Spoilers for book 1 Can I just say that one of the greatest set up and pay off's is in this book. Locke starts with a "blood payment" to those he got killed. So he has to offer money to the river (or w/e I dont remember specifics) that equal these peoples lives, kids that he got killed. YEARS later his crew is doing amazing, they are super rich, this jack hole kills most of his crew and takes their HUGE stash of money. Later, when 3 of his crew die, and he feels like hes responsible. He tricks the police into destroying the bad guys ship that has all of their money, sinking it and the gold to the bottom of the river. Hence, Locke repaying his blood debt to his crew. This gives me goose bumps thinking about this, it really solidified his love and bond for his crew. I know this is irrelevant for the roast but, its kinda amazing :)
@@ebnovels I have never been able to have favorites because I always see both the positives and negatives of books, movies, people, etc. Wheel of Time, The Witcher, Lies of Locke Lamora, The Dresden Files, LotR, The StormLight Archive. To one degree or another I like all of these but I can always provide a list of things I don't like about them. Does this mean I should have become a book critic?
I think an issue with the character intelligence is that Lokce is extremely intelligent, but he's also an impulsive dumbass. Like, he has the intelligence to pull off some amazing heists, but he has no impulse control in weighing the risks. Spoilers for Republic of Thieves: That's what makes his dynamic with Sabetha so interesting. She is careful, clever and sensible, and will always go for the low risk options. Locke always goes for the high risk options, and while he usually has the intelligence to pull it off, he also never knows when to pull out
For me, the second book added a lot of depth to the friendship between Locke and Jean. I also loved the fact that Locke is not perfect/ kind of an idiot, and that Jean is the more practical/ common sense oriented person. They balance each other out very well.
As someone who absolutely loved this book, I have to say I really appreciate how you are able to express why you did not enjoy it while still being respectful to how many people love it. I disagree with you but I can appreciate your opinion because of how you expressed it.
Completely get why people would not like the split timeline thing - I personally loved it but I can see that it's a matter of preference. Think the cursing thing is too - f*** isn't just a modern curse word and ASOIAF got me used to it so I don't mind it. What I take issue with is when people say it's boring? It's so fast paced and exciting, there's murder, magic, heists, disguises, bombs, plots and great humour to go with them. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Theres a huge diference between developing a friendship and establishing one. L&J are best friends, that's a fact. The genius of the book is that rather than just telling you they're best friends, the author does so much to PROVE they are best friends. Through the use of flashbacks, call backs and fantastic character interactions.
I disagree. They’re friendship is established, and then I didn’t find it was developed after that. That’s just my opinion though-I’m glad you feel differently :)
I agree, we may not have seen how the friendship grew over the years. But he still showed L and J doing stuff for one another, being there and defending each other. We still knew they were best friends, just like you can meet people in real life, see how how their best friends and know it, without needing them to explain all their anecdotes.
The Locke-Jean friendship was just introduced in the first book. Please read the second book and then you’ll understand how precious that friendship is.
Just want to say I really enjoy your videos! Found your channel a couple days ago and have been watching a lot of your old videos! Your channel has inspired me to start reading a lot again!
Without trying to be super defensive of this series i love, I feel like a lot of these opinions or roasts are coming from people who have only read the first book... Which i get, because if they didn't like the first book, why would they continue, right? but, without me saying any major spoilers, the series does explore more backstories through flashbacks again and builds on relationships further
This was on the first book though :) And I’m glad you liked the sequels, but I’ve seen other people say the sequels are worse. It’d be fun if people who feel differently about that could have a friendly debate!
So the flashbacks continue in the other 2 books? Sigh. I wanted to like this book soooo much. But I could barely finish the first book. I didn't find Locke that likable and I didn't like the split timelines. I still want to give the series another chance. But hearing that the flashbacks continued in the other books.... Nooooooo😵 ...... Maybe I should try the audiobook though🤔
@@ag5495 the flashbacks could be made more confusing when listening on audiobook, however, the audiobooks are fantastic. The flashbacks are always worth it for the payoff at the end when it all comes together
@@ag5495 Time jumps are in each book, they're part of what makes the series what it is. However, each book uses them differently to suit the book's purpose. In the first book, the past interludes narratively connect to the future in the chapters right after them. Red Seas Under Red Skies: The main story takes place two years after The Lies of Locke Lamora. So the flashback, which are only in the first half, fill in the blanks about what happened in those two years. No childhood memories here. Instead, they cover the events of how Lock and Jean faired after the events of Book 1 as well as how they got to the present in this book. The Republic of Thieves: This one acted to give us two stories in one book. Most of the flashbacks are about one whole story. In it, we follow Locke and the Bastards attempting to complete a particular task Chains asked of them when they were teenagers.
Love your videos! Personally I loved Lies of Locke Lamora and hope you read the next book in the series if you get the chance :) I always saw Locke as a smart ass trying to hold his friends together then needing normality to hold on to as his own life gets crazier
For those of you who weren’t able to get into the book by reading a hard cover, try the audiobook! That’s how I ‘read’ it the first time. The narrator probably brought it to life in a way I don’t think I’d be able to do just by reading it.
See, I thought when I first started reading it all these things, "it's boring" , "nothing happens" and "too much swearing". However I gave the audiobook a go instead, another booktuber 'Merphy Napier' is always ranting about this book, so I gave it another chance. And I am HOOKED. Simply because Michael Page is such a good narrator, the swearing adds so much more to the characters, the dialogue and the emphasis on what they are saying when he reads it out loud. I would say, if you didn't finish it, listen to the audiobook and give it another try. I'm so glad I did!
I couldn't agree more. I tried reading it and couldn't get past the first few chapters. Yet in audio form it was utterly compelling. The flash backs also lend themselves better to audio narration.
FINALLY someone talked about curse words in this book. I love Gentlemen bastards series BUT the curse words,drove me crazy. Regardless, I love Locke,Jean. They are so interesting characters. You said Locke is said is not intelligent,he is actually somewhat stupid,I AGREE with you but that's the reason I love Locke so much, sometimes clever,sometimes stupid and just a madman.😂 And NO, I don't think less of any of these 'roasters'
I absolutely love the gentleman bastard series. I think the flashback usage is probably my favorite part and the most well done of any series I've ever read. As "now" progresses as do the flashbacks - following two different narratives. Locke and Jean as kids and as adults. And it's my very strongest belief that as the series concludes the flashback timeline will just be approaching the events of the first book. As is, Scott Lynch is on my modern fantasy Rushmore with Patrick Rothfuss, Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, and Brandon Sanderson. As with many modern authors I was exposed to Scott Lynch through a short story in Gardner Dozois' anthology series... Specifically Rogues where it stood out among stories by George RR Martin, Cherie Priest, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Neil Gaiman, Joe Lansdale, and Gillian Flynn.
