Whew boy. This book. This book had so much potential and just fell so tremendously short for me. The premise is so intriguing yet the execution was so frustrating.

I enjoyed Foundryside quite a bit. The story was interesting and fun. I liked the characters. I liked the world-building. My only real problem with it was the over-explanation of the magic system. This was something I was sure would be fixed in the sequel. We’re familiar with the system now, so there’s no need to hammer it into our brains anymore, right?

Wrong. There was so much ‘splaining going on that simple concepts started to feel complicated and confusing. It made me feel like I was being talked down to, as if the author didn’t trust that his readers would be smart enough to understand his concepts.

The amount of time the author spent describing the magic system in this book was even worse than in book one. So much time was spent on it that almost no time was dedicated to anything else, like character development. The characters I once enjoyed I now found myself irritated with because there was no growth. Moments that should have been emotionally impactful had almost no impact on me because I just stopped caring about the characters.

The worst part for me though, HANDS DOWN, was how the author felt it was necessary to constantly cut characters off in the middle of their sentenc-. Not just their sentences, but their thoughts as we-. No one could have a complete thought in this friggin’ boo-. Seriously, though. Sometimes multiple times on a single page. It became so distracting that I would lose focus of the story and would wait for the next unfinished thought in the same way you wait for that annoying sound to sound again so you can convince yourself you’re not crazy.

Storyline wise, there were some interesting things happening, and I can foresee a lot of fans of book one enjoying this one. I was also intrigued by the villains (although disappointed in the lack of backstory.) It seems as if this was a setup for another book, however I don’t know at this time if I would be willing to pick it up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey Books for the advanced copy.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So book one had some awesome world-building, a cool magic system, and a budding LGBTQ+ relationship.

This book took all of those things and took them up a notch.

We got further development of the relationship - a LOT further. Like, read it and find out what I mean, but definitely advancement of that.

The world got a little bigger and a little more magical too. We saw Orso, Gregor, Sancia, and Berenice grow closer as a team. The magic got bigger, badder, cooler, scarier. The villains and the heroes get twisted around and around.

I really don't want to give anything away, but let's just say that Bennett took everything I liked about the first book and did it again, with new twists, changes, and growth. This book ended way differently than I expected, which was an added plus!

This book was a great follow up by RJ. I think the character developed a ton, writing seemed more fleshed out, and overall it was just plain fun.

I find it difficult to provide a description of the plot as I sit here thinking what just happened? RJB is a unique author in that his books are never predictable. There are times where it appears his characters will fall into generic tropes but they never do. You have your gang of quirky yet adorable misfits: guttersnipe, gorgeous brainiac, brawny hero, and learned one. They proceed on a heist/quest/murder of a god? And then WTF?

There's a lot going on here. The world building is stunning. The industrial/magical complex is not like anything I've seen. RJB's work reminds me of early Brandon Sanderson or NK Jemisin, not in execution or completion but due to the startling originality. I've read everything Bennet has published and I have never been disappointed. In Shorefall, he does it again.

I highly recommended this book, this series, and Bennet in general. The one caveat is don't read his books if you want to read something easy or on auto-pilot. His books are more like driving a six speed Italian sports car up a one lane mountain road, equally tricky and fun (as long as you're paying attention).

Both books in this series have started slow, for me at least, but both end like gangbusters. I wish the third book was already available.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Foundryside and am grateful for the chance to review it. These books are a fresh voice in the world of fantasy, bringing rich mythology and interesting, well developed characters. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of a very well written LGBT relationship, something that is historically difficult to find in genre fiction. The best part of the book, to me, is the system of everyday magic. It is richly imagined and subtle. The prose and pacing are both excellent as well. I would definitely recommend this book!

I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley.

<i>Shorefall</i> continues three years after the first book in the series, <i>Foundryside.</i> In that book, Bennett established a mesmerizing industrializing world with a magic system that is so fascinating, it threatens to steal the whole show: scrivers essentially create computers that break reality by convincing objects to do and be more than they are. Sancia is a thief who can see and interact with the magic laced into the world in a more profound way than most anyone else... and that makes her an asset and a threat.

As this second book starts out, Sancia and her gang of friends have the best of intentions: foment revolution and break the powerful houses that enslave so many. Then a new threat emerges--one of the original hierophants, brought back from the dead to initiate a revolution of his own.

This book is intense. It's been a long time since I read <i>Foundryside</i> and I admit, I didn't remember a whole lot about the characters other than Sancia and Clef (I loooooove Clef). Even so, the plot hooked me from the start. I cannot emphasize how much I love the magic in Bennett's books. It's fun to read about, but as a writer, I'm in awe of it on a technical level. This is a series that just gets better and better as it goes.

