Foundryside, by Robert Jackson Bennett August 2026 Theme BOM (The 2010s) - Start 2 August 2026

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Sancia Grado is a thief, and a damn good one. And her latest target, a heavily guarded warehouse on Tevanne’s docks, is nothing her unique abilities can’t handle.

But unbeknownst to her, Sancia’s been sent to steal an artifact of unimaginable power, an object that could revolutionize the magical technology known as scriving. The Merchant Houses who control this magic--the art of using coded commands to imbue everyday objects with sentience--have already used it to transform Tevanne into a vast, remorseless capitalist machine. But if they can unlock the artifact’s secrets, they will rewrite the world itself to suit their aims.

Now someone in those Houses wants Sancia dead, and the artifact for themselves. And in the city of Tevanne, there’s nobody with the power to stop them.

To have a chance at surviving—and at stopping the deadly transformation that’s under way—Sancia will have to marshal unlikely allies, learn to harness the artifact’s power for herself, and undergo her own transformation, one that will turn her into something she could never have imagined.
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Nominator: Melindam
Official Page Count: 512

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Chapter Breakdown

  
    
Date		Chapters 		MPDQs
  
  

  

  

Guidance for DQ setters
Aim for a reasonable number of questions: 4 - 5 is typical. Please don't post too many - any more than 7 gets unwieldy!
Use consecutive numbering of the DQs for your days. So, for example, if Day One is posted as questions 1-4, Day Two should start at number 5 etc.
Don't worry too much about your questions: you aren't being tested on how clever your questions are!
Hints and tips:
- Is there a quote that jumped out at you? Use that in a question.
- What about the characters - do they generate strong feelings? No feelings? - either way, we can explore that!
- What about that plot twist?!
- Explore the writing style: is there an unusual structure being used? what's the tone of voice like? or the point of view?

Want more information about how NBRC runs their Book of the Month discussions? Check out the information here

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

We are currently running a team challenge. This means we generally get more volunteers for writing DQs than days of DQs available.

You don't need to be particiating in the team challenge to participate in the BOM.

If you are in the team challenge, please note your team name when volunteering.

Where we have more volunteers than DQ days;
>If we have more than one volunteer from the same team, only one team entry will go into the randomiser to be selected to write DQs. (the other volunteers will be 'back ups')
>The nominator of the BOM is automatically assigned a DQ day

DQ volunteers are randomised around 3 days before the start date of the BOM. Please confirm your participation if you are selected. We reserve the right to go to the next person in the list if we don't hear from you

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

DQ volunteers

Melindam - Olympus - nominator

Judith - Denali (last day pls)
Judth - Denali (last day pls) extra entry
Imke - Ben Nevis
Judy - extra entry Ben Nevis
Ashley - Elbus
Angie - Sinai
Angie - extra entry
Vicky - Puncak Jaya


Back Ups
Judy - Ben Nevis
Lexi - Denali
Jenny - Sinai

[Judith]

I'm in for DQs - if I get picked can I have the last day?

Also would like to use an extra entry

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I am in for a backup for Melindam (Olympus)

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Judith wrote: "I'm in for DQs - if I get picked can I have the last day?

Also would like to use an extra entry"

yes and yes. That leaves you with 12 extras

[Imke]

I volunteer for DQs Ben Nevis

[Judy]

Volunteering as backup for Ben Nevis - and I'd like to use an extra entry, please!

[Lexi]

I'll be back up for Judith (Denali)

[Angie ☯]

Volunteering as backup for Sinai - allowing another team member to have questions if they volunteer! Sharing the love and all.... 😃

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Judy wrote: "Volunteering as backup for Ben Nevis - and I'd like to use an extra entry, please!"

Done - That leaves you with 2 left

[Jenny]

More back up for Sinai- trying to encourage others learn to love writing DQs!!!!!!!!

[Ashley]

I will volunteer for Elbrus!

[Angie ☯]

You can move me to the "main" volunteer for Sinai.

If anyone else from Sinai volunteers other than me and Jenny, we can duke it out amongst ourselves!

Also, could I use an extra entry, please?

[Vicky]

Sign me up for Puncak Jaya!

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

Angie ☯ wrote: "You can move me to the "main" volunteer for Sinai.

If anyone else from Sinai volunteers other than me and Jenny, we can duke it out amongst ourselves!

Also, could I use an extra entry, please?"

Done. you have 10 left

[Insiyah]

Sign me up for Drakensberg Amphitheatre please!

I'd like to also use an extra entry, please.

[Eldarwen]

I can be a back-up from the back-up back-up if needed for Ben Nevis ;-)

[Shannon]

Volunteering for Chimborazo! Also would like to use an extra entry please

[Kaley]

I'll back up for Sinai too!

[Teddie]

Volunteering for Kinabalu!