The Lies of Locke Lamora Reviews

• Lynch's talent is bigger than this story

  
  By ANI00381ZIMEW on 2006-08-14
  THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA is a fairly-well-hyped fantasy debut about the charismatic leader of a gang of con artists in a city that does (or tries to do) for renaissance Venice what PERDIDO STREET STATION did for Dickensian London. Overall, I enjoyed it - the prose was technically proficient, the plot hummed along efficiently, the setting was considerably more interesting than the usual plate-mail-and-offal-carts business, and there was a good deal of welcome humor. As debut novels go it's a promising start.
  
  On the other hand, it really doesn't amount to much more than an entertaining confection. The book's apparently been optioned for a movie already, and I can see why: the dialogue's relentlessly effervescent, occasionally stretching credulity past the breaking point (characters have one-liners for every occasion even while collecting broken bones and concussions like trading cards) and the screenplay-friendly three-act structure is too often embarrassingly visible underneath the flesh of the story.
  
  It's difficult to articulate my feelings on books like this. On the one hand, Lynch's technical talent clearly elevates him above the great gormless herd of modern fantasy writers already. And there's no denying that the book is very likeable indeed, while it seems unfair to fault it based only on what it could have been. On the other hand, it's just *too damn safe*. Lynch is going to be a major player in the genre - that much is obvious already - but he has it in him to do something Seriously Good rather than settling for being the next RA Salvatore. But it's not gonna happen until he gets over his fear of failure. PERDIDO had parts that worked and parts that didn't but Mieville wrote his ambition on every page in letters of fire, and the excitement swept me, the reader, away with him. Whereas LOCKE LAMORA felt like Lynch was parceling out his ideas and his talent and calculating every story beat based on whether it would make a good start for a franchise.
  
  In short, it's worth the money, even if you're not big into fantasy - I'm emphatically not, aside from staples like Tolkien, Moorcock, and Martin, and I still enjoyed it. But it's not a *necessary* book.
  
  

• Fantastic start to a promising career

  
  By A28CCN6VYHRUKS on 2006-07-04
  Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is the first book in the Gentlemen Bastards series. Not only is it the first in the Gentlemen Bastards series, but this novel happens to be the first novel published by Mr. Lynch as well. When I first heard that this was a debut novel I was slightly hesitant, but it came with a glowing recommendation so I took the chance. Let me say right off the bat that I am very thankful that I took the chance on this new author as this novel is absolutely fantastic.
  
  There are several aspects of this novel that I think need to be reviewed.
  
  The characters really allow this novel to stand out and shine. The characters are well developed and vivid. Each character is done in such a way that they all appear unique, anything from their look to their dialog. While Mr. Lynch has added many curse words, which at times, for me anyway, shocks the reader out of the dialog, it also seems to bring a grittiness to the characters. There are quite a few characters in this novel, but I didn't find any difficulty in keeping them separate and knowing what each was doing. The main character, who I would struggle to call a hero, is a rogue who is bent on stealing from the nobles of the cit. A Robin Hood type character if you will. Mr. Lynch goes to great detail to explain and develop Locke throughout the book, and he pulls this off very well. The other assortment of characters are developed at varying degrees. This just makes sense or else the book would be huge. In my opinion the supporting cast of characters are done perfectly, not too much and not to little. There are many truly memorable characters in this book.
  
  The plot, on the surface anyway, seems rather simple in that the main character is a rogue set on fleecing the nobility out of their wealth. However, there are many things that Mr. Lynch tosses into the mix to make this a much more complicated story than just your typical steal from the rich story. This story follows Locke from when he was a very young boy all the way up to his involvement with the Gentlemen Bastards and the escapades that he routinely pulls on the noble class of the city. There are several twists and mysterious characters that are slowly added to add more depth to the story. Even though there are multiple elements added throughout the book they are not done so to cram things into this novel. It has a very steady pace and was obviously well mapped out. It's a well written plot and one that certainly leaves room for further development in later books.
  
  This novel is set up in an interesting way, in fact I have not seen a novel like this to my memory. There are regular chapters, but interspaced between these chapters, or sections really, there are flashbacks or as Lynch calls them interludes. Were he harkens back to past events that helped shape the characters actions and choices. This is certainly a unique way of putting a novel together and at times it works beautifully, but there is at least one point where I read an interlude and was a little unsure why it was included in the story or at that point in the book. For the most part though, this idea works rather well and adds a certain depth to the book.
  
  There are a few things that I wish would have been better developed, such the way magic works as well as a little more explanation of the `thirteen'. Since this is the first book in this series I expect that these things may be explained in greater detail later.
  
  Overall, this is a fantastic book and one I am sure to recommend to many other people. It really is a gem and a surprising first release from a new author. I wonder just how good Mr. Lynch will become if this was the first release from him. I am eagerly looking forward to the second book in this series as I am sure many others will be once they give this novel a chance. Have no fear in picking this up, I think it will appease many a different fans. Certainly fantasy fans, but also others will probably like this as well.
  
