This absolutely threw me for a loop when I started reading it. It had been a while since I read the first two books and got completely confused at the eight year time gap between the second book and this one. It therefore took me a while to get into this as I spent most of the initial chapters woefully confused. It was a brave choice and whilst it worked in the end, I'm not sure it's one I'm fully on board with.

The stakes in Locklands are significantly higher than the previous novels. We're no longer on small stake heists or out to save a city, these are world breaking, world ending life and death stakes. You're thrown into the deep end with the novel along with the characters as they are thrust into a scriving war with an enemy that defies realisation in terms of scope and power. And once this gets going it really, really gets going.

There's a lot to love about this once you get into it and figure out what's going on though. It's got a very different feel to the previous novels. It's heavier, darker and a whole lot grittier. Yet the characterisations are still excellent. It's lost some of the mischievous charm and whimsy, yet it builds up one of the most climatic finales I've read in a long time.

All in all, an excellent conclusion even if the eight year gap completely threw me to begin with.

What an amazing end to this trilogy. I loved how the big adventure and threat to this world was able to be concluded.

Another amazing installment from RJB! I will be thinking about this series for a long time to come... I have never read a series with such a unique combination of magic and science/logic. The world-building was fantastic without info dumping on the reader. I felt like I was tricked into learning about the characters and the world by the way the author fed us scenes and events.

This last book really summed up the series as a whole. We got a resolution for our favorite characters as they continued to fight for their weird little world. I truly enjoyed this final book and the series as a whole. I'm looking forward to more RJB books in the future. Heading to the store to get physical copies for my shelf and my inevitable reread.

This was a good fantasy book! It was a great start to the new series. The magic system was great and I feel like I was there in the world.

Finally got around to finishing this. I feel like this would have been better as a duology. This floating after a few years book didn't feel as compelling. The end did have me tearing up thoigh

A so-so RJB book is still better than a lot of other authors’ good books. That said, I liked this one but did not love it. A lot of the inventiveness of the previous installments is gone, and what I thought was a temporary mind-meld between the central group of characters in Book 2 turned out to be not only permanent, but the premise of an entire new society in Book 3, after years-long time jump, and the basis of much of the plot and the messaging.
I could say a lot more about this book, and perhaps I will come back to do so. In the meantime, I have several more RJB books that I’m still looking forward to reading!

Overall, I liked the book. I didn't love it as much as the first one, second one suffered from middle book syndrome which I was a bit bored with. I'm happy-ish with this conclusion.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience. Note: I ended up purchasing a final copy to read in the future.

Rating : 4.5 out of 5
Blurbs :
Sancia, Clef, and Berenice have gone up against long odds in the past. But the war they’re fighting now is one even they can’t win.

This time, they’re not facing robber-baron elites or even an immortal hierophant, but an entity whose intelligence is spread over half the globe—one that uses the magic of scriving to control not just objects but human minds.

To fight it, they’ve used scriving technology to transform themselves and their allies into an army—a society—unlike anything humanity has seen before. With its strength at their backs, they’ve freed a handful of their enemy’s hosts from servitude, and even defeated some of its fearsome, reality-altering dreadnoughts.

Yet despite their efforts, their enemy marches on. Implacable. Unstoppable.

Now, as their opponent closes in on its true prize—an ancient doorway, long buried, that leads to the chambers at the center of creation itself—Sancia and her friends glimpse a last opportunity to stop this unbeatable foe. To do so, they’ll have to unlock the centuries-old mystery of scriving’s origins, embark on a desperate mission into the heart of their enemy’s power, and pull off the most daring heist they’ve ever attempted.

But their adversary might have a spy in their ranks—and a last trick up its sleeve.

And to have a chance at victory, Sancia, Clef, and Berenice will have to make a sacrifice beyond anything that’s come before.
Thoughts :
That's the end. It's very hard to believe that my journey with this series is ending now. I love the characters and will never stop cheering on them. It's such a lovely adventure with them!
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Read for the Hugo Best Series Award 2023 and a well deserved nomination. After finishing the second book of the series I started this one immediately. Despite a long time gap for the characters the action starts immediately and the tension holds tight the whole story, while also raising hard questions about how to fix the world and what that would mean, who should have that power. A nerve-wracking but well deserved and satisfying ending to this trilogy.

It took me a while to get around to finishing this trilogy. I am not as fond of the combination of magic and technology as I am of other forms of fantasy, and this whole series is about manipulating words and rules to make them mean what you want them to mean technologically. It's beyond me at this point exactly what's happening with the magic.

Sancia is also getting old faster than those around her because the scrivings upon her exact her life as a price. I worried about her. Berenice takes her place as the daredevil infiltrator and fighter for a lot of the book and while I like Berenice, she didn't seem to have much character in this book. Most other characters are gone, except for Clef.

Things have gotten almost as bad as they could possibly get. Sancia, Berenice and Clef are fighting a guerilla war against a totalitarian magic entity that subsumes all the people in conquers into puppets serving a hivemind. Interestingly, our heroes have also learned how to create a sort of hivemind of their own, but one that works quite differently and one that proves to be the difference in the end.

Bennett knows how to write an action scene, no doubt. You don't know what deadlamps are at the beginning of the book but you are horrified by what they might do before you ever see one. There are ridiculously giant mecha, scriving shenanigans, a heist that goes awry, and a climax where everything is on the line.

In the end, though, it's about family. It's about Clef's past and the things he did that have come back to haunt him. It all comes down to human decisions in the end, no matter how grandiose the set pieces are.

And in this, I couldn't get hooked into the story quite enough. I cared about Sancia more than new characters that were Clef's motivation. Between that and a magic system that has gone from being occasionally amusing to truly horrifying, the book is not one of my favorites by this author.

