A review by gladiolus17
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? Yes

4.75

I read Robert Jackson Bennett’s City of Stairs series and LOVED it, but going through college and grad school, I don’t have the time to read anything more. Now I’m so glad to get back to his work. I feel like I’m coming back to an old friend.

Foundryside’s characters are SO lovable and distinct. I thought this before for the City of Stairs, but Bennett really has a gift for dialogue and worldbuilding. Everything is so carefully crafted and well-thought over. The magic system—so unique and interesting. 

75% in Sancia’s thoughts about herself hit me like a gut punch. And when she overcomes herself—!!!!!!

My only complaint is a minor one, but I still wish it wasn’t there. Foundryside is diverse and progressive in many ways, such as having LGBTQ characters and POC characters, but the casual fatphobia is still in it. The fat characters and fatness in general were depicted as greedy and evil, a common trope. There is one instance of gaining weight as a positive, where Gregor’s body size is commented on and he thinks (paraphrasing)
Spoiler I gained weight because I was starving before in the war,
but that’s the only instance.
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