrian criminal underworld headed by Capa Barvasi. Before you can say ‘Mafioso’, Locke and the Gentlemen Bastards find themselves embroiled in a gang war between Capa Barvasi and a mysterious newcomer, the Grey King. All the while, the Camorrian authorities, no longer willing to tolerate Locke’s deceptions, are spinning a tight web around Locke. Embattled from within and without, Locke must struggle to save himself and the Gentlemen Bastards. And he must do it with style. Pesky moniker!
Lynch’s strengths revolve around his vivid characterizations, particularly of the main characters, Locke and his best friend Jean, and his storytelling tendencies. The banter between the characters, which is heavily infused with a male-posturing and sarcasm similar in style to that found in movies like Ocean’s Eleven or Reservoir Dogs, serves as Lynch’s primary means of in-depth characterization. It is dialogue clearly written with an eye cast toward the coolness factor. If this strikes you as too testosterone intensive or you are allergic to anything snarky, you may wish to look for greener pastures, elsewhere.
The main storytelling is straightforward, for the most part, following a three act narrative structure. Interludes, which fill in background information on the characters, come between the chapters dedicated to the overall plot. These interludes are slightly jarring and seem more appropriate to film, where the narrative is more linearly constrained, than in a novel, where mental asides convey thought in a character. This is a minor quibble, though, and does no real harm to the novel. In the light of awesomeness, flaws become transparent.
Last Word:
The Lies of Locke Lamora is an auspicious debut by Scott Lynch and a very promising start to a new fantasy series. Infused with an infectious joie de vivre, the novel transcends into the magical, charming you to the very end. And leaving you to eagerly anticipate the next volume. Let the hype begin!
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LibraryThing member Aerrin99
I hardly know where to begin. I feel as though anything I say about this book is rather doomed to fall short. Perhaps I will begin by saying that this is by far one of the best books I've read in years. And that if you've heard any hype about this book, I endorse it full-heartedly. I do not tend to
Lynch draws a fantastic world filled with fantastic characters. His setting is fully-realized and absolutely engrossing - it's the sort of place that you can not only picture, but also smell and taste and touch and /feel/ when you close your eyes. The politics of the place are foreign, but human, and even bit characters have so much life to them that they feel full and fantastic.
Lynch's main bunch, the Gentlemen Bastards, are aptly named. You love them, you hate them, you love to hate them and hate to love them. They occasionally do horrid things - they're thieves, after all - but it's hard to blame them for much, in the world they live in. There's not a single one in the batch who I didn't love as a character, including one who is drawn quite well even in her continued absence.
The plot is intriguing and twisting, filled with surprises (this book made me gasp aloud in horror and shock at least twice, quite possibly more) and all sorts of fun details about the capering life of con artists and thieves and villains that make me wriggle with the joy of it. This book is /fun/.
The timeshifts are a bit cumbersome at the start, until one gets the hang of them, but they get easier as you go, and soon there's a very fun back-and-forth, a backstory and a forestory tied together in interesting ways. If they put you off at first, stick with it - the book is worth it!
This is a book where the world and characters and exploits stay with you after you've turned the last page - which is a relief, because I hardly wanted to leave them! It's the most fun I've had in a pair of weekend afternoons in a very long time.
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buy books - I'm a librarian and a library user. Those books that I own are books that are dear to me, and more importantly, books that I want to read again and a again, at a moment's whim. This is a book I want to own. Lynch draws a fantastic world filled with fantastic characters. His setting is fully-realized and absolutely engrossing - it's the sort of place that you can not only picture, but also smell and taste and touch and /feel/ when you close your eyes. The politics of the place are foreign, but human, and even bit characters have so much life to them that they feel full and fantastic.
Lynch's main bunch, the Gentlemen Bastards, are aptly named. You love them, you hate them, you love to hate them and hate to love them. They occasionally do horrid things - they're thieves, after all - but it's hard to blame them for much, in the world they live in. There's not a single one in the batch who I didn't love as a character, including one who is drawn quite well even in her continued absence.
The plot is intriguing and twisting, filled with surprises (this book made me gasp aloud in horror and shock at least twice, quite possibly more) and all sorts of fun details about the capering life of con artists and thieves and villains that make me wriggle with the joy of it. This book is /fun/.
The timeshifts are a bit cumbersome at the start, until one gets the hang of them, but they get easier as you go, and soon there's a very fun back-and-forth, a backstory and a forestory tied together in interesting ways. If they put you off at first, stick with it - the book is worth it!
This is a book where the world and characters and exploits stay with you after you've turned the last page - which is a relief, because I hardly wanted to leave them! It's the most fun I've had in a pair of weekend afternoons in a very long time.
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LibraryThing member readafew
I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable this book was. It took a little getting used to the temporal shifts in the story. Lynch likes to jump back and forth in time both in short term and long. A scene might happen and then we find out more abut what was going on before that scene and then we
Locke is a Gentleman Bastard, a thief of incredible skill and audacity with the ability to get into the deepest sorts of trouble. That's where his lies come into play, he needs them to get himself back out. Though his deepest problems where never solved with lies which is very interesting thing to pay attention to.
Lots of audacity, lots of hints and clues, deceptions and double crossings and that is just in the first chapter! Great book and I highly recommend.
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might jump back 20 years to Locke's childhood for a while to help give some more depth and background information. It settles down a little as the book continues and I find it actually a fun way to tell the story. Locke is a Gentleman Bastard, a thief of incredible skill and audacity with the ability to get into the deepest sorts of trouble. That's where his lies come into play, he needs them to get himself back out. Though his deepest problems where never solved with lies which is very interesting thing to pay attention to.