Let me be frank. If you’re looking for further development of the characters so lovingly established in the first installment of this series… you’re going to be a bit disappointed. This book is all action from start to finish.

There is a quirky and “low-stake” moment at the beginning of the book where the crew gets together for some familiar hijinks. Fans of the first novel will love seeing all of their favorite characters working together again, as well as getting a quick update on how they’re doing in the aftermath of the last adventure. But after this initial opening scene… we’re straight on to the bigger plot. And this isn’t a slow, overnight train that winds through the countryside. No, we’re talking a high-speed express that doesn’t even slow at road crossings.

Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Because Bennett did such a good job of creating characters in the last book, we don’t need to see them developed further. That being said, it did cheapen the book a bit for me. At times, it just felt like a caricature of the characters rather than their true selves. They just became nameless, voiceless peons in a world entirely driven by the necessities of the plot.

Why the Fast Pace Works
I know I’m complaining about the lack of character development, but I’m almost willing to give it a pass thanks to the fast pace of everything. There simply isn’t time for anyone to even think, let alone go through a character-defining moment. These characters jump from one dangerous, highly improbably situation to the next, all without a pee break.

As soon as the main villain is introduced (which happens nearly right away), things just keep going and going and going. This made me never want to put the book down. I was always eager to see what would happen next. How would our loveable gang get out of this sticky situation?

That being said, within the main plot, each character also has their own personal struggles they’re dealing with, which does provide some tie back to the originality of the first book. Sancia is feeling the effects of age (you’ll learn more about this), Berenice is struggling with taking on a new role, Gregor is still dealing with mommy issues, and more. Some of these things are sorted out, and others are left hanging for the third book.

Same Complex System of Scriving
One of the reasons this series is so fun is that so much thought is put into it. You can tell the author really has an engineering mindset because of the way he has his characters think through situations. Every solution is complex and detailed, which also keeps the reader on their toes as they keep track of it all. While some of this internal and external problem-solving does become cumbersome, it’s necessary to keep the reader engrossed in the world.

While it’s not technically magic the characters are utilizing, it is a complex system of… well… reality bending. If you’ve forgotten some of the details about how it all works (I know I did), don’t fret too much, as Bennett gradually reintroduces concepts to get you on the same page.

Because you’ll definitely need to know how everything works. There’s a lot going on in this book (have I made that clear yet?), and to keep up, you’ll have to remember the intricacies of scriving.

Overall Conclusions
As I conclude my Shorefall book review, I have to again reiterate that this was quite the ride. If you’re here for action scenes, dialogue between our heroes and the villain, and explosions (lots of explosions), you’ve come to the right place. However, if you’re hoping to see the characters continue to grow, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But hey, there’s always room for that in the next book. Because there better be a third book. There is no way the series can end like that! It’s a cliffhanger – you’ve been warned.

It's been three years since the battle at the Mountain, the night that Sancia, Gregor, Orso and Berenice took down one of the great merchant houses of Tevanne and stopped their leader from becoming a powerful magical being.  The group now runs their own scrivening house, working methodically to undermine the other merchant families that control the city. But when an old foe warns them of an ancient power that has awakened and is traveling to Tevanne, everything falls by the wayside as they race to stop him.  Because this new threat has a very particular view about how humanity should conduct itself - and if humanity won't comply, then it might be time to just start the whole world over.

SHOREFALL is the kind of book that throws you into the middle of an escapade, gives you a little time to settle in, then takes off the brakes and never stops.  The pacing is utterly relentless, as situations go from bad to worse and our heroes have only a few short days to stop the new villain before they manage to achieve their full power.  It never felt rushed or overwhelming, because I was so invested in what was to come that I wanted consume the book as fast as humanly possible.  The stakes are real and are balanced between the personal and the "saving the world" variety.  And one late act reveal in particular made me curse out loud, not necessarily because of its shock and more because of the realization the clues were there all along.

As good as plotting and pacing are, this book wouldn't have gotten five stars if it didn't have great characters.  Those personal stakes I just mentioned are what keep me so utterly transfixed.  Gregor in particular gets a chance to shine in this installment, as some discoveries made in FOUNDRYSIDE add a wrinkle to the problems facing our heroes, and watching him grapple with the ramifications provides some intense pathos on top of the tension.  I also have to give a shout out to Sancia and Berenice, who are #relationshipgoals. It is SO rare for a couple to just exist in a completely healthy state, and watching them lovingly work together without ego or drama was refreshing.  There's enough to deal with in the book without unnecessary angst.

