Foundryside

by Robert Jackson Bennett
Foundryside cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Fantasy
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Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 4639
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9781786487858
  • Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
  • Published: 2019-08-08
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

In the sprawling metropolis of Tevanne, where the ruling class harnesses the power of 'scriving'—a magical system based on logical equations—to maintain control, a young orphan named Sancia Grado rises as a brilliant but rebellious con artist. With her unique ability to read and interpret the intricate patterns of scrived objects, Sancia uncovers a hidden artifact that could disrupt the balance of power in Tevanne. As Sancia delves deeper into the mysteries of the artifact, she must confront the dark underbelly of Tevanne's elite, who will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power. With the help of unlikely allies, Sancia must navigate a world of ancient secrets, political intrigue, and revolutionary ideas that threaten to upend the very foundations of her society.

Reviews
Novel Notions · 2022-07-08
excellent 4.50

The book is praised for its fun, fast-paced narrative and highly imaginative world-building. It is seen as an excellent start to a promising series.

The reviewer at Novel Notions highlights how Foundryside is a captivating start to a series that promises to be both fun and fast-paced. The world-building is particularly noted for its creativity and depth, making it a standout in the genre. The reviewer also appreciates the engaging characters and the intricate magic system that drives the plot forward. Overall, it's a highly recommended read for fans of imaginative fantasy.

Quick quotes

    Foundryside is an excellent start to a series that promises to be fun, fast-paced, incredibly captivating and highly imaginative.

    The world-building is top-notch, and the magic system is both unique and engaging.

    The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader hooked.

thefictionfox.com · Unknown · 2020-07-18
great 4.00

The Armored Saint by Myke Cole is a gripping grimdark fantasy that introduces Heloise, a young woman with a backbone of steel, navigating a terrifying authoritarian regime. The novel is praised for its raw emotion, stark scenes, and the authentic portrayal of Heloise's growth and relationships.

The Armored Saint by Myke Cole is a quick-moving grimdark fantasy that immediately grabs the reader's attention. The story is set in a world where magic can open portals to hell, and the Order ensures no wizard lives to summon devils, even if it means killing innocent people. Heloise, the protagonist, witnesses a horrendous slaughter and opposes the Order, risking the wrath of the regime on herself, her family, and her village. The novel is praised for its raw emotion, stark scenes, and the authentic portrayal of Heloise's growth and relationships. The reviewer particularly appreciates Heloise's character, who is written to be both naive and strong, reflecting the immaturity and naivete of a young person. The love interest initially feels shoehorned but becomes more authentic as the story progresses. The reviewer concludes that the world is dark and beautiful, with morally ambiguous characters, and expresses a desire for more of this series and whatever else Cole can come up with.

Quick quotes

    Heloise Factor is my favorite kind of hero, the one who makes mistakes and suffers for them, and comes out swinging anyway. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” — Myke Cole

    Did we have to do it? She asked. “No,” he answered, his voice breaking, tears falling into his beard to turn the flakes of ash to gray slush. “No, child. We didn’t.”… He took a deep break then spoke again. “And making us complicit means, we will never call them to account for the crime.” ― Myke Cole, The Armored Saint

    Fear is a deadly thing, Heloise. It can drain a person of all their strength, make them weak before their enemies.” ― Myke Cole, The Armored Saint

Grimdark Magazine · 2020-05-21
fantastic 4.50

The novel is described as fantastic and complete enough to be read as a stand-alone, but it also excels as part of a trilogy.

Grimdark Magazine's reviewer finds Foundryside to be a fantastic all-around novel, praising its completeness as a stand-alone while also appreciating its potential as part of a trilogy. The reviewer highlights the rich world-building and the engaging characters that make the story compelling. The magic system is particularly noted for its originality and the way it drives the narrative. The reviewer also mentions that the pacing is excellent, keeping the reader engaged throughout.

Quick quotes

    Foundryside is a fantastic all-around novel.

    Complete enough to be read as a stand-alone, but as a part a trilogy, I feel that the world ...

    The magic system is both unique and engaging, adding depth to the story.

fantasy-hive.co.uk · Unknown · 2018-08-23
impressed 4.50

The review praises 'The Armoured Saint' for its originality, atmospheric setting, and complex narrative. It highlights the book's brutal depiction of violence and its effective prose, while noting that the romantic subplot is one of the weaker elements. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to subvert expectations and its realistic portrayal of a harsh world, though they feel it could have benefited from a longer length to better establish the setting.

The reviewer found 'The Armoured Saint' to be a standout book with its original setting and complex narrative. The setting is described as vaguely European but distinct from typical fantasy, with humanity living in fear of past evils and under the control of a banal one. The book's depiction of violence and societal cruelty is noted as particularly effective, with the protagonist's pain and anguish clearly conveyed. The reviewer appreciates how the book subverts typical fantasy tropes and expectations, providing a full-on paradigm shift that keeps the reader engaged. However, the romantic subplot is considered one of the weaker elements, with the LGBT strand being somewhat hackneyed in its execution. The reviewer also feels that the book could have benefited from a longer length to better establish the setting before the action and reverses begin. Overall, the book is praised for its multi-layered storytelling and realistic portrayal of a harsh world, making it a harrowing but impressive read.

Quick quotes

    The Order protects. It might not always seem that way, when they kill children and exterminate entire villages, but they do what they do for the good of everyone.

    It’s one of the few fantasy books I’ve read in ages with an actual, full-on paradigm shift.

    The only real issue that I have with this book is the length. There’s a lot going on, and it could have stood be stretched out longer, establishing the setting before the action and reverses started kicking in.

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