Is The Lies of Locke Lamora Worth Reading?
Gentleman Bastard Sequence, Book One
by Scott Lynch
Ada’s Score
Lynch opens in a city built on theft and theatre, and never lets you forget either. The Lies of Locke Lamora is a heist novel wearing fantasy's clothes — sharp, sardonic, and structurally clever, alternating between Locke's dangerous present and his education in con-artistry. The prose crackles with wit, the Venetian-inflected world of Camorr is genuinely atmospheric, and the central friendship feels earned. Where it stumbles is pacing: the middle act sprawls, and certain twists rely on withheld information rather than genuine misdirection. But the ambition is real, and the payoff mostly justifies the detour. Best for anyone who likes their fantasy morally grubby and rhetorically dazzling.
Spotlight“If you've ever wanted a fantasy novel that feels like a caper film written by a poet, this is exactly that. Funny and devastating.”
Con Artists, Found Family, and the Cost of Cleverness
Scott Lynch's debut novel arrived like a fist through a window — shockingly sharp, unexpectedly warm, and impossible to look away from. 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' is a heist story at its surface, but underneath it's a deeply felt meditation on brotherhood and the brutal consequences of living by your wits alone. This brief digs into why the novel's wit and its violence are two sides of the same coin, and why that combination has earned it such a ferociously devoted readership.
Ada Brief
AI reading intelligence“If you've ever wanted a fantasy novel that feels like a caper film written by a poet, this is exactly that. Funny and devastating.”
Con Artists, Found Family, and the Cost of Cleverness
Scott Lynch's debut novel arrived like a fist through a window — shockingly sharp, unexpectedly warm, and impossible to look away from. 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' is a heist story at its surface, but underneath it's a deeply felt meditation on brotherhood and the brutal consequences of living by your wits alone. This brief digs into why the novel's wit and its violence are two sides of the same coin, and why that combination has earned it such a ferociously devoted readership.
Book Details
- Publisher
- Del Rey
- Published
- January 1, 2024
- Pages
- 544
- Language
- English
Get This Book
Affiliate linksISBN: 9780593725429
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Ada’s Score
4.3
Ada’s editorial score — not an aggregate of reader reviews.
Common Questions About The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Is The Lies of Locke Lamora worth reading?
- If you've ever wanted a fantasy novel that feels like a caper film written by a poet, this is exactly that. Funny and devastating. Ada rates it 4.3 out of 5.
- How many pages is The Lies of Locke Lamora?
- The Lies of Locke Lamora is 544 pages long — around 10–11 hours at an average reading pace.
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