Christine’s Reviews > The Lies of Locke Lamora > Status Update

Omg I'm FREEEE

oh thank goodness, the interminable flashbacks and interludes are over and the main plot is back. I've been clawing at this cliffside since the last cliffhanger ended 30 minutes ago.

I think I'm going to die wondering why this book made little to no use of its pseudo-historical 18th century Venetian setting. Like... why. Why not make the most of it. Canals and bridges aren't enough!!

Villain: makes a half-assed attempt on a main character's life that would totally have succeeded if they hadn't decided to go with such an over-the-top finale

me channeling Veep: THE INCOMPETENCE IS STAGGERING

I really don't like seeing a story's bones sticking out like this. "Oh that chapter is here so we know XYZ was an important person we should be mourning even though they were underdeveloped," "hey this whole discussion is probably happening bc someone asked why the characters go along with the world's worst plan and fall into the obvious trap," etc.

Genuine not sure how to feel about this constant back and forth style of showing heists in progress and then in preparation, etc. I can see how it can be useful for tension or reveals, but... that little home invasion flashback was positively useless. Maybe it was just for worldbuilding? Or the brief action scene? (The bag of glass scene made me feel positively sick. Which was the idea, I suppose.)

The narrator is doing his best Capt. Jack Sparrow impression for at least two of the underworld thief mentor characters (with the tacit support of the author who cannot stop using the word "savvy?"). It's giving "yes this book WAS published in 2006, 3 years after Pirates of the Carribbean, why do you ask?" Everyone speaks in zingers. Suspension of disbelief is nonexistent. Will have to read instead of audio.