Lastly on the character front, let's take a moment to respect how utterly terrifying this new villain is. My favorite antagonists are the ones who are always calm because they are utterly confident in the knowledge that they are in control of the situation.  The new villain is a sociopath, one who doesn't blink twice at human sacrifice, one who is utterly convinced he is in the right and if you aren't smart enough to get out of his way, it's not his fault if you die. The crew of Foundryside is way out of their depth here, and only an unlikely ally provides them any hope of contending with the situation.

The world-building in SHOREFALL is much the same as FOUNDRYSIDE, so if you were a fan of the "magic by way of computer coding with runes," you'll be back in your happy place.  I have to admit, I occasionally didn't follow every part about "permissions" and "editing" and the nitty gritty of the magic system, but it was never enough to stop me from understanding the overall gist of what was happening (ie, if the bad guy gets Item A, it will be bad).  I outright giggle any time Sancia interfaces with a scrived item and convinces it "You think gravity works how?  Oh, no, there's been some changes, let me explain to you how gravity ACTUALLY works now."

In short, SHOREFALL is everything FOUNDRYSIDE was, but even better.  The characters you love are back, the stakes are real, the consequences devastating. This is the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK of the series, and the state of the world when you hit that final page is jaw-dropping. Any book that wants me to grant it the title of Best of 2020 is going to have to fight SHOREFALL for honor, and it won't be won easily.  I unreservedly recommend this series, so do yourself a favor and get it now!

I'll keep this brief and spoiler-free: this was a fantastic sequel.

The parts I loved about the first book are all still there, the humor, the friendships, the anti-capitalist overtone to name a few. Like the first installment this one is adrenaline-pumping, and with even higher stakes if you can believe it. Some moments were so intense and gruesome they bordered on horror. Shorefall does not suffer from second-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome, it's purposeful and builds beautifully on Foundryside but brings its own new ideas to the table.

This one exceeded expectations for me with the exploration of morality in all its twisted forms. Where Foundryside was more black and white, good and bad, Shorefall was very gray. I love this new level of complexity and how the author challenges you to examine the ends and the means and think for yourself. Shorefall is full of tough choices and tougher opponents. Lord knows I love a morally-gray character (or few.)

All this to say, I love this series. Here's to hoping we don't have to wait another 2 years for the next one!

Shorefall is one of my most anticipated novels of 2020 and I’m happy to report that it did not disappoint.

Shorefall is the much anticipated sequel to Foundryside, a world in which objects can be made to do or be different things than their intended use by writing on them in a magical language. Shorefall picks up three years after the events of Foundryside as our characters continue their mission of toppling the unfair socioeconomic system in place. Their plans are thrown into disarray when they receive word that someone is attempting to resurrect a hierophant.

Shorefall feels very different from its predecessor. Where Foundryside is focused on a single story, Shorefall opens up the world and its lore. Readers are now getting a look at the big picture as opposed to a single element of that picture.

“’Learn what your city has forgotten,’ he said. ‘What men of power have forgotten time and time again, throughout history – that there is always, always something mightier.’”

The pace of Shorefall is incredibly fast. The characters are thrust into one situation after another as they try to keep up. The events fly by like rapid fire making Shorefall easy to read.

Shorefall also follows the same characters from Foundryside. There isn’t much to say other than I’m incredibly grateful the sequel focuses on them again, especially Sancia and Bernice ;).

Overall, Shorefall is an incredible sequel that ups the stakes tenfold as the characters race against the clock to save the city they’ve been desperately trying to change.

You know that feeling when a book is so amazing that you have no idea what to say about it? Yes, well, here I am. Once again. Because that's the Robert Jackson Bennett curse. He writes Fantasy like no other author today. The world he creates are incredibly creative, stunningly original, surprisingly thought-provoking and so well thought out and developed that they feel real. There is the perfect mix of action and emotion, a fast-paced, gripping plot, and the characters are as endearing as they are beautifully complex. What more can you ask for in a book, really? Nothing, methinks.

Thank you so much Kathleen Quinlan and Penguin Random House for sending me an advanced copy for review!

OH MY JEEZ this book was possibly just as awesome as Foundryside! Robert Jackson Bennett really knows how to build a messed up world where you can lose yourself in the dark alleys, tenements, and the gutters below the gilded halls of the elite. I mean, that’s a little dramatic, but it’s not untrue! This second installment is essentially another episode of the wealthy merchant houses screwing up EVERYTHING and nearly destroying the city because they want more power. All the while, the freelancers who are trying to change the industry are trying to clean up the egregious mistakes of, in this case, Ofelia Dandolo.