I read this series several years ago. I was considering rereading it and this totally damped my enthusiasm lol. What I remember disliking about this book is that the protagonists have no significant flaws -- at least none the author intended to give them -- and that's probably why people say they're not distinct from one another. If all the protagonists are awesome and smart and funny and awesome and improbably competent and lucky and lest I forget, awesome, the only readers who are going to relate to them are (probably young) people who just want a book about cool people being cool. And that's what the first half of this book was. Look how amazing these guys are. I saw a video essay where a guy talks about the difference between sympathizing with a character and liking/relating to a character. The only thing that evoked any investment from me was when shit completely hit the fan, and then I was sympathizing with them, not relating to them.
The best "Lies" have a bit of truth mixed in. I loved the series and that's the point I wanted to put out there - it's a series. And as a whole, it still ranks in my top 5. That being said, I've gone on record as DNF'ing this book numerous times BECAUSE of the flashbacks. The relationship definitely grows and matures through the series. Glad I stuck with it.
I’m glad it ended up getting better for you! I honestly didn’t care for essentially anything in that first book, and most of that came down to preference. Someone earlier in the comments said they think the next ones are worse, so it’s interesting to see you contrast that 😮
I just received this book eek so excited! Maybe a video with negative reviews about the book might not be the best place to state this excitement. I also got the book in my first language and I'm curious as to how all the cursing will get translated, it seems to be one of the most awkward things to get through in other languages.
I liked the books but I can understand why other people don’t :) especially seeing some of those points, even though I personally disagree and love the books because of those things :)
Agreed on struggling to care when characters died. It was clear that the key deaths were supposed to hit you in the gut, but I felt nothing. Almost done reading The First Law trilogy, and the contrast in that regard is stark - Abercrombie knows how to make it matter. Was interested in your plot synopsis, and wish I'd seen more of that myself. Had that been the soul of the book - that these guys do what they do, and are so good at it because they are priests, and there was maybe some suggestion of interplay with the Thirteenth - but it just feels like a plot device the author thought would be handy. The most liked review on UK Amazon is entitled "Smug Adventuring". I think that's accurate.
@@ebnovels Good news! My local book store that I thought was closed down is actually doing home delivery. Managed to snag a copy in good condition for 8 bucks! Woohoo! I don't know if it's different in the US, but in Canada there don't seem to be many independent book stores, super lucky this time.
@@ebnovels yes, that is why i thought of reading them, merphie likes them very much so i think i will give it a try;currently i can't think about anything but THE WAY OF KINGS that i am reading rn I already love this series so much and i my gut says this feeling will only get stronger (God bless KALADIN and DALINAR🙌🙌🙌🙌)
I love this book very much, but I have to agree that the cussing is way too distracting. On the other hand, the only characters I could not tell apart were Calo and Galdo, but that was bc they were twins, haha. Hope everything keeps ok with your dad
I love this book. However, our local library has it shelved in the children's section. Not YA, CHILDREN'S! Uhhh....I told them they might want to change that and they looked at me like I had an eye stalk. Haha!
I liked these books very much , so very much . I HATE however having to wait for so long for book 4; although I guess it gives me a proper excuse to reread the previous 3 again.
I read this as my intro to fantasy, and I liked it very much (8.5/10). My biggest problem is the pacing in the second half of the book. Flashbacks were excellent in the beginning, but then started to be annoying and mood destroyers. Also some sections were either not needed at all, or could have been cut by 80-90%. I did love the language and the world though. Some phrases, expressions and dialogues were awsome. But, I also agree that I wish we remained with the heist and kept it light hearted.
Your thumbnail looks so mischievous. I personally like the relationship of the entire group. The boys complimented one another really well. On the other hand Jean and Locke wasn’t as flushed out as I thought it would be going into the book. I’m also slightly intrigued by the character of Sabetha and we never actually met her.
I think you meet her in book three? I think it’s kinda cool to build up intrigue about the character, but I didn’t like the book well enough to continue 😅
Elliot Brooks the most common complaint I’ve heard about the series is that the schemes they get into are somewhat repetitive and it gets a bit stale by the third book. I’m fairly excited to see what happens especially because they are now basically exiled from their home city and starting over from scratch. I’m also oddly intrigued by stories about con artists.
I definitely never heard of this book so im very entertained by how you go about doing this Elliot. I hope people don't come at you with pitch forks over this series lol 😆😂 I look forward to you doing the mistborn series roasts which i know will be difficult for you. Also you could do the witcher books too! You being sarcastic on top of your normal kind self is too awesome. Thanks for always brightening up my day with these videos. Also i don't mind cursing in books as long as it makes sense. Hope your day goes well and heres donuts lol 🍩🍩
@@ebnovels haha you're welcome! I feel like you'll need a treat like donuts when you get done with this series my friend. Thanks for always trying to respond 😊🙏
The friendship point is not really praising the first book so much but more for all three books that are out, especially Red Seas Under Red Skies, which is the best for Locke and Jean’s relationship development imo. Also could you do a roast of the whole series, because the next two books are where the problems start occurring ; The lies of Locke Lamora does what it sets out to do amazingly well and the rest of the series just kind of flops a bit from there. It’s kind of funny and annoying how the first one is the only one people really talk about and the others get glossed over both in terms of positives and negatives
I don’t really plan on reading the next two 😮 I honestly already didn’t care for this one, but I feel bad that you weren’t a fan of the next two. Will you be reading the fourth?
Elliot Brooks Yes, purely to see if it can go uphill, because some of the world and history details interest me and I’d like to see where Lynch can go with them. If it disappoints I won’t read the fifth one though. Ps it’s nice to see a reviewer that doesn’t just gush about this book. I really enjoyed it but it’s still cool to see someone that doesn’t just go along with the hype
I really enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 stars. I loved the friendship, it was a stereotypical friendship true but I loved the fierce loyalty they had for each other. Not every friendship is like that. I loved their bond. I loved that their friendship was front and center in the book, it was bold and in your face and not subtle and hidden. Those flashbacks were apart of the reason I docked a star from this book. Towards the end they pulled me out of the book as they had NOTHING to do with what was happening in the story. I felt like they were out there to amp up the emotion (as they usually came right as things were heating up) and then bam it cooled me down and I would have to reread the section before the flashback to get back into the story. I loved this book but it’s not without faults for sure. I loved this roast! It was fun! I can’t want to see what else we roast
After just reading this book I 100% agree. I don't understand the hype about this books characters and their "friendship". The flashbacks were a bit much for me.
I don’t mind cussing in general, but throwing modern f-bombs all over a fantasy world really pulls me out of the story. I wish the author had invented cuss words for that world. And yeah the story was boring.
No women?....are you serious with this comment? The women were some of the best characters. You had the pirates daughter, the botanist/ alchemist, the old lady agent(the spider), and finally the references to the lady gentleman bastard who definitely sounds like a badass. These characters came off as the most competent, intelligent and interesting people. Most of the men were idiots so I mean...which gender is really missing out here? lol
I agree that there are women, I think maybe they meant in the main crew? To be fair, though, SPOILERS: Locke “outsmarts” the spider by simply punching her in the face, Jean kills two women who are supposedly incredibly powerful, the one person’s daughter is murdered, and the reference is just that-a reference. That last one doesn’t really count in this first book imo 😅 That said, I don’t think that means the book is sexist or anything.
