The Lies of Locke Lamora

by Scott Lynch

Book Overview

Fantasy meets crime caper in the first book of a landmark, enduringly popular epic series about a roguish group of conmen, which George R. R. Martin has called "fresh, original, and engrossing . . . gorgeously realized."

An orphan's life is harsh--and often short--in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges relentless danger, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593725425
• ISBN13: 9780593725429
• Release Date: August 2024
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 640 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.

Customer Reviews

I cannot recommend this book enough.

This has world building, this has found family, this has tricky plots, and this book will turn your world upside down as you read it. I finished it and immediately wanted to reread it. The sequels are good, but this book is a masterpiece for me.

different cover than I expected

I didn't get the cover/edition that I was expecting (based on the cover it showed me when I ordered it), but it's still a really good book.

loved the twists and turns!

this book surprised me by being nothing like I expected or had read before! the devious schemes within schemes really made me pay attention. The Alien and magic aspects were right up my alley. Im buying 2 and 3 in the series immedately

Just what the fantasy genre needed

This is one of the best books I have read, in the fantasy genre or otherwise. Reading this, it's hard to imagine that this is Scott Lynch's debut novel, as it reads like a book from someone who has had plenty of time to master their craft. I hate always bringing a comparison to George R.R. Martin, but here it's inevitable, for me anyways. First, I bought the book because of Martin's blurb of praise on the cover. Martin has great recommendations and he's never let me down. But not only is it a great book, Lynch's style draws comparison to Martin in many ways. It has the simple yet easy flowing prose, the sarcasm, the grittiness, the unpredictability. Yet it has a depth of character that I find more reminiscent of Robin Hobb, (just much less sadistic, as any fan of Fitz might know) as it follows mainly one character as he grows and learns his trade. If Martin and Hobb were to collaborate on a book about thieves, The Lies of Locke Lamora might be the outcome. Not to say that Lynch pulls heavily from other authors. This book is a breath of fresh air and very different from fantasy that's out there today. Honestly, I normally wouldn't be entirely interested in a book about thieving, but I found this entertaining as hell. It's loaded with action, numerous plot twists, flawed characters, sharp (and often times filthy) dialogue and plenty of moments where I laughed out loud and got strange looks from my wife. Yet even with all of that, I think Lynch's greatest strength may be his world building. Throughout the book there are interludes that flash back to Locke's past, as well as the past of other key characters -namely Jean- that provide a rich back story. These interludes aren't intrusive at all, and work really well to propel the story as a whole. It shows how the characters change and grew so much from the past to the present. This is done wonderfully. And then there's the world itself. I can tell that the author put a lot of time into the environment. I had no problem at all imagining the setting with the strange Elderglass buildings and Venice-like layout of islands and canals. From the seedy underbelly to the rich towers of the nobility, Camorr is a city worth visiting; where the villains steal and murder and the heroes... well they steal and murder too. I really have nothing negative to say about this book. Although it's the first in a series, it is a complete story within itself. The author simply uses his skill and devilishly addictive writing to ensure that you'll come back again anyways. I recommend The Lies of Loche Lamora, and its author, whole heartedly.

"My familiar mislikes your tone of voice."

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.

Wondrous Invention By A Debut Author - Splendid

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.

Fantastic start to a promising career

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 rea

Grabs you round the throat from the start. . .

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.