Scan barcode
A review by mmmlysaght
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
5.0
The Lies of Locke Lamora took me way too long to read, because I was so anxious for the characters at every turn that I had to put the book down for my own safety; the characters were that engaging and the plot that well-paced. Scott Lynch is an amazing storyteller, as evidenced by the fact that I was neither bored nor impatient during the many interludes and tangents that often interrupt tense moments of the main narrative.
His world-building is probably the strongest part of this tale. It is always refreshing to read a fantasy novel that is not a tired colonial-nostalgia glorification of either Asian or Victorian culture – or, worse, a confused mix of the two (I’m looking at you, Jaida Jones). Lynch’s reliance on Italian for linguistics and basic organization is just that: basic. The world he creates with these constituent elements is rich and unique, and full of its own (admittedly many) flaws and corruptions and wonders.
The most telling of his world-building successes is, I believe, the biggest risk: the Eldren. The inclusion of an alien civilization in what is otherwise a renaissance-era European court intrigue could have fallen easily into the ‘trying too hard’ category. Instead, the Eldren and their glass legacies make for a vivid and unique landscape that enhances the character’s world, rather than detracting from it.
It doesn’t help that Locke and his merry band are witty and charming and I ended up bleeding my heart out for each one. Locke’s transformation, from the Shade’s Hill orphan to the moment of the final confrontation, is the right blend of dramatic and consistent. Lynch clearly understands his characters and crafts them well, but doesn’t let the plot fall prey to simple character development (and now I’m looking at Katherine Addison)
I bought the sequel within minutes of finishing the last page, and I would recommend this to anyone with a taste for intelligent writing and intricate plots.
Pros:
- World-building
- Linguistic consistency
- Charming characters and personalized dialogue
- Great pace
Cons:
- Too few female characters, but the ones he had were great
His world-building is probably the strongest part of this tale. It is always refreshing to read a fantasy novel that is not a tired colonial-nostalgia glorification of either Asian or Victorian culture – or, worse, a confused mix of the two (I’m looking at you, Jaida Jones). Lynch’s reliance on Italian for linguistics and basic organization is just that: basic. The world he creates with these constituent elements is rich and unique, and full of its own (admittedly many) flaws and corruptions and wonders.
The most telling of his world-building successes is, I believe, the biggest risk: the Eldren. The inclusion of an alien civilization in what is otherwise a renaissance-era European court intrigue could have fallen easily into the ‘trying too hard’ category. Instead, the Eldren and their glass legacies make for a vivid and unique landscape that enhances the character’s world, rather than detracting from it.
It doesn’t help that Locke and his merry band are witty and charming and I ended up bleeding my heart out for each one. Locke’s transformation, from the Shade’s Hill orphan to the moment of the final confrontation, is the right blend of dramatic and consistent. Lynch clearly understands his characters and crafts them well, but doesn’t let the plot fall prey to simple character development (and now I’m looking at Katherine Addison)
I bought the sequel within minutes of finishing the last page, and I would recommend this to anyone with a taste for intelligent writing and intricate plots.
Pros:
- World-building
- Linguistic consistency
- Charming characters and personalized dialogue
- Great pace
Cons:
- Too few female characters, but the ones he had were great