I'm not sure why I love GB so much, but I do. I don't think I could read them back to back though, which I think says something. I think I'm super biased because I love thievery in literally any story and I just will take it. This is even better because a long con is *chefs kiss* Some people say GB is grim dark, and I don't know how I feel about that. I know they're morally grey, but it doesn't feel dreary enough to be grim dark. Maybe that's just my personal idea of the genre, though.
I like the world, the feel and the heist thing quiet a lot but the characters now looking back aren't very memorable and the overall story is similar too, I will still read any future installments though its good but definitely not amazing.
Yes, I agree with most of these XD I found it super predictable, the friendship was not really fleshed out at all, and I would have gone even farther in that I think Locke is not clever or witty at all but the antagonists become stupid around him just to make him look good. I hate that so much in stories, that at the end I DNFd the book with only two hours left of the audiobook XD I usually understand why people like something that I don't, but with this book, I really don't understand the appeal.
I always say people are free to be wrong 🤣 But seriously, differing opinions keeps us talking and makes sure the books on offer are varied. No book is for everyone. I did love the Gentleman Bastards, the characters and the way the story is told.
I’m glad you liked it! Haha, while I know this will sting when I do this for my favorites, I think this helps people go in with good expectations, since usually these books are heavily praised 😄
This was fun xD Some things I disagree with. Some things I do (except they're the reasons I love the book lol). Let's see .............. *Friendship:* Book 1 does express the love between the Bastards so we know it's there. But we don't actually spend time with it. Book 2 thrives on Locke and Jean's relationship, exploring it for the entirety of its duration. More than any other book I've personally read. Does that tell a person they'll care about the friendship in Book 2 if they didn't in book 1? Nope xD Just confirming it IS there as much as fans say it is. *Curses:* I'm a prude so I usually hate this. But in this case, it was fitting for Camorr's setting. Especially because in later books, the level of swearing that comes from side characters raises or decreases depending on their setting/background. *No women:* Disclaimer, I'm a girl myself. But I don't look for female perspectives in every book I read. I do think the three side female characters we got in Book 1 were all cool themselves. But for those who don't, Scott does write more 'obviously' strong female characters in later books. *Flashbacks:* I'm obsessed with non-linear story-telling. It wasn't perfect, but most of the time it worked well. Furthermore, each book utilises this trait to suit the needs of said book. *Locke:* He IS an idiot. That's the point. All his brains are wasted on him cause of his attitude. Providing a flaw to grow from given time. *Celebrates the wrong people:* They were easily "the lesser of two (or four?) evils". Chains raised them that way. The series gives off the sense that he intentionally meant more for them then what they were trying to accomplish in Book One. A possibility that's coupled with Locke's thoughts regarding other parties throughout the series and what that could entail in future books.
I have a complicated relationship with this series. It has my favourite world-building and writing style of any books I have read, second only to the Kingkiller Chronicles (another series I love but have some acute issues with). And some of my fall-time favourite scenes. But at the same time I actually agree with many of those complaints. I found the flashbacks annoying, didn't care much for the vilain, and found the main characters average at best. It was even worse in the second book which I felt was almost pointless as it didn't really... do anything. Interestingly many of these were addressed for me in the third book, with the introduction of Sabetha, an actually interesting female character (kind of sad that she wasn't our MC). As well as a flashback sequence that I actually found even more interesting than the main story. I will certainly buy and read the next one. But I get the feeling that this is a series that is going to continue to give me joys and grievances alike.
The main thing for me was the lack of fantasy elements. Where the heck is the magic? The magical creatures? The different races? Almost none of it is resistant. It felt more like historical fiction based in Venice or somewhere in Sicily.
That's one of the things I loved about it xD It felt nice reading from the point of view of people who can't do magic at all. It emphasised their vulnerability, making them bigger underdogs for it. As for the rest of the world, it made magic feel "natural". A norm to everyone, whether they're dealing with it or not.
I've never read it because I was put off it because there is a particular booktuber (not you) that keeps talking about the book and I was like "If I have to hear the words The Lies of Locke Lamora one more time" so I'm not drawn to read it at all anymore.
Seems an odd reason not to want to read something. I suppose contrarian would be a fitting word to describe this phenomenon that keeps popping up here and there.
Haha, and then I made a video for it-you can’t escape it! 😆 I get not wanting to pick something up that’s been so hyped, but if it sounds good, hopefully one day you’ll be able to try it out :)
@@ebnovels Haha yeah but it was a video about roasting it so I was down for that :P The thing is that I might actually really like the book, who knows. Maybe it keeps popping up for me because the universe is trying to tell me something haha
Haha, are any of the reviews for his peers ever negative? I’ve only ever seen him praise other adult fantasy authors 😆 That wasn’t meant as a jab at you-hopefully it didn’t come across that way!
Elliot Brooks Yes he only ever praises, I just like how he says what parts of this book are better than his own 😄. Now if he could stop writing reviews and write his third book we would all be much happier!
Love your video! I havent read this but I got it from a friend and have been debating on it. Also, I noticed the julie kagawa series in the background is out of order. 👀 my OCD wouldnt let me unsee it once I saw it. 😂🤦♀️
Not all of them yet, actually 😅 the bottom rows have nothing, and we still have two more shelves at our house. Since we’re living with my Dad now to help out with his healthy stuff, we basically have two rooms that are “our rooms” to do whatever we want with. It was my dad’s way of trying to be as welcoming and accommodating as possible since he knows this has all happened so fast :)
@@ebnovels Aw, that's so sweet of him! I'm still praying for you and your family during this rough time. My grandpa had cancer several years ago, and it was a very stressful time for the whole family. We are lucky to live pretty close to him, but I definitely remember my mom driving him to the hospital several times because my grandma really couldn't. I totally understand what you're going through, although you also have the added stress of coronavirus so I'm sure that adds another layer of worry to your life. Your dedication to helping out your dad is really inspiring, and I'm sure he feels very loved ❤
I agree with everything you said in this video 😹 I didn't hate it, but I'm definitely not the biggest fan. This book was so hard to read because it was so slow and like you said, the characters and relationships were lacking for me 😬 the only way i could get through it was by switching to the audiobook and i actually really didn't like the narrator but was determined to finish 😭 i do want to try to finish the series though because I didn't completely hate it and I feel like it has the potential to improve with each book. It's one of those annoying books that I have mixed feelings on, and I can relate to all the issues you brought up with it
I think having mixed feelings can result in really great payoff later if you end up liking the next ones! Some say they’re way better, while others think the sequels are worse. Hopefully the former will be the case for you 😄
I planned on reading this series because I thought it was about a Robin Hood (or Captain Jack Sparrow) type of character in a Venice inspired city, but then I learned that the reason they are thieves is because of their religion, which is not my cup of tea, so no thanks.
I have had a mixed response. So much of it I loved, but the story-telling with the flashbacks felt clumsy. I really wanted to like it more, but those vignettes were torturous by the end!
I've never read this book, but one thing that bugs me in books is when the author repeatedly describes a character a certain way in place of letting their actions do the talking. That sounds like whats going on here with the witty character.
