sally_nigh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
icbeck21's review against another edition
4.0
I think the biggest compliment I can give this book is that it felt refreshing to read. The world Robert Jackson Bennett built here and the magic system within it felt something entirely new and so interesting and stimulating. The characters moving within that world were wonderfully written and brought the book to life. I especially loved clef, who sprinkled humor and wit to the story. A great read, can’t wait for the rest.
kiracreativemod's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
farfromdaylight's review against another edition
5.0
I might revise this score later, but honestly, I can’t find fault with this book. It was a phenomenal read from start to finish, and one I really couldn’t put down. Loved the worldbuilding, loved the magic system, loved the characters. Absolutely can’t wait to see where this series goes next. I really enjoyed the Divine Cities trilogy by the same author, and I’m thrilled to have enjoyed another of his works so much.
makifanclub's review against another edition
4.5
This book was truly so fun to read. The characters were engaging and entertaining - Clef especially was a total show-stealer. The worldbuilding and magic system were very interesting and original, and it has a ton of potential for even more expansion in the next two installments, but it wasn’t so complex that I struggled to keep details straight, which is what I sometimes fear with fantasy novels. The plot was fast-paced and exciting, with many twists that caught me totally off guard (and, to be fair, some that I saw coming from a mile away). Maybe not a masterpiece, but a pretty well-written story and, overall, a very good time.
ncurtis6's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
shane_digiovanna's review
5.0
Robert Jackson Bennet is perhaps *the* best fantasy author writing today. He doesn’t just write flawless stories with compelling characters, fast plot, and absolutely stunning worldbuilding — he uses all of that to *say something*.
In Foundryside, he creates an incredibly innovative magic system — scriving. This world is run on code. Magical code. Set in a city resembling Renaissance era Venice or Genoa. In this story there are heists, coding, and gods.
It’s an incredible story. And RJB uses it to critique Silicon Valley, capitalism, slavery, exploitation, and human nature. How is this possible? Read it to find out.
In Foundryside, he creates an incredibly innovative magic system — scriving. This world is run on code. Magical code. Set in a city resembling Renaissance era Venice or Genoa. In this story there are heists, coding, and gods.
It’s an incredible story. And RJB uses it to critique Silicon Valley, capitalism, slavery, exploitation, and human nature. How is this possible? Read it to find out.
lulustjames's review
4.0
I am pleasantly surprised with Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett, which shouldn’t even be a surprise considering how many good things I’ve heard about Bennett’s writing. The reason for my surprise is I partly went into this reading the synopsis with my brain thinking oh, girl thief story? Must be a YA fantasy and let me tell you I’ve never been happier to be mistaken! The world-building is absolutely incredible and Bennett is unafraid at showing the rough half of having a world accustomed to convenience.
Before I get into the world-building, let’s talk about the characters! I hope I’m not the only one that looked at young girl thief and automatically thought oh no another typical YA fantasy, as this was anything but. Sancia is truly a well-rounded and fleshed out character whom we see struggle with her place in society and whether she even wants to belong to society. A realist living day to day in a putrid city that cares little for the little people. Her foil, in MANY WAYS, Gregor Dandolo, the son of a wealthy and powerful family who knows his place in society and rejects it in order to make the city he loves and calls home a more just place. Their paths intertwine and their worlds combine in a way I was not expecting, which was incredibly refreshing.
But now, to one of the novel’s greatest strengths – its sublime world-building. Bennett uses Italian sounding names and surnames, as well as words, to center the reader in a world that feels familiar and intimate. We don’t feel as though we’re stepping into some strange land with fourteen syllable cities or characters with names that sound like generic prescriptions. Using that, Bennett adds small tweaks to a world we already know, making it fantastical. And that’s why it works, because the world makes sense. Our brains are able to fill in what the history is because we’ve already lived through the motions, and Bennet doesn’t shy away from showing how great advancements can often come from horrible injustices. Slavery, wars, revolutions, fights for power, cold wars – it’s all we know and the only difference is the tools used. Bennett has the people of Tevanne fight not with simple guns, but with enchantments. It’s a clever addition to the Words/Names Are Power popularized with Ursula K Le Guin’s Earthsea series, as well as Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles and Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Bennett puts actual science behind this notion so that it isn’t simply magic that is explained with a shrug and a, “That’s just how it is.” And this is what makes the world-building so amazing — that Bennett actually took the time come up with and explain the science behind what makes everything work in world.
With such strong praise, why not an easy 5 stars? Because Foundryside is a first novel in a new world and as such, I want to leave room for the following book in the series to grow. Additionally, while I loved the science behind how everything works in the world, the lengthy descriptions did slow the pacing slightly. I imagine the second book in the series will move much quicker with readers having a much greater understanding of the world and how things work. I’m ready for the intrigue and the subterfuge.
If you’re looking for a new fantasy novel that escapes the usual cliche trappings, or reinvents them completely, I wholeheartedly recommend Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. This is such a strong introductory novel to a new series sure to be a fave!
/ I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. /
Before I get into the world-building, let’s talk about the characters! I hope I’m not the only one that looked at young girl thief and automatically thought oh no another typical YA fantasy, as this was anything but. Sancia is truly a well-rounded and fleshed out character whom we see struggle with her place in society and whether she even wants to belong to society. A realist living day to day in a putrid city that cares little for the little people. Her foil, in MANY WAYS, Gregor Dandolo, the son of a wealthy and powerful family who knows his place in society and rejects it in order to make the city he loves and calls home a more just place. Their paths intertwine and their worlds combine in a way I was not expecting, which was incredibly refreshing.
But now, to one of the novel’s greatest strengths – its sublime world-building. Bennett uses Italian sounding names and surnames, as well as words, to center the reader in a world that feels familiar and intimate. We don’t feel as though we’re stepping into some strange land with fourteen syllable cities or characters with names that sound like generic prescriptions. Using that, Bennett adds small tweaks to a world we already know, making it fantastical. And that’s why it works, because the world makes sense. Our brains are able to fill in what the history is because we’ve already lived through the motions, and Bennet doesn’t shy away from showing how great advancements can often come from horrible injustices. Slavery, wars, revolutions, fights for power, cold wars – it’s all we know and the only difference is the tools used. Bennett has the people of Tevanne fight not with simple guns, but with enchantments. It’s a clever addition to the Words/Names Are Power popularized with Ursula K Le Guin’s Earthsea series, as well as Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicles and Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Bennett puts actual science behind this notion so that it isn’t simply magic that is explained with a shrug and a, “That’s just how it is.” And this is what makes the world-building so amazing — that Bennett actually took the time come up with and explain the science behind what makes everything work in world.
With such strong praise, why not an easy 5 stars? Because Foundryside is a first novel in a new world and as such, I want to leave room for the following book in the series to grow. Additionally, while I loved the science behind how everything works in the world, the lengthy descriptions did slow the pacing slightly. I imagine the second book in the series will move much quicker with readers having a much greater understanding of the world and how things work. I’m ready for the intrigue and the subterfuge.
If you’re looking for a new fantasy novel that escapes the usual cliche trappings, or reinvents them completely, I wholeheartedly recommend Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. This is such a strong introductory novel to a new series sure to be a fave!
/ I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. /