It does have a theme of loss and it was written during COVID times. I have to give credit to the author for writing such a book at such a time.

Have you ever been halfway through a book and realized it was part of a series and you started in the middle or at the end of the series? That is exactly what happened to me with this book. I had no idea until the end that this book was part of a trilogy and was the last book. I want to give this preface to ensure the correct context is held for the review I will give. I loved this book, the world is facinating and rich. The characters are detailed and deep. The plot has many dimensions and almost feels liked it had a life of its own. As I reflect on the book now I can say there were a few areas that I just had to take on trust that weren't explained (but I am sure were explained in previous books) like Clef and his status as a key; but even as I look back on them I must acknowledge that it was easy to give that trust. The author almost right off the bat succeeded in creating a relationship with the reader, building trust and taking us on a wonderful journey. I would happily read the other books in this trilogy and other books by this author.

This is my bad but I didn't know this was a book in a series let alone the third book in said series and I don't have time to read the two before this one comes out. I do apologize.

Another fabulous book by Robert Jackson Bennett. The world-building is so seamless you don't even notice it. Granted this is the third in a series so much has already been established, but there are layers to the story revealed in this one again done with a deft hand.

I thought I'd miss that Sancia was not the primary main character, but found I didn't because the story focused so much on Clef.

Another very satisfying series!

Unexpected takeaway: Wow, there are a lot of bones for this series that really remind me of Fullmetal Alchemist.

(Definitely different stories, but I'd be 0% surprised to find out it was an inspiration.)
----------------------------------------------------
4.5/5, I think?

I know that I liked this better than the second installment for sure, and there are a lot of big and unique ideas that really struck a chord with me... but there are also a lot of moments that dragged on and lingered for far too long.

This book, understandably, also has the least humor and banter. Which I get and all, but I still missed it.

This book takes place 8 years after Shorefall. Because of the time jump, the narrative gap between this book and the previous one is huge. It felt disjointed from the previous book.

As a standalone, this book would have been really fun and interesting; but when taken as part of a series, the tone had completely changed.

Because of the huge shift in time, the world we entered at the beginning of this book was so drastically different from the previous two books that Locklands would have been completely unrecognizable from the series if it wasn't for the main character's reappearance.

I thought this was another interesting and fun filled story, but the setting shift threw me off and made this less likeable from the first two books in the series.

Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett is an epic conclusion to the captivating Founders trilogy, taking readers on a thrilling journey filled with high-stakes heists, intricate magic, and profound character development. In this final installment, Sancia, Clef, and Berenice find themselves facing an unimaginable adversary—an entity with vast intelligence, controlling not just objects but human minds through the potent magic of scriving.

Bennett masterfully weaves a complex and enthralling plot, keeping readers on the edge of their seats throughout. The stakes have never been higher as the trio, along with their transformed allies, stand against an implacable and seemingly unstoppable foe. The enemy's relentless pursuit of an ancient and powerful doorway threatens the very fabric of creation, and it's up to Sancia and her friends to prevent catastrophe.

The author's world-building continues to shine, with the intricacies of scriving and the society built around it taking center stage. The imaginative magic system, deeply rooted in the world's history, adds layers of depth to the narrative and raises questions about the consequences of wielding such immense power. As the characters delve into the origins of scriving, readers are taken on a journey of discovery, exploring the darker aspects of ambition and the desire for control.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in the character development. Sancia, Clef, and Berenice have come a long way since the first book, and their growth is both realistic and emotionally resonant. Each character faces personal demons and difficult decisions, and the sacrifices they make for the greater good are heart-wrenching and inspiring.

The heist elements in Locklands are skillfully executed, showcasing the characters' intelligence, courage, and teamwork. Readers will find themselves cheering for the protagonists as they confront challenges that seem insurmountable. Bennett expertly balances action, intrigue, and heartfelt moments, creating a narrative that's as emotionally engaging as it is thrilling.

Throughout the book, the sense of impending doom and the fear of an infiltrator within their ranks intensify the tension. The uncertainty of who to trust and the constant threat of betrayal amplify the already gripping narrative, making for a truly immersive reading experience.

Locklands is a triumphant conclusion to an outstanding trilogy, leaving readers satisfied yet craving for more. Robert Jackson Bennett's skillful storytelling, intricate world-building, and well-crafted characters combine to deliver a truly memorable experience. It is a tale of sacrifice, redemption, and the enduring power of friendship—a must-read for fans of fantasy and heist genres alike.

I do not like the huge jump in time. I wanted the book to pick up where the last one left off. Also the fact that a few of my favorite characters are no more really made me sad. Was an ok book but not necessary for the end of the series. Also the Key character was not as funny in this one.

This is the third installment of the Founders trilogy. (By the way, we find out who the Founders are in the epilogue.) The first book, Foundryside, felt like a heist, a very cool one, with large stakes, a great thief, very interesting magic, and a fun crew. The second was a bit disappointing as the stakes grew but there was not much hope. The final book feels like a war book throughout. There is strategy and tactics and huge battles and heroes that save the day quietly elsewhere. But there is also a new nation, Giva, and a new way of being, twinned with everybody else, reading their mind and opening your own mind to them, as it were. Issues are addressed, like loss of individuality, too much noise in the mind, the creation of multi person entities, deep sharing within a couple, and the loss that comes with any severance of this kind of connection. In addition to the scriving based magic introduced in the first book, this makes for amazing world building. The characters of Sancia and Berenice are put through the wringer and forced to be so much more. And finally, the history of Clef, Crasedes and their crazy family is revealed. Altogether a wild ride of a novel and one I have enjoyed immensely.

I had a hard time with this one. The story felt disconnected from the first two. I could still connect to the characters and the action was on point but the plot drug and was rather jumpy