Sanibel
Robert Jackson Bennett’s Foundryside is a thrilling blend of heist, mystery, and inventive fantasy that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Set in the city of Tevanne, where magic operates through "scriving"—a system of programming objects with written commands that alter their reality—the novel follows Sancia Grado, a skilled thief with a mysterious past and an unusual gift. When a high-stakes job puts her in possession of a powerful artifact, she becomes entangled in a deadly struggle between the city's ruthless merchant houses and something far older and more dangerous.
Bennett’s worldbuilding is top-notch. The magic system is both intricate and logical, offering fascinating possibilities while maintaining internal consistency. In fact, for me, this was both a strength and a personal frustration. The way scriving works is so well-explained, so systematic, that at times it almost felt more like science fiction than fantasy. I loved the book, but at the same time, I have complicated and contradictory feelings about it—while I admire the thoughtfulness of the magic system, I don’t necessarily want my fantasy to be so rational and well-explained, and I don’t want my sci-fi to have fantasy elements. I guess I might be discovering that I don’t like these two genres to mix too much. This isn’t a fault of the book at all, just a matter of personal preference.
That being said, Foundryside has so many elements I adored. The idea of objects "speaking" is fascinating, and Clef—the talking key—was an absolute highlight. I initially expected the story to take a very different direction with Clef, but I loved him (or it) regardless. The character dynamics are also strong, especially Sancia’s interactions with Gregor, Orso, and Berenice. Their contrasting personalities and complex relationships add richness to the narrative.
The pacing is brisk, with the novel reading like a mix of a cyberpunk heist and fantasy. The action sequences are well-executed, and the unraveling mysteries surrounding scriving and Sancia’s past keep the tension high. The story also doesn’t shy away from exploring deeper themes, including power, control, and the ethics of technology.
Despite my mixed feelings about how it straddles the line between fantasy and sci-fi, I loved Foundryside and will definitely be reading the second book in the series. Now that I know what to expect—a fantasy novel that speaks the language of sci-fi—I might enjoy the sequel even more.
Robert Jackson Bennett’s Foundryside is a thrilling blend of heist, mystery, and inventive fantasy that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Set in the city of Tevanne, where magic operates through "scriving"—a system of programming objects with written commands that alter their reality—the novel follows Sancia Grado, a skilled thief with a mysterious past and an unusual gift. When a high-stakes job puts her in possession of a powerful artifact, she becomes entangled in a deadly struggle between the city's ruthless merchant houses and something far older and more dangerous.
Bennett’s worldbuilding is top-notch. The magic system is both intricate and logical, offering fascinating possibilities while maintaining internal consistency. In fact, for me, this was both a strength and a personal frustration. The way scriving works is so well-explained, so systematic, that at times it almost felt more like science fiction than fantasy. I loved the book, but at the same time, I have complicated and contradictory feelings about it—while I admire the thoughtfulness of the magic system, I don’t necessarily want my fantasy to be so rational and well-explained, and I don’t want my sci-fi to have fantasy elements. I guess I might be discovering that I don’t like these two genres to mix too much. This isn’t a fault of the book at all, just a matter of personal preference.
That being said, Foundryside has so many elements I adored. The idea of objects "speaking" is fascinating, and Clef—the talking key—was an absolute highlight. I initially expected the story to take a very different direction with Clef, but I loved him (or it) regardless. The character dynamics are also strong, especially Sancia’s interactions with Gregor, Orso, and Berenice. Their contrasting personalities and complex relationships add richness to the narrative.
The pacing is brisk, with the novel reading like a mix of a cyberpunk heist and fantasy. The action sequences are well-executed, and the unraveling mysteries surrounding scriving and Sancia’s past keep the tension high. The story also doesn’t shy away from exploring deeper themes, including power, control, and the ethics of technology.
Despite my mixed feelings about how it straddles the line between fantasy and sci-fi, I loved Foundryside and will definitely be reading the second book in the series. Now that I know what to expect—a fantasy novel that speaks the language of sci-fi—I might enjoy the sequel even more.