This book starts out as a wild ride and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Basically, the lovely, somewhat larcenous (but good intentioned) crew at Foundryside are trying to swipe the contents of the entire lexicon at one of the major foundries. It’s brilliant and daring! Heists! But then THE FIRST OF ALL HIEROPHANTS, CRASEDES MAGNUS is about to be unleashed upon the world after centuries of being trapped in death. The book entirely shifts focus to trying to stop Ofelia Dandolo from bringing him back, and then (spoiler) trying to kill him again. It’s an intense read and you most definitely need to read Foundryside prior to even thinking about Shorefall.

Aside from the fantastic plot that kept me on the edge of my seat, have I ever mentioned how great the world building is? Well, let me just tell you, it’s incredible and decidedly Venetian (or perhaps Italian) in general in it’s inspiration. I can just visualize these ancient stone walls surrounding the wealth inside the campos where the great families run their merchant empires and hundreds in the street for parades reminiscent of those for Carnivale. The scent of hot metal and foundry smoke on the breeze, the cobbled streets… you get the picture. It’s exotic and bright, but not nearly so bright as the cast of characters.

I continue to admire Sancia Grado’s resilience and her love and friendship with Berenice, Gregor, Orso, and even Clef. Gregor is what I would call the secondary main character in this installment and it’s fascinating to see him struggle with the scrivings that both saved him and hold him thrall. Orso and Berenice play important roles, but you don’t get to see in their heads quite the same way as the reader does with Sancia and Gregor. That being said, I love them too and the whole crew is complimentary of one another, but defined and unique.

This was a fantabulous read and I didn’t want it to be over! This is intended to be a trilogy, so I at least have the comfort of knowing I get to read another book set in this world.

SHOREFALL is an engaging sequel to FOUNDRYSIDE. This world is so unique, with mafias controlling centers and altering reality through scrivings, which is like magic/science through written symbols that can tell something to be something else. The lexicons that run these are well-protected. The group of Foundrysiders we met in the first book, namely Sancia, Berenice, Orso, and Gregor want to bring sweeping change to the way Tevanne is run.

The book begins with their plans to cultivate this change through a new invention. Things take a turn when soon after, they must go to stop a large ship which is carrying many slaves and potentially the items needed to bring back a powerful Hierophant who wants to destroy all of humanity. As they work to stop him, their paths will take many twists and turns, raising questions as to the morality of technology, the value of freedom, human nature, and who is wrong/right between this battle of god-like beings.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and I love the idea of the magic/technology that holds things in place. I also really adore how Sancia is able to work through those things by altering the codes with shifted definitions. She is an amazing lead character, and her girlfriend, Berenice is also a really fantastic character. The characters here are just really fantastic.

The only thing about this book is that it is long- maybe too long, as it gets pretty slow in places. I do wish the pace had been faster. It took me a long time to get through it. However, I still really enjoyed it, mainly for the fantastic characters and the cool ideas that go into the story.

Overall, I would highly recommend for fans of fantasy/sci-fi. This is a really unique and engaging series. Please note that I received an ARC through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I'm quickly becoming a fan of this author. There is a lot to love in this book. I'll definitly be recommending it.

DNF at 45%

After loving Foundryside, I was very excited to read Shorefall. Unfortunately, this has been a struggle to get through and even halfway into this fairly long book, I don't think I care enough to find out what happens at the end. Set a few years after the events of Foundryside, this follows many of the same characters as they face a new threat.

In the first book, what I loved was the discovery of the world and the development of these quirky characters and their relationships to each other. In Foundryside, those characters feel static and there is no real sense of growth or development. Rather it feels like things are just happening to them and the emphasis is heavily on the tech-magic system of the world and somewhat disjointed action sequences. The most interesting scenes are the ones with the Hierophant who is definitely creepy, but the plot feels meandering and I'm not invested enough in the characters to care what happens to them. If you enjoy books that are very driven by action, you may like this more, but sadly it just isn't working for me. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Sancia is going to finally take down the robbers of her town, her and her friends have a plan. But when they find out about what the robbers have been doing behind the scenes, Sancia knows she will be in the fight of her life and it will take all of her sciving if she is to even have a chance against the first hierophant.

This is a interesting book, with great characters that have been well developed. The book is filled with a new kind of magic, tech magic and that itself should catch peoples attention, as the action and suspense will keep them reading past their bedtime.