  
  

• Over-rated, Immature and Uninteresting

  
  By A3T1R1DFWGW4W7 on 2007-07-01
  I'm completely baffled by the large number of glowing reviews here. It seems to me that a great number of readers are looking for a very light and amusing style of fantasy. Perhaps this book has broad appeal for the same reason that movies like Ocean's 11 have broad appeal. Any tale of a gang of hipsters acting cool and pulling the wool over the eyes of the rich seems enough to satisfy many people.
  
  Personally I tire of the thieving anti-hero who spouts endless one-liners. Unless there is some real substance beneath the hip banter it just starts to seam silly. But I read the first hundred pages or so of this book and I could not find a hint of substance.
  
  We first encounter our anti-hero as a very young boy, orphaned, living on the streets but possessing great thieving skills. He is apparently completely uneducated and spends his days engaging in petty theft. Suddenly we skip ahead a decade or more and our anti-hero is now plotting elaborate cons. He speaks many languages. He can pass himself off as a rich merchant and converse knowingly with nobles.
  
  This is where the book totally lost me. If you want me to believe that a grubby little guttersnipe grew up to be a master con man you really have to show me how this happened? But is this book it seems we are just supposed to accept it.
  
  I think I would have loved this book when I was sixteen. But these days I prefer a little more depth, believability and continuity in my fantasy.
  
  

• Exciting, vivid read that could've been tighter and deeper.

  
  By ARP3JDEBKU8P3 on 2007-10-27
  Scott Lynch's much-heralded debut leads readers on a dashing thief tale in the best classic fantasy vein, through a vivid Renaissance-inspired fantasy city. Locke and his companions are clever rogues who must outwit not only their marks but also the city guard, their own underworld leaders, and a new vicious underworld faction.
  
  The plot surges into high gear in the second act with the appearance of this new faction, which could have been introduced sooner. The Grey King and especially his mage are so shockingly well-informed and powerful that Locke seems helpless against them. This keeps the reader turning the pages, but it also makes Locke's eventual victory seem implausible and rushed.
  
  The climax abandons the clever thief scheming in favor of a super-villain plot out of a James Bond movie. The villain's plan is far-fetched and poorly justified, Locke's response is oddly benevolent, and the other characters' reactions to him are unrealistic bordering on authorial wish-fulfillment.
  
  The constant interlude chapters covering Locke and Jean's boyhood distract from the exciting heist plot. Lynch does relate them to the present story, but this material could have been shown more quickly and less disruptively in short flashbacks. In addition, the narrative's shallow point-of-view makes the characters feel distant. Only their most basic internal reactions and emotions are described in a point-of-view that shifts through different characters in the same scene, includes constant descriptions of the point-of-view character's own facial expressions, and artificially hides from the reader much information that the point-of-view characters obviously know. This leaves them feeling shallow, like movie characters on a screen rather than fully internalized novel characters.
  
  Lynch's strengths, the vivid setting and his constant heaping of conflict onto his characters, pull the reader through this ripping thief yarn. But _Lies_ is less than it could have been if the novel had gone deeper into both the personalities of his heroes and the justifications of his villain.
  
  

• Welcome addition to my library

  
  By A2B31JDSVV476K on 2007-01-16
  I found this book via Livejournal, I believe through the journal of Elizabeth Bear, which led me to journal for Scott Lynch. I liked his posts enough (the writing style and attitude, etc), and tLoLL was highly praised enough, that I went ahead and bought it, despite the fact that I rarely purchase hardcover books by authors whose writing is unknown to me.
  
  I'm awfully glad I did. Although I think my wallet may be a little annoyed...this is going to be a series,
  which means I will have a number more hardcover books to buy!
  
  OK, to the meat of the thing:
  I very much enjoyed this book. The characters were engaging, the plot was suitably complex, and I wasn't able to guess every twist and turn. I particularly liked the character development -- even the characters I didn't like, I didn't like for good reason! I've seen reviews (and read one particular reader-author interchange) that mention the swearing by the characters. Yes, there is a good bit of swearing, but it's not *that* much, and it is all appropriate to both the characters, the world, and the story.
  
  It took a bit for me to get used to the timeline jumping, but once I did, it became obvious that this was the best way to tell the story. I was *really* confused at the beginning by the references to Sabetha, who we didn't see in either the childhood interludes OR in the present-time episodes, and that was mildly irritating. But it mostly just served to make me more curious and provided more incentive to keep reading.
  
  One thing I did not like, which is really more of a pet peeve of mine, is the (over)use of italics. I thought the italics were really unnecessary for emphasis, and since at times their presence made me stop, and re-read a sentence to put the emphasis in the proper place (instead of where it sounded right in MY head), it was really annoying. Some words being italicized (such as garrista ) was acceptable, and would have actually seemed wrong had they NOT been italicized.
  
  All in all, a great new voice, and I'm really looking forward to what happens next with Locke & Jean! Oh, and to find out some of the answers to questions raised in this book!
  
