What is this book about? 
 Set is a fantastically thriving and beautifully decadent fantasy land of Camorr, The Lies of Locke Lamora follows bold thief, Locke, and his motley crew of confidence tricksters as they con the nobles of the city one daring and ingenious deception at a time. It looks like things couldn't be going better for the self-proclaimed Gentleman Thieves; business is booming and they've just hooked a new target for another daring confidence trick, so when a new threat appears in the form of the mysterious Gray King, Locke isn't particularly concerned. But things start to unravel fast and Locke finds himself right in the middle of a mind-twisting scheme for revenge that has even him dazed and lost. 
 Why is it boring? 
 Sometimes I did feel my eyes glossing over the page as the vibrant and beautiful descriptions got a little too verbose. Lynch could get quite garrulous with some scenes and I found myself wishing for him to just get on with it, but on that note, he has created a most vivid and dazzlingly imagined world that captures the opulent beauty of noblemen's luxurious barges on canals as well as the gritty and greasy underbelly. I really did marvel at his world-building, so some excessive descriptions definitely pay off and are worth the patience. 
 Who would you recommend it to? 
 Any fans of heist and con novels. Any fans of lovable, smart-ass leads who can think fast on their feet and slither out of trouble in a heartbeat. This novel was jam-packed full of action and fun, witty banter. It really kept the reader on their toes and you can't help but fall for every member of the Gentleman Bastards. 
 Why should I read it if it's boring?! 
 It is so fun. There was a lot of hype surrounding this book and I was a little tentative to get into it because I so often used to being disappointed by the end, but The Lies of Locke Lamora lived up to its reputation and deserved all that acclaim in my opinion. If the characters and world-building of a novel are brilliant enough, I can overlook an insipid plot simply because it can still be an enjoyable read, but this novel definitely ticked all the boxes. 
 Written by Tharuka Fernando