thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for providing an arc of this book on netgalley

for full transparency, i didn't realize this was the third in a series. ultimately, i liked it but was pretty confused for a while until i realized i was reading the finale.

seems like the series is good so i can't wait to go back and read the first two books!

What an ending to a series that is consistent from beginning to end. I would recommend re-reading or re-capping the ending of Shorefall cause the book itself does not provide much exposition to remind you what all has happened and you start this book after quite a substantial time skip. That said I really loved how this magic system was used this book and exploring the relationship between society and this technology/magic. That is probably my favorite part of the series and the thematic messaging that snuck up on me the most (he is very good at doing this to me with his series). The plot and characters themselves were fun but you will not get to spend a lot of quiet moments with them. This is the classic third book in a fantasy trilogy where we have to get things done and for that reason I understand why a lot of my friends don't find it to be their favorite in the trilogy. I think its a really solid addition though and a great way to wrap everything up. I also got lots of answers to my questions and honestly if a book gives me cool questions and satisfying answers I will generally have a great time.

I really hate it but this was a DNF for me. I loved the first book of this series and the wonderful characters so this was hard for me to do. Unfortunately the characters I loved are hardly there and the main character focus seemed to be on Berenice who I found to be very flat and boring compared to Sanchia, Clef and Gregor.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author continues to write more books in the future. I can't wait to see what the author releases in the future.

Though this book is darker than the first two it is still hard to put down and a thrilling adventure. It does end with sadness so be prepared for that.

Locklands is the epic conclusion to The Founders Trilogy and starts with a jump forward in time. I actually had a difficult time getting a proper grasp on the massive differences in this world which felt more futuristic and almost sci-fi vs. fantasy. There was a lot less excitement and intense battles going on, instead it felt more like one massive (and I mean MASSIVE at 544 pages) buildup that felt more expected than shocking. A little disappointing but still incredibly impressed at the scope of worldbuilding that Bennett was able to accomplish.

I LOVED this conclusion to the trilogy.

Locklands picks up 8 years after Shorefall. The stakes are extremely high, and the enemy ever more powerful, but we still have the time to sit with the characters we love and understand them as they fight for their lives.

as an avid reader of robert jackson bennett, the exciting ending to this trilogy did not disappoint.

while reading the entire trilogy, and especially this finale, i was really was invested in where it was going, and liked seeing the consequences of the choices they made in book 1 really come back around.

i do wish some things were done differently in terms of the worldbuilding and technology introduced, but given how excellent of a writer he is, it still didn’t disappoint. overall, i would give this book 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4.

thank you for an e-arc!

This was a great trilogy, even though this last installment was the weakest book in the series. This series as a whole had some really wonderful characters and solid world-building, great premise, and lots of action. While I enjoyed the whole trilogy, I felt that this last book didn't give it the ending it really deserved. Some of the issues were with pacing and length. Lots of action at the end, but the ending itself leaves some to be desired. Still, it's an enjoyable read, especially if you liked the first two books.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Okay, so this was one of my most anticipated reads for the year. I wanted this book SO BADLY because of how much I loved book one and then enjoyed book two. Sadly, for me, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Honestly, I can't even explain to you why. For a book in which so much happens, I felt fairly bored through a large majority of it. The best part was that, unlike the second book, we got significantly more of Clef in this one.

I don't know. Maybe it was the large time skip that occurred between books two and three, maybe the magic system got so complicated that I no longer had any concept of what was actually happening anymore because it all felt so convoluted. All I know is that this book lacked the feel of the previous two and took the magic system from something that was concrete and felt like a hard magic system unlike any other I had seen to being one that was used to explain away all the things needed to happen for the plot. It felt less like a science I wasn't yet aware of and more like a soft magic system that could do anything the characters needed to progress the story further.

This got three stars from me because I still enjoyed the characters, but I can't say I was sad for it to come to an end, because even the very end of the book felt like a bit of a disappointment.

This series was a rollercoaster for me. I adored Foundryside, but then really did not like Shorefall, so I was pretty nervous going into Locklands. That being said, I think this was a really solid conclusion to the series, it just wasn't the series I was expecting to get.

Foundryside was a fast-paced heist story that kept a lot of heart from it's character interactions, but there is a time jump in Shorefall and then Locklands starts several years after the end of Shorefall and it's much more plot forward. There is still sort of a heist element like in the previous two books, but for the majority of the book our "found family" is separated.

Locklands itself was a little too long for my taste or maybe it was pacing issues that made it feel longer than it was, but as I said I think it was a solid conclusion. I liked a lot of the explanation we got for the world building and while our "found family" from the first book was mostly nonexistent we got a lot of touching moments of what it means to be family and community in this book. And the ending! It was so bittersweet!

As a whole, I think this was a really inventive and genre blending series with excellent world building and super high stakes throughout each book. I think if I reread the series, knowing the direction Bennett was going to take it, I would have a much better time with it.

Much appreciation to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for giving me a chance to read this early.

