The Lies of Locke Lamora

Locations
Call Number: Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Lynch, Scott, Fantasy / Lynch, Scott
On Shelf At: Malletts Creek Branch, Traverwood Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Lynch, Scott	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Traverwood Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Lynch, Scott	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fantasy / Lynch, Scott	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Lynch, Scott	4-week checkout	Due 05-02-2024
Westgate Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / Fantasy / Lynch, Scott	4-week checkout	Due 05-16-2024

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count. Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards. Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city. But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming. A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora ...

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Lies of Locke Lamora submitted by johnnyringo on July 1, 2013, 3:00pm Wonderful picaresque about swindlers, outlaws, orphans, and gangsters.

Loved it submitted by Susan4Pax -prev. sueij- on August 26, 2013, 10:26am The characters are fascinating, the premise a whole lot of fun, and the scam beautiful. I hope the rest of the series will (eventually) be as well done.

THAT came out of nowhere. submitted by eknapp on June 7, 2014, 8:57am A long con story set in a low-fantasy world modeled on Renaissance Italy. I think. The fictional city-state of Camorr is very watery, like Venice. The glorification of vengeance feels Sicilian to me. Interspersed with with the main story are chapters from the title character's childhood as an orphaned thief prodigy whose schemes are so brilliant that they spin out of control.

The Gentleman Bastards are a unique band of thieves who prey exclusively on the nobility of Camorr and are so wealthy that they literally can't spend all of their money. Rather than robbing or burgling, they run elaborately plotted confidence scams replete with disguises and acrobatics and multiple layers of deception. Very Danny Ocean. Very fun.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Then two-thirds of the way into the book the plot takes a hard turn and the conning and scheming become afterthoughts. A thief king comes to Camorr. In the process of taking over the city's underworld he cuts two of the Gentleman Bastards' throats, shoots a third, sorcerously tortures a fourth by sewing his truename onto a severed hand, and drowns the last Bastard in a vat of horse piss. In the immortal words of Seth McFarlane, “THAT WENT SOUTH SO FAST!"

It's a dense, wonderfully drawn world and some seriously great plotting. The author hasn't left himself much to work with for book two though.

Engrossing submitted by abenson on July 1, 2016, 5:11pm This is an excellent fantasy with great worldbuilding, scalliwag characters, and captivating adventures. Wonderful book - I would highly recommend.

Characters to love for a lifetime submitted by Kikumatsu97 on June 15, 2018, 4:34pm Locke and Jean are perhaps the best duo in literature I've read since Sam and Frodo. I LOVE Scott lynch's writing style, his language (super-explitive) and the world he builds in boundless. This book is the perfect set up for book 2, which is a fantastic voyage at sea! the introduction of pirates is seamless and Locke is set to become compromised on both moral and physical levels. Scott Lynch includes fabulously strong female characters that are full of interest and intrigue. This troupe of characters have engrossed me at times and the fierce and calculated teachings of Father Chains (the eyeless priest) has often stunned and amazed me!
I recommend this entire trilogy!

Thrilling submitted by Julia13 on June 14, 2019, 2:06pm Greatly enjoyed the book and it was a fast, interesting read

Enjoyable read submitted by laurenk5 on August 29, 2020, 10:34pm Really enjoyed this book. Scott Lynch's writing style is very readable and down to earth, the characters are charismatic and interesting, and the plot is engaging, especially since it's a heist situation.

Early modern fantasy with a twist submitted by severian on July 14, 2022, 7:47pm This is a pretty good world to get lost in for a while, so if you like very long fantasy books, you'll probably enjoy this. The twist is that the main character isn't a knight or a wizard or some kind of chosen one-- he's just a really good con-artist and liar, set against an expansive fantasy world. Some of the violence felt a bit gratuitous to me, and a few of the world-building details were hard to imagine in any kind of actual historical world, but the plot itself is very tight, with some great twists along the way. I read a few of the sequels and they weren't as captivating or expertly plotted, but this first one is still worth a read if you're looking for a long fantasy for entertainment value.

Couldn't put it down submitted by renarde7 on July 9, 2023, 9:41am I forgot meals while reading this book, it's so engrossing. Fantastic characters, immersive worldbuilding, and a plot that's a wild ride. Can't wait to pick up the second book.

Fantasy & Thieves submitted by sdunav on August 4, 2023, 10:16am Insanely complicated and rather violent fantasy story about a young thief who ends up in a gang of thieves in a class-stratified medieval type city. The world building is incredibly detailed and compelling and often more interesting than the plot, which jumps back and forth every chapter about 20 years. Recommended if you like fantasy that's not too nicey-nice. Or, as a friend said on her blog, if you thought the Artful Dodger (& Fagan & co.) were the real heroes of Oliver Twist.