Lots of audacity, lots of hints and clues, deceptions and double crossings and that is just in the first chapter! Great book and I highly recommend.
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LibraryThing member WinterFox
Confidence game stories are really the flip side to mysteries; it's trying to figure out how everything gets pulled out in the end, rather than how it got done in the first place, and much of the rest is the same. So it's probably not a surprise that I like these, too; they even have the additional
This book, the first of a promised 7 book series, is a pretty masterful display of how it works. You've got the super-tricky and stylish lead, his smart and muscular sidekick, the tight gang, and the array of opposing forces and marks. There's a lot of backstory for the main character, and it helps a lot. The characters are really sharp, and easy to believe as part of their world.
This is a book that really does come across as well crafted; little bits of info and plot points crop up later in a well-planned way, and that makes the whole thing that much more enjoyable. The characters use other people, get used, and it's all very entertaining. It also stands by itself quite well; you could stop after his one and still feel satisfied if you don't want to read the next book in the series. If you're in the mood for some slick crime, this is a good way to go.
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thrill of seeing how all the parts work together, and such.This book, the first of a promised 7 book series, is a pretty masterful display of how it works. You've got the super-tricky and stylish lead, his smart and muscular sidekick, the tight gang, and the array of opposing forces and marks. There's a lot of backstory for the main character, and it helps a lot. The characters are really sharp, and easy to believe as part of their world.
This is a book that really does come across as well crafted; little bits of info and plot points crop up later in a well-planned way, and that makes the whole thing that much more enjoyable. The characters use other people, get used, and it's all very entertaining. It also stands by itself quite well; you could stop after his one and still feel satisfied if you don't want to read the next book in the series. If you're in the mood for some slick crime, this is a good way to go.
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LibraryThing member xicanti
A small group of con men become entangled in another schemer’s plans.
I enjoyed this book so much that I’m not too sure where I want to begin, so let’s start with a simple declaration: this was bloody f*****g brilliant. (Yes, the profanity is necessary… and oddly appropriate, here). It’s
Before the story even got going, the writing drew me right in. Lynch’s narrative weaves in and out, zipping back and forth through time in the most beguiling ways. I found it absolutely fascinating. Lynch has style, and he uses it to great effect. There’s some fantastic sarcasm and more than a little humour to balance out all the dark, gruesome stuff. I loved the book from page one; I think I would’ve been thrilled with it even had nothing much happened.
But damn, does stuff happen! The story races along, with periodic pit stops for some backstory and world building. The cons are gorgeously plotted, and Lynch’s pacing is such that each piece of the puzzle falls into place with a satisfying click. The dialogue works to move the story along and develop these characters to the utmost. The complex, carefully presented world provides the perfect setting for this intricate, clever, extremely enjoyable tale.
The book does have a few faults. There were a couple of places where I wished things were fleshed out a bit more, and I was quite disappointed with how one particular character ended up. (Read some of the other reviews for specifics; I don’t want to give spoilers here).
Overall, though, it was bloody amazing. I mean, the damned thing made me laugh, cry, gasp, whisper profanities to myself, bounce up and down in my seat, grin with delight, scowl and growl... the works.
You need to read it. Now.
I enjoyed this book so much that I’m not too sure where I want to begin, so let’s start with a simple declaration: this was bloody f*****g brilliant. (Yes, the profanity is necessary… and oddly appropriate, here). It’s
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easily one of the best books I read in 2007.Before the story even got going, the writing drew me right in. Lynch’s narrative weaves in and out, zipping back and forth through time in the most beguiling ways. I found it absolutely fascinating. Lynch has style, and he uses it to great effect. There’s some fantastic sarcasm and more than a little humour to balance out all the dark, gruesome stuff. I loved the book from page one; I think I would’ve been thrilled with it even had nothing much happened.
But damn, does stuff happen! The story races along, with periodic pit stops for some backstory and world building. The cons are gorgeously plotted, and Lynch’s pacing is such that each piece of the puzzle falls into place with a satisfying click. The dialogue works to move the story along and develop these characters to the utmost. The complex, carefully presented world provides the perfect setting for this intricate, clever, extremely enjoyable tale.
The book does have a few faults. There were a couple of places where I wished things were fleshed out a bit more, and I was quite disappointed with how one particular character ended up. (Read some of the other reviews for specifics; I don’t want to give spoilers here).
Overall, though, it was bloody amazing. I mean, the damned thing made me laugh, cry, gasp, whisper profanities to myself, bounce up and down in my seat, grin with delight, scowl and growl... the works.
You need to read it. Now.
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LibraryThing member MisterJJones
This book comes plastered with favourable comments from George R. R. Martin, Richard Morgan, and Hal Duncan, no less, and for once it lives up to them. Lynch has delivered a excellent book, written in an engaging style, with a fine cast of characters.
Locke Lamora is the leader of a gang of thieves,
For a first novel Lynch has delivered a remarkably well polished work. The style is nicely suited to the work, not too serious, but still capable of packing a punch. There were one or two passages that made me laugh out loud, but this book is clever, rather than slapstick. Characters are well rounded, albeit in the "lovable rogue" mould. Lynch is not afraid to kill them off, either, and twists and turns in plot took me by surprise. There's barely a wasted moment in the book, and although the interspaced flashbacks to Locke's earlier life sometimes feel a little clumsy, the pace easily carried me through 300 pages in one sitting.