  
• It was just okay...
  By ABIDD687MJWOZ on 2007-07-09
  WOW! By reading all of these fabulous reviews I would have thought this was better than A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin! Sorry, not even close. I certainly liked R. Scott Bakker's "The Prince of Nothing" better. I like Greg Keyes "The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone" better. I like Paul Kemp's Erevis Cale series better. Finally, I am reading Acacia by David Anthony Durham and it's better.
  
  Maybe I am just not too huge a fan of an "Oliver Twist" tale. Still, it was good enough for me to continue the series. I am just in disbelief by how many "glowing" reviews this book has recieved.
  
  
• Grabs you round the throat from the start. . .
  By A3V5NCKHCJT7 on 2006-03-31
  Somehow this book managed to be lush *and* gritty and completely absorbing. The characters are real, the pace doesn't let up, the setting is three-D and colourful and dangerous. It made me laugh aloud and gasp and, in one place, cry. By the end I wanted to cheer for Locke, the lovable rogue of the title.
  
  The action centers around organized crime in a Venice-like fantasy city, focusing on the Gentlemen Bastards, a ring of young grifters who fleece nobles for fun. It's a right laugh until the new mob moves in and things turn deadly serious, setting them up for their biggest caper ever. Provided nothing goes wrong, of course.
  
  This is interspersed with the backstory of the Bastards themselves, which only adds to the richness of their characterisation and the darkness of the city and its cultures.
  
  I can't recommend this book enough. If you enjoy fantasy or crime books, it'll be a good time. It just didn't seem to have any weak spots: the characterisation, the setting, the plot were all dead-bang-right.
  
  
• A good read marred by a fractured timeline [spoilers]
  By A31GWV4EVDW6H6 on 2007-07-12
  There is a lot to like in this debut novel. The pseudo Venice of Camorra is richly realized. The characters are vividly drawn and their dialogue is salty and entertaining. However, the main story arc, the development of the Gentlemen Bastards from street orphans to the premier confidence ring of the City, is severely hindered by the book's timeline. Lynch dribbles out the back-story bit by bit with flashbacks which rarely correspond to the "present time" story. These digressions are ultimately maddening. If I read this book again, I will bookmark the flashbacks and read them through in chronological order.
  
  Another really annoying problem with this book is what I call "the case of the missing character". Throughout the book there are references to a sixth member of the gang, and Locke's sometime girlfriend...BUT SHE NEVER SHOWS UP! Ok, so we all know there's going to be a sequel, but really. I kept wondering when she was going to appear (She's the one shadowing them from the rooftops. No, wait! Maybe she's the Gray King in disguise!).
  
  
• senoir reader
  By A3JPISNF8XJKHO on 2007-08-21
  i got tired of using white-out to cover swear words and trying to figure what period of time the auther had this section of chapter. it is not a good book for it takes 10 pages to get any action but by then you are off to another time. go to a resale store and pay 50 cents for it for you'll end up tossing it out like i did after 200 pages of swear words and more to come.
  
  
• Just not worth the effort
  By A1OM0EUPUT116D on 2007-09-20
  Mr. Lynch has some decent ideas but this book is a tough read. The story jumps around with very little transition and can be tough to follow. It is also filled with gratuitous vulgarity from curse words to obscene comments. I am not easily offended but the language shocks you away from the story. This book desperately needs an editor and a rewrite, until that happens don't waste your time.
  
  
• Wondrous Invention By A Debut Author - Splendid
  By A3TVD2YLY9VSJU on 2007-10-01
  I have, over the course of the past two years, encountered some very wonderful and awesome fantasy novels and series. However, many of them share the same archetypical plot: Boy is special, finds "good" object, old man mentor, etc. etc. This novel is different. The Lies of Locke Lamora is a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre, and I am here to tell you about it.
  
  
  In the island city of Camorr, of 16th century Venicean style, there are various gangs, theives and criminal organizations. Under the Capa Barsavi, these gangs and whatnot have prospered, under something called the Secret Peace which allies royalty with the criminals. In one of the Capa's groupings, an orphanage-esque place where orphans are taught the art of thief and cutthroat, a five year old boy arrives, new to Camorr altogether. Its leader, called the Thiefmaker, has trouble with the boy, and after a year, sells him to the Eyeless Priest of the Order of Perelandro and the Gentlemen Bandits. He is raised there.
  
  
  After twenty-two or so years, the Eyeless Priest dies, and the child, Locke, is the new garrista. Not a child anymore, he and his fellow members, Calo, Galdo, Jean and Bug go wreak havoc upon a new royal family (the Salvaras) by conning them of four hundred thousand crowns (currency). When everything is going right, he is hired by a mysterious Grey King, and everything goes wrong.
  
  
  My favorite part of this book was the gritty, unarchetypical characters, especially Calo and Galdo. They had a hardiness to them that I have never seen in any book before. The setting was interesting, as it wasn't the classic 12th century medieval place based on Britain and Ireland, it was a new, different place, one I hadn't visited, one not on the map. The book is filled with alchemy, with no or little magic, just things that actually are plausible. Also, the climax is thrilling. You'll be up really late, I can tell you that much!
  
