Sami Sundell reviewed The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Review of 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Locke Lamora is a thief, an excellent con artist who runs his little brood of villains to relieve the nobility of its coins. A fantasy Robin Hood, if you will, but where Hood used his bow and arrow, Lamora relies exclusively on his wits. The underworld of Camorr is run by Capa. When a challenger, the Grey King, appears, Locke Lamora gets sucked into a power play he doesn't want to partake.
The book begins with an elaborate con which paints Locke as an almost too witty character that plans everything in advance, is always one step ahead and does it all with a smile on his face.
The story takes an abrupt turn to darker side when the power struggle between the Capa and the King begins in earnest. Locke finds himself mixed in both underground and elite politics, and it's really not a good place to be.
While …
Locke Lamora is a thief, an excellent con artist who runs his little brood of villains to relieve the nobility of its coins. A fantasy Robin Hood, if you will, but where Hood used his bow and arrow, Lamora relies exclusively on his wits. The underworld of Camorr is run by Capa. When a challenger, the Grey King, appears, Locke Lamora gets sucked into a power play he doesn't want to partake.
The book begins with an elaborate con which paints Locke as an almost too witty character that plans everything in advance, is always one step ahead and does it all with a smile on his face.
The story takes an abrupt turn to darker side when the power struggle between the Capa and the King begins in earnest. Locke finds himself mixed in both underground and elite politics, and it's really not a good place to be.
While the story progresses, we are offered with bried glimpses of the history of both characters and the surrounding world. These flashes are short enough to keep the focus on the main story but they provide both necessary information and welcome introduction to various aspects of Gentleman Bastards universe.
All in all, The Lies of Locke Lamora is an excellent read. Once the story got into full swing, it was hard to let go of the book. The main story ends in an obvious point to continue in next books (which already exist), and the multiple sidesteps, while not stealing the focus, still make me want to read a full novel, or at least a novelette, of the history of Camorr and the world beyond.