This is not great literature, but it's highly entertaining, and reasonably original, at least for a fantasy novel. I just hope Lynch manages to maintain the tone for the rest of the series, a predicted 7 books. I'm already looking forward to the second. Five stars.
Locke Lamora is the leader of a gang of thieves,
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the Gentlemen Bastards who pass the time in intricate plans to rob the nobles of the city of Camorr, a Venice ten times more impressive than the orignal. The careful balance between the underworld and the nobles is threatened by new faces, and Lamora is caught up in a frantic battle to keep on top of a growing web of plots and nefarious doings.For a first novel Lynch has delivered a remarkably well polished work. The style is nicely suited to the work, not too serious, but still capable of packing a punch. There were one or two passages that made me laugh out loud, but this book is clever, rather than slapstick. Characters are well rounded, albeit in the "lovable rogue" mould. Lynch is not afraid to kill them off, either, and twists and turns in plot took me by surprise. There's barely a wasted moment in the book, and although the interspaced flashbacks to Locke's earlier life sometimes feel a little clumsy, the pace easily carried me through 300 pages in one sitting.
This is not great literature, but it's highly entertaining, and reasonably original, at least for a fantasy novel. I just hope Lynch manages to maintain the tone for the rest of the series, a predicted 7 books. I'm already looking forward to the second. Five stars.
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LibraryThing member RebeccaAnn
I am truly stunned by this book. One fantastic, exciting, swashbuckling adventure packed up neatly into 500 pages that go by much too quickly. I'm not usually one to read series as I tend to find them dragging, but I am very glad this is only the first book in a series, even if said series is
For those who don't know what the book is about, Locke Lamora is a thief and leader(garrista) of a little band of thieves who call themselves the Gentlemen Bastards. Locke inadvertently gets tangled up in a conspiracy much larger than himself and much to his surprise, he finds himself playing the unwilling hero to those who wish him dead for all the gold he's stolen.
While I don't really think this is fantasy, nor would I consider it sci-fi, it's definitely reminiscent of the two genres. The Lies of Locke Lamora is a fresh, very new take on the whole hero-must-save-the-world spiel. If you enjoy fantasy and adventure, this is must read (and then a reread, and then another reread...)
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incomplete. I could not put this book once I was about 100 pages into it. I'm addicted to Locke and his friends and cannot wait for the next book to come to me in the mail. It cannot get here quickly enough.For those who don't know what the book is about, Locke Lamora is a thief and leader(garrista) of a little band of thieves who call themselves the Gentlemen Bastards. Locke inadvertently gets tangled up in a conspiracy much larger than himself and much to his surprise, he finds himself playing the unwilling hero to those who wish him dead for all the gold he's stolen.
While I don't really think this is fantasy, nor would I consider it sci-fi, it's definitely reminiscent of the two genres. The Lies of Locke Lamora is a fresh, very new take on the whole hero-must-save-the-world spiel. If you enjoy fantasy and adventure, this is must read (and then a reread, and then another reread...)
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LibraryThing member candlemark
An excellent take on the traditional fantasy - it's got all the intrigue of Renaissance Venice plus strange alien predecessors and all sorts of magical hijinks that only slowly weave their way into the story. The actual plot takes quite awhile to get started, but you're never bored, because there
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are so many things going on in this book...multiple con jobs run by the Gentleman Bastards, the background of the Bastards and the characters and the city itself, and then the ostensibly main plot, of a coup in the city's underworld.It's never dull, and the writing is sharp, witty, and fast-paced. The fight scenes are incredibly well choreographed and the settings are beautifully outlined; you can picture the canals, the glass catbridges, the eerie Falselight, the expanse of the Wooden Waste, and the raucous Last Mistake tavern. The characters are very well-drawn, and even though you know bad things are going to happen, you keep hoping they'll get out of it. You can't help but root for these gentleman cons. I still want to know where the hell Sabetha is, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member teratologist
I am going to have to get a new copy of this book, because tragically my hardcover 1st (U.S.) has suffered the indignity of having cheap scotch spilled on it, because I couldn't stop reading while being jostled around a Tribeca dive bar* by people drinking PBR and eating seventy-six cent hot dogs
The first few time-jumping chapter changes were disconcerting, but in time I found that they actually began to improve the pacing and ratchet up the tension level in a way that most flashbacks utterly fail to do. The worldbuilding was excellent, and I enjoyed the bits we got to see of applied and theoretical alchemy in particular.
The mood moves from humor to high melodrama to tragedy with ease, and rarely hits a sour note, which is to my mind especially vital in a story that uses a convention like the Rogue With a Heart of Gold. Locke Lamora is everything you would expect from such a character, with his humble (but mysterious!) origins, his strict but idiosyncratic code of ethics instilled by a beloved mentor, his gift of gab, and his avarice and hedonism nicely offset by the fact that everyone else around him, from the lowest thug to the nobility, is equally bad. The real joy is in the secondary characters, though. I adored Jean, the literate brawler, and I really appreciated that Locke's victims were portrayed, not as one-dimensional rubes, but as genuinely interesting humans who just happened to have a whole assload of money that the protagonist wished to separate them from.
