Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora

I feel I should preface this post briefly to say that here, at the near end of January, I have not finished reading The Lies of Locke Lamora. Yet, I feel I can solidly review the book to the point I have read, and hope to do a full review of it later.

This comes as I am entering 2025 with a new resolution to read more this year, but specifically more consistently. So I have not pushed myself to complete books in one sitting, or read to exhaustion.

I picked up The Lies of Locke Lamora over my Christmas Break, with intention to read it in the car. It’s a fantasy story that was highly recommended to me. It’s epic in storytelling aspects, but also the grounded story of a quickwit thief named Locke Lamora. The book is captivating, yet sports dense prose, so I’ve extended my reading of it.

Scott Lynch writes in a style that I both aspire too in my own writing, and one which I feel requires time to sit and digest. So I’m still working through the story, but I am engrossed. I just hope my library returns don’t run out before I finish!

Without spoiling much, The Lies of Locke Lamora has a gripping plot. It comes off slow, but if you stick with the beginning you’ll find yourself heavily rewarded with morsels of intrigue, crime, and mystery. I’d liken the book to unravelling a ball of yarn, or peeling away layers of an onion. I cannot get enough.

The character of Locke is as enigmatic as he is charismatic. It’s almost impossible to know exactly what makes him tick, but not for lack of characterization. He’s delightfully unique, down to earth, and pragmatic. Yet he dreams with wild abandon, and his self-confidence might be confused with pride. I adore his character. Each new chapter and I am curious how he will introduce another twist, or escape with another harebrained plot. He’s just a joy to read, especially when working with his band of bandits.

I admit to only being a third of the way into the plot, yet I sense clear undertones ringing through. Lynch’s prose has to be the crowning jewel of this book. The juxtapositions, descriptions, and pure quality of his words had my little literary heart leaping. I would be remiss if I didn’t say how much his work has inspired me to assess the quality of my own craft.

Overall, The Lies of Locke Lamora is as equally a grim book as it is a fun one. There’s a jovial sense of hope from Locke and his companions. They live in many ways above the laws, because they know just how to break them. Yet Lynch works in the reality that anyone living such a free life, has paid great prices, and perhaps owes greater debts.

I cannot recommend this book enough. There aren’t dragons, or fairies, or elves, but there is such vast worldbuilding, descriptions you can practically paint, and characters who life flesh and blood beyond the realm of just paper. I’m already anxious to dive back in.