January Fantasy Read - NO SPOILERS - The Lies of Locke Lamora

A reminder that the first fantasy read is coming up so you can order or reserve or pull it off a shelf.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

I'll create a spoiler thread around the first.

I ordered mine from the library and it's in transit.

I just bought The Lies of Locke Lamora for my Nook. Yay!

I hope you all enjoy it. I certainly did. And I saw a release date for the third book of the series that isn't too far off! Republic of Thieves

Oh, I wasn't too sure what to do about this. I saw it has a high rating, and that a few of my friends seem to have really enjoyed it. But there is one friend who's tastes are remarkably similar to mine who doesn't seem to have liked it much. In it's favor though LibraryThing predicts I won't like it, which means I probably will. LOL I think I'll request it from the 'brary and give it a whirl.

I'm not real sure about it either. I got about a chapter in once before and didn't get pulled in. Some people really like it and others don't. But I'm going to give it a solid try come January!

Loved it, it's in the cross-hairs for a quick re-read by the end of the year :)

#5 - Morphy, does LT predict you'll hate it? :o)

Nope, it says I'll probably like it.

LT in its wisdom has predicted that I will not like it, with a high degree of confidence. We shall see, what we shall see.....

I'm firmly in the loved it camp. Hope everyone tasting it for the first time enjoys it.

I'm interested to see what everyone thinks, as I think I'm one of the few that really didn't care for it. I did make it all the way through, but gave up a little way into the sequel when I realized I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. When I tried the "Will you like it" it predicted that I would, with high probability. My sister liked it enough to recommend it to me, and usually our tastes are similar.

Excellent! I've had this on the TBR pile for ages, so January will be the perfect time to dig it out from under. Librarything predicts I I will like it with a high probability. I find LT's about 50/50 in it's predictions for me, so I'm keeping an open mind.

edited for goofy typos.

Well, I am glad you got the goofy ones! But I don't even see any "ungoofy" typos, what happened to them?

Cool. I loved the books and have been eagerly awaiting the 3rd book in the trilogy. One of the biggest things someone might not like about it is the timeline. It bounces from the present, to the past and back and sometimes into the future. It can be a little disorienting at first but I found it was an excellent way to tell this story and one of the reasons I found it so fun by the end.

My review is here for those interested or still deciding.

http://www.librarything.com/work/797435/reviews/39703205

#12 - I didn't know Goofy could type. ;)

I'll skip reading this one, but might read the threads just to see the conclusions you all come to about it. It seems to have a high unpredictable predictability factor.

I think I'll watch from the sidelines with MrsLee. I'm going to try to mainly read off the shelf in 2012.

Both my husband and my brother liked the book, but my brother has quite different tastes in books than I do and my husband was iffy about whether I'd like it. So I'm looking forward to seeing what the folks' here opinions are.

I'll be giving this a try.

I did like this, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed say name of the wind or some of Brandon Sanderson's works*. I found it fast paced fun fantasy. It isn't ruthlessly plotted with every last loophole explored, but it is fun.

*which are in fact the top two recommendations for this work.

I loved TLoLL, though I thought it got a little dark for what it was, hence my rating. Loved the sequel, Red Seas Under Red Skies, too. Hopefully the much-delayed third book makes it in 2012.

18 > You're the one who got me hooked on it. SantaThing gift. It was an excellent choice.

I've got a copy coming so I'll be reading along. DD is a fantasy fan but has not read this one, so I've sent a copy to her, too. I don't think she'll be joining us from Shanghai but who knows?

I just picked up my copy from the library. I'm anxious to start, but it may be the weekend. I'm in the middle of two books right now.

I started it about the same time I started another book, but I don't think I'll confuse The Last Gunfight with The Lies of Lock Lamora.

I want to join in the discussion, but rereading Locke Lamora may have to take a back seat as I finally got my hands on a copy of Wise man's Fear, and also have The way of kings on Mount Tbr. . . we'll see. I expect I shan't be able to resist once people start the discussion!

Everyone ready to read? I have my copy and I'll read it within the first few days of January.

I have my copy! Actually got it a week or so ago, but will wait until the 1st to start it, most likely. Thanks again for doing this, Morphy.

My copy is here, too. I'll start it as soon as I've finished my current fiction book.

It wasn't in at the library when I checked, I'll give it another round, and if it's not available, I'll buy a copy. Cringing only because I will not escape from any bookshop without a bagful and a big dent in my budget. But I did get two gift cards for Christmas....

