David Bremner reviewed Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
swashbuckling, romantic, techno-fantasy
4 stars
I mainly read this through the lens of a fan of "City of Stairs" and its sequels.
The magic system here didn't grab me as much as the one in Bennett's "Divine Cities" books. The book telegraphs that the series it starts may turn into political thriller closer to the City books, but this first installment is mainly about the adventures of a small band of extraordinary characters.
The main character Sancia is a heroic thief with a tragic past. There are several romantic-ish subplots, but no sex to speak of. The fact that Sancia can't touch other humans might have something to do with that