Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages - 3 Stars

 

I read Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel: Technology and Invention in the Middle Ages by Frances & Joseph Gies for a couple of reasons. First of all, for research. My fantasy novels take place in a pre-industrial world with limited technology. I often find bits of history and ancient technology I can adapt and reimagine. This book was a good choice for that kind of information. I also enjoy reading history and learning how, where, when, and why things came about. Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel offers up plenty of that too. If I were rating the book solely on the content, I would give it four stars, but if I were rating based on the organization of information, I might give it a three.

 

The book is quite informative. It reveals the origins of technologies from ancient Greece, Egypt, and China and follows the evolution of these technologies into the Middle Ages. From there, it shows how these innovative ideas spread and morphed into something more sophisticated.

In my opinion, the book got off to a slow start. The first chapter looks at a variety of worldviews regarding the definition of the Dark Ages. It discusses what years encompass the Medieval Ages (since differing world views don't agree on this), along with a brief but general mention of technology from those times and whether or not they were considered good or bad based on the various world views. While this approach may be interesting to some people, I felt it started things off on a sluggish footing. Chapter 2 kindled my interest as the author delved into technologies of ancient Egypt and how they influenced Rome and Greece and how they, in turn, often improved on those technologies coming up with upgraded or modified versions of the same inventions. What they accomplished is quite remarkable, and the book goes on to show that much of today's technology finds its roots in this history. The third chapter looks into waterwheel technology and explains how it changed economics, politics, and more.

The book covers an array of technologies before and after the Middle Ages. The insights are fascinating. However, the organization of the information is not conducive to finding something read in a previous chapter. For instance, if I wanted to revisit the section on bridges and the Crusaders, I would have to remember to look in the chapter on the Technology of the Commercial Revolution 900-1200. I would prefer it organized by "technology and inventions."

I recommend this book to people researching these topics or history buffs wanting to know more about the origins of technologies. However, if you find something of interest you might want to come back to, make sure to bookmark the page or highlight the text, or you might spend quite a bit of time hunting for it.

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Shield of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers #7) - 5 stars

 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)

Crown of Dragons (Book 5) 

Ring of Dragons (Book 4) 

Born of Dragons (Book 3) 

Throne of Dragons (Book 2)

Realm of Dragons (Book 1) 

 

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Dusk of Dragons (Age of the Sorcerers #6)

Morgan Rice does not disappoint with book six of her Age of the Sorcerers series. I give Dusk of Dragons five stars as the story pulls characters introduced in the previous books into the plot. She does a fine job of bringing closure to some plot threads while lighting the fuse to new strands that keep the story sizzling with fascinating possibilities and burning questions that keep the reader turning the page to see what happens next.

Lenore steps into a role of leadership to pit herself against Emperor Ravin. War draws clear lines between good and evil in the strategies used to reclaim Royalsport. I also enjoyed seeing characters reunited, relationships mended, and more than one romance budding under the surface even amid much death and loss.

As far as magic goes, there is the Royal family’s sorcerer, Sorcerer Grey, and his two apprentices who didn’t know a thing about each other until now. One apprentice is arrogant and full of himself and the other comes from a lowly family--or so he thought until he learned his unloving parents weren’t his parents after all. This whole part of the plot is bubbling under the surface with possible twists and turns that keeps the reader hungry for more.

Along with all that, Rice involves the dragons much more in this book. We learn that they pose an active threat to humans. And speaking of humans, one unique thing in Rice’s fantasy is the scale sickness. People who have it are forced into exile because they may transform into something no longer human but akin to the dragons. Among them is Princess Nerra, who rides on the back of the queen of dragons. The transformed Nerra is unaware of the war or the death of her parents and brother. It adds another layer of possibilities to the story for sure.

The truth is, I could go on and on about various characters that add to the richness of this story, but I try not to include spoilers in my reviews. I recommend Dusk of Dragons to anyone who enjoys fantasy set in medieval settings that include royalty, peasants, sorcerers, dragons, military, and more. Rice is a masterful storyteller.

Other reviews in this Morgan Rice series:

Crown of Dragons (Book 5) 

Ring of Dragons (Book 4) 

Born of Dragons (Book 3) 

Throne of Dragons (Book 2)

Realm of Dragons (Book 1) 

 

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Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

 

Crown of Dragons (Age of Sorcerers Book 5)

Morgan Rice’s fifth book in the Age of the Sorcerers series does not disappoint. I give Crown of Dragons 5 stars as the continuation of the story of the royals of the Northern kingdom navigate the perils of the occupation of the Southern kingdom’s forces.

I’m amazed at how Rice masterfully weaves a multitude of plot threads and still holds the reader’s attention with so many things going on. I never felt lost or confused. Instead, I hungered to know what happens next for every character. 

In Crown of Dragons, I was happy to see the dragons playing a larger role, as well as more of the reluctant hero, Devin, who was introduced in the first book and only marginally involved until now. He’s an underdog of sorts, gifted in ways he doesn't fully understand and is certainly on a hero’s journey.

Rice provides a spark of magic with several complex characters. The story is unique, interesting, and masterfully merges their paths to add depth to the plot with twists and turns that have me running alongside the character trying to catch my breath.

As mentioned in the reviews of the previous four books in this series, the only thing I find disappointing is that the story isn’t brought to closure but is more episodic. But with that said, I must add that I find the story captivating enough to continue on to the next book.

 
If you are a fantasy reader who enjoys medieval-type settings filled with wizards, dragons, royals, nobles, and peasant folk then this book is for you. And of course, there is the smattering of love in the works on more than one front. I’m ready for Shield of Dragons, book six.

Reviews of Age of Sorcerers books 1-4

Ring of Dragons (Book 4) 

Born of Dragons (Book 3)

Throne of Dragons (Book 2)

Realms of Dragons (Book 1)

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Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.