I'm so conflicted. I want to read it because it's hyped so much, but everything that has been said here turns me off. Should I trust your and all these people's opinion? Should I trust Merphy? She says this story has great characters, but you say everyone has the same personality. How can both be true? I'm definitely interested in the premise, but I've recently read Six of Crows and didn't like it, partly because of the flashbacks. But then again, many people say Six of Crows is a poor man's version of Locke Lamora, so maybe it's better. Aaaah, this is so confusing 🤦🤦🤦 I guess I'll never know until I read it.
I think the characters in Six of Crows have far more depth, and that the “flashbacks” aren’t as frequent as they are in Locke (maybe a better way to put it is that they didn’t feel like the interrupted moments, and I thought they generally had more relevance). That’s just my take though-I hope you like it more than me! I go more in-depth in my review if that helps 💕
The Gentleman Bastards is my favourite series, so of course I would recommend it :) I read Six of Crows right after finishing the third book of the series and therefor was disappointed reading six of crows. I didn't know about the hype when I started to read the Lies of Locke Lamora and loved it. However, I had two issues while reading the first book: the flashbacks and that the characters weren't fleshed out that much. In regard to the flachbacks: I liked the first few flashbacks, but felt interrupted from the later ones. But on the other hands, there is a reason why they are told at a specific moment and they all tie back to the main Storyline. And they aren't that long as well, so while I think they aren't a perfect solution, I can understand why they're there. There are also flashbacks in the second and third book, and both are handled much better. (The second book only has a few flashbacks and the flashback of the third are in my opninion the best part of the book) To the characters: like I said, I thought they weren't really fleshed out in the first book, but I think it wasn't that bad. I still had a generel idea of who they were and how they would act in certain scenes. I fell in love with these characters at the start of book 2 and the friendship of the two main characters is just so good! If you think the book sounds interesting, give it a go :) try to read it without expecting a perfect book but an exciting story that also has its flaws. Maybe it will surprise you, but everybody's taste is different, so no one can say for sure, if you'll like it in the end or not
This has sometimes popped up on my Amazon recommendations but I never thought about buying it. Your video has kinda put me off and honestly my to-read pile is neck high with two more incoming. Including "The Girl and the Stars" by Mark Lawrence, which is set in the same world as "Book of the Ancestor". I'm waiting for your review of Queen of Blood - did you read it yet?
I suggest you read the opening chapters on Amazon and make your own mind up. I liked reading about Locke & Jean ; most people I know who have read this book share a similar opinion. Does that mean Elliot's opinion is wrong ? No, but an opinion is purely subjective and you may not have similar tastes to her.
I loved the premise of the book but dang, was it lacking in female characters and I absolutely hated that about this book. We are shown 4 female characters: One is only ever mentioned and only as a love interest, the other appears approximately twice (as a possible love interest), very shortly and then we have the two aristocrat women. They at least are a bit more developed, get a bit more attention but not much, but it's presented as if that's so uncommon to have a smart wife or a women pulling the strings in the background. Edit: I forgot that Locke is sleeping with a nameless prostitute, so I guess we have 5 women, and one of the merchants/ black apothecaries is female so 6. Six women mentioned in an entire book.
He's an impulsive idiot. Has a big mouth that often gets him into trouble. It's not as if his bark is always bigger than his bite, when push comes to shove. But still. when he barks, he BARKS. But it's one of his flaws and honestly, just another reason a lot of us love him xD
It's interesting, this book has been in my TBR for some time now and most of these criticisms seem like things I could bear (except maybe the cursing), so I'm actually still looking forward to reading it 😂😂😂
In my personal preference, Lies of Locke Lamora is pretty close to a perfect book. I love it so much.
Yay, good! 😄😄😄
Totally agree, i feel you dont really get to see the best part of their friendship until 2nd and 3rd book, but it's absolutely amazing imo :)
@@Polina-du6ub yeah I was thinking about that too! Their friendship is really seen and "fleshed out" more through the next two books.
You have never read Malazan Book of the Fallen, child. That one is perfect
@@dlasis I've read the first one. It was solid. My brain hurt afterwards though lol
I don't have to beat you, i just have to keep you until Jean gets here!
God, I loved that call back in that scene. I smiled as I read it.
Man...I really loved that line..!
Spoilers for book 1
Can I just say that one of the greatest set up and pay off's is in this book. Locke starts with a "blood payment" to those he got killed. So he has to offer money to the river (or w/e I dont remember specifics) that equal these peoples lives, kids that he got killed.
YEARS later his crew is doing amazing, they are super rich, this jack hole kills most of his crew and takes their HUGE stash of money.
Later, when 3 of his crew die, and he feels like hes responsible. He tricks the police into destroying the bad guys ship that has all of their money, sinking it and the gold to the bottom of the river. Hence, Locke repaying his blood debt to his crew.
This gives me goose bumps thinking about this, it really solidified his love and bond for his crew. I know this is irrelevant for the roast but, its kinda amazing :)
You may of course say that! Thanks for sharing the love 😄
It is my favourite book series so this hurts :(
Ah, sorry about that!
@@ebnovels I have never been able to have favorites because I always see both the positives and negatives of books, movies, people, etc. Wheel of Time, The Witcher, Lies of Locke Lamora, The Dresden Files, LotR, The StormLight Archive. To one degree or another I like all of these but I can always provide a list of things I don't like about them. Does this mean I should have become a book critic?
I think an issue with the character intelligence is that Lokce is extremely intelligent, but he's also an impulsive dumbass. Like, he has the intelligence to pull off some amazing heists, but he has no impulse control in weighing the risks. Spoilers for Republic of Thieves:
That's what makes his dynamic with Sabetha so interesting. She is careful, clever and sensible, and will always go for the low risk options. Locke always goes for the high risk options, and while he usually has the intelligence to pull it off, he also never knows when to pull out
For me, the second book added a lot of depth to the friendship between Locke and Jean. I also loved the fact that Locke is not perfect/ kind of an idiot, and that Jean is the more practical/ common sense oriented person. They balance each other out very well.
As someone who didn't enjoy this book at all and had to force myself to read it, it's so good to see other people agree with my opinion 😂
Well I’m glad that’s the case for you! I’m happy people like this book, I just...don’t 😅
As someone who absolutely loved this book, I have to say I really appreciate how you are able to express why you did not enjoy it while still being respectful to how many people love it. I disagree with you but I can appreciate your opinion because of how you expressed it.
Thanks for this epic roast of this beloved book. Blessings of the Nameless Thirteenth be upon you. 😃❤👍
Completely get why people would not like the split timeline thing - I personally loved it but I can see that it's a matter of preference. Think the cursing thing is too - f*** isn't just a modern curse word and ASOIAF got me used to it so I don't mind it. What I take issue with is when people say it's boring? It's so fast paced and exciting, there's murder, magic, heists, disguises, bombs, plots and great humour to go with them. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
Theres a huge diference between developing a friendship and establishing one. L&J are best friends, that's a fact. The genius of the book is that rather than just telling you they're best friends, the author does so much to PROVE they are best friends. Through the use of flashbacks, call backs and fantastic character interactions.
