I loved Bennett's other work and here we have more excellent storytelling from a master. This series has more of a YA feel, with younger characters, some light romance, and more punchy action. It's good in a different way and I love seeing an author branch out and succeed. The magic system is intriguing and the main character is relatable and capable in a way that so few female main characters are.

I can't believe I waited months to finish this book. I had listened to almost half of it before putting it down and reading it again from the beginning only now.

I feel like I didn't love the first book as much as most people. I rated it 3 stars I think and yet when I started getting back into this world, I was so happy to see our crew again. Sancia, Berenice, Orso and Gregor. Our favorite key isn't present for most of the book and even though I missed it, it was alright. I found myself caring much more for Orso and Gregor in this sequel.

Overall, I'm excited to read the next book even though I teared up at the end of book two... (view spoiler) I'm curious to see how it will end and if it's possible to save one character or if they are lost forever (view spoiler)

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book is available now.

Continuing on a few years after the events of book one, Shorefall drops you right into the middle of things. I love it when a sequel does that. The group decides to make like Robin Hood (rob from the rich and give to the poor) and we start with a heist. I am a big fan of a complex theft, whether it goes well or ends up becoming jumbled.

It was a treat to return to Bennett’s awesome setting. The city of Tevanne is a mess, kind of like the real world. Unlike the real world, Tevanne has a rocking magic system called scriving. In essence, scriving is convincing an item that it is something it’s not, so that it functions in a way it wouldn’t normally. It’s the most technological magic I’ve ever read and it makes for an interesting world.

This book throws our ragtag group of not-really heroes against an extremely villainous villain named Crasedes. I truly loved him. There’s something fabulous about a bad guy who has a twisted reasoning that almost makes sense. That being said, this book is much darker than its predecessor. Expect higher stakes and an injury/death list that is quite hefty.

And that leads us into the parts I didn’t love. The banter that added bits of fun to Foundryside was lacking in Shorefall. While the darker tone of the book worked for the storyline, I really missed those dashes of humor. The character development was off the charts, though, which is where the book shone. I finished book one with a sense of awe at the world the author created; I had much the same reaction regarding character growth in this book. Just…wowza.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the pacing in this book, unfortunately. It alternated between slower moments and bursts of action. Normally, I enjoy that in a book, but for some reason it felt a little off here. I really can’t figure out why. From time to time, it would take me out of the plot and leave me less than engrossed.

Shorefall was a mixed bag for me. I truly liked it, but it stopped a bit short of Foundryside for me. However, it is still a well-written book in a truly fascinating world. There was much more to like than dislike and it left me wondering what would happen next.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

This book has all the makings of a great fantasy novel and series: strong character development, fantastic world building, a super evil villain, devastating conflict and (duh) magic. I really love the plot with so many twists and turns. The only thing that kind of got in the way of me giving this one 5 stars is that at times it got mired in explaining aspects of how scriving works or how the characters worked out a scriving-based plan. It oftentimes interrupted the flow. That being said though I really enjoyed this book and Foundryside and I look forward to reading the next one. Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for granting access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I will post this review tomorrow to my Bookstagram and companion Facebook page @thatreadingrealtor.

4.5/5 STARS (rounded to 5)

In SHOREFALL, Robert Jackson Bennett invites us to return to Tevanne, the strange land of powerful foundries, magical scriving, talking keys, and old, terrifyingly powerful gods. After only the first few pages, I felt like I was back at home with my friends Sancia, Berenice, Orso, and Gregor, and my amazement at the sheer imagination of this world was sparked once again. 

In this volume of the Founders Trilogy, a grave threat looms on the horizon, and it’s up to the Foundrysiders to stop it. We revisit familiar parts of Tevanne and are introduced to new places, people, and folklore (including a fascinating, spooky festival). We learn that almost everyone has secrets. We witness a lot of horrifying violence (some of which didn’t sit well with me), much more than we did in the previous installment. And we learn even more about the complicated magic of scriving, which I didn’t always follow but trusted completely. As long as this novel is, the pages sped by because I could not put it down, and because RJB is a master at tension and crafting fully realized characters. 

I hate that I’ll have to wait so long for the third book; I practically just finished the first book before the second book came out. But you know I’ll do it, though. I’ll wait, and maybe reread FOUNDRYSIDE and SHOREFALL in the meantime.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for the ARC!

Shorefall A Novel

By: Robert Jackson Bennett

Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine

Del Rey

Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Publish Date: April 21, 2020

#Shorefall #NetGalley

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/5d0c9d0fccf0e4ac2a95598542e70f18c68d2424" width="80" height="80" alt="50 Book Reviews" title="50 Book Reviews"/>

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/9a41056d7201c045d3f9e5c161f9569494687ae1" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

This is the second book in a series. I just finished the first book at the beginning of the month. I gave that one 4 stars. This book I only gave 3 stars to. It was a slower read for me and I was confused most of the time while reading it. I did enjoy it but there was a lot going on and a whole bunch of plot twist that I got lost a lot. The story line was good and the ending was great leading you up to prepare for the next book. 

The plot twist near the end kept you guessing on who was who and who was lying. You just didn't know who to believe.

I do like his writing and recommend that you read his books but for me this book was just confusing.

this was a really unique scifi novel, I really enjoyed the characters and the world that was built. Overall I had a great time reading this and hope there is more in this universe.

I'll be honest here, when I saw I approved for this ARC, I called my husband at work and started yelling about how I got the most anticipated read on my TBR through Netgalley.  I was so excited and happy. Reality sank in and realized I'm in Med school-how would I ever find the time to read almost a 500 page book?  
Well, when you are this stocked for a book-you found the time-any where I could-5 min before bed even.  This book devoured me. 

