“Remarkable . . . Scott Lynch’s first novel, The Lies of Locke Lamora, exports the suspense and wit of a cleverly constructed crime caper into an exotic realm of fantasy, and the result is engagingly entertaining.”—The Times (London)
An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.
Praise for The Lies of Locke Lamora
“Fresh, original, and engrossing . . . gorgeously realized.”—George R. R. Martin
“Right now, in the full flush of a second reading, I think The Lies of Locke Lamora is probably in my top ten favorite books ever. Maybe my top five. If you haven’t read it, you should. If you have read it, you should probably read it again.”—Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind
“A unique fantasy milieu peopled by absorbing, colorful characters . . . Locke’s wit and audacity endear him to victims and bystanders alike.”—The Seattle Times
“A true genre bender, at home on almost any kind of fiction shelf . . . Lynch immediately establishes himself as a gifted and fearless storyteller, unafraid of comparisons to Silverberg and Jordan, not to mention David Liss and even Dickens.”—Booklist (starred review)
“High-octane fantasy . . . a great swashbuckling yarn of a novel.”—Richard Morgan
From the Hardcover edition.
An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.
Praise for The Lies of Locke Lamora
“Fresh, original, and engrossing . . . gorgeously realized.”—George R. R. Martin
“Right now, in the full flush of a second reading, I think The Lies of Locke Lamora is probably in my top ten favorite books ever. Maybe my top five. If you haven’t read it, you should. If you have read it, you should probably read it again.”—Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind
“A unique fantasy milieu peopled by absorbing, colorful characters . . . Locke’s wit and audacity endear him to victims and bystanders alike.”—The Seattle Times
“A true genre bender, at home on almost any kind of fiction shelf . . . Lynch immediately establishes himself as a gifted and fearless storyteller, unafraid of comparisons to Silverberg and Jordan, not to mention David Liss and even Dickens.”—Booklist (starred review)
“High-octane fantasy . . . a great swashbuckling yarn of a novel.”—Richard Morgan
From the Hardcover edition.
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3
Tankplank (Grade: A–) Scott Lynch transforms Renaissance Venice into a fantasy playground where Locke Lamora and his guild of honorable thieves run amok among the privileged elite. What begins as a lighthearted adventure in con artistry soon turns deadly serious as Locke's plans begin to unravel. Luckily, The Gentleman Bastards are an easy set of heroes to love, and the city of Camorr is a vibrant creation that lives in the details. This is a story with a lot of personality and a lot of charm. A definite classic. A-.
(Rated on Sep 11, 2013)
3
Muisje (Grade: A+) I love it when a writer can create a world in a very casual manner: not just imagined to fit the plot, but to serve as an amazing background for an even more amazing story. The book just pulls you in and doesn't let go. Locke Lamora is a very well thought-out character, with whom I could sympathise even though we have nothing in common. So much to love!
(Rated on Jan 2, 2014)
3
Happy_Cat (Grade: A) OMG. Love, love, loved this book. Definitely a new favourite. The structuring of the story was brilliant - fantastic way to introduce history and background without giving too much at once or not enough. The characters were awesome - complex, likable or hateable, with many different types of characters with their own backgrounds, motives and desires. Fantastic plot, brilliantly executed. Great writing style. Honestly can't say enough good things about this book.
(Rated on Feb 13, 2014)
2
KittyFiend (Grade: A) I loved that characters and I also loved how unpredictable the story was. I felt like I never knew what was going to happen. I also liked the set up of the book. Relevant interludes of the past between the "real chapters" added a unique perspective.
(Rated on Apr 25, 2014)
2
Lindels (Grade: A) So many things to love about this book. The world and the characters Lynch has created blew me away. I've re-read this one several times, and it hooks me every time!
(Rated on Feb 27, 2015)
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