The city bleeds gold by Lucy Saxon

Tellus series book 3. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408847732
(Age: 11+) Recommended. An initial impression was one of disappointment, starting with the all too convenient map of the Tellus archipelago. Learning that the protagonist Noah has an alter ego, Daniel, who is pretty much the Spider-Man of this fantasy realm, didn't help matters - but to be fair, this is Volume 3 and the world of Tellus has already been well described in Volumes 1 and 2: Take Back the Skies and The Almost King.
The City Bleeds Gold gains momentum with Daniel's nocturnal forays into the lower city to protect his fiance, Princess Crysta. Crysta is the future Queen of Erova, the largest territory of Tellus. In her parents' absence, it is her job to organize the annual festival to ensure the favour of the Goddess and the sustainability of the kingdom. Noah, a commoner and mask-maker like his father, is not exactly the most popular choice of future consort according to just about everyone but Crysta. With both Damian, head of security, and the younger princess Rosa, in tow, they focus on protecting Crysta and the supremacy of Erova from an assortment of threats. Daniel (Noah in disguise) has both the ability and the motivation to be spying on potential enemies but is unacknowledged due to his secret identity.
A measure of romance means that the main characters are developed well. A young author of 21, Saxon expertly builds suspense as Daniel uses the roof tops to spy on and stymie the bad guys. When Daniel's intelligence gathering finally plays out, the novel becomes a heady page-turner in the milieu of the high fantasy and appropriately named, Tellus series.
Deborah Robins