Picks up right where book one left off- Even though techniquelly it is set three years after the end of the first story, you instantly feel right back with the characters. I didn't think that Bennett could expand on the fantasy genre as much as he already had with the first book, but seriously, this book broke the mold. 

The characters were fully fleshed out-even the key.  The world-building again in this book puts the reader smack dab in the middle of the story, making the reader be able to smell the streets and the air. The plot was fast paced-yet emotional at times. 

I never thought I would say this-but I love Shorefall more than Foundryside.  Foundryside was a five star read for me last year, and Shorefall will be the same.  

I'm hoping there is a third book somewhere in the future-as I loved this world and characters so much!

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Del Rey, Netgalley, and Bennett for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I always get really nervous reading the follow up to a book I LOVED.  Foundryside was amazing, I was so impressed with the introduction to the politics, magic and world that Bennett created.  Could I be as entertained with book two?  Would the shine have worn off?  I had to go back and re-acquaint myself with the characters and what happened in Foundryside before I tackled Shorefall.  That was no mean feat, since the story was so beautifully complex.  

Shorefall took what was started in Foundryside and expanded on it, creating an even more rich and complete vision of how all the characters are tied together.  I was completely satisfied with the continuation of the story, Bennett introduced new concepts and characters without losing what made me love the story in the first place.  So relieved!  Can't wait for number three!!

This was my most highly anticipated book release of the year but it took me so long to read because of being in a horrible slump. But thankfully this lived up to all my expectations. Also I never thought I would even consider some of the villain’s more outrageous opinions as maybe valid and it just highlighted the author’s skill a lot. 

I know I’m rambling but reviewing has been difficult these days, so I’ll just say that I highly recommend this series to any lovers of epic, action packed, tension filled fantasy worlds.

So.Much.Happens. This was an intense book packed with so much details that I feel like I was twinned. I really love the world and absolutely adore the characters. I am highly anticipating the third book.

I actually found this to be a faster read, especially as I got into the third part, than Foundryside, but both are still excellent books. Shorefall builds on the already excellent found family dynamics at the end of Foundryside, and on the fascinating world Robert Jackson Bennett created. While the ending did break my heart quite a bit, I look forward to the next book with great anticipation.

Another great Bennett title.  A fantastic sequel.  Loved it and will 100% recommend to my fantasy and sci-fi loving customers!!

I enjoyed the book more than the first book in the series. It has twisty full of surprises story line, and is a lot of fun to read. We have the same characters trying to make their world better and survive. There is a lot of magic and lots of unexpected stuff going on. I liked it.

I received a free digital copy of the book via NetGalley

Shorefall is the second installment in the founders trilogy, a book that really enjoyed last year. The sequel expands more in the world building and introduces a interesting and complex villain. I enjoyed all the developments that each of the main characters and overall just love their found family. The only complain I have is that there is a lack of actions scenes compare to the first one. Overall a solid squeal and can’t wait for the finale.

Shorefall is the second book in the Founders trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett. Released 21st April 2020 by Random House on their Del Rey imprint, it's 512 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a phenomenally well written book. Despite the fact that I hadn't read the first book, this book hooked me. The review has waited a few months because I fell in love with the writing, but found the plot so hard to follow that I needed to go back and read the first book. (It doesn't work well at all as a standalone and they're both doorstop chonky books (512+ pages each)). Getting to the point of being able to write a review was a bit of a commitment. I'm glad I took the time.

I found this installment much less of a rollicking fantasy magical engineering marvel (but not "steampunk-y in the slightest) and more of an exploration of created family, loyalty, pragmatism, good-vs-evil and general epic high fantasy. The magic system is subtle and believable. The author explores the ramifications of the system logically and well. There's an appealing f/f romance subplot which doesn't detract from the main adventure, but might not be *enough* romance for readers who prefer a little plot with their romance.

In some ways, Bennett's writing (and this trilogy) remind me most of Yoon Ha Lee (Machineries of Empire) and Seth Dickinson (The Masquerade) which is sort of weird because they're both really SF writers and this is definitely fantasy. The point is, he's a top shelf writer of speculative fiction and this book is *really* good, maybe one of the best SF/F offerings I've read this year, just don't try to read it as a standalone. I've intentionally avoided offering a precis of the plotline for 2 reasons: first, every other reviewer does just that and second, it's too complex to sum up in a couple of paragraphs.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A good follow up. The world-building done in the original book pays off in this one. The story is well-paced and keeps the reader flipping pages. The ending left this open to more, yet did not have that cliffhanger feeling I hate that so many other people are starting to do. 

A free copy of this book was given for this unbias review.

I loved the first book.  And while the worldbuilding is amazing, and the story intriguing, this book felt like a little bit of a slog to get through.  It felt like nothing happened for the middle 50% of the book, and I honestly struggled to get through it.  I'm not sure if it was just too long, or if the action was packed into the beginning and end sections of the book, but while I would normally get through a book like this in a couple days, a week at most, this took me closer to a month to finish.  Still, I'm very very excited for the next book in the series because I am definitely invested in the characters, who are fascinating and exciting.

I love this rather complex series. The first book was eaten up like candy in this alt steampunk world this on a bit harder to get into the flow. I am going to have to get the whole series for my library if the third is anywhere u to par with the first two, Definitely recommend. It keeps you on your seat edge & makes you think.

When I read the first book in this series, I was extremely vocal about my absolute adoration of it. The world! The Characters! The magic system! I loved it all. The second book did not disappoint at all! Returning to the city and these characters (especially Sanca and Bernice!) was a delight. However, the second book takes a darker turn than the first. The Foundrysiders flirt with death so many times that it gave me anxiety! It was worth it though, the story was just as well constructed as intriguing as the first. I can't wait to see what Bennett does with the 3rd book!