I disagree. They’re friendship is established, and then I didn’t find it was developed after that. That’s just my opinion though-I’m glad you feel differently :)
I agree, we may not have seen how the friendship grew over the years. But he still showed L and J doing stuff for one another, being there and defending each other. We still knew they were best friends, just like you can meet people in real life, see how how their best friends and know it, without needing them to explain all their anecdotes.
The Locke-Jean friendship was just introduced in the first book. Please read the second book and then you’ll understand how precious that friendship is.
Haha, but I couldn’t stand the first book. I have zero desire to continue 🙈
I DNF'ed this. Might come back to it later.. much later
Oh maybe they meant the L & J friendship throughout the whole series . Its really tested in the other 2 books.
Just want to say I really enjoy your videos! Found your channel a couple days ago and have been watching a lot of your old videos! Your channel has inspired me to start reading a lot again!
Without trying to be super defensive of this series i love, I feel like a lot of these opinions or roasts are coming from people who have only read the first book... Which i get, because if they didn't like the first book, why would they continue, right?
but, without me saying any major spoilers, the series does explore more backstories through flashbacks again and builds on relationships further
This was on the first book though :) And I’m glad you liked the sequels, but I’ve seen other people say the sequels are worse. It’d be fun if people who feel differently about that could have a friendly debate!
So the flashbacks continue in the other 2 books? Sigh. I wanted to like this book soooo much. But I could barely finish the first book. I didn't find Locke that likable and I didn't like the split timelines. I still want to give the series another chance. But hearing that the flashbacks continued in the other books.... Nooooooo😵 ...... Maybe I should try the audiobook though🤔
@@ag5495 the flashbacks could be made more confusing when listening on audiobook, however, the audiobooks are fantastic. The flashbacks are always worth it for the payoff at the end when it all comes together
@@ag5495 Time jumps are in each book, they're part of what makes the series what it is. However, each book uses them differently to suit the book's purpose. In the first book, the past interludes narratively connect to the future in the chapters right after them.
Red Seas Under Red Skies: The main story takes place two years after The Lies of Locke Lamora. So the flashback, which are only in the first half, fill in the blanks about what happened in those two years. No childhood memories here. Instead, they cover the events of how Lock and Jean faired after the events of Book 1 as well as how they got to the present in this book.
The Republic of Thieves: This one acted to give us two stories in one book. Most of the flashbacks are about one whole story. In it, we follow Locke and the Bastards attempting to complete a particular task Chains asked of them when they were teenagers.
I am so glad someone feels like I do. I really wanted to like this book, but it was such a disappointment to me.
Believe me, a lot of us tried to, but ohwell
Love your videos! Personally I loved Lies of Locke Lamora and hope you read the next book in the series if you get the chance :) I always saw Locke as a smart ass trying to hold his friends together then needing normality to hold on to as his own life gets crazier
I agree with you that Locke's not as clever as people make him out to be, at least in this first book.
I was expecting him to be so smart 😅
For those of you who weren’t able to get into the book by reading a hard cover, try the audiobook! That’s how I ‘read’ it the first time. The narrator probably brought it to life in a way I don’t think I’d be able to do just by reading it.
I describe Gentleman Bastards as being essentially a Tarantino crime thriller, but in the First Law world.
See, I thought when I first started reading it all these things, "it's boring" , "nothing happens" and "too much swearing". However I gave the audiobook a go instead, another booktuber 'Merphy Napier' is always ranting about this book, so I gave it another chance. And I am HOOKED. Simply because Michael Page is such a good narrator, the swearing adds so much more to the characters, the dialogue and the emphasis on what they are saying when he reads it out loud. I would say, if you didn't finish it, listen to the audiobook and give it another try. I'm so glad I did!
I couldn't agree more. I tried reading it and couldn't get past the first few chapters. Yet in audio form it was utterly compelling. The flash backs also lend themselves better to audio narration.
It's sword & sorcery. Selfish protags out for themselves is a hallmark of the genre.
FINALLY someone talked about curse words in this book. I love Gentlemen bastards series BUT the curse words,drove me crazy. Regardless, I love Locke,Jean. They are so interesting characters. You said Locke is said is not intelligent,he is actually somewhat stupid,I AGREE with you but that's the reason I love Locke so much, sometimes clever,sometimes stupid and just a madman.😂 And NO, I don't think less of any of these 'roasters'
Haha, I’m happy you like that about Locke! I think the book is almost trying to set up false expectations for Locke-I just found him so frustrating 😆
I absolutely love the gentleman bastard series. I think the flashback usage is probably my favorite part and the most well done of any series I've ever read. As "now" progresses as do the flashbacks - following two different narratives. Locke and Jean as kids and as adults. And it's my very strongest belief that as the series concludes the flashback timeline will just be approaching the events of the first book.
As is, Scott Lynch is on my modern fantasy Rushmore with Patrick Rothfuss, Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, and Brandon Sanderson.
As with many modern authors I was exposed to Scott Lynch through a short story in Gardner Dozois' anthology series... Specifically Rogues where it stood out among stories by George RR Martin, Cherie Priest, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Neil Gaiman, Joe Lansdale, and Gillian Flynn.
I read this series several years ago. I was considering rereading it and this totally damped my enthusiasm lol.
What I remember disliking about this book is that the protagonists have no significant flaws -- at least none the author intended to give them -- and that's probably why people say they're not distinct from one another. If all the protagonists are awesome and smart and funny and awesome and improbably competent and lucky and lest I forget, awesome, the only readers who are going to relate to them are (probably young) people who just want a book about cool people being cool. And that's what the first half of this book was. Look how amazing these guys are. I saw a video essay where a guy talks about the difference between sympathizing with a character and liking/relating to a character. The only thing that evoked any investment from me was when shit completely hit the fan, and then I was sympathizing with them, not relating to them.
Finally someone agrees with me! I feel like everyone loves this book, but I just could not get myself to enjoy it no matter how hard I tried.
The best "Lies" have a bit of truth mixed in. I loved the series and that's the point I wanted to put out there - it's a series. And as a whole, it still ranks in my top 5. That being said, I've gone on record as DNF'ing this book numerous times BECAUSE of the flashbacks. The relationship definitely grows and matures through the series. Glad I stuck with it.
I’m glad it ended up getting better for you! I honestly didn’t care for essentially anything in that first book, and most of that came down to preference. Someone earlier in the comments said they think the next ones are worse, so it’s interesting to see you contrast that 😮
I just received this book eek so excited! Maybe a video with negative reviews about the book might not be the best place to state this excitement.
I also got the book in my first language and I'm curious as to how all the cursing will get translated, it seems to be one of the most awkward things to get through in other languages.
I liked the books but I can understand why other people don’t :) especially seeing some of those points, even though I personally disagree and love the books because of those things :)
Yay, I’m glad this wasn’t painful for you to watch! I’m glad you liked it so much 😊
Agreed on struggling to care when characters died. It was clear that the key deaths were supposed to hit you in the gut, but I felt nothing. Almost done reading The First Law trilogy, and the contrast in that regard is stark - Abercrombie knows how to make it matter.
Was interested in your plot synopsis, and wish I'd seen more of that myself. Had that been the soul of the book - that these guys do what they do, and are so good at it because they are priests, and there was maybe some suggestion of interplay with the Thirteenth - but it just feels like a plot device the author thought would be handy.
