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The Lies of Locke Lamora Paperback – 1 Feb. 2007
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'One of my top ten books ever. Maybe top five. If you haven't read it, you should' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind
'Fresh, original and engrossing' George R.R. Martin, the phenomenon behind A Game of Thrones
They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count.
Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards.
Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.
But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming.
A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora ...
Readers can't get enough of Locke Lamora:
'Original, engrossing, emotional, and devastatingly impactful; this extremely well-written tale of avarice and brotherhood is a treasure of gold, and you will want your share of it' Novel Notions
'A rewarding read, well written, and entertaining. I'd recommend any fantasy fan to give it a try' Mark Lawrence, Sunday Times bestselling author
'It is witty, profane, violent, over the top, and frequently hilarious. I can't believe this is Scott Lynch's first novel, and I can't wait to read more. This is an incredibly fun adventure novel. Find yourself a copy and read it' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'You guys, this story is unreal. It's so morally wrong that you don't even want it to be right. It's that luring, that gritty, that bold . . . its masterfully chaotic - so many subplots, so many characters, so much world-building. theres never a dull moment . . . its intricately woven - no movement, no scene, no word is insignificant. Everything is so interconnected on so many levels. I straight up got chills in some parts' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A love child of Ocean's Eleven and The Godfather. With blood, deaths, betrayals, money, and drowning in horse urine . . . and it's SO. GOOD' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'It stole hours of sleep. It wrapped me in cozy myth. It gave me the blessing of feeling like a kid again, snuggled up with a book, wondering how the hell 10pm became 4am. Find. Buy. Consume' Pierce Brown, bestselling author of the Red Rising series
'I mean seriously, I loved all those characters and their cunning and deceiving ways. XD Throughout the entire book I never knew what to expect and there were about a ton of "Oh, sh*t!" moments that were shortly followed by "Jeez! NO!" and "What happened now?" exclamations' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
- Print length544 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherGollancz
- Publication date1 Feb. 2007
- Dimensions12.8 x 3.8 x 19.6 cm
- ISBN-100575079754
- ISBN-13978-0575079755
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Product description
Review
Fresh, original, and engrossing . . . gorgeously realized ― George R.R. Martin
The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of my top ten books ever. Maybe my top five. If you haven't read it, you should ― Patrick Rothfuss
A great, swashbuckling yarn of a novel ― Richard Morgan
Filled with thievery goodness, hilarious turns of phrase and description, and some truly harebrained schemes, The Lies of Locke Lamora belongs on any fantasy fans bookshelf ― The Fantasy Book Review
This extremely well-written tale of avarice and brotherhood is a treasure of gold ― Novel Notions
A rewarding read, well written, and entertaining ― Mark Lawrence
[This book] stole hours of sleep. It wrapped me in cozy myth. It gave me the blessing of feeling like a kid again ― Pierce Brown
If you like intelligent funny dialogue, clever protagonists facing equally clever antagonists, and vivid original world building, Scott Lynch is your guy ― Rick Riordan
Book Description
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Gollancz; New Ed edition (1 Feb. 2007)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 544 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0575079754
- ISBN-13 : 978-0575079755
- Dimensions : 12.8 x 3.8 x 19.6 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 6,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 71 in Contemporary Fantasy (Books)
- 85 in Humorous Fantasy (Books)
- 99 in Urban
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Author of the internationally best-selling Gentleman Bastard sequence, Scott has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award, the Campbell Award, and the Compton Crook Award. He received the British Fantasy Society Award for Best Newcomer in 2008.
Scott was born in 1978 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the first of three brothers. At various times he was a dishwasher, a waiter, a graphic designer, an office manager, a prep cook, and a freelancer/self-publisher in the gaming field, before accidentally selling his first novel in 2004.
After training at Anoka Technical College in Minnesota in 2005, Scott joined his local fire department in St. Croix County, Wisconsin and served as a paid-on-call firefighter for eleven years.
