- Sancia Grado is a thief in a world built and ruled by the Merchant Houses who control magic. They use a mystical process called scriving to alter everyday objects. Objects that have been scribed behave differently than intended. Say, for example, you scrive a piece of paper with rock making it more durable, it will become stronger paper. The Houses fight among themselves for more power. They’ve transformed technology and raw power to suit their needs. The commoners are nothing more than slaves in their pursuit for power. Sancia steals an artifact of unimaginable power. In the wrong hands it holds immersible power and will tip the scales. With a price on her head and unlikely allies can Sancia unlock the artifact’s power and save the world?
- The world-building is brilliant from the landscape to the different scribed gadgets. The story made me want more stories and I love when I am already eager to return to a world. When I closed my eyes, I could see the dilapidated cities that have sprung up around the houses and imagine all the scribed objects. My favorite aspect was the magic in Foundryside. Sancia herself is unusual, and she can manipulate objects. Her story is fascinating and I will leave you to uncover it.
- The characters themselves are what brought this tale to life for me. Sancia is spirited and quick in a crisis but suffers from PTSD. She is desperate to change something about herself which has led her to become a thief. She has formed ties with others around her, but has trust issues. We see her develop romantic feelings for another female. Clef, was perhaps my favorite character. I will leave you to discover who he is. The interaction between him and Sancia were delightful. We have villains, allies and objects to round out the tale and all were developed and added to the overall tale. Secondary characters like Giovanni and Claudia who are Sancia’s scrapper friends offered interest from gadgets to stories.
- Action, suspense and fantastic scenes that made me question why this was the first time I’ve heard of Robert Jackson Bennett. I really need to pay more attention to this genre. I would classify this as a dystopian fantasy.
- Diversity, complex characters, PTSD, character growth and sacrifice are all explored. The story also presents questions about our morality, technological advancements, politics and greed.
- This was my first experience with Tara Sands, but it won’t be my last. I loved how her narration enhanced each character from Orso’s cursing fits to Clef’s unique voice. Her pacing was spot on and though emotion and pitch she set the tone of the story.
Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 5 October, 2018: Finished reading
- 5 October, 2018: Reviewed