"While all of this is the sort of stuff that professional medievalists love to see, the thing I like most about Perry and Gabriele's effort is that it is fun. The Bright Ages is written in such an engaging and light manner that it is easy to race through. I found myself at the end of chapters faster than I wanted to be, completely drawn in by the narrative. You can tell how much the authors love the subject matter, and that they had a great time choosing stories to share and evidence to consider." - Slate on The Bright Ages "Incandescent and ultimately intoxicating, for as the chapters progress, it dawns on the reader that those who lived in this period were more conventional than cardboard figures. They were, in essence, human." - Boston Globe on The Bright Ages "This revisionist history of medieval Europe takes apart the myth of a savage, primitive period . with passion and verve, [Gabriele and Perry challenge] the reader to tackle assumptions, bias and prejudices about the past to create a more joined-up, inclusive picture of the thousand years that followed the sack of Rome.

" - Peter Frankopan, Guardian, on The Bright Ages "It could be said that much of the history of early medieval Europe can be traced to this dramatic--if too little known--episode. In Oathbreakers, Messrs. Gabriele and Perry give it an erudite and readable presentation." - Wall Street Journal "This rousing history of a real-life Game of Thrones details the ninth-century battle among Charlemagne's heirs for control of his empire." - New York Times Book Review ".a vivid and engaging narrative of the political events of the early ninth century." - TLS (UK) ".as shocking, dramatic, and action-packed as any novel.

" - BookBub, "These Nonfiction Books Are Perfect Beach Reads" "Cheer yourself up. Take the medieval exit from 21st century troubles and enjoy some ninth-century strife and schooling." - Rebecca Solnit "Lively writers, the authors cast a critical eye on the surviving sources, delivering a painless education on how historians try to determine what actually happened from fragmentary and wildly biased accounts. A scholarly and entertaining history of warring brothers." - Kirkus "Though the events in Oathbreakers are distant in time, Gabriele and Perry describe them with an immediacy that's both informative and entertaining. [revealing] that the emotions driving the actors in the Carolingian drama--ambition, greed, and the lust for power--are in fact as timely as today's headlines." - Shelf Awareness "Popular history as it should be written--intelligent and wry, with some snarky digs at modern times despite nominally being about the 9th-century Franks. Highly recommend.

" - Harry Turtledove, award-winning author of The Guns of the South "History buffs will enjoy this tale of fathers and sons, rebellion and betrayal, promises made and broken, plots and intrigue, and ultimately oaths taken and broken." - The Denver Post "For such a significant event as the Carolingian Civil War, it's surprising how few books cover the topic in depth. Even more surprising is how well-written and accessible this one is--perfect for history enthusiasts." - Medievalists.net "Full of twists and turns, family feuds, and destabilizing coups, the authors make the ninth century come alive with an engaging read that doesn't skimp on academic rigor." - Arlington Magazine, "10 New Books to Read in December".