In 2016, Scott moved to Massachusetts and married his longtime partner, famed SF/F writer Elizabeth Bear.
UPDATE: Scott finished a draft of the next Gentleman Bastard novel, THE THORN OF EMBERLAIN, at the end of May 2019.
Scott's Website: http://www.scottlynch.us
Scott on Twitter: @scottlynch78
Sign up for Scott's newsletter: https://scottlynch.substack.com/
Photo: Charles Darrell
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy this fantasy novel for its cleverly written storyline that keeps them guessing throughout, with well-developed characters whose banter drives the plot forward. The book features a fast-paced narrative that reads almost like a film, with a spectacular world-building approach and vivid imagery, particularly in its Venice-style setting. Customers appreciate the brutal and savage violence in the story, with one review noting how poetic imagination is mixed with painful violence.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, describing it as an amazing epic fantasy that is very entertaining and flows well, with one customer noting that it kept them guessing throughout.
"...Gangs of thieves, Venice-style setting, intrigue, backstabbing, the mystery of the Eldren, magic herbs and stones, and just complete mayhem in the..." Read more
"...The plot of the book is long and involved, with many different characters either posing as other people, seeking vengeance and being involved in..." Read more
"...The Lies of Locke Lamora’ is a superb novel, sure to entertain anybody with a fondness for witty dialogue and outrageous schemes...." Read more
"...this enough but seeing that this book is voted as one of the top 10 books published by Gollancz in its fifty years of publishing more than speaks..." Read more
Customers love the characters in the book, with one noting how the banter between them drives the story along well.
"...The characters are so cool and fun; the found family aspect in this story is just so heartwarming. Also, the world is so rich and vibrant...." Read more
"...plot of the book is long and involved, with many different characters either posing as other people, seeking vengeance and being involved in various..." Read more
"...Whilst this sounds like power fantasy, Lynch constructs his characters carefully, imbuing them with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and..." Read more
"...lots of interesting characters to love and hate a wonderful read" Read more
Customers find the book very entertaining, describing it as mesmerizing with wit and charm, full of laughter, and a journey that is enormous fun.
"...The characters are so cool and fun; the found family aspect in this story is just so heartwarming. Also, the world is so rich and vibrant...." Read more
"...extreme violence, a great deal of intrigue, action and edge of the seat excitement, as the author expertly weaves a complicated plot together...." Read more
"...the novel isn’t quite a comedy, Lamora’s waggish repartee is incredibly endearing...." Read more
"...I found there is a good balance of humour and light-heartedness alongside the thrills and excitement to make this story an extreme pleasure to..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's pacing, describing it as well-paced and fast-moving, with one customer noting it's easy to read through quickly.
"...What rollercoaster from start to finish, the pacing did not let up...." Read more
"...If you like a lot of action and fast paced writing, with dark fantasy and a touch of crime, this is the book for you." Read more
"...The wit and charm of his prose carries the story at a brisk pace, and although the novel isn’t quite a comedy, Lamora’s waggish repartee is..." Read more
"...It is great, just slightly weaker, though still a clear cut above the rest (four and a half stars) and no one who has read the first novel will give..." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting that it reads almost like a film and is excellently crafted.
"...From beginning to end, Lynch’s writing delights, and he excels in moments of poignance and heartbreak, despite the contradictory tone of the..." Read more
"...What further impressed me is the attention to detail in this book. Lynch has created a world so rich that you could mistake it for real...." Read more
"...It reads almost like a film – and I dearly hope some skilled director brings it to life one day, because it would be fantastic...." Read more
"...Bastards, the organised crime parts are just as interesting, and very well written. The world-building is excellent...." Read more
Customers praise the world-building in the book, describing it as spectacular and inventive, with one customer noting how it appeals on multiple levels.
