It’s a bro-down in this first book of the Gentleman Bastards series, The Lies of Locke Lamora
If you haven’t heard of The Lies of Locke Lamora you’re probably not alone. Scott Lynch isn’t terribly well known, but after this debut book in the Gentleman Bastards series, his name is beginning to make rounds in the fantasy community.
Let me entice you before we go any further into the audiobook itself. If you’re on Larkable, chances are you’re part of a Fandom.
The Lies of Locke Lamora primarily follow a young man in his very early twenties. Locke Lamora is slightly pale, slender, with light eyes and darker hair. He’s dashingly charming, disarmingly witty, and can fool anyone with his spot-on acting. Alas, Locke does have his limitations, which is where his best friend, Jean Tanner, steps in. Jean is bulky-muscular and has blonde hair and blue eyes. He’s business savvy, cool, intimidating to be around, and while he backs up Locke in a fight, he’s entirely Locke’s voice of reason.
So if for no other reason you listen to The Lies of Locke Lamora, listen to it because our main characters very strangely–very coincidentally, if you ask me–resemble everyone’s favorite Asgardian brothers.
If this book hadn’t been released years before Thor, I would have thought Scott Lynch did it on purpose.
Now you know our main characters. There are plenty more: Father Chains, the Sanza twins, Don Lorenzo Salvara, Dona Vorchenza, a ghostly presence of the only female in Gentleman Bastards gang, Sabitha, and others.
The world the Gentleman Bastards live in is unlike any other fantasy world we’re used to, and it probably contributes greatly to why everyone is hopping on the The Lies of Locke Lamora bandwagon: the setting is a fantasy world version of late-medeval Venice. Locke, Jean, and the Sanza twins get around the glittering city of Camourr by walking along the streets and floating along the canals by boat. It is singlehandedly the most refreshing take on a fantasy story ever! Seriously, the Gentleman Bastards Series beats all of them: Everyone in this tale is Italian.
Which brings us to the point of why Larkable suggests you open your ears to The Lies of Locke Lamora instead of cracking open the book version. Everyone and everything is Italian.
We’re not certain what prompted Scott Lynch to use a Venice-like backdrop for his stories. This guy is from Wisconsin and there is nothing in his goodread’s author bio that indicated he’s spent any time in Italy. So how did he get inspired to set possibly the most original story in the most original fantasy setting in the most predictable time? We don’t know, but man, does it all work out! I mean, it really works out! The names of the characters, the names of the locations, the manner in which everyone interacts, the customs, everything in this book is incredible!
There is a weird thing where while everyone is indeed Italian-esque, the scum of the Earth do tend to talk like Captain Jack Sparrow. In fact, The Lies of Locke Lamora will have you throwing out this little jewel because everyone and their brother uses it:
Because of the weird mix of dialects, cultures, and characters, we 100% recommend listening to the audiobook version. Conveniently, Michael Page does a phenomenal job at narrating this incredible tale.
Michael Page, while not of the same nationality as Scott Lynch, does a top notch job narrating this wild, unpredictable adventure that the Gentleman Bastards go through. While Page doesn’t sound even remotely like Tom Hiddleston or Chris Hemsworth, you’ll have no trouble at all imagining Loki (Locke? Loki? Yeah!) and Thor scheming and running about the underworld of Camourr. Locke, Jean, and Fathers Chains are the most sarcastic characters you’ll ever have the privilege of reading, and the Sanza twins are so conniving, it’s a blessing to have Michael Page perform them for you. Every voice is distinct, it’s easy to follow, and the bleeding sarcasm isn’t lost at all. Oh, and in case the title itself didn’t give it away: because the characters are gangsters, thieves, and crooks, there is rough language galore in The Lies of Locke Lamora. In fact, you might just be so impressed you’ll file a few creative phrases away in your brain and recite them later the exact way Michael Page says them. We partially enjoyed this book on behalf of the impressive use of vernacular phrases and combinations. Well done, Scott Lynch, well done.
Much like what Steven Pacey does for The First Law Trilogy, Michael Page actually does enhance The Gentleman Bastards series. And series it will be! Currently there are only 3 out of an estimated 7 books that will be The Gentleman Bastards, but trust us when we say it’s worth it.
And finally, don’t judge an audiobook by it’s featured image when you go to buy it. While the audiobook image is almost repulsive, the actual story completely makes up for it, and here are some much better book covers to help ease your mind:
Open Your Ears To The Lies of Locke Lamora written by Scott Lynch and narrated by Michael Page!