  
  On last thought, the book is part Robin Hood, part Tom Clancy, part Age of Empires, part Thief Lord and part George RR Martin.
  
  MSL
  
  PS: Not for faint hearted or those who cannot handle language.
  
  
• A hearty "meh"
  By A1GWDZWFRQXO5X on 2008-05-09
  Entertaining plot, reasonably amusing characters, but painfully cookie cutter - felt as if it was written using the character classes from a D&D game: "Hey, we've got a rogue, a wizard, a fighter, and a cleric! That's a great party!"
  
  Writing is decent but nothing special; a bit *too* clever at times, as other reviewers have pointed out but no jarringly awful prose. Comparisons to China Mieville are totally misguided: Mieville approaches writing as if he is trying to create great literature or at least transcend the bounds of genre fiction. Think more along the lines of Glen Cook's Garrett novels or Matthew Reilly's "Scarecrow" series, but I think Cook and Reilly take themselves less seriously.
  
  Would I recommend this book? Well, I gave it three stars...readable but not something particularly worth seeking out.
  
  
• Good fun
  By A3TCHXOOIEOOZJ on 2006-07-04
  For a plot synopsis, please see the review below this one :-)
  
  While I didn't find this to be the new frontier of fantasy novels that many people have made the book to be, I did find Lies of Locke Lamora to be entertaining and enjoyable. Scott Lynch creates a world with his words- lush descriptions filled with simile and metaphor, well-constructed characters, and a somewhat tangled plot. There are also several tantalizing hints at an unknown past that readers are not privy to but that, I hope, will make it into future offerings, if this is the first book of a series (for example, Locke's complex love life).
  
  An example of Lynch's marvelous way with words: "The voice was clipped and precise, scrubbed of Locke's natural inflections. He layered the hint of a harsh Vadran accent atop a slight mangling of his native Camorri dialect like a barkeep mixing liquors."
  
  Clearly, Lynch knows how to write a simile. The book is littered with such fine turns of phrase, and makes the entire read very enjoyable. The dock of one star is because I thought the book took longer than necessary to get started. But once I caught the rhythm of it, it kept my interest very easily.
  
  The Lies of Locke Lamora is like joining the poetically vengeful nature of the Count of Monte Cristo with the good fun of Ocean's Eleven in a fantasy element. And, as is his creation Locke Lamora, Lynch is as good a mixer as any barkeeper. Recommended.
  
  
• Wonderful - thank goodness for the effective ad campaign
  By A1A733V8AQQTN2 on 2006-09-04
  I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it was rich in every way - characters, place, history, magic mixed with the mundane, stories waiting to be told around every corner.
  
  This is a four-star book, and not a five, because it is like the best 'pop' music, in that it is very good for a very wide audience, but nothing is absolutely fantastic literary work that will be remembered indefinitely. If you're looking for a wonderful distraction - like a great romp of a movie, this is it.
  
  I only hesitate in that I think (and hope) that in his future efforts, we will see improvements in the following ways:
  
  **generalized spoilers follow**
  
  1. (and this is the foremost one that I struggle with) Locke may be the heroic villain, but there is no true transition from immaturity to maturity. In the beginning, he's a terrible knave and in the end he's a noble knave, but we have little reason to believe he's gone from being utterly immoral and self-centered to being loyal and somewhat principled. We are told through the narrative that he is, but the implication is that if you're an evil genius you naturally become loyal to your compatriots and have what everyone would agree is a basic approach to morality - but not absolute immorality. But in the real world, people who start out like that have to be forced into realizing they can't and shouldn't be evil. Unfortunately, I couldn't love the character as much as I might because I couldn't believe he'd really learned to be 'good' even to the small degree that he was.
  
  2. Unfortunately, Lynch did have the habit of creating 'Rocky' scenarios where the 'good guys' are totally beaten down and then suddenly out of nowhere are able to come back with a whalloping series of punches as if they'd never been down. (Granted that not everyone who we are supposed to care about works out so well, still it seems awfully fortunate time and again for Locke, in particular.)
  
  3. I personally couldn't suffer (the way I think the author wanted me to) along with Locke, through which the suffering was channeled. This is because Locke is the one responsible for everything bad that happens to him and those around him (except, I suppose, for the final dastardly plan). If, perhaps, I saw the suffering through the eyes of those who followed Locke to their doom then I would be in more pain, but of course, I might despise instead of sympathize with Locke, mightn't I?
  
  4. Unfortunately, the main foil to Locke's otherwise unimpeded genius and success comes off at the end as nothing more than a desperate and obsessed common criminal since his bankroll is apparently promises rather than genuine wealth and genius.
  
  **generalized spoilers end**
  
  But, to close on a proper note, this is a very fast-paced, FUN read. (I distinctly recall particular moments when I had to force myself to slow down so I could take in the scene properly since I wanted so badly to discover what craziness was transpiring.)
  
