The first volume in Scott Lynch's snappily inventive Gentleman Bastard series. Swashbuckling fantasy set in a magical alterna-Venice full of narrow canals and looming streets, like Paul Bowles' Tangier, or an Errol Flynn stage set. One of the few recent fantasy novels read and recommended by more than one staff member, and a worthy substitute for the long wait ensuing while staff favorite George R.R. Martin updates his website, incessantly blogs about pro football, swans around international fantasy conventions, and generally neglects completing A Dance With Dragons.