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Locklands

the thrilling conclusion to the Founders Trilogy

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Locklands

By: Robert Jackson Bennett
Narrated by: Tara Sands
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About this listen

 Once, Sancia Grado was just a thief with a grudge and a rare talent. Then she learned how to use that talent, and beat the great merchant houses of Tevanne at their own game. With Clef and Berenice, she even saw off an immortal hierophant - but the war they're fighting now is one they know they can't win.

This time, they're not facing robber-baron elites or an immortal hierophant, but an entity whose intelligence is spread over half the globe: a ghost in the machine using the magic of scriving to possess and control not just objects, but human minds.

Despite all their efforts their enemy marches on, implacable, unstoppable - and it's closing in on its true prize: an ancient doorway that leads to the centre of creation itself.

Sancia and her friends glimpse a last desperate opportunity to stop this unbeatable foe - but to do so, they'll have to unlock the centuries-old mystery of scriving's origins and pull off the most daring heist they've ever attempted.

And as if that weren't enough, their adversary might just have a spy in their ranks - and a last trick up its sleeve . . .

'Absolutely riveting . . . A magnificent, mind-blowing start to a series I'm hungry for' - Amal El-Mohtar, co-author of This is How You Lose the Time War, in the New York Times on Foundryside

'One of the best fantasy writers on the scene today' says Kirkus Reviews

(P) 2022 Penguin Audio©2022 Robert Jackson Bennett Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Paranormal

Critic reviews

The large-scale conflicts, new characters and climactic ending set the stage for more exciting action and adventure to come in the complex, ever-expanding world of the series
Foundryside blew me away, and this is a perfect sequel . . . the book I've most thoroughly and uncomplicatedly enjoyed this year so far. It shocked and delighted and upset me from page to page, managing to thread humour and pathos and intrigue together with the speed and precision of a loom. I'm so excited to see what happens next
The exciting beginning of a promising new epic fantasy series. Prepare for ancient mysteries, innovative magic, and heart-pounding heists
Inventive, immersive and thrilling. Do yourself a favour and pick this up
Full of devastation, hope, torrid action, mystery and brilliance. His scriving system of re-writing the rules to reality is one of the most creative, rewarding magic systems in any fantasy series I've read. I can't recommend this author, or series, enough. A powerful and satisfying conclusion to this refreshing and inventive trilogy
Gods collide in the high-octane finale to Bennett's epic fantasy Founders Trilogy . . . Bennett advances the plot precipitously and raises his characters' power levels to the "nigh-incomprehensible", but the grounding themes of family and love as Sancia and Berenice risk their happiness to save the world, are what readers will take away
Unique and original
Compelling, full of action, and has characters to care about . . . Locklands completes another excellent trilogy from an author producing some of the most original and compelling fantasy in the genre
Bennett provides a poignant but uplifting conclusion to his spellbinding, fast-paced Founders Trilogy, expanding the complex world with more innovative concepts and new characters
A thrills-and-spills conclusion to the adventures of Sancia Grado. Bennett concludes his Founders trilogy . . . with characteristically high-spirited mayhem. Bennett is a master of worldbuilding. Great fun, with nonstop action
One of the best series in decades. if the biggest complaint is wanting more, that's a pretty good affirmation of just how excellent this book is, and really the series as a whole
An excellent balance of big ideas, clever technological extrapolation (even if it's actually magical), and compelling characters you really care about. Who could ask for more?
All stars
Most relevant
Ok not my cup of tea Trilogy began with interesting characters and seemed to have promise as a steampunk type adventure. For me the characters disappeared in the plot which rapidly introduced big ideas overpowered enemies time jumps reality altering magic etc never felt like the story ever grounded itself again the author has a good imagination but the trilogy didn't live up to promise of first book for me some liked it however

unique world building full of promise

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RJB has written something really special here. The last time I enjoyed a fantasy trilogy as much as I did this one was when I read Mistborn. The only downside of this whole series is the swearing, it some how feels disingenuine to the world the story takes place. In this awe-inspiring world filled with fantastical elements, with its own lore and different types of people in it. Whenever the MC gets emotional, all of a sudden she transform into a classical American teenager.

4.5 Stars

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The author lands the ending of this trilogy with this satisfying conclusion to the series. Sancia is a tragic figure in this rather than the frustratingly stupid protagonist of the previous books. Some great action scenes and a lovely ending.

Narration was good.

Book 3 - Sancia stops making dumb decisions

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I got this title because I am a fan of the Leviathan series. However, this is nothing like it. It's a story of rebellion and a warning against changing the nature of the world we live in, including human alterations. it presents technology as a force for good until it's misused, which causes great suffering instead of bringing enlightenment and progress.
I enjoyed the first book, but then the story loses it's momentum and slows down unbearably, which is particularly so thanks to the narration. The overly melodramatic performance with long pauses and drawn-out words made me feel the narrator was paid by the minute and wanted to squeeze every drop out of it. In the end, I had to speed up to be able to listen again. Before that decision, I stopped listening twice and switched to other books, one of which was book 2 in the Leviathan series, which was fantastic.
To sum up, listening to this series doesn't do it justice. Choose an alternative method of reading this series as I feel my experience is affected by the quality of narration.

interesting concepts

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Loved the first book, liked the second but this was a bit of a slog to get through. Still good and glad I finished it.

Too much shoe leather

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