  1. The landscapes of the book are absolutely wonderful in every way.
  2. The customs and peoples and histories are rich and complete (while creating in me a desire to read whatever more may be written about them).
  3. The lore of magic and magicians is a wonderful unusual method that makes them unusual and exotic while not being inaccessibly legendary.
  
  I absolutely will read further installments.
  
  
• Fantastic start to a promising career
  By A28CCN6VYHRUKS on 2007-07-13
  Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch is the first book in the Gentlemen Bastards series. Not only is it the first in the Gentlemen Bastards series, but this novel happens to be the first novel published by Mr. Lynch as well. When I first heard that this was a debut novel I was slightly hesitant, but it came with a glowing recommendation so I took the chance. Let me say right off the bat that I am very thankful that I took the chance on this new author as this novel is absolutely fantastic.
  
  There are several aspects of this novel that I think need to be reviewed.
  
  The characters really allow this novel to stand out and shine. The characters are well developed and vivid. Each character is done in such a way that they all appear unique, anything from their look to their dialog. While Mr. Lynch has added many curse words, which at times, for me anyway, shocks the reader out of the dialog, it also seems to bring a grittiness to the characters. There are quite a few characters in this novel, but I didn't find any difficulty in keeping them separate and knowing what each was doing. The main character, who I would struggle to call a hero, is a rogue who is bent on stealing from the nobles of the cit. A Robin Hood type character if you will. Mr. Lynch goes to great detail to explain and develop Locke throughout the book, and he pulls this off very well. The other assortment of characters are developed at varying degrees. This just makes sense or else the book would be huge. In my opinion the supporting cast of characters are done perfectly, not too much and not to little. There are many truly memorable characters in this book.
  
  The plot, on the surface anyway, seems rather simple in that the main character is a rogue set on fleecing the nobility out of their wealth. However, there are many things that Mr. Lynch tosses into the mix to make this a much more complicated story than just your typical steal from the rich story. This story follows Locke from when he was a very young boy all the way up to his involvement with the Gentlemen Bastards and the escapades that he routinely pulls on the noble class of the city. There are several twists and mysterious characters that are slowly added to add more depth to the story. Even though there are multiple elements added throughout the book they are not done so to cram things into this novel. It has a very steady pace and was obviously well mapped out. It's a well written plot and one that certainly leaves room for further development in later books.
  
  This novel is set up in an interesting way, in fact I have not seen a novel like this to my memory. There are regular chapters, but interspaced between these chapters, or sections really, there are flashbacks or as Lynch calls them interludes. Were he harkens back to past events that helped shape the characters actions and choices. This is certainly a unique way of putting a novel together and at times it works beautifully, but there is at least one point where I read an interlude and was a little unsure why it was included in the story or at that point in the book. For the most part though, this idea works rather well and adds a certain depth to the book.
  
  There are a few things that I wish would have been better developed, such the way magic works as well as a little more explanation of the `thirteen'. Since this is the first book in this series I expect that these things may be explained in greater detail later.
  
  Overall, this is a fantastic book and one I am sure to recommend to many other people. It really is a gem and a surprising first release from a new author. I wonder just how good Mr. Lynch will become if this was the first release from him. I am eagerly looking forward to the second book in this series as I am sure many others will be once they give this novel a chance. Have no fear in picking this up, I think it will appease many a different fans. Certainly fantasy fans, but also others will probably like this as well.
  
  
• A huge disappintment
  By AM7669EA60VNV on 2007-11-25
  I bought this book based on the reviews and was unfortunately disappointed. The characters were flat, undeveloped and wholly uninteresting. By page 200, I realized I didn't care what happened to the characters or story and chucked it to my "donate to the library" pile. Don't buy this if you like stories with well-drawn characters you can relate to or care about.
  
  
• Why did I buy this book?
  By A333PLXUB7CDB0 on 2008-07-11
  This is the first time that I have bought something from Amazon that had great reviews that I didn't like. I had to put the book down after 100 pages. I made myself read that far to see if it got any better. The timeline kept jumping back and forth and it was hard to figure out where in time you were. Also, the swearing was pretty bad. I don't mind swearing in books, but this was offensive. I couldn't find any interest in any character that was presented. I was really dissapointed...this is the first book that I have refused to read in over 10 years.
  
  
• Just read it
  By A1XOXSKEIEK6I4 on 2006-03-21
  I've just finished reading my advance copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora, and Scott weaves an exciting and suspenseful tale. I can't really describe how good it is without giving away plot points or twists; but suffice it to say, it's amazing. I very much enjoyed my read, and even lost sleep working on "just one more chapter". But hey, don't take my word for it; take George R. R. Martin's; his review is here on Amazon, as well as on the cover of the book (at least my copy).
  
  
• the most exciting fantasy debut in some time
  By A2FEGRJQNU51P9 on 2007-07-04
  What can be said about The Lies of Locke Lamora which has not already been said? In many ways, this is THE fantasy novel of 2006 and certainly THE debut of that year. All respects given to Naomi Novik and His Majesty's Dragon (the other major debut), but THIS is the one ring to rule them all. Yes, The Lies of Locke Lamora is just that damn good.
  
