A review by pagebypaigebks
Forbidden City by James Ponti

4.0

“Never forget that ‘ordinary’ is part of ‘extraordinary’, you can’t have one without the other.”

I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

Instagram Post

Blog Post

Content Warnings: kidnapping

Another fantastic instalment to the series! Just like the books before, Forbidden City was action-packed with intriguing puzzles, daring escapes, and great character development. I haven't read many books that feature a chess tournament before so that aspect was very interesting to learn about. The writing style immediately pulls you in. I could vividly picture each of the settings as the team travelled around the world for this complex mission. We got to learn even more about each character's backstory, including Mother, the leader of the City Spies. Their development makes you love each of the characters even more than before, and you can't help but be excited for them when they succeed. I really enjoy how every book centres around one of the kids in the City Spies, it gives each of them a chance to shine, while also featuring their relationships with the group. The plot was exciting at every turn and kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting more. As with the first two books, I definitely recommend the audiobook version! The narrator does a fantastic job bringing the City Spies to life.

All in all, Forbidden City was a whirlwind of excitement, action, and adventure!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings