What a beautiful and well-thought out book about difficult choices and truth! In addition to all of the amazing characters (particularly female characters who work within the system instead of overtly subverting social norms, and the emphasis on traditionally feminine occupations—a nice change in a genre saturated with the Bad-Ass Woman [for the record, I love this trope, but there are quite a few issues with it]), I loved how all of the various themes tied together to create a rich, wonderful world of inequality, promise and history. Some of the main themes in this book involve cultural assimilation and loss of cultural identity, both accidental and on purpose, and how assimilating into an adopted culture can mean success for immigrants, but comes with costs of its own (lack of knowledge of your own history, can't speak the language of your culture, etc.). There are also very interesting observations of economics and politics, meritocracy vs nepotism, and monarchy vs democracy, and differences in priorities based upon gender, and how circle/population sect prioritizes their values. The conclusion is that when each circle only sees their truth, all lose.

What I really loved about this rebellion/war plotline is that it's over more mundane and practical reasons. Usually when I read about an upcoming war or civil unrest it's due to very dramatic circumstances, an heir has been murdered, people are being enslaved, there's a dark evil overlord etc etc. Not with this book, this reads much closer to actual history than most things I've read, and I found it absolutely fascinating.

The politics and philosophy in this book were really a highlight, the dialogue between characters with opposing views was a GREAT way to explore the world building. It didn't come off as info-dumpy, it came across as natural debate dialogue. Fantastic.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians was such an interesting and different read then anything I ever read. It's definitely a slow read, and I found myself bored at parts. Fina's story is what intrigued me the most and the magic used on the slaves was absolutely heartbreaking.

This is definitely an original read and if you are in the mood for something heavy, this might be the book for you!

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAGICIANS by
H. G. Parry
Redhook./Orbit

Thank you @orbitbooks for this incredible book.
Seriously Redhook./Orbit is killing it, with all their magical books.
#redhookbooks

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely m

A spellbinding tale of revolutions and magical realism set during the Age of Enlightenment.

An impressive, serious historical fantasy with an incredible alternative world.
Spanning over fifteen years the book is set in the 18th Century and following political and revolutionary leaders of London, Paris, and the Caribbean.

This astonishing tale cleverly interweaves the turbulent events of the French Revolution and slave abolition. The author adds a wonderful twist, where magic is confined strictly to the aristocracy in the European countries. There is a breathtaking scope of political intrigue that had me glued to the pages. H. G. Parry lush writing is reminiscent of classical English literature. Perfectly poised verbiage that inlines with this era of history.

The Magic is all that I hoped it would be, perfectly balanced with historical aspects of the storyline.
All in all it’s a captivating magical, reimagining of key moments in European history. Where Imperialism and colonialism were in place and if you know your history well, you know that both focus on the suppression of others.

H G Parry has created an exceptional book, that offers the reader a well researched historical tale with a captivating magic system. Let me say that I was impressed with the ingenious, meticulously researched historical facts that are woven into an epic fantasy world.
The well developed cast of characters include some notable historical figures such as William Pitt the Younger, William Wilberforce, Maximilien Robespierre, Camille Desmoulins, and Toussaint Louverture.

The reign of terror, French Revolution, The very effective, brutal slave revolution of the French colony of Saint Domingue, which is currently the sovereign state of Haiti.
The madness of King George of England, along with incredible magical realism.

The cliffhanger hanging ending will have you wanting more.

This book has been my favorite so far this year.
I definitely recommend this to my friends and family .

———————————
-Magic
-Vampires
-Necromancy
-France’s Robespierre is a necromancer
-Britain’s Prime Minister William Pitt is a mesmerist (among other things)
-Toussaint Louverture is a weak weather mage the focus in
-Fina, a slave in the French colony of Saint Domingue, who’s magical ability is a force to reckoned with.

Quotes:

“Its the ones we love that know the most dangerous ways to hurt us.”

“They were each vulnerable to the other. Perhaps there was a power in that.”

“He was right about one thing: the Revolution had made him, as a person, a husband and a writer. It had given his his language. The trouble was, it was a language far more permanent than Camille’s own convictions.”

H.G. Parry’s A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is an epic historical fantasy, a magic-imbued retelling of the political and social turmoil that took place in late 18th-century Europe as well as the French colony Saint Domingue (currently the sovereign state of Haiti). Those who know their history will recognize that this is the time of the French Revolution (AKA the Reign of Terror) as well as the Haitian Revolution, a slave uprising that created an independent Haiti, a state free of slavery and led by the land’s former captives.

The novel, like this time period, is epic in scope, and Parry does an exemplary job portraying these world-changing upheavals in Europe and Haiti through the book’s (and, in most cases, history’s) major players. Two of the points-of-view in the novel, for example, are Maximilien Robespierre and William Pitt, who history buffs will respectively recognize as a leader of the French Revolution and as the Prime Minister of Britain. Other key characters include William Wilberforce, a real-life historical figure who strongly pushed for the abolishment of slavery in the British Empire, and Fina, a young West African woman who British slave traders captured and shipped to what is now the island of Jamaica.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians isn’t just historical fiction, however, even though it appears to stay mostly true to the known occurrences of the time. Interwoven between the events outlined in our school textbooks is Parry’s creation of a magical system that seamlessly plays an integral part in the political and social movements of the time. In this fantastical timeline, magical capabilities are a hereditary trait that can show up across family lines no matter what social class one may have. In Europe, however, the right to actually practice magic is kept to the aristocracy; those commoners identified by the Knights Templar as having magical powers at birth are shackled with a bracelet that limits their magical abilities, and any commoner found guilty of using magic—even to save the life of a loved one—is sentenced to jail or even death.