  Unlike many novels, fantasy in particular, we are being asked to root for a criminal. Locke Lamora is a thief in the city of Camorr. He is a young, clever, talented, and extremely audacious thief. In short, if you or I wished to be a thief, we would dream of being Locke Lamora. Most fantasy novels which feature thieves will tend to feature a wisecracking sidekick of a thief. I'm looking at you, Jimmy the Hand, entertaining as you were. Or, you, Silk. You know who you are.
  
  This brings an entirely fresh perspective to the storytelling. Scott Lynch bucks another fantasy convention and to great results. More often than not an epic multi-volume fantasy will begin with several hundred pages of introduction to the protagonist as a boy and before the big adventure begins. Scott Lynch does not do this with The Lies of Locke Lamora. Lynch gives us a bit of an alternating pattern. We do get the childhood forming of a thief which we would expect where Locke is being trained by a thief / priest named Chains. But, in semi-alternating sections we are given Locke as a young man running a con on one of the rich nobles of Camorr, Don Salvara. Through this con we see Locke and his group of Gentleman Bastards and how Locke has grown into an amazing thief leading something of a double life. We also get hints of something bigger going down in Camorr with mentions of a Gray King. This is important.
  
  The Lies of Locke Lamora is a wickedly entertaining novel, let alone a debut. This is a fast paced, action packed, clever, funny, dangerous, sad, beautiful piece of fiction and a novel which I did not want to put down. Not for sleep, not for food, not to go to work to pay the bills, not to bathe. Reluctantly I put the book down for each, but when I wasn't reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, I was thinking about The Lies of Locke Lamora. This is outstanding fantasy in the greatest sense of the term. It is the work of a wicked imagination and one thing that Scott Lynch has apparently figured out which other authors have not is how to end a novel. As great as everything was throughout the novel, Lynch has a nearly flawless ending to the novel.
  
  I would normally groan a bit at the thought of another seven volume fantasy series, but Lynch wrote such a strong opening that I am relieved he is writing more novels about Locke Lamora. Red Seas Under Red Skies is officially my most anticipated novel of 2007, and yes, this includes A Dance With Dragons even should George Martin finish the novel in time to publish this year, which thus far he has not. That is how excited I am about The Lies of Locke Lamora and the future work of Scott Lynch.
  
  Any questions?
  
  -Joe Sherry
  
  
• Too much pulp, Not enough juice
  By A1I6WPNAVDHFHA on 2007-08-25
  I enjoyed the last quarter of the book better than the first three quarters. The first half was a mix of back story and slow pace storyline. The back story could have been better had the author had some point to its vast detail but there wasn't. It even missed stuff like the love of Locke's life, Sabetha who is eluded to many times but you never actually see her ever. It lengthened the book but did nothing for the storyline. He didn't even seem to have fun with it. But the last quarter is where its most tense and moves fastest. For the last quarter I will buy the next one because I hope we got all the backstory done although I doubt it. He couldn't hold intensity in the book at all and it was a bit of a chore to read it until it got good. If you want a better book that will hold you through read Mistborn. Locke is a great character but the editing of scenes could have been much better.
  
  
• The Truth behind "The Lies"
  By A21Z8FUB9IZI2L on 2008-02-06
  "The Lies of Locke Lamora" arrived last year with all the usual hype. But it also arrived with much more than the usual merit. This book is the book we've all been waiting for. It's the one that cooks up a brand new fantasy world starkly different from anything seen before, and stews it together with outstanding plot, characters, and writing. The next great fantasy author is here in the form of Scott Lynch, and with luck he'll be with us for years to come.
  
  "The Lies of Locke Lamora" is about crime. The title character is a con artist who leads a small band of crooks through stealthy schemes to rob the rich nobility. Their tactics are amazingly clever, well worthy of what appears to be a high fantasy "Ocean's Eleven", complete with disguises and even glittering skyscrapers.
  
  That, however, is merely the beginning. Half way through, "The Lies of Locke Lamora" turns in wholly unexpected directions. Abandoning its caper tale roots, it becomes a serious drama in which the main characters confront pride, arrogance, and their own mortality. The closing stretch of the novel is one of the best ever, mixing astounding action sequences with equally amazing character-based drama. It's certain that Lynch outpaces almost any living fantasy author in this category. It's equally certain that many authors of supposedly 'real' literature should read "The Lies of Locke Lamora" to see how a master does it.
  
  I don't have space to adequately praise Lynch's skills with prose. He excels in every category, from dialogue to action to humor. I can point out that certain tactics which seem stale and pointless in other fantasy novels spring to life here. Lynch employs non-linear storytelling, flashing back from the main story to episodes in the characters' childhoods. The flashbacks are not only witty and charming, but they blend seemlessly into the story. Likewise with the map of the city at the beginning. Maps may often be seen as a staple of weak fantasy, but Lynch's vivid descriptions bring every part of the city to life. No word is wasted, nor is any place within the fictional setting. His understand of space and of how it affects everything within the tale is fantastic.
  