I do have a bone to pick in this regard, however. Nacza Barsavi was a fucking brilliant character, and we got what, five or six pages of her? I, personally, was convinced that she was the Gray King and had faked her own death up until Capa Barsavi was killed, and even then intermittently afterward until all hope was gone. Instead, we got a Gray King whose existence was previously unsuspected, whose motivation was, well, a little commonplace, and who was someone that Locke could unreservedly hate. The only really interesting thread I can imagine carrying through the series from this antagonist is the apparent, as-yet-unremarked unity of his despised goals with those of Locke's beloved Father Chains. (And, well, I suppose that there will be pesky Bondmages who don't see the finer technical point in 'But we didn't actually kill him!' But the Bondsmage is a separate issue.) If one wanted to look for the omelet here, it's a sign of the well-balanced character building that I actually wanted to see a character get resurrected, instead of actually seeing one resurrected and rolling my eyes, as generally happens with fantasy these days.
At any rate, I'm looking forward to the next one, and I highly recommend that those of you who are fantasy-inclined get out and give this a try.
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on July 4 after the fireworks. This is partly a testimony to my own remarkable perversity, but also a fitting tribute to Mr. Lynch's powers.The first few time-jumping chapter changes were disconcerting, but in time I found that they actually began to improve the pacing and ratchet up the tension level in a way that most flashbacks utterly fail to do. The worldbuilding was excellent, and I enjoyed the bits we got to see of applied and theoretical alchemy in particular.
The mood moves from humor to high melodrama to tragedy with ease, and rarely hits a sour note, which is to my mind especially vital in a story that uses a convention like the Rogue With a Heart of Gold. Locke Lamora is everything you would expect from such a character, with his humble (but mysterious!) origins, his strict but idiosyncratic code of ethics instilled by a beloved mentor, his gift of gab, and his avarice and hedonism nicely offset by the fact that everyone else around him, from the lowest thug to the nobility, is equally bad. The real joy is in the secondary characters, though. I adored Jean, the literate brawler, and I really appreciated that Locke's victims were portrayed, not as one-dimensional rubes, but as genuinely interesting humans who just happened to have a whole assload of money that the protagonist wished to separate them from.
I do have a bone to pick in this regard, however. Nacza Barsavi was a fucking brilliant character, and we got what, five or six pages of her? I, personally, was convinced that she was the Gray King and had faked her own death up until Capa Barsavi was killed, and even then intermittently afterward until all hope was gone. Instead, we got a Gray King whose existence was previously unsuspected, whose motivation was, well, a little commonplace, and who was someone that Locke could unreservedly hate. The only really interesting thread I can imagine carrying through the series from this antagonist is the apparent, as-yet-unremarked unity of his despised goals with those of Locke's beloved Father Chains. (And, well, I suppose that there will be pesky Bondmages who don't see the finer technical point in 'But we didn't actually kill him!' But the Bondsmage is a separate issue.) If one wanted to look for the omelet here, it's a sign of the well-balanced character building that I actually wanted to see a character get resurrected, instead of actually seeing one resurrected and rolling my eyes, as generally happens with fantasy these days.
At any rate, I'm looking forward to the next one, and I highly recommend that those of you who are fantasy-inclined get out and give this a try.
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LibraryThing member Silvernfire
Quickly looking over other reviews for this book, I see that many readers thought it was fun, smart, entertaining, that the world the story was set in was richly detailed, that they really liked the Gentleman Bastards. And it's not that I disagree with most of that, but for me, it was outweighed by
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pacing problems. The story starts with the scam Locke Lamora and the other Gentleman Bastards are preparing to pull on a pair of nobles. It's clever and intricate—oh, is it intricate—but I had the sense that it wasn't going to be much of a problem for Locke, so I waited for the "real" story to get going. And waited. And waited. By the time the true threat showed up, I'd nearly lost interest. Even after that point, the story ran unevenly. Much of the time, it would zoom right along, with Locke and the others barely staying ahead of disaster, and me reading eagerly to find out what happened next...but sometimes it would just bog down in descriptions of Camorr or a filler scene, and I'd start skimming, trying to find the point where the pace picked up again. There's a good, solid core in there, but less would have been more for this book. So now I'm torn: intrigued enough to want to know what happens in the next two books, but not sure if they'll be better reads. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
I found this a little slow to get going, but soon enough I was hooked. Lynch doesn't hold back anything; it's telling that George R. R. Martin wrote the cover blurb, as both authors share a certain ruthlessness towards their characters. However, that makes for a very tense, heavily-layered read.
In particular, I was surprised at how much I liked Locke. He's a thief on a grand scale, a murderer, and in many ways, not a pleasant fellow. But against a cast of murderers and schemers, Locke is definitely a good guy--not as bad as the rest, and he does have something of a moral compass, even if it's a bit skewed.
I'm continuing with the second book next.
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Everything is at stake. The twists and turns were fascinating and very well done.In particular, I was surprised at how much I liked Locke. He's a thief on a grand scale, a murderer, and in many ways, not a pleasant fellow. But against a cast of murderers and schemers, Locke is definitely a good guy--not as bad as the rest, and he does have something of a moral compass, even if it's a bit skewed.
I'm continuing with the second book next.
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LibraryThing member FishSpeaker
Lies started out promising, but a bit confusing with all of the flash-backs/forwards. It eventually became more engrossing and showed more and more potential. Like the story of the book, though, the potential was a ruse, which turned into pointlessness, implausibility, and banality.
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Weird jumping back and forth in time. I find the boy more interesting than the con artist - and it was only because the blurb promised some major events (which did sort of come up) that I slogged through to the end. It did have a payoff, and I'm mildly interested in the next one, but it took me
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forever to read - I really don't like manipulators, and _all_ the major characters are. Show Less
LibraryThing member TadAD
Would I recommend this book to someone? Yes. Is it as good as I expected from the reviews on Amazon? No.
