A City in Blue

Forgemaster Cycle, Book 3

De: Joshua C. Cook

Narrado por: Eric Bryan Moore

Danger, action, and magic come together to bring an epic conclusion to the Forgemaster Cycle.

The unthinkable has happened. Everything that William Reis had worked so hard for, undone by one of his closest friends. Amder was gone, Duncan was gone, and even Regin was gone. Thrust into a strange City where magic and machinery come together in wonders undreamed of, Will soon finds himself once again doing the one thing he hates, being important.

Myriam is torn. She made a choice, and now finds her life in tatters because of it. Regin is dead, and William hates her. Betrayed, she ends up in the hands of those of a less than savory reputation, and must join them, or die.

But evil lives in this city, an evil that Will and Myriam know well. The evil of those in love with power, and what they will do to keep it. But out there, beyond the walls that everyone things can never fall, something else stirs. The Unnamed God is coming and will never stop until he get’s what he wants.

The utter destruction of the City in Blue.

©2021 Joshua C. Cook (P)2023 Joshua C. Cook

Each book in this series just seems to get better!

The Forgemaster Cycle series was my first exposure to author Joshua C. Cook and so far I'm definitely impressed and will be looking for his books in the future.

Each book in the Forgemaster Cycle series just seems to get better and this was no exception! The characters are well build and really suck you in to the world he has built and make you care about what happens to them.

My only very small criticism is the ending seemed a bit rushed and i was left with the feeling of "wait its over already?".

awesome

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

Fantastic Dark Fantasy

Joshua C Cook has written the thrilling conclusion to the "Forgemaster Cycle" series, and I really enjoyed the story. William Reis and Myriam have been taken to the City in Blue where the use of magic was commonplace; however, not everything was as equal as it first seemed. This story had all the elements to ensure a great dark fantasy: interesting world building, awesome characters, magic, a good versus evil theme, and an unforgettable hero. I recommend this story and the whole trilogy to others who enjoy this genre. Eric Bryan Moore's narration was excellent, and his various voices added entertainment to the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily posted this review.

New setting and a much improved story

A City in Blue, the third book in The Forgemaster Cycle by Joshua C. Cook, is a vast improvement over its predecessor. The setting explores a new world while still carrying over some narrative arc from the previous books in the series. The book’s overall feel is different, and it's a departure from the previous book, which is a pro. The book's strengths are the new setting, interesting and fresh magic system, and the split-point-of-view narrative, which offers a great way of seeing the story unfold from the perspectives of William and Myriam.

The book's primary protagonists are William and Myriam, and both characters are much improved from previous installments. However, William could still be more confident and was a weak protagonist sometimes – but it’s okay because Myriam really shines. The unnamed god's whole story arc seemed bizarre, but I can see it was necessary to set them up as a foe of the City in Blue. It didn't quite fit in with the general tone of the book. Nevertheless, the pros outweigh the cons, making this an enjoyable read.

The narration by Eric Bryan Moore is excellent. He brings the story to life with his great character voices and inflections, which elevates the story into something more enjoyable. The narration is a standout, and William and Myriam come alive with their unique voices. Overall, A City in Blue is a definite must-read for fans of the genre and people who are looking for a fresh and new story in a well-established series. Joshua C. Cook’s third installment in The Forgemaster Cycle is entertaining and enjoyable, and it's a great way to explore a new world while still retaining the same setting from the previous books.

Special thanks to Eric Bryan Moore, who provided me with a copy of this book at my request.

Baskerville Book Reviews

My first impression of this story is that each book in this series is better than the last. Where it really lost me was when it pulled the old power being shown up and threatened by newcomers crap. That’s been done to death and the second series by this same author I’ve reviewed to feature it. It just feels lazy. I’ve seen this story 100 times before, I know how it’s all going to work out. It’s not fun or interesting anymore.

The plot feels like it was kicked into the back seat while this new plot about politics in a magic city takes over. Hardly anybody addresses the fact that the Forgremaster is missing, the human Gods are gone, the old power structure is gone and the world must be in chaos. That’s pushed aside in favor of a ridiculously played-out power struggle story in a new city. I found myself constantly wondering what the hell any of it had to do with the story previously being told.

Unlike my other example, Bridgefinders, what saves this book is the characters. As the series progresses, characters get picked off and new ones introduced. The new characters are always equally as compelling as the old and gave me a reason to keep listening.

The narrator, as always did a fantastic job of reading and acting out the lines.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.