The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Read in November 2009
The lies and deceit took center stage in this story. Only Jean and Locke garnered anything close to full character development. Nearly all the other characters were reduced to plot devices. The fantasy elements played bit parts with the exception of the unbelievably powerful Bondsmage.
The profanity in the dialogue at times put me off. I just find obscenities distracting in contemporary or dark fantasy. Curse creatively, please, just don’t re-use the same old expletives I overhear in ‘real’ life. The violence, while graphic, complemented the lies superbly. The citizens of Camorr could teach the Klingons a few creative things about revenge.
I felt compelled to complete the story, vainly pursuing relevant truth through the morass of deception. While much was revealed during the denouement, I felt no remorse for any of the characters, found none of them redemptive or regretful and resolved to wash my hands of this series and its characters.
If you like lots of political intrigue, revenge simmered and savored for decades, plot twists straining credibility and a cast of characters making a mad dash for malignancy, this is the story for you.
