I have fallen in love with this story since book one, and Shield of Dragons, book seven in the Age of Sorcerers series, did not disappoint. Author Morgan Rice masterfully navigates the Northern Kingdom, Southern Kingdom, and beyond with plot twists, which I give five stars.
Throughout the first six books in the series, she was able to kill off characters I loved and some I hated. At times, such events kill my enthusiasm for a story. But in this case, Rice keeps the heartbeat of the story steady and pulls the reader along with each beat.
In Shield of Dragons, Royalsport is back under the control of Queen Lenore, and she and Devin have reconnected. Lenore exiles Prince Vars, while his brother Greave returns to life in Royalsport as a changed man willing to take risks. Princess Erin becomes Lenore's bodyguard until she travels to the Southern Kingdom on a dangerous mission. Princess Nerra is pulled back into the story, but she is no longer the sweet, kind princess shunned by people because of the scale sickness. The sickness transformed her into something new. The dragons call her "perfected." But, without providing big spoilers, let me say, the "Perfect" is scary, like a Jekyll and Hyde type personality. Rice offers glimpses that the real Nerra may still be present within the creature she has become and provides breadcrumbs of hope that she may break free.
At the heart of the story is the magical amulet found in book six of the series. In Shield of Dragons, we see it at work. The one who wields it can control a dragon. But having possession of this talisman kills most people by sucking the life out of them. Throughout Shield of Dragons, it changes hands, and as book seven concludes, in my opinion, it is in the wrong hands.
I have grown used to the fact that Rice's books in this series are episodic. I still don’t love this approach to book writing, but with that said, the story is captivating enough to continue to the last book in the series. If you are a fantasy reader who enjoys medieval-type settings filled with wizards, dragons, royals, nobles and peasant folk, and unrequited love, then this book is for you. I’m ready for the final book in this series, Dream of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers—Book Eight).
Other reviews in this Morgan Rice series:
Dusk of Dragons (Book 6)
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