Overall: 🐢🐢🐢🐢
Storyline:
Writing Style:
Character Development:
Enjoyment:
“‘Your bravado is a lot more convincing when you’re a forty-foot, fire-breather.'”
Windy City Ruins by Brett Salter
The Story:
It’s just a simple trip to New York. What could possibly happen to our lovable heroes THIS time? Faster-than-sound reptiles? Exploding Minotaurs? Generational secrets coming back to haunt them? Expect the unexpected in this third installment of The Talisman Series, “Windy City Ruins”. The war for Earth is creeping steadily closer, and Rome’s team is in a mad dash to figure out the Talismans before it’s too late. Can they amass enough talent to help them defend the realm? Or will The Tyrant King’s heinous minions sweep them off course and leave Earth ready for the taking?
Key Elements:
Fantasy, Dragons, Knights, Magic, Librarian, Friendship, Humor, Family, Young Adult, Talismans, Brotherhood, Warriors
Others in Series:
Book 1: The Search for Synergy
Book 2: Riders of Fire and Ice
Book 4: The Battle of Verdana
Why This Rating?
Full disclosure, I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
The third book in this fantastic series and the adventure is still alive and strong! I am having a blast following Rome and Jules as they gather their allies in this fight against evil. You are starting to see the boys really working well together in the fights. Playing on each other’s strengths while fighting Minotaurs, Garms, and Nocturns. Yes, thats right. We are facing off against another Nocturn in this one! I’ll leave it to you to figure out who it is hiding within though.
I liked how there was a little more traveling happening in this one. We go from England (where we left off from book 2), heading off to New York to visit the Status of Liberty, a quick stop to the local library in Georgia, and whisking off to Florida for an epic stand off. At each destination we encounter something that always has you wanting to keep the pages turning. I always appreciate when authors managed to keep the readers constantly engaged in something. It can be a fine balance between too much and not enough, that is true, but Salter dances on that edge quite well. Perhaps a little too long in some of the fights (one seemed to go on a tad too long); however, I don’t think those scenes were done poorly, far from it. I liked the details and the movement through the fights that we are given. The characters are learning to fight as we watch which is endearing to watch. But I have said from the beginning that this author is great with his details and descriptions. This book is no exception from that either. Smooth conversations, fun fight scenes, great details.
I was finding it a little odd that Rome has officially written off being a human. I mean these guys are 14/15 still and only a hand full of months ago, Rome didn’t know he was a dragon either. But in this one, we catch him thinking thoughts of “never hiding in human form again” or understanding how magic would look to his eyes and not human eyes. I mean it shows that he has fully accepted his fire dragon heritage. But considering how compassionate Rome is as a character, seeing some of these thoughts caught me off guard. I’m chalking it up to him becoming comfortable as a dragon and a warrior at this point in the story. This is a really nice way to show that he is growing into the mighty dragon persona he is and has. There is just a little sadness that the young man we started with has grown up quite a lot during this whole ordeal. They both have for that matter!
What a twist that Salter tossed at us towards the end! I can see why Jericho is Salter’s favorite character. He is wicked cool and that power he has! Holy snap! It is such a unique ability and I’ve never run across before. (And I’ve read a bunch of books!) Also, with what happens to the party at the end? Oh my goodness! Pass the forth book over and let me find out what is next! Like the second one, this one leaves us in the position of looking for more talismans out there while overcoming the latest challenge that is tossed on the group.
Over all thoughts from me? I am loving this series and the characters are great! Writing is still fun and the adventure is still captivating. I would say this is drifting away from the Middle school age and heading into more Young Adult levels of reading – the story is starting to head into the thick of battle and only going to develop from here. Rome is absolutely adorable with Krysta. I completely ship these two! And if you haven’t started to this series, I highly recommend it! If you have started and wanted a bit more of the series, Salter actually has a wiki page for his series. There are some fun quizzes you can take and more background information on some of the characters. Try challenging your friends’ knowledge of the Talisman series or take a peak at some cool facts about our beloved characters. You can take a look at that information here if you are interested!
Time to get lost in the next story!