"...setting, intrigue, backstabbing, the mystery of the Eldren, magic herbs and stones, and just complete mayhem in the best way possible...." Read more
"...Locke, with his exceptional skills in scheming and plotting makes for a fitting leader after the departure of Father Chains...." Read more
"...The characters are well fleshed-out, the details of world-building tight and many...." Read more
"...The world-building is excellent. This is a book you can go through very fast...." Read more
Customers appreciate the visual style of the book, describing it as beautifully realized with amazing imagery and a vibrant Venice-style setting.
"4.5🌟 What a fabulous dark fantasy this was. Gangs of thieves, Venice-style setting, intrigue, backstabbing, the mystery of the Eldren, magic herbs..." Read more
"...This slightly more modern setting allows Lynch to create a vibrant city that is filled with lives and activities, as well as exotic goods that you..." Read more
"...I enjoyed the style and found myself looking forward to looking back, although I felt at times that the narrative almost ground to a halt at times...." Read more
"...I happend across 'The Lies of Locke Lamora' and liked the cover art...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's violent content, describing it as brutal and savage, with elements of sadness and tragedy.
"...There are magical elements, extreme violence, a great deal of intrigue, action and edge of the seat excitement, as the author expertly weaves a..." Read more
"...There is plenty of action, tragedy, bloodshed, betrayal and revenge...." Read more
"...of balance between light and dark and between humour and deadly-seriousness. And most importantly, it's great fun." Read more
"...enacting their latest scam, the fine intrigue of the gentry, the brutal intrigue of the gangs and the overlapping interests of the mysterious &#..." Read more
Reviews with images

”To us — richer and cleverer than everyone else!”
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 February 20254.5🌟 What a fabulous dark fantasy this was. Gangs of thieves, Venice-style setting, intrigue, backstabbing, the mystery of the Eldren, magic herbs and stones, and just complete mayhem in the best way possible.
What rollercoaster from start to finish, the pacing did not let up.
The characters are so cool and fun; the found family aspect in this story is just so heartwarming.
Also, the world is so rich and vibrant. Lynch really hit it out of the park with his world-building.
Will definitely be continuing the series. I am completely enamoured with these characters and this story.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2012Locke Lamora is an orphan, raised in a gang of thieves and given over to a priest/con-man who teaches him and a small group of chosen young children to be trained as one of a group of Gentlemen Bastards. This is fantasy, of course, with an alternate world in which we vaguely recognise elements from varying different times and places. Lamora and his cohorts are a likeable bunch, with good qualities alongside their love of stealing and violence. The book is slightly long winded in places, with long flashbacks which do not always add much to the plot. Also, although the priest has set his group of young thieves on a path to concoct elaborate plots and amass great wealth, they do not seem to use the money for much. As a group, they seem slightly stuck in a vacuum, working for more and more money, but not really getting much from it apart from the joy of the chase.
The plot of the book is long and involved, with many different characters either posing as other people, seeking vengeance and being involved in various plots and side stories. Lamora basically has many people after his life and has to try to dodge through various dangers, while attempting to keep his group together and in one piece. There are magical elements, extreme violence, a great deal of intrigue, action and edge of the seat excitement, as the author expertly weaves a complicated plot together. Although this is a great action adventure story, I did think the characters were slightly weak in places - we know where Locke Lamora comes from for example, but little of what he feels about it. However, this is apparently a series of books and the author may address deeper character detail in future books. If you like a lot of action and fast paced writing, with dark fantasy and a touch of crime, this is the book for you.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2021Scott Lynch’s ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ opens at a crossroads. As the first in ’The Gentleman Bastard Sequence’, we meet our titular orphan, Locke, who’s been taken in by The Thiefmaker and trained to rob Camorr’s wealthy blind. Unfortunately, Locke is…ambitious. After one too many risky escapades that leave The Thiefmaker himself exposed, Locke faces either execution or sale to the mysterious priest, Chains. Fortunately, Chains has a few secrets of his own, and thus begins the tale of The Thorn of Camorr…
At it’s heart, ’The Lies of Locke Lamora’ is a heist novel garbed in fantasy fashions. Our young thief is arrogant and droll, though never outright malicious, and by his side stand a lively cast of fellow larcenists, all slightly conceited, though remarkably self-aware. With deep coffers and a thirst for further adventure, Lynch’s motley crew of thieves pursue bigger and bigger scores, blissfully unaware of the dangers they face. Whilst this sounds like power fantasy, Lynch constructs his characters carefully, imbuing them with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and as a result success never seems like an inevitability. The wit and charm of his prose carries the story at a brisk pace, and although the novel isn’t quite a comedy, Lamora’s waggish repartee is incredibly endearing. From beginning to end, Lynch’s writing delights, and he excels in moments of poignance and heartbreak, despite the contradictory tone of the narrative. As a reader, there’s never a moment you feel compelled to root against Lamora and his crew - the moral ambiguity of their actions balanced by their inherent likability.