This review will appear on my blog on April 22nd, 2020

First things first I enjoyed this book. The magic system was interesting and something that others could get into I think. The characters were likable at times and sometimes not so likable. Do you really want to like every character though all the time. People aren't perfect and it gets boring reading about characters that don't make mistakes and are just to good. Another good book from this author and one that people will like. What I didn't like though was I didn't read the first in the series and that took away a little bit of my getting into this one for me sadly. I will now have to get Foundryside at some point and then reread Shorefall to get appreciation for the series at least for myself.

Foundryside was one of my favorite books of 2019. To say I had high expectations for Shorefall would be an understatement. Luckily, Shorefall lived up to my expectations and more.

I've only just closed the book after finishing it moments ago. My immediate thoughts fall into three ideas...1) How familiar yet unexpected, 2) That was a sequel with a backbone, and 3) I really love the Foundryside crew.

1. How Familiar, yet Unexpected.

Shorefall picks up three years after the events of Foundryside. Looking back on the first book, it's clear now how much worldbuilding and setup RJB did to get us to Shorefall. Foundryside explained the rules of the world, the concept of scriving, and introduced us to the characters. Little time is spent rehashing things, and instead, we're able to dive into a plot-heavy and action-packed story already knowing how things work. What I found to be unexpected was just how quickly we're introduced to the central conflict and how fast-paced the rest of the story moves. Shorefall is, for the most part, an ongoing showdown between Sancia and Crasedes. We learn more about scriving and the history of the world, all while creeping towards the incredible threat Crasedes brings. The scope of Shorefall is both small and massive at the same time - a welcome nod to the often paradoxical arguments in scriving. At a glance, the book follows Sancia and crew as they race to stop Crasedes from accomplishing his goals. At the same time, the ramifications of Crasedes' actions and the new innovations in scriving needed to get there have absolutely massive implications.

2. That was a sequel with a backbone

Second books in a trilogy have a tendency to feel like filler - often acting as a bridge to the final act with little meat on the bones. In Shorefall, however, so much happens. Shorefall escalates the events of Foundryside and brings a truely "third act" conflict into the mix. As I came towards the final few chapters, I actually stopped to check whether there was a third book in the series - we had learned so much and the stakes felt like a true endgame. I'm happy to say that, luckily, there is a third book and that the final few chapters once again made me very excited for what the finale has in store.

3. I really love the Foundryside crew

I think one of my few complaints with Foundryside was the lack of development for certain "side" characters, specifically Berenice and Orso. Foundryside was definitely Sancia and Gregor's book, and while that continues in Shorefall, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much of a front seat Orso and Berenice particularly take. Berenice and Sancia's relationship is a true highlight of the story, and some later events really make the Foundryside team feel like a singular main character rather than Sancia's supporting cast.

As I started the first few pages of Shorefall, I remember thinking that it felt like Robert Jackson Bennett had specifically crafted these books for me - taking my favorite aspects of a number of different series and authors and crafting them into something wonderfully perfect and unique. Now that I've finished, I can say that not only has he done that, but he's cemented the series so far among my absolute favorites.

First, I want to say that this book meant so much more to me than simple words on the page. When I started reviewing and blogging two years ago Foundryside was the first big SFF book I reviewed. I loved it and it sent me on the path to more and more fantasy reads, picking up indie and mainstream published books left and right. It made me proud to be shouting about books! And reading the sequel puts me in the exact same frame of mind.

The other reason this book has affected me so much is because of the Shelter in Place that so many of us around the nation have been in over the past several weeks. I have really struggled with focusing and calming down my eyes and brain from the constant input of graphs and numbers from the pandemic. Picking up Shorefall was the escape I absolutely needed.

In Foundryside I connected with Sancia and her thievery, I connected so well with the magic system of scriving, and the perfectly shaped world of Tevanne. And in Shorefall, I found all that waiting for me and more. An economic and social earthquake has hit the foundations of the Houses that have been the unrelenting backbone of the city for so many years. Sancia and her cohorts have developed a library of scrives that anyone can contribute to and take from. A democratic place of learning that is in direct opposition to the power of the knowledge held by the elite few.

But someone is fighting back… and has tracked down one tiny part of an immortal and brought it back to take on the misfit crew. This is not a sequel boss by any means… Y’know, that one that isn’t good enough to kick off the series with, and the author waits til the second book to shoehorn it in… This being is a distillation of evil, one who can scrive time and is willing to sacrifice the lives of any who get in his way.

Sancia is wracked with trepidation, and Bennett adds an ambiguity to the characters and their motivations that keeps the tension high. She is pulled in twenty different directions and the reader is right there by her side.

In short, I loved this escape. It was exactly what I needed.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey Books, and the author for an advanced copy for review.