The world Mr. Lynch created is fantastic. The characters range from good to OK--some are a bit flat. The plot exposition was great. The resolution of the plot a bit of an anti-climax. So much
However, I'm there for the sequel.
The world Mr. Lynch created is fantastic. The characters range from good to OK--some are a bit flat. The plot exposition was great. The resolution of the plot a bit of an anti-climax. So much
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imagination went into the rest of the book, I expected something a bit more intriguing as a motivation behind it all.However, I'm there for the sequel.
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LibraryThing member rkelley
After a slow first third (I almost gave up), develops into a really gripping plot with some real surprises. Couldn't put it down in the end - haven't enjoyed a book this much for ages.
LibraryThing member littlebookworm
This was a good fantasy. I have very little to criticize. The reader is plunged straight into the story, which is cleverly laced between the past and the future, revealing each piece of information only as we need to know it. The characters are understandable and likable despite their job
Best of all, the entire book is full of humor, even when Locke and co. get themselves in the worst of situations. The balance between nail biting and laughter was perfect for me; I never got too worried and when I was about to, Locke would say something that made me giggle.
Lynch's world-building is similarly superb, and in this sense it's easy to see why he's compared to Mieville. This tale is considerably less, well, thick and dark, though, and I think a comparison between Lynch and Pratchett would be more apt, for their humor. They are certainly not the same, but that is who came to my mind as I was reading. The society is believable and the world fits very well, full of multiple dimensions. I can't wait to discover more of them as the series goes along.
Overall, very highly recommended. Even the villains are complex, with hidden motives. Great book.
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descriptions, and their friendship feels genuine. Scott Lynch throws a few tricks in the mix to keep it lively, and the plot absolutely never lets up. These characters aren't given a rest. Furthermore, he ties everything together in a neat, pleasing way, so that I can hardly wait to find out how he screws it up in the rest of the sequence (assuming he carries on with the same characters).Best of all, the entire book is full of humor, even when Locke and co. get themselves in the worst of situations. The balance between nail biting and laughter was perfect for me; I never got too worried and when I was about to, Locke would say something that made me giggle.
Lynch's world-building is similarly superb, and in this sense it's easy to see why he's compared to Mieville. This tale is considerably less, well, thick and dark, though, and I think a comparison between Lynch and Pratchett would be more apt, for their humor. They are certainly not the same, but that is who came to my mind as I was reading. The society is believable and the world fits very well, full of multiple dimensions. I can't wait to discover more of them as the series goes along.
Overall, very highly recommended. Even the villains are complex, with hidden motives. Great book.
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LibraryThing member DarkFaerieTales
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: I cannot rave enough about The Lies of Locke Lamora! Vibrant characters, comprehensive world-building and an ingenious plot places this Fantasy firmly at the top of the genre with the likes of Tolkien and Martin. I cannot wait to discover the other
Opening Sentence: Locke Lamora’s rule of thumb was this: a good confidence game took three months to plan, three weeks to rehearse, and three seconds to win or lose the victim’s trust forever.
The Review:
The Lies of Locke Lamora literally fell into my hands while I was visiting the Random House booth at San Diego Comic Con last month. I was looking at another title when the person next to me bumped the stack and sent several books flying. I grabbed whatever was closest to me and was surprised when the girl working at the booth told me I could keep the books I’d picked up. Score! I didn’t even look at the titles I walked away with until I was stuck with a four hour layover at the airport several days later. I had no expectations other than hoping it would be interesting enough to lessen the annoyance of a long day stuck at the airport. As it turns out, it’s become one of my all-time favorite stories and I had to share it even though it wasn’t on my list of titles to review this month.
The prologue is a must read to fully appreciate the genius that is Scott Lynch. It all begins with a man called the Thiefmaker trying to sell an orphan boy to another man called Chains. It’s clear the Thiefmaker doesn’t suffer from any kind of moral misgivings about bringing orphaned children to his home under the graveyard with the sole purpose of turning them into his street thugs. It’s also clear that this isn’t the first time the Thiefmaker has approached the Eyeless Priest; he’s sold three other former “special” students to the Priest in recent years. In each of the previous cases, these students proved too troublesome for the Thiefmaker to control and it’s no different with the small boy known as Locke. However, the Thiefmaker’s issues with Locke are bigger than any he ever faced with previous students. Turns out that Locke’s skill at elaborate larceny schemes have become a very serious liability for the Thiefmaker – so much so that the Thiefmaker vows to kill Locke if the Priest won’t buy him.
The story begins several years later. Chains has passed away but the small group of specially trained thieves he named the Gentleman Bastards remains. Locke is the leader of the highly-successful group – which now consists of twins Calo and Galdo, the quiet but deadly Jean, and their apprentice Bug – and they are in the midst of a new scheme that will bring the Gentleman Bastards more money than ever before. Locke has learned much from his near death experience under the Thiefmaker and the rest of the Gentleman Bastards trust in him completely. The fact that they will be killed if Capa Barsavi, Camorr’s crime lord, ever finds out they’ve broken the Secret Peace by running a scheme on a noble doesn’t deter them. Neither does it matter that they will never be able to spend the money because doing so would blow their cover as the small-time pickpockets every other gang in town thinks they are. They’re content to continue acting like Capa Barsavi’s diligent group of small-time thieves, paying him his expected portion of their supposedly small monthly takes like normal. The knowledge that they far outwit anyone in Camorr, that they are able to con not only the nobility but also the crime lord and all his lackeys, is the only payoff that matters to Locke and the Gentleman Bastards. Then everything starts to go very, very wrong thanks to a newcomer who seems even more devious than Locke. This mystery man has his sights set on Locke, using him as a tool to obliterate the tenuous balance between Camorr’s crime network and the nobility. Despite Locke’s ability to scheme his way out of any situation, no costume or elaborate plot will save any of them from being caught up in the deadly consequences of the coming war.