I have my copy and I've started on it. Put it down, and read The Road. I'll finish it during January, no doubt.

I'm in. I think I'll pick up an ebook version. This is one I'd like to keep.

I'm ready to go - probably the second week in January, as I'm on holiday until then.

Oooooh I'm torn! I've been reading fairly light hearted stuff lately & wanted something a bit 'heavier' to dive into but had no ideas & I love the idea of a running discussion while reading so this seemed perfect... But.... I dont start series til their finished unless they're by a fave author & not sure if I want to break that self imposed rule or not...

Does the end of book 2 leave you hanging?

@32 - Giggling madly. You could say that.

~zips lips~

Oh, and the author has suffered/is still suffering from serious depression, which is why book 3 has been delayed for so long.

lol thanx for the (non) help Severn :P

Thats no good that the author isnt well :(

Oh well, decision not made yet, but the book's available at the library near my work & I really have no idea what to read next, so I'm thinking the rule will prob be broken...

I read this a while back and found it not really to my taste, while I did actually finish it. I can see why it's popular - it's fast paced and entertaining. I just didn't like the characters, nor some of the disbelief I was asked to suspend. I'm interested in what the denizens of the old GD have to say about it, tho.

36 - I loved it because I loved the characters mainly. That's the key for me - if I don't like the characters that's it for me. My main preference in fantasy are skewed, flawed characters - human ones. Ones neither good nor bad. Good ones who do bad things, and bad ones who do good things. Evil wizards with the bahahahah laugh of doom are not for me. I also like gritty, dirty fantasy and this book had enough of that to suit me. I love intricate plotting with crazy twists - and if you can combine that with the dirt, grit and flawed characters I'm sold.

Now, if you have all of that and stunning, profoundly beautiful writing like Guy Gavriel Kay then I'm in heaven, which is why he is my favourite fantasy/historical fantasy author. Scott Lynch isn't quite a Kay, but he's high up there.

#37 I like flawed characters, too, however they also have to be in some way sympathetic or compelling. I'm turned off by excessive arrogance, I think, which is why I also am not a fan of the main character in the Patrick Rothfuss books. I love flawed heroes, tho, for instance the kids in the Bartimaeus trilogy, or Fitz in the Farseer books.

@38 - ah yes, Fitz. My most favourite male protagonist in any fantasy. I think Hobb paved the way for the fantasy anti-hero, coming out of the 80's glut of amazing people doing amazing things in High Fantasy. I will be rereading the first Pat Rothfuss book soon in preparation for the second, which I've recently bought. I remember I liked him well enough. Have you read Joe Abercrombie at all? I think you might find the same kind of excessive arrogance among his dirty, dirty characters hehe.

#39 Nope, no Joe Abercrombie. Not even familiar with the name.

Got my copy - just started it. The humor's engaging so far.

@40 - The Blade Itself, which emerged around the same time as Lynch and Rothfuss and has been just as lauded. Very compelling, flawed characters there too.

Turns out the book wasnt available at the library so decision was made for me, sorry I wont be joining this discussion, but I'll follow it with interest to see if/when I will decide to get me a copy to read :)

Just requested it from the library, should get it with in the week.

I'm with you, Morph--started it a couple years ago, ended up putting it down after a chapter or two and never got back to it. I'm finishing up The Night Circus right now, but think I'll try again with this once I'm done.

#42 Thanks, just downloaded a sample for the Kindle. How did I miss hearing about this? It's weird what falls through the cracks.

Littlegeek do you ever visit http://sffworld.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6 ?

(Direct link to the fantasy part of it). Several fantasy authors have their own subforums here, and there's a bunch of members who are well known figures in the industry, whether reviewers, authors or publishers/editors. A lot of excellent information comes through there on new releases and what not. Many members are extremely well read - from the 'block busters' to the less well known but quality titles.

Okay, bought Lies of Locke Lamora for my Kindle yesterday, and started reading last night.

Thanks, Severn, I'll check it out!

I'm a couple of days away from starting this, once I've finished my current book.

So I just started Lies of Locke Lamora. Only about a chapter in...nothing much to report yet. It's going kind of slow but the characters need to be introduced and there have been a few laughs for me, so we'll see.

I've finally started this one. I'd forgotten just how annoying the frequent time jumps are.