The most liked review on UK Amazon is entitled "Smug Adventuring". I think that's accurate.
This is the only book where I didn't care if any of them survived, tbh
The flashbacks got on my nerves. Far too many
I don't understand how anyone can not like it I wasn't overly impressed with the thieves Republic but the other 2 are an amazing read.
Only you would say nice things in a roast 😂
I didn’t think I could disagree with every single point, but here we are 🤷🏽♂️. Feel like I’m in the twilight zone 😂.
Random question xD What lipstick are you using in this video? i love it haha
Woohoo! My comment made it in the video :) I’m so proud lol
You do realize that that is, in fact, the most common way that "boys become best friends", right?
Feel free to leave a link to that fact
It's literally out of stock everywhere that I have access to right now. Wow.
Ah, I’m sorry! That’s weird; I’d think retailers would carry it. Maybe it’s because of everything going on, but that still sucks 🤷🏻♀️
@@ebnovels I think there's just an issue with suppliers in general right now. I couldn't get my hands on Rage of Dragons either. I'll have to wait :(
I’m sorry about that! I wish I could send you copies!!!
@@ebnovels Haha it's not like it's your fault silly! I've got other books to keep me occupied in the meantime, and your videos :)
@@ebnovels Good news! My local book store that I thought was closed down is actually doing home delivery. Managed to snag a copy in good condition for 8 bucks! Woohoo! I don't know if it's different in the US, but in Canada there don't seem to be many independent book stores, super lucky this time.
I will read these after stormlight archive
That’ll be quite the difference in tone! But hopefully a fun difference 😊
@@ebnovels yes, that is why i thought of reading them, merphie likes them very much so i think i will give it a try;currently i can't think about anything but THE WAY OF KINGS that i am reading rn I already love this series so much and i my gut says this feeling will only get stronger (God bless KALADIN and DALINAR🙌🙌🙌🙌)
Kaladin is the man 😄😄😄
@@ebnovels Kaladin needs his own series
Great video as always. You should do a top 10 fantasy series.
I have a list of my favorite books :) it’s pretty similar to that!
I love this book very much, but I have to agree that the cussing is way too distracting.
On the other hand, the only characters I could not tell apart were Calo and Galdo, but that was bc they were twins, haha.
Hope everything keeps ok with your dad
I love this book. However, our local library has it shelved in the children's section. Not YA, CHILDREN'S! Uhhh....I told them they might want to change that and they looked at me like I had an eye stalk. Haha!
Oh no! Haha, definitely not a children’s book!!! 🤣
What a snowflake, I'm sure there are lots of children's books where people are drowned in horse piss.
love the video, and the hair!
This hurts, i love this series so much
Ah, I’m sorry for the pain me and other people have caused 😮
I just finished the second book and tbh this series seems to be boring at the first 2/3 and then everything ties nicely and quickly in the last third.
I liked these books very much , so very much . I HATE however having to wait for so long for book 4; although I guess it gives me a proper excuse to reread the previous 3 again.
I read this as my intro to fantasy, and I liked it very much (8.5/10). My biggest problem is the pacing in the second half of the book. Flashbacks were excellent in the beginning, but then started to be annoying and mood destroyers. Also some sections were either not needed at all, or could have been cut by 80-90%.
I did love the language and the world though. Some phrases, expressions and dialogues were awsome. But, I also agree that I wish we remained with the heist and kept it light hearted.
Your thumbnail looks so mischievous. I personally like the relationship of the entire group. The boys complimented one another really well. On the other hand Jean and Locke wasn’t as flushed out as I thought it would be going into the book. I’m also slightly intrigued by the character of Sabetha and we never actually met her.
I think you meet her in book three? I think it’s kinda cool to build up intrigue about the character, but I didn’t like the book well enough to continue 😅
Elliot Brooks the most common complaint I’ve heard about the series is that the schemes they get into are somewhat repetitive and it gets a bit stale by the third book. I’m fairly excited to see what happens especially because they are now basically exiled from their home city and starting over from scratch. I’m also oddly intrigued by stories about con artists.
I enjoyed it while I was reading it but it was super slow for me to get through and I'm not going to read any of the others
I definitely never heard of this book so im very entertained by how you go about doing this Elliot. I hope people don't come at you with pitch forks over this series lol 😆😂 I look forward to you doing the mistborn series roasts which i know will be difficult for you. Also you could do the witcher books too! You being sarcastic on top of your normal kind self is too awesome. Thanks for always brightening up my day with these videos. Also i don't mind cursing in books as long as it makes sense. Hope your day goes well and heres donuts lol 🍩🍩
Hahaha, thanks for the donuts 😆 Ah man, doing this for Mistborn is going to hurt! But it’ll be fun 😄
@@ebnovels haha you're welcome! I feel like you'll need a treat like donuts when you get done with this series my friend. Thanks for always trying to respond 😊🙏
These books are excellent. I wont hear a bad word about them. I only hope number 4 is up to standard
Oh please roast Wheel of Time and Game of Thrones.
Will do 😊
The friendship point is not really praising the first book so much but more for all three books that are out, especially Red Seas Under Red Skies, which is the best for Locke and Jean’s relationship development imo. Also could you do a roast of the whole series, because the next two books are where the problems start occurring ; The lies of Locke Lamora does what it sets out to do amazingly well and the rest of the series just kind of flops a bit from there. It’s kind of funny and annoying how the first one is the only one people really talk about and the others get glossed over both in terms of positives and negatives
I don’t really plan on reading the next two 😮 I honestly already didn’t care for this one, but I feel bad that you weren’t a fan of the next two. Will you be reading the fourth?
Elliot Brooks Yes, purely to see if it can go uphill, because some of the world and history details interest me and I’d like to see where Lynch can go with them. If it disappoints I won’t read the fifth one though.
Ps it’s nice to see a reviewer that doesn’t just gush about this book. I really enjoyed it but it’s still cool to see someone that doesn’t just go along with the hype
I really enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 stars. I loved the friendship, it was a stereotypical friendship true but I loved the fierce loyalty they had for each other. Not every friendship is like that. I loved their bond. I loved that their friendship was front and center in the book, it was bold and in your face and not subtle and hidden.
Those flashbacks were apart of the reason I docked a star from this book. Towards the end they pulled me out of the book as they had NOTHING to do with what was happening in the story. I felt like they were out there to amp up the emotion (as they usually came right as things were heating up) and then bam it cooled me down and I would have to reread the section before the flashback to get back into the story.
I loved this book but it’s not without faults for sure. I loved this roast! It was fun! I can’t want to see what else we roast
Hi how’s ur dad feeling now?!! I currently just read Robin Hobb book the 3rd book in the farsee which was good. Keep safe!! 😊📖
Roast it! I didn’t feel this book at all, I couldn’t even finish it.