Where then does ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ slip? In truth, it doesn’t. Lynch is careful not to allow Locke Lamora’s needs and desires to shape the narrative - Lamora bends to the world’s whims, rather than the world bending to his. The Gentleman Bastards face adversity throughout, and whilst the challenges they face seem insurmountable, Lynch never resorts to cheap tricks or inconsistent magic to resolve conflict. Lamora is established as a poor fighter, and that remains true as the plot develops, with Lynch choosing to explore alternatives to brute force such as stealth and subterfuge rather than expecting readers to buy miraculous ‘level-ups’ as and when the action requires. Indeed, Lynch builds his small cast intelligently, their individual talents and ineptitudes complimenting one another and the story as a result. Whilst Camorr itself is an interesting setting, it’s Lynch’s character work that truly shines.
’The Lies of Locke Lamora’ is a superb novel, sure to entertain anybody with a fondness for witty dialogue and outrageous schemes. If a mash-up of Joe Abercrombie’s ’The Blade Itself’ and Brandon Sanderson’s ’Mistborn: The Final Empire’ strikes you as an intriguing proposition, then look no further - Scott Lynch has you covered.
”To us — richer and cleverer than everyone else!”
5.0 out of 5 starsScott Lynch’s ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ opens at a crossroads. As the first in ’The Gentleman Bastard Sequence’, we meet our titular orphan, Locke, who’s been taken in by The Thiefmaker and trained to rob Camorr’s wealthy blind. Unfortunately, Locke is…ambitious. After one too many risky escapades that leave The Thiefmaker himself exposed, Locke faces either execution or sale to the mysterious priest, Chains. Fortunately, Chains has a few secrets of his own, and thus begins the tale of The Thorn of Camorr…”To us — richer and cleverer than everyone else!”
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 August 2021
At it’s heart, ’The Lies of Locke Lamora’ is a heist novel garbed in fantasy fashions. Our young thief is arrogant and droll, though never outright malicious, and by his side stand a lively cast of fellow larcenists, all slightly conceited, though remarkably self-aware. With deep coffers and a thirst for further adventure, Lynch’s motley crew of thieves pursue bigger and bigger scores, blissfully unaware of the dangers they face. Whilst this sounds like power fantasy, Lynch constructs his characters carefully, imbuing them with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and as a result success never seems like an inevitability. The wit and charm of his prose carries the story at a brisk pace, and although the novel isn’t quite a comedy, Lamora’s waggish repartee is incredibly endearing. From beginning to end, Lynch’s writing delights, and he excels in moments of poignance and heartbreak, despite the contradictory tone of the narrative. As a reader, there’s never a moment you feel compelled to root against Lamora and his crew - the moral ambiguity of their actions balanced by their inherent likability.
Where then does ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’ slip? In truth, it doesn’t. Lynch is careful not to allow Locke Lamora’s needs and desires to shape the narrative - Lamora bends to the world’s whims, rather than the world bending to his. The Gentleman Bastards face adversity throughout, and whilst the challenges they face seem insurmountable, Lynch never resorts to cheap tricks or inconsistent magic to resolve conflict. Lamora is established as a poor fighter, and that remains true as the plot develops, with Lynch choosing to explore alternatives to brute force such as stealth and subterfuge rather than expecting readers to buy miraculous ‘level-ups’ as and when the action requires. Indeed, Lynch builds his small cast intelligently, their individual talents and ineptitudes complimenting one another and the story as a result. Whilst Camorr itself is an interesting setting, it’s Lynch’s character work that truly shines.
