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seanml 's review for:
The Lies of Locke Lamora
by Scott Lynch
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Lies of Locke Lamora excels in every aspect that most modern fantasy novels strive to perfect. The setting is intricate and lived-in; there are details and systems in the setting that take time to fully understand, and the author doesn't inundate you with all the exposition you're going to need at the start of the book. Magic exists, but enough questions are answered that we don't have to ask: if so-and-so is possible, why haven't these societal problems been fixed by now? Lynch's plot is also one that is completely original. Our protagonist is one of the classic fantasy archetypes: the scoundrel, but beyond that the narrative is always shifting organically. There are no points where I'm aware of the plot structure; where the story is simply going through the motions. This is a fantastic entry in modern fantasy, and I can understand why it's so well renowned. 9.5/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Excrement, Abandonment