Having narrowly saved the metropolis of Tevanne from destruction, Sancia Grado and her allies have turned to their next task: sowing the seeds of a full-on magical-industrial revolution. If they succeed, the secrets behind scriving—the art of imbuing everyday objects with sentience—will be accessible to all of Tevanne’s citizens, much to the displeasure of the robber-barons who’ve hoarded this knowledge for themselves.
But one of Sancia’s enemies has embarked on a desperate gambit, an attempt to resurrect a figure straight out of legend—an immortal being known as a heirophant. Long ago, the heirophant was an ordinary man, but he’s used scriving to transform himself into something closer to a god. Once awakened, he’ll stop at nothing to remake the world in his horrifying image. And if Sancia can’t stop this ancient power from returning? Well, the only way to fight a god… is with another god.
"What a wondrous thing, to share my life, and be loved". Robert Jackson Bennett's Shorefall pulls no punches. The stakes couldn't be higher as a new menace comes to the city, a threat that must be dealt with in a mere matter of days. Set a few years after the first installment of the series, this books is brimming with action and heart, and it's an emotional journey that makes you grapple with what it means to be human. It's about found families, and choices, and the cost of innovation.
The world-building is superb, expanding the threads in the first book to create an immersive experience. The magic system is terrific, of course, and new applications of it are reavealed, making for gripping scenes. Gregor's backstory is fully revealed, and suffice it to say that it pulls at the heartstrings for the injustice of it all. The villain is extraordinary, set on change and terrifying and not entirely wrong in his assessment.
Sancia and Berenice are still together, and we even get a few chapters from Berenice's POV. Their relationship is solid and sweet, but they never lose track of the goal; they know that the fate of the world is in their hands, and they aren't going to ruin their chances by worrying about each other. After all, they're both extremeley competent.
Shorefall is a stunning sequel to Foundryside.
✨ 4.5 stars
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