Shorefall

Another great episode from RJB!

Quick review - great characters who continue to grow and develop, each having their own values and moral compass.

Plot continued to push on, twists and turns throughout (I called the twist with a key character), however there's a lot that takes you by surprise.

Ending leaves you wanting more, and I for one cannot wait for the conclusion.

4/5 stars

4.5/5 - I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first and I'm looking forward to completing the trilogy. This book made the first book feel like really just a big set-up for the world-building and magic system. The action was fast and furious, and the world, which was already compelling in the first book, now seems a lot more fleshed out to me in this one and made me genuinely invested in what was happening. The first book set up the main characters' backstories so you don't get too much of that here, instead you have a better sense of how their ongoing dynamics as they work with each other and play off each other's strengths and weaknesses. Overall, a really brilliant sequel that properly utilised everything it set up in the first book.

This book had some info dumpy sections at the beginning to attempt getting the reader up to speed, but honestly I would not by any means recommend beginning the trilogy from this instalment. The first book is still important to set up the basics, but while I found the first book too info-dumpy and “telling, not showing”, this sequel thankfully does not suffer from those flaws. The action starts very early and very quickly, and I can imagine first-time readers to have a hard time catching up since the world and magic system is by no means simple or easy to understand.

I really liked how much more I get the magic system in this one now too. It finally occurred to me that this world is basically The Matrix but set in a medieval fantasy-ish setting and framed in medieval fantasy-ish terms like “scrivings” and “sigils” instead of what we as modern readers would be more likely to understand them as: “programs” and “codes”. One plot twist in the middle of the book could also be re-framed as such: When Valeria creates a “back door” into Sancia's consciousness for herself without her permission, isn't this basically a Trojan horse hack?

I don't mind Sancia, but I'm not a super huge fan of her so overall I'm glad that we spent a lot more time on the “found family” element of the story. I love ensemble casts and this one delivers with the dynamics between Sancia, Berenice, Orso, and Gregor being put to the test with all the various challenges they face. I also like that we see more of Sancia and Berenice's chemistry here - instead of just simply being told that they love each other all the time, we kinda see why they do.

The plot was also really engaging - there was a central Big Bad Villain, but then we're kept guessing about what exactly are his motivations, can we trust him, and more importantly, can we trust the people who are apparently helping our main characters? The twists that came around in the second half of the book were also really fun. Some were predictable, some had a long lead-up to it so the moment things started playing out you already knew what was going to happen at the end of that particular chapter, but some really caught me super off-guard in a satisfying manner - my favourite was finding out that Clef was actually Crasedes's father instead of his son. I really bought into thinking that Clef was Crasedes's son, even though something didn't sit right with me with that theory - Clef's voice has never been child-like and he's always spoke to Sancia with an air of an adult. Crasedes didn't strike me as a child either so it never occurred to me that it'd be the other way round.

Some other thoughts about the ending: I'm so sad that Orso and Gregor are pretty much gone. Really, really enjoyed the 4-man Foundrysiders telepathic show but it didn't last. I didn't really care so much about Ofelia's sacrifice - it was pretty predictable and I kinda wish it had played out in a different way - but man, Orso's one was so heartbreaking, I loved him. I don't really get why Gregor + Valeria = Tevanne though. The ending isn't exactly a cliffhanger but it also didn't really round things up in a 100% satisfying manner, although I guess they've deliberately left a lot of loose ends to carry on to the next book.

If you enjoy medieval steampunk fantasy with a Matrix/coding-like magic system, definitely check this series out, but start with the first book and not this one.

Foundryside, the first book in this trilogy, was really well-balanced. It told an engaging story, was populated with unique characters, and took place in a vibrant setting. While I'm still taken with this world and the city of Tevanne, most of what I enjoyed about the first book was left behind.

I had been intrigued (and somewhat confused) by scriving, the reality-altering magic system introduced in Foundryside. Because of its complexity, each act of scriving requires considerable explanation and exposition. Shorefall doubles down on scriving and this magic is so integral to the plot that if you're not on board with it you'll be left searching for other things to enjoy.

Unfortunately, the characters seem stagnant and there's no room for them to breathe amongst the massive set pieces and high stakes of the story. In many ways, this felt like a trilogy capping novel instead of a middle book, so it's unclear how the momentum will carry over for another book and I'm unsure if I'll be along for the ride.

I am a huge fan of RJBs fantasy output. His two main series both tap unexpected and intriguing niches within the genre. Whilst Divine Cities has some distinct crossover with the horror work that he started off with, The Founders Trilogy is a much more pure fantasy with one of the best realized hard magic systems I have seen. Added to this is the very well crafted camaraderie that has been put in place between the main characters.

Shorefall pick up where Foundryside left off. The gang have managed to change the outlook towards the major houses and provide an alternative model towards glyph making. They are all set on undermining the existing society from beneath, overthrowing the great houses, when a full blown Heirophant appears on the seen.

From here, they get caught in a conflict that is much older than them, pawns being used by two ancient and powerful beings. This conflict makes up the majority of the book, and the degrees of moral greyness it throws up are fascinating. Ultimately the story here is a study on power and human nature - how power corrupts and the tendency to slip towards violence to try to control others.

Big themes in a big story, told extremely well. Very enjoyable!