Book Review: Shorefall (The Founders Trilogy #2) by Robert Jackson Bennett

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The Details

Media Type: Audiobook
Title: Shorefall
Author(s): Robert Jackson Bennett
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Pages/Length: 19h 40m
Release Date: Apr 21, 2020
Source: Library

Add it on: Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads | Storygraph

As a magical revolution remakes a city, an ancient evil is awakened in a brilliant new novel from the Hugo-nominated author of Foundryside and the Divine Cities trilogy.

A few years ago, Sancia Grado would’ve happily watched Tevanne burn. Now, she’s hoping to transform her city into something new. Something better. Together with allies Orso, Gregor, and Berenice, she’s about to strike a deadly blow against Tevanne’s cruel robber-baron rulers and wrest power from their hands for the first time in decades.

But then comes a terrifying warning: Crasedes Magnus himself, the first of the legendary hierophants, is about to be reborn. And if he returns, Tevanne will be just the first place to feel his wrath.

Thousands of years ago, Crasedes was an ordinary man who did the impossible: Using the magic of scriving—the art of imbuing objects with sentience—he convinced reality that he was something more than human. Wielding powers beyond comprehension, he strode the world like a god for centuries, meting out justice and razing empires single-handedly, cleansing the world through fire and destruction—and even defeating death itself.

Like it or not, it’s up to Sancia to stop him. But to have a chance in the battle to come, she’ll have to call upon a god of her own—and unlock the door to a scriving technology that could change what it means to be human. And no matter who wins, nothing will ever be the same.

The awe-inspiring second installment of the Founders Trilogy, Shorefall returns us to the world Robert Jackson Bennett created in his acclaimed Foundryside . . . and forges it anew.

The Review

Ah, Robert Jackson Bennett. I swear somehow every time I read one of his books I fall in love with his entire writing style all over again. If you’ve been on my blog any length of time, you’ve probably seen that I’ve been devouring his Ana and Din mystery series. There’s something about Bennett’s books that make them so easy to read and simultaneously full of the kind of world building that makes my heart sing. Every character, every setting, every situation, is crafted perfectly onto the page to keep me reading and make 400+ page book feel like it was entirely too short.

I read Shorefall for the first time back when it came out, so this was re-read. Sancia and company felt like old friends. It was like we had never been apart. In this installment, things are getting real. Orso, Sancia, Bernice and Gregor were hoping to return Tevanne to the people. Since we last left them, they’ve managed to make scriving more accessible to the masses, going so far as to set up an entire library for people to learn in and contribute to. Their ultimate goal is to see the downfall of the rich rulers, which you know I can 100% get behind. Unfortunately for them Crasedes Magnus himself, the first of the legendary hierophants, has returned. And with his return comes nothing but destruction.

When I talk about Bennett’s world building, this is what I mean. In the first book we learn that Tevanne’s entire existence is built on a broken class system. The few thrive, while the many live in poverty or sign their lives over to those who seek to imprison them. Orso’s goal of sharing knowledge with the masses, to lift everyone up as one, seems like an excellent plan. However in this book that entire idea is questioned. Crasedes’ plan to end the world has weight. He mentions time and time again that throughout history, he has never seen a group of people actually use knowledge for good. It is either weaponized, or sold. It is either hoarded, or shared with those who would seek to enrich themselves rather than those around them.

According to Crasedes, the only good plan is to wipe humanity out. Get to the root of the problem. As I was reading this book, I just kept thinking about everything currently going on in our world right now. What our taxes are being are being spent on. How the 1% live while everyone else barely scrapes by. Perhaps Crasedes, foe as he might be, has a bit of a point here.

I won’t say too much more, because I don’t want to spoil anything for new readers, but this book was just a treat the entire way through. I love these characters so much, and I was rooting for them the entire time. There’s some really beautiful moments in this story. There were tears, I admit it. There were also massive smiles too, and every emotion in between. The ending of this book got me straight in the heart, and I’m both really excited and equal parts terrified to read the last book. I know I will though, because I need to see my people make it through. I have faith that they will.