Locklands takes an unconventional risk, taking place eight years after the events of Shorefall. It’s a trait that really pays off right away, for having not read the second book in The Founder Trilogy for a couple years, I was certain to be lost and unable to gain footing from the start. The pay off is dependent of the elements of the magic system and plot. We have a new perspective of this desolate universe that leads the reader in a new direction that feels invigorating.

The introduction of Locklands has one of the best openings I’ve seen in the genre and really brings the story into bloom. I felt book 2 was slower pace than 1, so the bridge between book 2 - 3 really kicked the conclusion in full gear. Characters are being fulfilled and the volume is past 11, a perfect recipe for a promising series of cruel events.

Overall, this series kicked ass and always one I will recommend.

An amazing end to the perfect trilogy. The book is set 8 years after the end of Shorefall and My heart breaks for everyone involved. Can’t recommend this book enough it is genius.

Scumming awesome!

An epic end to an amazing trilogy; the Founders trilogy will always have a special place in my heart. I have truly treasured the world Bennett created; it is so original and complex that it feels unlike any other place I've ventured in my fantasy reads.

The writing and pacing is superb. I was always kept engaged and the stakes of each book only grew larger and larger. The characters developed and flourished; by the end feeling close like family. I loved the twinning minds and the ability to feel close to characters and see their relationships - a very unique approach due to the world of scriving that did not feel forced but natural.

The darkness and grim of the books grew more complex and this was the ultimate book where we get to experience the power of evil and how the wrong hands can change this world. Also, the heartbreaking ways our characters are impacted.

I feel very fortunate to have gotten a review copy from NetGalley and the publisher. A huge thank you to the author for making these stories come to life and letting us share in the amazing experience!

I requested the ARC not realized I had read the first book in this series. I read the entire trilogy in three days and holy shit.

The journey the characters take, the stakes, the escalation. I'm not even sure what to say, I've been crying so much. I think, fundamentally, this story is about sacrifice and hope. I love it.

If you enjoyed the first two books in this series you will love the conclusion! This book was non-stop action from the very start!
Apparently several years have passed since the last book and they are about to go after Tevanne's forces and hopefully put an end to his reign of terror as he enslaves human minds to do his bidding.
The scriving that was done in the first two books is much more advances and beneficial to the human race in ways that bind the population of Giva (a floating city of sorts) together through a collective "hive" mind that allows free will to anyone that wants it. There are greeters that act as caregivers, designers that create scrived devices and builders that obviously build. Though through their "twinning" these various groups work in harmony for the benefit of their society.
Sancia and Berenice have been married for several years but the tolls of Sancia's scrived plates that were imbedded in her skull are starting to take its toll. Aging her physically beyond her years.
Anyways, the book felt like one huge battle, but did not feel tedious as that may seem. The characters were wonderfully fleshed out and the history of Clef and Crasedes goes into much more detail giving the reader a much better feel for the paths that they chose.
A beautiful conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Highly recommend!

I have loved this series from the beginning and I was so pleased to be approved for an #ARC of the final book of the trilogy.

This world is so unique and immersive that I could spend forever in it and never get bored. Bennett has delivered the perfect ending to this tale, and as I read the last page I teared up because the book had exceeded my expectations.

War has been ravaging the lands for eight long years when we start this last installment, and our merry band of heroes is determined to find a way to make things right again.

The magic, the world-building, the characters, and even the fight scenes are brilliantly done and just beautiful to read. I went on a bit of an emotional roller coaster as the action unfolded in this one wondering where things would end.

This is an excellent fantasy series that is unlike anything else I've ever read!

I wanted so badly to love this book because I loved the first so much, but after the second book it became a little obvious where this book would go and I’m not really a fan. I did not like that everyone is basically of one mind. I feel like it takes a lot of people’s originality away, but it was talked about so much in Shorefall that it was inevitable. I hated that Gregor just kept being used over and over again basically for a false greater good, and even by the end it didn’t feel like he got much of a satisfying ending. The only endings I enjoyed were Berenice and Sancia’s (and even that was a little so so), and Clef’s. I had seriously missed Clef in Shorefall and it was great to have him back as a main plot for this book, but again his ending felt really predictable. All in all, others might enjoy this, but it didn’t do it for me.

This one starts with an 8 year time jump from the last one. I can’t say I loved it. Getting info from the 8 years we missed felt a little info dumpy. Also it was so plot driven. It felt like every scene was a climax scene but the thing I really liked about the first book in this series was the slow pace and getting to know Sancia and Clef and their interactions. I mean overall it was good it just didn’t have some of the things that made me like the series in the first place 🤷🏽‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am so sad this series is over! The Founders Trilogy has been one of my favorite fantasy series since I discovered it and I also recommend it to friends, family, and customers. This end was truly satisfying and I was not disappointed at all.

One of my favorite things about this series is the magic system. It is amazing and creative! So different of other magic systems that I have read before. There is so much action as well, that was well written, that every book felt like a full blockbuster movie in my head. I can't say much good things about this series. Any fantasy fan needs to read this.