Locke in particular comes across as a smug little SOB. He believes he is the cleverest con man to ever exist in Camorr and acts as though he can find a way out of any situation. Yet he and the Gentleman Bastards are immensely lovable despite the fact that they’re willing to cheat, lie and otherwise screw people out of whatever valuables they possess. Though they are members of a violent network of thugs, they do not participate in cruel or spiteful treatment of their marks. They instead rely on Locke’s brilliant wit and seemingly infallible luck, as well as expert costuming, to pull off their daring schemes. But Locke, Jean, Calo, Galdo and Bug aren’t just comrades in crime; they are brothers. Sincere admiration and affection, as well as good-natured harassment that only the best of friends or family can get away with, cement the relationships between these men. Their loyalty to each other is heartwarming and reading their interactions truly felt like I was listening in on conversations between lifelong friends.
Still, their relationships and the incredibly dark yet compelling plot wouldn’t have been as powerful had it not been for the amazing world Lynch created. The gritty setting brought a combination of Venice and Medieval England landscapes to mind and it was easy to envision Capa Barsavi’s floating headquarters or the mythical temple the Gentleman Bastards called home. Lynch provided the perfect amount of detail to create a landscape where these men and their counterparts could thrive and the mythical aspects seemed commonplace. The clothing, the magical abilities, even the secondary characters all blended seamlessly to create a comprehensive world where it was easy to get lost. In fact, I ended up getting motion sickness on the plane because I couldn’t put it down!
I could go on and on about the various aspects I adored (I warned you I couldn’t stop raving about it) but think my point is made. There is nothing I didn’t enjoy about The Lies of Locke Lamora and I encourage you to give yourself a gift by finding the nearest copy as soon as possible.
Notable Scene:
“I got them killed?”
“Yes.” Chains didn’t soften his voice. “You really did. As surely as you tried to hurt Veslin, you killed Gregor and four or five of your little comrades in the bargain.”
“Shit.”
“Do you see now, what consequences really are? Why you have to move slowly, think ahead, control the situation? Why you need to settle down and wait for time to give you sense to match your talent for mischief? We have years to work together, Locke. Years for you and my other little hellions to practice quietly. And that has to be the rule, if you want to stay here. No games, no cons, no scams, no anything except when and where I tell you. When someone like you pushes the world, the world pushes back. Other people are likely to get hurt. Am I clear?”
FTC Advisory: Del Rey/Random House provided me with a copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: I cannot rave enough about The Lies of Locke Lamora! Vibrant characters, comprehensive world-building and an ingenious plot places this Fantasy firmly at the top of the genre with the likes of Tolkien and Martin. I cannot wait to discover the other
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adventures awaiting these beloved characters.Opening Sentence: Locke Lamora’s rule of thumb was this: a good confidence game took three months to plan, three weeks to rehearse, and three seconds to win or lose the victim’s trust forever.
The Review:
The Lies of Locke Lamora literally fell into my hands while I was visiting the Random House booth at San Diego Comic Con last month. I was looking at another title when the person next to me bumped the stack and sent several books flying. I grabbed whatever was closest to me and was surprised when the girl working at the booth told me I could keep the books I’d picked up. Score! I didn’t even look at the titles I walked away with until I was stuck with a four hour layover at the airport several days later. I had no expectations other than hoping it would be interesting enough to lessen the annoyance of a long day stuck at the airport. As it turns out, it’s become one of my all-time favorite stories and I had to share it even though it wasn’t on my list of titles to review this month.
The prologue is a must read to fully appreciate the genius that is Scott Lynch. It all begins with a man called the Thiefmaker trying to sell an orphan boy to another man called Chains. It’s clear the Thiefmaker doesn’t suffer from any kind of moral misgivings about bringing orphaned children to his home under the graveyard with the sole purpose of turning them into his street thugs. It’s also clear that this isn’t the first time the Thiefmaker has approached the Eyeless Priest; he’s sold three other former “special” students to the Priest in recent years. In each of the previous cases, these students proved too troublesome for the Thiefmaker to control and it’s no different with the small boy known as Locke. However, the Thiefmaker’s issues with Locke are bigger than any he ever faced with previous students. Turns out that Locke’s skill at elaborate larceny schemes have become a very serious liability for the Thiefmaker – so much so that the Thiefmaker vows to kill Locke if the Priest won’t buy him.
The story begins several years later. Chains has passed away but the small group of specially trained thieves he named the Gentleman Bastards remains. Locke is the leader of the highly-successful group – which now consists of twins Calo and Galdo, the quiet but deadly Jean, and their apprentice Bug – and they are in the midst of a new scheme that will bring the Gentleman Bastards more money than ever before. Locke has learned much from his near death experience under the Thiefmaker and the rest of the Gentleman Bastards trust in him completely. The fact that they will be killed if Capa Barsavi, Camorr’s crime lord, ever finds out they’ve broken the Secret Peace by running a scheme on a noble doesn’t deter them. Neither does it matter that they will never be able to spend the money because doing so would blow their cover as the small-time pickpockets every other gang in town thinks they are. They’re content to continue acting like Capa Barsavi’s diligent group of small-time thieves, paying him his expected portion of their supposedly small monthly takes like normal. The knowledge that they far outwit anyone in Camorr, that they are able to con not only the nobility but also the crime lord and all his lackeys, is the only payoff that matters to Locke and the Gentleman Bastards. Then everything starts to go very, very wrong thanks to a newcomer who seems even more devious than Locke. This mystery man has his sights set on Locke, using him as a tool to obliterate the tenuous balance between Camorr’s crime network and the nobility. Despite Locke’s ability to scheme his way out of any situation, no costume or elaborate plot will save any of them from being caught up in the deadly consequences of the coming war.
