Book Review
Aug. 24th, 2016 09:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Lies of Locke Lamora
by Scott Lynch
This delightful and exciting fantasy novel is set in the city of Camorr, which is clearly modeled after late-Renaissance Venice. Locke Lamora is a thief and con artist who, along with his small gang, specializes in elaborate grifts where he relieves the wealthy nobility of large sums of money. when the novel opens, Lamora and his compatriots are in the midst of one of his schemes, working to bilk the Salvaras of a great deal of money in a sham involving expensive liquor and political unrest in a northern kingdom. However, as Lamora pursues his con, it becomes clear that something sinister and deadly is going on in Camorr's underworld, and as Lamora is drawn into it, it becomes clear that what is going on threatens to destroy everything Lamora cares about.
The Lies of Locke Lamora is a very inventive and entertaining novel. There is never a dull moment, the characters are all complex, compelling and full of nuance. The world-building is excellent as well. Camorr is fascinating place, and I always felt as if there was more to explore and know about it, that it had its own story and trajectory that wasn't entirely dependent on Locke's story.
Lynch's writing is top-notch, too. The prose is witty and rich without ever making you overly conscious of these qualities. And while the narrative structure is overall extremely straightforward and linear, Lynch perfectly places interludes that give the reader valuable backstory for the characters and Camorr itself.
by Scott Lynch
This delightful and exciting fantasy novel is set in the city of Camorr, which is clearly modeled after late-Renaissance Venice. Locke Lamora is a thief and con artist who, along with his small gang, specializes in elaborate grifts where he relieves the wealthy nobility of large sums of money. when the novel opens, Lamora and his compatriots are in the midst of one of his schemes, working to bilk the Salvaras of a great deal of money in a sham involving expensive liquor and political unrest in a northern kingdom. However, as Lamora pursues his con, it becomes clear that something sinister and deadly is going on in Camorr's underworld, and as Lamora is drawn into it, it becomes clear that what is going on threatens to destroy everything Lamora cares about.
The Lies of Locke Lamora is a very inventive and entertaining novel. There is never a dull moment, the characters are all complex, compelling and full of nuance. The world-building is excellent as well. Camorr is fascinating place, and I always felt as if there was more to explore and know about it, that it had its own story and trajectory that wasn't entirely dependent on Locke's story.
Lynch's writing is top-notch, too. The prose is witty and rich without ever making you overly conscious of these qualities. And while the narrative structure is overall extremely straightforward and linear, Lynch perfectly places interludes that give the reader valuable backstory for the characters and Camorr itself.