’The Lies of Locke Lamora’ is a superb novel, sure to entertain anybody with a fondness for witty dialogue and outrageous schemes. If a mash-up of Joe Abercrombie’s ’The Blade Itself’ and Brandon Sanderson’s ’Mistborn: The Final Empire’ strikes you as an intriguing proposition, then look no further - Scott Lynch has you covered.
”To us — richer and cleverer than everyone else!”
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
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Alin CrisanReviewed in Spain on 20 December 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars The lice
Muy interesante
- karliReviewed in Canada on 11 April 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
I really enjoyed this book. It’s imperfect characters are easy to relate to and there are lots of twists and turns.
-
SelçukReviewed in Turkey on 8 August 2022
3.0 out of 5 stars Güzel tasarım, ucuz materyal.
Aynı yayınevinden, aynı türden bir edisyon olan "The Blade Itself" ürünü için yazdıklarımın hepsi bu kitap için de geçerli:
Kapağın materyali ucuz olduğu için müthiş kolay hasar alıyor. Kargodan hasar almadan gelmesinin imkanı yok yani.
Bununla beraber kitabın "10. Yıl Özel Edisyon" olduğunu anlamanın imkanı yok. Çünkü böyle bir edisyon olmak için fazla sıradan. Görsel yok, kağıt kalitesi normal ve kitap bayağı küçük boyutlu.
Yine de seriyi seviyor ve bu yüzden özel bir şeyler almak istiyorsanız, tercih edebilirsiniz. Çünkü bu fiyata başka bir İngilizce sert kapak cilt bulamazsınız.
- Viktor DahlbergReviewed in Sweden on 1 December 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite book, world, prose, author........
I could go on about this book forever. I LOVE everything about it. Scott Lynch has managed to create a world and chaaracters that inspire that same feeling I got when I was a child, where I could get immersed in worlds and almost feel like I was actually there. It is funny, sad, happy, dark, epic, dramatic, romantic, clever and so many more adjectives. But I think above all the book is beautiful in every aspect. The writing is just that good.
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F. WittwarReviewed in Germany on 9 April 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Das beste Buch, das ich jemals nicht empfehlen konnte
Ich habe mir The Lies of Locke Lamora ursprünglich gekauft, weil es auch als einzelnes Buch unabhängig der restlichen Reihe empfohlen wurde. Wie bei vielen anderen Debütromanen in der Fantasy ist diese Aussage auch hier vollkommen gerechtfertigt, da mögliche Fortsetzungen ja erst einmal in den Sternen stehen und das Buch eine in sich geschlossene Handlung braucht.
Ich habe es regelrecht verschlungen und mir dann die restlichen beiden Bücher gekauft, weshalb ich The Lies of Locke Lamora leider nicht empfehlen kann. Die restlichen beiden? The Gentleman Bastards ist auf 7 Teile ausgelegt, doch nach dem dritten hat der Autor leider Angststörungen entwickelt, aufgrund derer er seine weiteren Werke nicht veröffentlichen kann. Seit 2018 warten Leser vergeblich auf die Veröffentlichung des eigentlich fertigen vierten Teils.
The Lies of Locke Lamora ist ein überragendes Buch, das definitiv die Lust auf mehr weckt. Ein Teil dieses Mehrs ist bereits erhältlich, aber größtenteils nur "Vorbereitung", um alle wichtigen Figuren vorzustellen und in Position für die eigentliche Handlung der Serie zu bringen. Auf diese werden Leser wohl ewig warten müssen. Solange die Reihe nicht abgeschlossen ist, muss ich trotz 5 Sternen also sagen: Finger weg!