Locke in particular comes across as a smug little SOB. He believes he is the cleverest con man to ever exist in Camorr and acts as though he can find a way out of any situation. Yet he and the Gentleman Bastards are immensely lovable despite the fact that they’re willing to cheat, lie and otherwise screw people out of whatever valuables they possess. Though they are members of a violent network of thugs, they do not participate in cruel or spiteful treatment of their marks. They instead rely on Locke’s brilliant wit and seemingly infallible luck, as well as expert costuming, to pull off their daring schemes. But Locke, Jean, Calo, Galdo and Bug aren’t just comrades in crime; they are brothers. Sincere admiration and affection, as well as good-natured harassment that only the best of friends or family can get away with, cement the relationships between these men. Their loyalty to each other is heartwarming and reading their interactions truly felt like I was listening in on conversations between lifelong friends.
Still, their relationships and the incredibly dark yet compelling plot wouldn’t have been as powerful had it not been for the amazing world Lynch created. The gritty setting brought a combination of Venice and Medieval England landscapes to mind and it was easy to envision Capa Barsavi’s floating headquarters or the mythical temple the Gentleman Bastards called home. Lynch provided the perfect amount of detail to create a landscape where these men and their counterparts could thrive and the mythical aspects seemed commonplace. The clothing, the magical abilities, even the secondary characters all blended seamlessly to create a comprehensive world where it was easy to get lost. In fact, I ended up getting motion sickness on the plane because I couldn’t put it down!
I could go on and on about the various aspects I adored (I warned you I couldn’t stop raving about it) but think my point is made. There is nothing I didn’t enjoy about The Lies of Locke Lamora and I encourage you to give yourself a gift by finding the nearest copy as soon as possible.
Notable Scene:
“I got them killed?”
“Yes.” Chains didn’t soften his voice. “You really did. As surely as you tried to hurt Veslin, you killed Gregor and four or five of your little comrades in the bargain.”
“Shit.”
“Do you see now, what consequences really are? Why you have to move slowly, think ahead, control the situation? Why you need to settle down and wait for time to give you sense to match your talent for mischief? We have years to work together, Locke. Years for you and my other little hellions to practice quietly. And that has to be the rule, if you want to stay here. No games, no cons, no scams, no anything except when and where I tell you. When someone like you pushes the world, the world pushes back. Other people are likely to get hurt. Am I clear?”
FTC Advisory: Del Rey/Random House provided me with a copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
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LibraryThing member pgmcc
I enjoyed this book on an entertainment level. It was well written and the plot was circuitous enough to maintain interest. While there are sequels to this novel it stands on its own. While there are sequels to this novel I do not feel inclined to hunt them down and read them, despite their
My two sons and one of my daughters encouraged me to read [The Lies of Locke Lamora] as they thought it was wonderful. I think the age difference between my children and me explains the different levels of delight in the novel. My having been reading for twenty-five to forty years more than the three people who wanted me to read the book explains why I was not bowled over by the book as much as they were.
The use of bad language was aimed at the rebellious streak in youth. I did not think the bad language served much purpose. The book would have been just as good without it. I felt it was unnecessary and if the author did think it necessary it should have been used more extensively.
When I am reading a book I like to find more than the story and the characters. I like to find things that stop me in my tracks and make me think; commentary on social issues; interesting turns of phrase. I did not find anything in Lies of that nature. There was one two-page section that gave an overview of the economic world as a series of arrangements between businesses and criminal gangs that work in a symbiotic fashion with the security forces turning a blind-eye when necessary to keep the economy working and the pockets of their members well lined with coin. While I do not deny the implication of Scott’s description I do not feel it was made in strong enough a fashion as to make it a significant part of the novel.
Some people may get upset that the novel does appear to glorify stealing, or at least treat it as a normal occupation. One has to go with the flow on this one. The turning robbery into a religion is another aspect one could get upset about. Again, go with the flow.
One of my pet peeves is writers ignoring the rule that the verb and subject should agree in person and number. Scott ignored this many times. While many of the occasions were in reported speech I do not see why authors persist in promoting common abuse of language when they could just as easily promote common correct use of language.
The novel was about the adventure and that is what one must focus on to enjoy it. Do not get too hung up on the detail, implausibility or improbability of some of the plot elements. The book is well written (with the specific exception noted above), entertaining, and it moves along with a good pace. It is good quality fantasy adventure.
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presence in my house.My two sons and one of my daughters encouraged me to read [The Lies of Locke Lamora] as they thought it was wonderful. I think the age difference between my children and me explains the different levels of delight in the novel. My having been reading for twenty-five to forty years more than the three people who wanted me to read the book explains why I was not bowled over by the book as much as they were.
The use of bad language was aimed at the rebellious streak in youth. I did not think the bad language served much purpose. The book would have been just as good without it. I felt it was unnecessary and if the author did think it necessary it should have been used more extensively.