After just reading this book I 100% agree. I don't understand the hype about this books characters and their "friendship". The flashbacks were a bit much for me.
last 100 pages i flew through but the rest was a year long batttle to get through
I’ve not read the book but it reminds me of a group of guy friends I know; they all talk the same even though they live in different states... lol
Maybe these characters will be like copies of your friends 😄
I had a bad day. Thanks to your video, made me feel better. I just love you so much and you inspire me so much. ❤
I’m sorry you had a bad day! Hopefully tomorrow is better :)
I don’t mind cussing in general, but throwing modern f-bombs all over a fantasy world really pulls me out of the story. I wish the author had invented cuss words for that world. And yeah the story was boring.
I tried to read it 3 or 4 times, but I just can't get into it. Which is a bummer, because I really thought that I would like the story.
I’m sorry it wasn’t for you, but I get it 💕
No women?....are you serious with this comment? The women were some of the best characters. You had the pirates daughter, the botanist/ alchemist, the old lady agent(the spider), and finally the references to the lady gentleman bastard who definitely sounds like a badass. These characters came off as the most competent, intelligent and interesting people. Most of the men were idiots so I mean...which gender is really missing out here? lol
I agree that there are women, I think maybe they meant in the main crew? To be fair, though, SPOILERS:
Locke “outsmarts” the spider by simply punching her in the face, Jean kills two women who are supposedly incredibly powerful, the one person’s daughter is murdered, and the reference is just that-a reference. That last one doesn’t really count in this first book imo 😅 That said, I don’t think that means the book is sexist or anything.
Did he plan all this out, or is he just *Lockey* ?
I'm not sure why I love GB so much, but I do. I don't think I could read them back to back though, which I think says something.
I think I'm super biased because I love thievery in literally any story and I just will take it. This is even better because a long con is *chefs kiss*
Some people say GB is grim dark, and I don't know how I feel about that. I know they're morally grey, but it doesn't feel dreary enough to be grim dark. Maybe that's just my personal idea of the genre, though.
This book totally deserves to be roasted for all the people that make you believe that it's great and perfect when it actually isn't.
I like the world, the feel and the heist thing quiet a lot but the characters now looking back aren't very memorable and the overall story is similar too, I will still read any future installments though its good but definitely not amazing.
Yes, I agree with most of these XD I found it super predictable, the friendship was not really fleshed out at all, and I would have gone even farther in that I think Locke is not clever or witty at all but the antagonists become stupid around him just to make him look good. I hate that so much in stories, that at the end I DNFd the book with only two hours left of the audiobook XD I usually understand why people like something that I don't, but with this book, I really don't understand the appeal.
Count me among the lovers. Really hope book 4 comes along soon.
Am I the only one thinking that Locke and Jean look like Robin Hood and Little John?
I always say people are free to be wrong 🤣
But seriously, differing opinions keeps us talking and makes sure the books on offer are varied.
No book is for everyone.
I did love the Gentleman Bastards, the characters and the way the story is told.
I’m glad you liked it! Haha, while I know this will sting when I do this for my favorites, I think this helps people go in with good expectations, since usually these books are heavily praised 😄
@@ebnovels
Absolutely, always good to go in with healthy tempered expectations 😊
This was fun xD
Some things I disagree with. Some things I do (except they're the reasons I love the book lol).
Let's see ..............
*Friendship:*
Book 1 does express the love between the Bastards so we know it's there. But we don't actually spend time with it. Book 2 thrives on Locke and Jean's relationship, exploring it for the entirety of its duration. More than any other book I've personally read. Does that tell a person they'll care about the friendship in Book 2 if they didn't in book 1? Nope xD Just confirming it IS there as much as fans say it is.
*Curses:*
I'm a prude so I usually hate this. But in this case, it was fitting for Camorr's setting. Especially because in later books, the level of swearing that comes from side characters raises or decreases depending on their setting/background.
*No women:*
Disclaimer, I'm a girl myself. But I don't look for female perspectives in every book I read. I do think the three side female characters we got in Book 1 were all cool themselves. But for those who don't, Scott does write more 'obviously' strong female characters in later books.
*Flashbacks:*
I'm obsessed with non-linear story-telling. It wasn't perfect, but most of the time it worked well. Furthermore, each book utilises this trait to suit the needs of said book.
*Locke:*
He IS an idiot. That's the point. All his brains are wasted on him cause of his attitude. Providing a flaw to grow from given time.
*Celebrates the wrong people:*
They were easily "the lesser of two (or four?) evils". Chains raised them that way. The series gives off the sense that he intentionally meant more for them then what they were trying to accomplish in Book One. A possibility that's coupled with Locke's thoughts regarding other parties throughout the series and what that could entail in future books.
I have a complicated relationship with this series.
It has my favourite world-building and writing style of any books I have read, second only to the Kingkiller Chronicles (another series I love but have some acute issues with). And some of my fall-time favourite scenes. But at the same time I actually agree with many of those complaints.
I found the flashbacks annoying, didn't care much for the vilain, and found the main characters average at best. It was even worse in the second book which I felt was almost pointless as it didn't really... do anything.
Interestingly many of these were addressed for me in the third book, with the introduction of Sabetha, an actually interesting female character (kind of sad that she wasn't our MC). As well as a flashback sequence that I actually found even more interesting than the main story.
I will certainly buy and read the next one. But I get the feeling that this is a series that is going to continue to give me joys and grievances alike.
I'm here to see my favourite book roasted
Yo ever been in a fight it a dude where he cleans up for u thats friendship instant
The main thing for me was the lack of fantasy elements. Where the heck is the magic? The magical creatures? The different races? Almost none of it is resistant. It felt more like historical fiction based in Venice or somewhere in Sicily.
That's one of the things I loved about it xD It felt nice reading from the point of view of people who can't do magic at all. It emphasised their vulnerability, making them bigger underdogs for it. As for the rest of the world, it made magic feel "natural". A norm to everyone, whether they're dealing with it or not.
I've never read it because I was put off it because there is a particular booktuber (not you) that keeps talking about the book and I was like "If I have to hear the words The Lies of Locke Lamora one more time" so I'm not drawn to read it at all anymore.
Seems an odd reason not to want to read something. I suppose contrarian would be a fitting word to describe this phenomenon that keeps popping up here and there.
Haha, and then I made a video for it-you can’t escape it! 😆 I get not wanting to pick something up that’s been so hyped, but if it sounds good, hopefully one day you’ll be able to try it out :)
@@ebnovels Haha yeah but it was a video about roasting it so I was down for that :P The thing is that I might actually really like the book, who knows. Maybe it keeps popping up for me because the universe is trying to tell me something haha
I haven’t even read it and I feel defensive of this book 😂 Ever since I saw Patrick Rothfuss’ Goodreads review though I’m dying to pick it up!
Haha, are any of the reviews for his peers ever negative? I’ve only ever seen him praise other adult fantasy authors 😆 That wasn’t meant as a jab at you-hopefully it didn’t come across that way!
Elliot Brooks Yes he only ever praises, I just like how he says what parts of this book are better than his own 😄. Now if he could stop writing reviews and write his third book we would all be much happier!
I miss your book roasts
Love your video! I havent read this but I got it from a friend and have been debating on it.
Also, I noticed the julie kagawa series in the background is out of order. 👀 my OCD wouldnt let me unsee it once I saw it. 😂🤦♀️
Can you do Way of Kings please? I like the book.
