We Need More Shelves...
  • Home
  • About This Site
    • Site Index
  • My Favorite Book Links
  • Contact Jan
The Lies of Locke Lamora cover

Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora

By Jan 
on May 10, 2015
Print 🖨 PDF 📄 eBook 📱

The Lies of Locke Lamora coverThe Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Format: Audiobook
Narrated by Michael Page
Published by Tantor Audio, 2009

I almost gave up on this book not far into the first section, but I’m really glad I didn’t. It turned into a good action story with lots of humor in a dark world.

The story revolves around a small band of orphan thieves who grow secretly stronger as they cleverly con rich folk out of their fortunes. The political infighting inside the world of the various kingpins, bandits, con artists, assassins, and pickpockets rises to new levels as the “Gentleman Bastards” maneuver their way through the maze of the criminal underground. Turns out that the nobility have just as much back-stabbing going on.

Although the characters—even the hero—aren’t loveable or even “good,” the story itself really kept my attention. The fact is, the other guys are so nasty, you end up caring whether the young thieves live out the story and/or get revenge.

I was initially confused by the flashback style of the chapter arrangement. I understand the device for building suspense and a gradual release of character backstories, but I believe it was overused here. If a story is strong enough on its own, it doesn’t need those schemes.

The author has an incredible talent for seeing humor in even the most dire circumstances and his use of simile is nothing short of consummate, especially from the mouth of Father Chains, the crooked mentor and task master of the young thieves. I laughed out loud many times and chuckled a lot.

“Enlightenment! When it comes, it comes like a brick to the head, doesn’t it?”—Chains

Michael Page narrates the tale with fantastic flair. His use of accents and vocal tone and pace is really wonderful.

The fantasy world of the book mixes language and history of France, Spain, and Italy, and includes some really intriguing religious orders and practices. I look forward to the next book in the series (this is the first one).

Be prepared for lots of harsh language, a great amount of blood and guts, and lots of sarcasm.

Highly recommended for fans of criminal fantasy.

Books like this: The Riyria series by Michael J. Sullivan; The Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence

Categories Audiobooks, Book Review, Fantasy
← Previous Post
Next Post →

Search this site

Categories

2020 Reading Challenge

2020 Reading Challenge
Jan has read 5 books toward her goal of 120 books.
hide
5 of 120 (4%)
view books

Follow this blog

RSS Feed

Currently-reading

Quite Ready To Be Sent Somewhere: The Civil War Letters Of Aldace Freeman Walker
Quite Ready To Be Sent Somewhere: The Civil War Letters Of Aldace Freeman Walker
by Thomas LeDoux
tagged: currently-reading
A Journey Through Texas, Or, A Saddle-trip on the Southwestern Frontier
A Journey Through Texas, Or, A Saddle-trip on the Southwestern Frontier
by Frederick Law Olmsted
tagged: currently-reading
Fingerprints of the Gods: The Quest Continues
Fingerprints of the Gods: The Quest Continues
by Graham Hancock
tagged: currently-reading, audiobook, and history

goodreads.com

Recent Posts:

  • Why This Blog is Waning
  • Fun Gifts for Readers and Book Lovers
  • Review: The First Girl Child
  • Review: The Society of the Sword Trilogy
  • Review: Children of Time
  • Review: The City & The City
  • Review: The Monastery Murders
  • Review: Patient 3

Contact JanContact Jan about this site.

I Love Book Covers

Visit Me

LibThing logo

Goodreads

LibThing Early Reviews

Audible logo

NetGalley Reader badge

FTC Disclosure

I have an affiliate relationship with Amazon.com. Some of the links on this site may go there. If you purchase something using one of those links, I may receive a small compensation. I am never paid to review books and am always brazenly honest (ask my husband). Thank you!

Home | About This Site | My Favorite Book Links | Privacy Policy

2021 - Copyright © Jan McClintock, All Rights Reserved