THE GOLDEN CITY The Fourth Realm, Book 3

Set on a not-too-distant future Earth, among several dystopian realms, this conclusion to the Fourth Realm Trilogy reunites Maya, Gabriel, and Hollis as they battle against Nathan and The Brethren, who slowly strip away American and European democratic freedom under the guise of a crime-free society. Scott Brick's measured pace and robotic-sounding vocals lend a mechanical tone to this science-fiction story. His sedate, and sometimes flat, cadence is steady throughout most of the performance. Occasional vocal adjustments denote dramatic content and different characters—American, African, and French. Although the story is worth listening to as a satisfying conclusion to the series, ultimately this unemotional reading lacks the energy necessary for an exciting presentation. A.L.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2009]