This is the first of the Gentleman Bastards series by Scott Lynch. I don’t think we will be reviewing books that we don’t like so you can take it for granted that we are very much in favour of telling you lot about them.
We also won’t post spoilers because that of course would instigate a proper kicking. Not here, no way.
I’ve read many fantasy novels, as I’m sure you have or you probably wouldn’t be here. Role players don’t tend to be afraid of reading after battling through core rule books. Am I right? This one hits somewhere close to my favourites and the subsequent novels; Red Seas Under Red Skies (GOLLANCZ S.F.)
and The Republic of Thieves (The Gentlemen Bastard Sequence)
only enhance the opening novel.
The city setting of Camorr is something like Waterdeep for Forgotten Realms fans, only it’s either in or alluding to a Rennaisance period. No guns though – I hate fantasy novels where guns turn up, except perhaps for … no I Won’t even mention it because it would be a spoiler for another novel which I intend to review later. But rest assured, no guns here. Just hand crossbows. The city is sprawling and filled with dangers, the characters that we are introduced to wear their surroundings like a big, blood-soaked leather overcoat and you are instantly in the thick of it. Our main man Locke is likeable and you come to love his crew. There is intrigue here, lots of it and dastardly deeds that keep you turning the pages, swiping the screen or clicking the Kindle buttons. If you haven’t got one, go and buy a Kindle from Amazon, they are truly awesome.
Although not quite in ‘Grimdark’ territory in my opinion, the novel has it’s fair share of gruesome. Always for a reason though and sometimes morally justified. The relationships within give you a genuine reason to want vengeance or justice to be applied when things go bad and some of the sequences are cinematic. I hope that Scott Lynch sells the film rights because I’ll be the first bum in the seat at the multiplex.
It’s hard to write a review without giving too much away, so my final opinion is that if you are a fantasy fiend who is getting a bit tired of long journey’s, hackneyed characters and names with too many consonants in them and you are looking for something a little different but still comfortable, this is your Huckleberry. Also, if you are a fan of Oceans 11 and Locke Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, this has a whiff of both.
Buy this wonderful novel right here: The Lies of Locke Lamora
Have you read this book? Tell us what you thought in the comments.
Stinky! Monster! 