So I can't help but notice that you're in your normal background for this video. Is it prerecorded or have you been able to get back to your house?
This isn’t my house, just my shelves!
@@ebnovels Wait, you brought ALL of your books AND the shelves?! That's amazing! Where did you put them?
Not all of them yet, actually 😅 the bottom rows have nothing, and we still have two more shelves at our house. Since we’re living with my Dad now to help out with his healthy stuff, we basically have two rooms that are “our rooms” to do whatever we want with. It was my dad’s way of trying to be as welcoming and accommodating as possible since he knows this has all happened so fast :)
@@ebnovels Aw, that's so sweet of him! I'm still praying for you and your family during this rough time. My grandpa had cancer several years ago, and it was a very stressful time for the whole family. We are lucky to live pretty close to him, but I definitely remember my mom driving him to the hospital several times because my grandma really couldn't. I totally understand what you're going through, although you also have the added stress of coronavirus so I'm sure that adds another layer of worry to your life. Your dedication to helping out your dad is really inspiring, and I'm sure he feels very loved ❤
I agree with everything you said in this video 😹 I didn't hate it, but I'm definitely not the biggest fan. This book was so hard to read because it was so slow and like you said, the characters and relationships were lacking for me 😬 the only way i could get through it was by switching to the audiobook and i actually really didn't like the narrator but was determined to finish 😭 i do want to try to finish the series though because I didn't completely hate it and I feel like it has the potential to improve with each book. It's one of those annoying books that I have mixed feelings on, and I can relate to all the issues you brought up with it
I think having mixed feelings can result in really great payoff later if you end up liking the next ones! Some say they’re way better, while others think the sequels are worse. Hopefully the former will be the case for you 😄
Agree. Really didn't like lolr. Thought it was boring quite frankly. It was my first intro to the genre
It’s OOT but I LOVE your bookshelves
Thank you! We’re slowly getting our things moved 😄
You should shows the names Elliot, I put in some funny bangers tbh
Love this video idea!!!!!❤😊
I planned on reading this series because I thought it was about a Robin Hood (or Captain Jack Sparrow) type of character in a Venice inspired city, but then I learned that the reason they are thieves is because of their religion, which is not my cup of tea, so no thanks.
I didn’t care for his book so I didn’t finish it. His writing was beautifully descriptive at times but it wasn’t enough.
I agree about the descriptions, although sometimes I didn’t care 😅
I have had a mixed response. So much of it I loved, but the story-telling with the flashbacks felt clumsy. I really wanted to like it more, but those vignettes were torturous by the end!
Yeah, I liked them at first, but they felt less relevant as the story progressed :/
I've never read this book, but one thing that bugs me in books is when the author repeatedly describes a character a certain way in place of letting their actions do the talking. That sounds like whats going on here with the witty character.
I'm so conflicted. I want to read it because it's hyped so much, but everything that has been said here turns me off. Should I trust your and all these people's opinion? Should I trust Merphy? She says this story has great characters, but you say everyone has the same personality. How can both be true? I'm definitely interested in the premise, but I've recently read Six of Crows and didn't like it, partly because of the flashbacks. But then again, many people say Six of Crows is a poor man's version of Locke Lamora, so maybe it's better. Aaaah, this is so confusing 🤦🤦🤦 I guess I'll never know until I read it.
I think the characters in Six of Crows have far more depth, and that the “flashbacks” aren’t as frequent as they are in Locke (maybe a better way to put it is that they didn’t feel like the interrupted moments, and I thought they generally had more relevance). That’s just my take though-I hope you like it more than me! I go more in-depth in my review if that helps 💕
The Gentleman Bastards is my favourite series, so of course I would recommend it :)
I read Six of Crows right after finishing the third book of the series and therefor was disappointed reading six of crows.
I didn't know about the hype when I started to read the Lies of Locke Lamora and loved it.
However, I had two issues while reading the first book: the flashbacks and that the characters weren't fleshed out that much.
In regard to the flachbacks: I liked the first few flashbacks, but felt interrupted from the later ones. But on the other hands, there is a reason why they are told at a specific moment and they all tie back to the main Storyline. And they aren't that long as well, so while I think they aren't a perfect solution, I can understand why they're there.
There are also flashbacks in the second and third book, and both are handled much better. (The second book only has a few flashbacks and the flashback of the third are in my opninion the best part of the book)
To the characters: like I said, I thought they weren't really fleshed out in the first book, but I think it wasn't that bad. I still had a generel idea of who they were and how they would act in certain scenes. I fell in love with these characters at the start of book 2 and the friendship of the two main characters is just so good!
If you think the book sounds interesting, give it a go :) try to read it without expecting a perfect book but an exciting story that also has its flaws. Maybe it will surprise you, but everybody's taste is different, so no one can say for sure, if you'll like it in the end or not
*Scott Lynch has left the chat*
Is it just me, or does it seem that it's mostly women who dislike these?
There aren’t even user profiles shown-are you simply making random assumptions?
This has sometimes popped up on my Amazon recommendations but I never thought about buying it. Your video has kinda put me off and honestly my to-read pile is neck high with two more incoming. Including "The Girl and the Stars" by Mark Lawrence, which is set in the same world as "Book of the Ancestor". I'm waiting for your review of Queen of Blood - did you read it yet?
I suggest you read the opening chapters on Amazon and make your own mind up. I liked reading about Locke & Jean ; most people I know who have read this book share a similar opinion. Does that mean Elliot's opinion is wrong ? No, but an opinion is purely subjective and you may not have similar tastes to her.
I’m currently reading Queen of Blood! And I agree with the other comment-definitely try the book out if it sounds interesting to you 😊
Lordy me, I've found another couple of books I want to read.
I haven't heard of this book 🤔.
I loved the premise of the book but dang, was it lacking in female characters and I absolutely hated that about this book. We are shown 4 female characters: One is only ever mentioned and only as a love interest, the other appears approximately twice (as a possible love interest), very shortly and then we have the two aristocrat women. They at least are a bit more developed, get a bit more attention but not much, but it's presented as if that's so uncommon to have a smart wife or a women pulling the strings in the background.
Edit: I forgot that Locke is sleeping with a nameless prostitute, so I guess we have 5 women, and one of the merchants/ black apothecaries is female so 6. Six women mentioned in an entire book.
How is Locke an idiot? This is a critique thats always confused me. 🤔
He consistently talks back when he’s in danger and he risks his friends lives.
@@ebnovels haha, okay fair enough. I always took that as bravery. Though sometimes bravery and stupidity go hand in hand 😅😅
Haha, true true! 😄
He's an impulsive idiot. Has a big mouth that often gets him into trouble. It's not as if his bark is always bigger than his bite, when push comes to shove. But still. when he barks, he BARKS. But it's one of his flaws and honestly, just another reason a lot of us love him xD
It's interesting, this book has been in my TBR for some time now and most of these criticisms seem like things I could bear (except maybe the cursing), so I'm actually still looking forward to reading it 😂😂😂
Hurray! Maybe this will make your expectations not be too high, and then you’ll end up loving it 😄