  My praises could go on, and doubtlessly they will once I read the sequel. For now, I want to mention one last thing. Lynch begins each section of the book with a quote from a great poet or some other worthy source. This is another trick that looks smug and pompous in other books, but works magnificently here. In particular, the quote chosen for the final section is a masterpiece all by itself. But enough about that. Buy "The Lies of Locke Lamora" and get to work.
  
  
  
• A marvelous genre-bending romp
  By A3VGP4UACHR9X8 on 2006-07-24
  This is caper fiction at its finest, with something for just about everybody: Lies. Con games. Fantasy. Mystery. Sword fights. Impossible odds. Unbreakable friendships with all-too-breakable hearts. Honor. Betrayal. Revenge.
  
  The cons dreamed up by the title character are as notable for their ingenuity as for how often they go horribly wrong. But in the end this is more than the story of a con artist, it's a story of brotherhood and honor among thieves. The author's world-building is vivid and lush, and his characters have you rooting for them despite their somewhat lax morals. Granted, they sometimes feel like they were sent over from Central Casting--"Hey, gimme a Fagin, an Artful Dodger and a couple of Musketeers!"--but they're no less lovable for it.
  
  If I have one complaint, it's that female characters are given short shrift in this novel. A love interest for Locke is hinted at but never seen, and all of Locke's partners in crime are men--this despite how handy it would be for a gang of thieves and con men to have a woman to play certain roles in their deceptions. But that's a small quibble, and given the aforementioned hints, I am confident Locke will meet his feminine match in a sequel.
  
  
• Entertaining but inconsistent
  By A5EXE3DORR8Y0 on 2006-09-10
  This book's a fun read. No doubt about that. You root for the good guys, hiss at the bad guys, and never have the slightest reason to wonder which is which. Nice descriptions of the city, snappy dialogue (if a bit relentlessly clever and flippant), scams, bloody deeds, betrayals, a swordfight, and a predictable ending in which the bad guys get what's coming to them. This book's got it all.
  
  Unfortunately, it also has a bad case of internal inconsistency. The setting is about as determinedly pessimistic as I've ever seen in a fantasy novel (though it's not quite as bad as _Perdido Street Station_). It's a brutal city, a place where prisoners are fed to sharks and children are as a matter of policy allowed to starve to death in the wake of plagues. In order to wring a happy ending from all this, Mr. Lynch ignores his backdrop and for about the last 50 pages makes people behave in ways that are completely unbelievable. Would the head of the city's secret police really see to it that a gutter rat (Locke) was invited to the Duke's exclusive party, rather than just arresting him at his victims' house and beating the snot out of him there? Would said gutter rat, once at the party and his identity exposed, really be listened to by the nobility and secret police? Would they really do everything he told them to? He's a known con man, after all.
  
  Then there's the inconsistency problem with Locke's character itself. On the one hand, he can't allow hundreds of nobles and their children to have their minds wiped out by magic. Fair enough. On the other hand, he convinces the head of the dreaded secret police to sink a ship sitting in the harbor as a gesture to his dead friends, knowing that this action will kill dozens of sailors. The contradiction here doesn't even occur to him. Strange.
  
  All in all, though, this book is worth your time. You may find yourself scoffing for reasons similar to mine, but you'll enjoy it anyway.
  
  
• Truly entertaining
  By A2QSF4P2KGBCX5 on 2006-12-13
  The fact that this book is a first effort by Scott Lynch is amazing in and of itself, however there are many authors with great first effort novels. What I think is so amazing about this book is the fact that this story is one that could easily transcend the fantasy genre into mainstream appeal.
  
  The story is written with a very quick wit, a compelling set of characters, especially the main protagonist of the book, and the story is a fun ride from beginning until end. This is a story of intrigue, humor, friendship, good, evil and revenge.
  
  Locke Lamora is a character who is multi faceted, he's a thief, but one of the "good guys" and you will find yourself very attached to him and his gang of "Gentlemen Bastards" and cheering for them as they battle the sinister forces arrayed against them.
  
  The style of the book has the story progressing in time, but spaced with interludes that go back and detail parts of Locke's life before the story takes place. This ultimately increases the suspense of the book as the interludes keep you turning the pages. In some books this would be frustrating, but in this book the interludes serve to illustrate things that are going to be relevant to the upcoming chapter. It also continues to develop and define the characters in a way that would otherwise be tedious if done in a more straightforward manner.
  
  I look forward to the upcoming series. In this case, if you are a fantasy reader (or love suspenseful and entertaining novels!), put this book at the top of your list....even in hardcover.
  
  
• disappointing
  By A1UWX3XR0MBJR on 2007-11-17
  This book probably deserves three stars, but I was so disappointed after having read so many glowing reviews that I can't help but give it a lower rating! The main character doesn't seem to have any substance at all. He's supposed to be extremely clever, witty, and street-smart, but he makes mistake after mistake in his adventures, getting his friends killed in the process. I found the one-liners to be inappropriate and annoying. The swearing doesn't bother me too much, I just didn't feel any respect or sympathy for the main character. It's not really the same type of literature, but you might try Robin Hobb's Farseer series if you're looking for something better.
  
