This is like a grittier, adult Six of Crows (though I would argue that SoC doesn’t feel particularly YA). The main character, Locke, is highly intelligent, and the book features found family, cons, and morally gray characters whom you nevertheless root for. Be aware that there is a notable absence of plot armor – Lynch doesn’t pull punches when it comes to violence or death.
Lynch interweaves present day Locke and company, who call themselves the Gentleman Bastards, as they work on a con while dealing with violent upheaval in the criminal element of the city, with chapters detailing Locke’s growth from precocious orphan to leader of this little gang. The interludes help Lynch build suspense as you wait to see how events will unfold in the present day. It’s skillful writing but made one very specific part of the book quite nerve-racking.
There’s some good banter and well-developed relationships between the core characters, who rib each other like brothers. Lynch also has some really humorous descriptions of people, such as “The Thiefmaker tried to let a vaguely sincere expression scurry onto his face, where it froze in evident discomfort” and “Because he had a small pile of broken bricks where most people kept their brains, he accepted.”
The inclusion of female characters is interesting. There aren’t any female main characters (though there is a female Gentleman Bastard, she never appears on page and is apparently off doing other things throughout the novel), but there are plenty of female side characters who play important roles. Some are smart, some are devious, some are excellent fighters, and none of them are token women. I really liked Doña Salvara by the end of the novel. She’s not just a noblewoman who is the victim of one of Locke’s cons. She’s also a brave alchemist, and I wish this was the kind of book where we could get to know her better.
The book ends at a satisfactory enough place that I feel I can take some time before reading the sequel, but I do plan to continue the series. The Lies of Locke Lamora was an engaging book that succeeded in leaving me wanting to know how these characters recover from the events of the book and wanting to spend more time with them in general.
cbr16bingo and also (a repeat of Part 1)