Title: Windy City Ruins (book 3)
Author: Brett Salter
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy
My rating: 4/5

It’s just a simple trip to New York. What could possibly happen to our loveable 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? Windy City Ruins is the third installment of the Talisman Series.

Windy City Ruins by Brett Salter is the third book of the Talisman series and one of my recent favourites. Picking up where book two left off, we follow Rome and Julian on their journey to Windy City, a place in Chicago, where they and their crew were on a mission to wipe out the darkbrands and learn more about the missing Talismans.

I have to say that this series is getting better and better with each book. The Darkbrands in this book are even stronger, both Rome and Julian have strengthened their powers and continue to eradicate the Darkbrands with the help of Stratus, Skye, Marin, Jericho and Clay. I liked how Rome and Julian communicated in mind using the spatial linking concept while fighting.

The Earth dragons and Wind dragons part were fascinating especially the fight scene. But I liked the wind dragons more than the Earth dragons because I felt Startus, Skye and Marin (wind dragons) were more helpful to Rome and Julian in finding the Darkbands than Earth dragons.

Rome and Julian are my two most favourite characters in this series, and they continue to be so. Krysta is another character I liked very much in book two, and I was expecting more scenes of her and Rome, but there weren’t many, it was a bit disappointing. There are a few new characters in this book, but unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with any of them. I liked Stratus, Skye and Marin as a team, but I couldn’t get to know much about them individually. Maybe in the upcoming books I will get to know them better.

This book is a perfect blend of adventure, action and magic. The fast-paced storyline kept me hooked till the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the action scenes in this book. It’s more like watching than reading. The ending of the book was the same as the previous book. Again Rome and Julian embark on a journey in search of a Talisman. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series and find out what awaits Rome and Julian on their new journey.

*Thanks to the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.*