For my birthday my wife got me two books people had recommended to me; Old Man’s War and The Lies of Locke Lamora.

First, I read Old Man’s War and it was fun light sci-fi romp. Easy to read with likable characters and a setting that did not take much thought to get into. Though I felt like it lacked something, actually a couple of things; a real villain and an actual real plot. Yes there were bad guys and there was a “plot” but both felt very soft. It instead felt less like a novel and more like the diary of the main character, that sort of just ends.

This does not detract much from my enjoyment of the book, but did keep the book from doing what my other present did; become one of my favorites in the genre.

The Lies of Locke Lamora, as I mentioned above has become one of my favorite fantasy novels of all time. The author, Scott Lynch, did a fantastic job drawing me into the world, the characters, and the plot and then when it was over left me craving more. And not craving more in the sense that the story did not end , as in GRRM’s books. No this is like getting a piece of candy and enjoying it fully, then realizing it is only a piece of a much larger bar.

Now I could go on and on talking about the different events in the book, but I do not want to spoil any of it. This is story about a thief / con artist , named Locke Lamora, in the Venice like city of Camorr, and I say anyone that enjoys fantasy should read it.