When I am reading a book I like to find more than the story and the characters. I like to find things that stop me in my tracks and make me think; commentary on social issues; interesting turns of phrase. I did not find anything in Lies of that nature. There was one two-page section that gave an overview of the economic world as a series of arrangements between businesses and criminal gangs that work in a symbiotic fashion with the security forces turning a blind-eye when necessary to keep the economy working and the pockets of their members well lined with coin. While I do not deny the implication of Scott’s description I do not feel it was made in strong enough a fashion as to make it a significant part of the novel.
Some people may get upset that the novel does appear to glorify stealing, or at least treat it as a normal occupation. One has to go with the flow on this one. The turning robbery into a religion is another aspect one could get upset about. Again, go with the flow.
One of my pet peeves is writers ignoring the rule that the verb and subject should agree in person and number. Scott ignored this many times. While many of the occasions were in reported speech I do not see why authors persist in promoting common abuse of language when they could just as easily promote common correct use of language.
The novel was about the adventure and that is what one must focus on to enjoy it. Do not get too hung up on the detail, implausibility or improbability of some of the plot elements. The book is well written (with the specific exception noted above), entertaining, and it moves along with a good pace. It is good quality fantasy adventure.
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LibraryThing member rdjanssen
This is Scott's first book, but he does such a good job; head and shoulders above other first books that I've read.
The Lies of Locke Lamora is set in a dark, urban fantasy world. It is a tale of thievery, double-crossing, and magic. It reminded me of a dark Dickensian London with imagery alluding
If you are looking for a great story about thieves, burglars, and confidence men, this is definitely right up your alley. If one were going to run a thieves campaign in D&D, this is how you would want to do it!
The Lies of Locke Lamora is set in a dark, urban fantasy world. It is a tale of thievery, double-crossing, and magic. It reminded me of a dark Dickensian London with imagery alluding
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to Gotham City. The story was very engrossing. It was a page-turner the likes of which I hadn't read since a Song of Ice and Fire. The other notable bright spot of the novel is the dialog; it is very witty yet believable. There were many times when I found myself laughing or cheering or otherwise physically reacting to something a character said. There are many twists and unexpected surprises, but done with a purpose, not just in an attempt to throw off the readers, which ends up making the story nonsensical like so many other "twisty" stories end up doing. I was very impressed. If you are looking for a great story about thieves, burglars, and confidence men, this is definitely right up your alley. If one were going to run a thieves campaign in D&D, this is how you would want to do it!
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LibraryThing member Narilka
The island city of Camorr is no place for an orphan. Street life is harsh and often short. The Theiftaker, master over one of the cities seedier sections, takes promising orphans under his wing to start them on a life of crime. His recent recruit, Locke Lamora, is too clever by half and has the
The Lies of Locke Lamora is the first in the Gentleman Bastards series and the first novel by Scott Lynch. Camorr is a fantasy stylization of medieval Venice complete with canals for streets and islands as various districts. Mob style crime lords rule the underworld while the nobility ignores the majority of what goes on in an agreement called the Secret Peace. The story focuses on Locke's current con while weaving back to his formative years, giving insight into how he became the criminal mastermind he is today.
The story has a slow build and is told almost exclusively from Locke's point of view. In the beginning I found myself enjoying the flackback sequences more than the main story. That all changes once things start to go wrong for our brave anti-hero. The worse Locke's situation became the more the story became a page turner.
Lynch pulls no punches. The story is gritty and sometimes brutal to the main characters. The violence is well placed given the world's set up. He also has a tendency to use swear words. Another review I read calling the book the fantasy love child of Ocean's Eleven and The Godfather is apt.
Overall I enjoyed the book. The ending has a nice twist. I look forward to reading more of Locke's adventures in the future.
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Theiftaker in a quandary: he must either sell the boy or kill him. Working out a deal with a false priest the Theiftaker hands Locke over to Father Chains. But what has Locke done that the Theiftaker needed to be rid of him?The Lies of Locke Lamora is the first in the Gentleman Bastards series and the first novel by Scott Lynch. Camorr is a fantasy stylization of medieval Venice complete with canals for streets and islands as various districts. Mob style crime lords rule the underworld while the nobility ignores the majority of what goes on in an agreement called the Secret Peace. The story focuses on Locke's current con while weaving back to his formative years, giving insight into how he became the criminal mastermind he is today.
The story has a slow build and is told almost exclusively from Locke's point of view. In the beginning I found myself enjoying the flackback sequences more than the main story. That all changes once things start to go wrong for our brave anti-hero. The worse Locke's situation became the more the story became a page turner.
Lynch pulls no punches. The story is gritty and sometimes brutal to the main characters. The violence is well placed given the world's set up. He also has a tendency to use swear words. Another review I read calling the book the fantasy love child of Ocean's Eleven and The Godfather is apt.
Overall I enjoyed the book. The ending has a nice twist. I look forward to reading more of Locke's adventures in the future.
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LibraryThing member seitherin
It is not the fantasy masterwork that others seem to hail it as. It is, however, a rollicking good adventure story once you get past the very modern voice the story is told in.
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — First Novel — 2007)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 2007)
SF Site Reader's Choice (#1 — 2006)
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — August Derleth Fantasy Award — 2007)
Compton Crook Award (Nominee — 2007)
IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award (Finalist — 2007)
Chesley Award (Nominee — 2008)
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (Winner — 2008)
Locus Recommended Reading (First Novel — 2006)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2007)
Language
Original publication date
2006-06-27
Physical description
512 p.; 9.22 inches
ISBN
0553804677 / 9780553804676
Local notes
Gentleman Bastard, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Lynch |