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A review by ametakinetos
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
5.0
I think this is the first time that a book I did not love at the beginning dragged itself up to 5 stars. The moment I read the second iteration of "I don't have to beat you, I just have to keep you here...until Jean shows up!", I knew it had completely won me over. Well-executed full-circle events have a truly unbeatable vibe, and this book had it in spades. Add in the found family and hilarious banter and I'm sold.
It's a slow build-up, for sure. The worldbuilding, thorough descriptions, and timeline-jumping creates a disjointed and not wholly enjoyable experience. You do have to buy into the oddball qualities - but it absolutely pays off. By the end, I was fully invested in the plot and characters Lynch created. Locke, Jean, and the entirety of the Gentleman Bastards have my heart. The dialogue made me feel clever and witty just to read it and never let up, offering a relief of humor as the story grew darker and darker.
In bare-bone terms, this could be considered a fantasy heist with a Renaissance setting, but it had a thrumming emotional core and complex storylines setting it apart from any other. Even as a standalone it would have performed well, and I am excited to see what the future holds.
It's a slow build-up, for sure. The worldbuilding, thorough descriptions, and timeline-jumping creates a disjointed and not wholly enjoyable experience. You do have to buy into the oddball qualities - but it absolutely pays off. By the end, I was fully invested in the plot and characters Lynch created. Locke, Jean, and the entirety of the Gentleman Bastards have my heart. The dialogue made me feel clever and witty just to read it and never let up, offering a relief of humor as the story grew darker and darker.
In bare-bone terms, this could be considered a fantasy heist with a Renaissance setting, but it had a thrumming emotional core and complex storylines setting it apart from any other. Even as a standalone it would have performed well, and I am excited to see what the future holds.