Review: A City in Blue

A City in Blue by Joshua C. Cook
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Setting, 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.

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