Whenever I see that a first-time-published author has started off by writing a series, I’m instantly wary: how much has that author really got to say, and how much is blatant padding to fill the insatiable desire for trilogies (or more) that besets the fantasy genre?
But having gulped down the first in the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, I cannot wait to read the next one (Red Seas under Red Skies). The Lies of Locke Lamora is not only sheer fun to read, not only presents a beautifully developed world and cityscape, not only has a cast of well-rounded characters, but it puts poor Locke through sheer hell so he can experience a good whack of character development.
The story opens with a young Locke being handed over from one thief to another for crimes gradually revealed. Flashbacks to his apprenticeship (mercifully skipping the dull bits) are interspersed with the main story, where an adult Locke and his gentlemen begin a carefully planned con. Things soon go awry, of course, as the Grey King makes his presence felt…
One of the best fantasy books I’ve read lately.
Too true! I can’t wait until my purse fills up enough to go buy the sequel. It looks fantastic!
Or sequelS – all six of them (supposedly the whole sequence will be seven books)…oh well, if they stay as good as the first one, my purse will remain open.
Thanks for the visit; I’m still getting things in order (that blank column will list some links eventually).