Books Like The Lies of Locke Lamora: 6 to Read Next
Crave more clever heists, sharp banter, and morally grey rogues after The Lies of Locke Lamora? These six fantasy novels deliver the same con-artist thrill — with where to start.
The Lies of Locke Lamora is the book that made the fantasy heist its own genre. Scott Lynch took a crew of con artists in a Venice-inspired city, gave them an elaborate long game, dialogue quick enough to draw blood, and friendships deep enough to break your heart — then made you fear for every one of them. So the books that satisfy Locke Lamora fans share that mix: the clever scheme, the charismatic rogue, the banter, and the genuine danger lurking beneath the fun.
Here are six novels that deliver, each with what it does best. Once you’ve finished the Gentleman Bastards books currently out, this is where to go next.
The Final Empire — Brandon Sanderson (the best fantasy heist outside Lynch)
Brandon Sanderson’s The Final Empire is the closest match in plot: a crew assembles to pull off an impossible job — overthrowing an immortal god-emperor — with a brilliant magic system and a heist-planning structure Locke himself would admire. The crew dynamics and clever scheming make it the natural next read.
Best for: the heist plot and a crew with a master plan.
Six of Crows — Leigh Bardugo (the crew you’ll love)
Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows is Locke Lamora’s YA cousin: six damaged, clever misfits attempting an impossible heist, with banter and found-family bonds as sharp as Lynch’s. Aimed a little younger, but the crew dynamic and the caper energy are a near-perfect match.
Best for: the found-family crew and the banter.
The Name of the Wind — Patrick Rothfuss (the charismatic rogue)
If what you love most is Locke himself — the gifted, silver-tongued underdog talking his way through danger — Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind gives you Kvothe, a hero cut from similar cloth, in prose as gorgeous as Lynch’s is witty. Less heist, more legend, but the rogue at its centre is magnetic.
Best for: a brilliant, charming rogue and beautiful prose.
A Game of Thrones — George R.R. Martin (the intrigue and danger)
For the scheming and the sense that nobody is safe, George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones delivers. It’s not a heist, but the political maneuvering, the morally grey players, and the willingness to kill anyone capture the dread that gives Locke Lamora its edge.
Best for: political scheming and high-stakes danger.
The Blade Itself — Joe Abercrombie (the wit and the grime)
Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself shares Lynch’s blend of dark humour and darker consequences. Its cast of compromised, vividly drawn characters trade barbed dialogue while the world grinds them down. For readers who love that Locke Lamora is funny right up until it devastates you, Abercrombie is essential.
Best for: black wit and morally grey characters.
Prince of Thorns — Mark Lawrence (the antihero)
Mark Lawrence’s Prince of Thorns hands the story to a charismatic, genuinely dangerous young rogue and dares you to keep rooting for him. It’s bleaker than Lynch, but the cunning, the cynicism, and the propulsive voice will appeal to readers who love a clever, morally slippery lead.
Best for: a ruthless, clever antihero and a fast, dark read.
How to choose your next read
Pick by what you loved most. The heist plot? The Final Empire. The crew and banter? Six of Crows. The charismatic rogue? The Name of the Wind. The scheming and danger? A Game of Thrones. The black wit? The Blade Itself. The clever antihero? Prince of Thorns.
For more, browse our fantasy collection or the best epic fantasy series roundup, and start with whichever part of Locke’s world you miss most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after The Lies of Locke Lamora?
Continue Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series with Red Seas Under Red Skies, then branch to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn (The Final Empire) for the best fantasy heist outside Lynch, and Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows for the same crew dynamic in YA form.
What book is most like The Lies of Locke Lamora?
Brandon Sanderson's The Final Empire is the closest in plot — a crew planning an impossible heist against an all-powerful ruler. For the same banter and found-family crew, Six of Crows is the nearest match, just aimed a little younger.
What makes a book similar to The Lies of Locke Lamora?
Three things: a clever con or heist plot, a charismatic morally grey rogue (or a whole crew of them), and sharp, funny dialogue balanced against real danger and loss. The books here each deliver at least two.
