Of Myths and Magic: Foundryside

Author

Kacy Bleeker
June 02, 2023

The review

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett creates a fascinating world where magic and industry intermingle in the city of Tevanne. The city runs on "scriving," a system of mass-produced sigils that enable the industrialization of magic. The main character, Sancia Grado, is a scrived human and a thief of exceptional skill, navigating the world with a unique perspective, in which she’s spent her life almost entirely alone. That is, until, she's hired to steal a powerful artifact; she discovers an object with a mind of its own - a sentient key named Clef.

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All things have a value. Sometimes the value is paid in coin. Other times, it is paid in time and sweat. And finally, sometimes it is paid in blood. Humanity seems most eager to use this latter currency. And we never note how much of it we’re spending, unless it happens to be our own.

The relationship between Sancia and Clef is one of the most central, and meaningful, relationships in which Sancia develops. When Sancia first retrieves Clef, the key connects with her in a profound way due to the scrived plate that has been placed within her head. Their bond is founded on mutual hardships, as both characters have traumatic pasts that shape their present. As they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to destabilize Tevanne and the neighboring areas, their connection deepens. Clef, despite being a key, possesses remarkable depth, and his interactions with Sancia offer insights into both their characters and the world they inhabit. The dialogues between Sancia and Clef serve as an effective vehicle for character development and world-building, making their relationship a compelling aspect of the story and a key arena for some of the comedic-relief which tempers the arduous challenges they face.

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Every innovation—technological, sociological, or otherwise—begins as a crusade, organizes itself into a practical business, and then, over time, degrades into common exploitation. This is simply the life cycle of how human ingenuity manifests in the material world. What goes forgotten, though, is that those who partake in this system undergo a similar transformation: people begin as comrades and fellow citizens, then become labor resources and assets, and then, as their utility shifts or degrades, transmute into liabilities, and thus must be appropriately managed.

Another very key relationship we see develop, is Sancia's relationship with Gregor Dandolo, a character with a strong sense of law and justice, which adds another dimension to the narrative. Gregor is idealistic and strives to be a beacon of righteousness, though he's aware that he falls short of this aspiration. His principles contrast with Sancia's survivalist instincts, creating an engaging dynamic. Despite their differences, they discover common ground and evolve from adversaries to reluctant allies and eventually to friends. Their relationship is a testament to the complex character interactions that enrich the narrative, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the overall storytelling experience. Gregor’s character represents the idea that justice may not always fall on the side that seems most obvious or mainstream.

Personal thoughts

I thought Foundryside was a refreshing and unique read, honestly much outside of the typical fantasy novels that I read. The type of magic present within this world was distinctive and because of it’s ability to be relatively “man-made,” conceptually was more similar to how we may think of the world today. What I mean by this, is that the lessons and connections that Bennett makes within this book provides context for understanding differences across class-lines and ideas of capitalism which exist within our own worlds. However, even outside of thinking existentially within this story, the humor present within and Sancia’s quick-witted nature and budding relationships, after having spent much of her life alone, makes for an excellent read.

Book details

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Genre: Fantasy

Length: 501 pages

Series: Book 1 of 3 from The Founders Trilogy

Tropes: LGBT, enemies to friends

Rating: 💡💡💡💡💡

Spice rating: -

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