As other reviewers said it is combination of Ocean 11 (with a younger and more cheekier main character) and the Godfather. I would also add the bloodiness of Game of Thrones ( and the inclination to kill some of the lovable characters ) and some Jaws. its intricately woven - no movement, no scene, no word is insignificant. everything is so interconnected on so many levels. i straight up got chills in some parts. Welcome to Camorr, the city that harbours questionable characters, morally grey individuals and a wide selection of rich nobles that quite literally beg to be robbed and spoiled. If you’re an innocent and clueless noble you better don’t dwell all too long. You might either end up relieved of the weight of your purse or even worse, you might end up being spoiled for the book! This was a fair warning; the rest is up to you. ;-P for these reasons, and despite a more or less rousing finish only a leeeeetle bit diminished by firstbookitis, i find i can rate this no higher than a two. A love child of Ocean’s Eleven and The Godfather. With blood, deaths, betrayals, money, and drowning in horse urine . . . and it’s SO. GOOD‘ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There are only three people in life you can never fool – pawnbrokers, whores, and your mother. Since your mother’s dead, I’ve taken her place. Hence, I’m bullshit-proof.” Well let me tell you something. If you think adult material constitutes a valid replacement for good writing, character growth, plot, drama, and overall depth in a story then you are sorely numb to all taste, you uncultured swine. Fantasy elements are few and far between. There is only a dash of magic and a bit more of alchemy, but this is it. There are no magical creatures or extant alien races, and the novel reminds far more of a historical novel set in, say, 15th century Europe than what normally comes to mind when you say the word ‘fantasy’. The urban environment (essentially a dark, gritty version of renaissance Venice) is completely immersive and transported me into a different time and place - I was never jarred by modern-sounding dialog or props. The second bit is how atmospheric and well-described the world is. Camorr is a Venice-built-on-alien-ruins and Lynch totally runs with it. Its descriptions tease you and intrigue you, but do not overwhelm the story*. The somewhat Italian Renaissance names and society fit in perfectly and things are easy to visualize.The ending was very rewarding and I cannot wait to start reading Red Seas Under Red Skies. I think most of my friends on Goodreads have read this but if you haven't then I truly recommend it. We’re a different sort of thief here, Lamora. Deception and misdirection are our tools. We don’t believe in hard work when a false face and a good line of bullshit can do so much more.” Overall, this is a great fantasy novel that is unlike any others I’ve read. This is always good because the genre can be littered with books that simply follow the standard fantasy archetype, which results in repetitive story telling. This isn’t necessarily bad, but can become boring after a while. Therefore, the plot of this is fresh, exciting and completely new. It's no secret that I find the bane of Epic fantasy all the tedious description and navel gazing about the world. I understand the point is to immerse the reader, but far too often I find it to be nothing but voyeurism into the mental masturbations of the author. Worse yet, all that nonsense rarely adds anything to the story itself. No guidance for the characters. No direction for the plot. Mind you, I'm not a scene-sequel junkie that requires nothing but action thrusting the story forward. I find these stories just as tedious because all you get is the next "raising of the stakes" and no plot intricacy and slim character development.

It is witty, profane, violent, over the top, and frequently hilarious. I can’t believe this is Scott Lynch’s first novel, and I can’t wait to read more. This is an incredibly fun adventure novel. Find yourself a copy and read it‘ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My original color version of the map of Camorr, circa 2004. This map is mostly accurate; a few things had to be moved for the final version. And I had to remember to add a canal, so the poor people of Camorr wouldn't be forced to send cargo barges up a six-story waterfall. It took me a while to get in to initially as we are thrown straight into the world which has numerous races, religions and underworld hierarchy but after about 30-40 I was under the spell. Some of the cons are mesmerising. I remember numerous times when I thought that the con couldn't get any more complex or multi-layered it did and I was left in awe.Well, it’s not just that. I want to see Camorr brought to life. And then the Sinspire. And then Karthain. As much as I love Lynch’s characters, themes, plots, and dialogue, the setting remains my favorite facet of his work.