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The Lies of Locke Lamora (The Gentleman Bastard Sequence)
The first book of the epic fantasy caper Gentleman Bastard Sequence about a roguish group of conmen, which George R. R. Martin says “captured me right on the first page and never let me go.”
“If you haven’t read [The Lies of Locke Lamora], you should. If you have read it, you should probably read it again.”—Patrick Rothfuss
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 of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentlemen Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.
Don’t miss any of Scott Lynch’s epic fantasy Gentleman Bastard Sequence:
THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA • RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES • THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES
“If you haven’t read [The Lies of Locke Lamora], you should. If you have read it, you should probably read it again.”—Patrick Rothfuss
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 of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentlemen Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.
Don’t miss any of Scott Lynch’s epic fantasy Gentleman Bastard Sequence:
THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA • RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES • THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES
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Community Reviews
When I first picked up this book, I honestly struggled. The world-building felt overwhelming and, at times, boring. The prologues didn’t help—they were confusing and made it hard to get into the story. For the first half, it felt like the setting was taking center stage while the characters were waiting in the wings. Chains was the one who really stood out early on, and I kept hoping Sabetha would show up… but she never did, which was disappointing.
Things started to click around the middle. The prologues became more interesting, and I began to appreciate the depth of Camorr. By the end, I could see why Scott Lynch put so much effort into the world-building—it really paid off in the atmosphere and stakes. That said, the pacing was slow for a long stretch, and the prologues eventually started dragging again near the end. The big payoff came in the last few chapters, which were intense and set up the sequel nicely.
Overall, I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy slow-burn fantasy with rich settings and clever cons. If you’re patient and love intricate worlds, you’ll probably end up appreciating it like I did—but it’s definitely not a quick read.
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