  
• Tedious
  By A32G49VDG96EAI on 2008-01-17
  I was prepared to like this book but couldn't get past the tedious and lengthy descriptions of the scenery, the clothing, the way of things, etc etc etc. The elaborate descriptiveness totally got in the way of the story. I skipped ahead a few times to see if it was possible to get by the tedium but finally gave up in frustration. I read for pleasure and there are too many good books out there to waste time on the hum drum.
  
  
• Compelling story, offensive delivery
  By A3CDFFWU17KHHE on 2008-07-21
  The story is good enough that I really wanted to finish the book, but the offensive language was a huge turn off. I did not give this book away--I threw it away, thinking not many readers would tolerate the foul words. Now I know to always check the lower ratings on a highly rated book in the hope that someone will give more clues about the content.
  
  
• Fantastic Story
  By A2B40DA7MGUAA on 2006-04-12
  Imagine The Arftul Dodger (Oliver), Johnny Hooker (The Sting), Vito Corleone (The Godfather), and James Bond rolled into one. Lynch has done a superb job creating the protagonist Locke Lamora and the world in which he lives. The plot is fascinating, unpredictable, and easy to follow. I couldn't put the book down. It's a real page turner. If you like fantasy, action, sci-fi, suspense, historical fiction, mystery... you will LOVE The Lies of Locke Lamora. I did!
  
  
• "My familiar mislikes your tone of voice."
  By A30KEXFT9SILL6 on 2007-11-03
  I am trying to decide whether the fact that something about this Lynch novel reminded me of the best of the fabulous and uneven Thieves' World series is only because of the sects and the thieves. I have decided "probably" and agreed to agree with myself that the resemblance is only in my own head. Still, I had that thought (kind of a sense association) when I was reading The Lies of Locke Lamora-- and definitely in a good way.
  
  Locke is one in a long and honorable line of fantasy anti-heroes. Orphaned, talented at all the wrong things, imperfect and endearing and clever. We learn enough about him to make him extremely real. Still, there is enough mystery left under the surface (his mysterious lost love) to make me anxious to read Red Seas Under Red Skies once it appears in paperback.
  
  The book has some messy moments, and some elements that might have been sewn up more tightly or more perfectly. Still, I enjoyed myself immensely while reading it. I wouldn't change a word.
  
  Messy or not, the spirit was somehow just right.
  
  
• Best book I've read this year!
  By A1EVDRGLVCYYVP on 2008-08-26
  Lies of Locke Lamora
  
  
  Without question, one of the best books I've read this year and probably the best book in the genre I've read since I finished the last George R. R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire book. I finished it a few days ago and I'm still excited about it!
  
  Lies, by new author Scott Lynch, follows the exploits of Locke Lamora, an orphan who is raised to be a thief. The setting is Camorr, a Venice-like city that has a rather significant crime problem, mostly made up of little gangs of orphaned thieves and controlled by a mafia-like crime boss. Lamora is the ultimate anti-hero, charming and funny but also a little despicable. He is trained in the art of deception by a false priest named Chains, along with his adopted brothers Galo, Caldo, Jean and Bug. The book switches back and forth between when Locke and his "brothers" are young and being trained by Chains, to the present day when Locke is the new "garrista" (leader) of their gang, called The Gentlemen Bastards, now that Chains has passed away. Although the Gentlemen are thought to be just a bunch of low-producing sneak thieves to the rest of the crime gangs and the boss, they really spend their day breaching "The Secret Peace"--a deal struck between the ruling class of Camorr and the crime boss that his thieves would stick to robbing the commoners and merchants and leave the upper class alone, and in exchange the police would "miss" a lot of the crime going on right under their noses. Lamora and his gang purposely target the upper class, even though they have no idea how to even spend their secret fortune, just to prove they can get away with it. The trouble begins when a man calling himself The Gray King starts targeting the gangs, and Lamora in particular.
  
  I read some of the negative reviews of this book, and most seem to take umbrage with the extensive use of foul language. Yes, if cursing inherently offends you, this book is not for you. It's about a bunch of people raised from childhood to be criminals, so to me the cursing is pretty natural. I also saw a criticism that the wittiness of the dialogue was distracting and unrealistic--that characters in mortal danger should not be ready with a pithy, thoughtful comment. Ok, fair, but honestly, the dialogue in this book is so masterfully entertaining that I can forgive the fact that it's just a little bit too good to be real. I mean, it's not a book that is trying to portray any sort of realism, so I think a bit of overly witty commentary is ok.
  
  To any fan of the genre, this is surely a can't-miss read. I'm about 100 pages into Lynch's second in the series and already lamenting that the third isn't out yet.
  
  

• The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1)
• Red Seas Under Red Skies
• The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One)
• Before They Are Hanged (The First Law: Book Two)
• The Final Empire (Mistborn, Book 1)