Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays (6): Guest Post from Emily @ Emily Reads Everything

The first month of Science Fiction and Fantasy Fridays was so much fun and I can't wait to continue on with the rest of this year! For this month I have some great stuff lined up and can't wait to share it with you!

Breakdown for the month...

February's Theme: Epic Fantasy

February 3: 5 Epic Fantasy Books You've Probably Never Heard Of

February 10: Guest Post from Emily @ Emily Reads Everything

February 17: Review of HALF A KING by Joe Abercrombie

February 24: Interview with Steven Erikson

Camorr is a city that is somewhat like Venice, if the canals of Venice were filled with sharks. Camor is run by the Duke Nicovante and the leader of the Underworld, Capa Barsavi. Together they have worked out an agreement that no one will steal from the nobility. This agreement is called the Secret Peace. If it became common knowledge to the peasant and merchant class that the nobility are immune to crime, there would be a revolt. Locke Lamora and his gang were raised, trained, and brought together to subvert this simple rule.

This book is told in chapters that alternate from present time to the history of Locke Lamora or Camorr and back. Sometimes this manner of story telling takes me out of the book but in this case, I didn’t find it disruptive. Every interlude was related to what was going on in present time and added to the story as a whole.

Adult fantasy really only differs from YA fantasy in the age of the characters and the amount of violence and/or sex that is featured. I’m not condoning books with violence, but I like it when the the stakes are higher. I want there to be real danger when I’m reading. I want to know that no character is safe and anything could happen. The Lies of Locke Lamora has this urgency and uncertainty. I was on the edge of my seat throughout wondering what would happen next.

If you love heist novels or are a fan of Six of Crows or Nevernight, I definitely think this book is right up your alley.

THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA

Author: Scott Lynch

Series: Gentleman Bastard #1

Publisher: Bantam Spectra

Publication Date: July 27, 2006

Summary:

In this stunning debut, author Scott Lynch delivers the wonderfully thrilling tale of an audacious criminal and his band of confidence tricksters. Set in a fantastic city pulsing with the lives of decadent nobles and daring thieves, here is a story of adventure, loyalty, and survival that is one part "Robin Hood", one part Ocean's Eleven, and entirely enthralling...

An orphan's life is harsh — and often short — in the island city of Camorr, built on the ruins of a mysterious alien race. But born with a quick wit and a gift for thieving, Locke Lamora has dodged both death and slavery, only to fall into the hands of an eyeless priest known as Chains — a man who is neither blind nor a priest.

A con artist of extraordinary talent, Chains passes his skills on to his carefully selected "family" of orphans — a group known as the Gentlemen Bastards. Under his tutelage, Locke grows to lead the Bastards, delightedly pulling off one outrageous confidence game after another. Soon he is infamous as the Thorn of Camorr, and no wealthy noble is safe from his sting.

Passing themselves off as petty thieves, the brilliant Locke and his tightly knit band of light-fingered brothers have fooled even the criminal underworld's most feared ruler, Capa Barsavi. But there is someone in the shadows more powerful — and more ambitious — than Locke has yet imagined.

Known as the Gray King, he is slowly killing Capa Barsavi's most trusted men — and using Locke as a pawn in his plot to take control of Camorr's underworld. With a bloody coup under way threatening to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the Gray King at his own brutal game — or die trying...