This means that the Marie Antoinette in this world is a powerful fire mage, and that the charismatic Robespierre has some latent magical tendencies toward mesmerism and an even rarer magical bloodline. The impact of magic is also seen in the practice of slavery, where slave traders force-feed captured Africans a magical brew that makes them living zombies, unable to move or even speak on their own volition.

The magic system Parry creates here is a rich one, and it’s clear that the author put a lot of thought into how the societies and institutions of the time would react to and try to control hereditary elemental magic among the populace. The presence of magic also allows Parry to create a sinister magical mastermind who is pulling the strings behind the horrors of the time. It is this secret malevolent force—who they may be what and what they may want—that drives much of the plot of the novel. And while the whodunit provides some propulsion to the story, it’s hard, especially in our current times, to gloss over the fact that humanity doesn’t need the excuse of a malicious supernatural being to explain why so many unjust and evil elements existed and continue to exist in society.

This is most obvious in Fina’s storyline, which regrettably doesn’t get as much page time as the other characters. Given this is the first in a duology, however, I anticipate Fina and her part in the Haitian Revolution to get more attention in the second book. In A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, however, Fina realizes she is able to overcome the zombifying brew and regain autonomy, which ultimately lets her escape to Haiti where the slave uprising there is in full swing.

In Haiti, she’s allowed to cultivate her magical capabilities instead of suppressing them (unsurprisingly, the British and the French would summarily kill any enslaved person found to have magical powers), and she ends up aiding the real-life historical leader of the uprising, Toussaint Louverture, who in this alternative history also has some minimal magic ability to control the weather. In Haiti, Fina also becomes more confident—clearer on who she is and what ends she thinks may justify the means. Where her journey takes her remains to be seen, but it is her journey I’m most interested in learning more about in the second book.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, though I suppose those who know history already know at least the broad strokes of the second book’s plot. But the main thing that will have me picking up the net installment in this duology isn’t the retelling of how that time period plays out—it’s the characters Parry has beautifully brought to life in this magical alternative timeline. As I mentioned earlier, I’m particularly interested in spending more time with Fina, but I also care about Pitt and Wilberforce, two real-life figures that Parry crafts into three-dimensional individuals, recognizable from our history texts but different in this magic-touched world. It’s Parry’s deft crafting of these characters’ personal struggles that make the larger events around them have more poignancy, and it’s Parry’s detailed and expansive worldbuilding that make A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians an immersive read and a world I look forward to revisiting when the second novel comes out.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is available from Redhook.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is in no way impacted by that.

Where to start....H.G. Parry tells a sprawling story filled with historical context that made me wish I had paid more attention to my World History courses in high school and college. The story takes place between England, France and an island in the West Indies. I tend to not love books that move from location to location and move through time at a pace that requires you to constantly check on the date of the chapter you're reading and compare it the chapter you just finished, but I really didn't mind it in this story. Each portion of the story had a purposeful role to play and it was interesting to see how and when they would start to link together.

Reading books about revolutions and oppressed populations rallying to demand equality is an especially timely subject and I feel like it will take me much longer than this review to really unpack my feelings about all of the characters and the various rebellion leaders, how they gained their power and what they ultimately did with it when they achieved it.

If you are a fan of historical fiction with a fantastical twist, this is a sprawling, vast story and you should clear space in your to-be-read pile for it. This book was much longer than I anticipated and I spent much of the second half of the book waiting for it pick up speed and momentum and really start to move through some of the plot points I had been waiting for. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it had been about 150 pages shorter, but overall, I still enjoyed the time spent with the characters.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
A Novel by H. G. Parry from NetGalley and Redhook Books in order to read and give an honest review.

... Clever plot lines, interesting characters, well written and researched,I loved everything about this book....

This book is unlike anything else I have read, this dark epic historical fantasy was complex and took a while to get into but was definitely worth it.   

Set in the 18th century, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is an alternate history of the times including the infamous French Revolution. The story features three interconnecting plot lines set in the Caribbean, Paris and London. There are multiple political events driven by a dark powerful entity whose endgame is shocking.  It’s thought provoking in so many ways as the characters are challenged with moral dilemmas surrounding issues such as slavery, classism, to what end are they willing to go to succeed and at what cost. 

To get to the basics of the story, we are witness to the alternate version of history where magic is strictly regulated. Commoners are forbidden to use it and are given magic dampening bracelets that burn if their powers are used and face imprisonment or execution for breaking the law.  Even to save a life, magic is forbidden to commoners, only aristocrats and nobility are allowed to wield their power without consequence.  The three plot lines were equally compelling reminding me of a game of chess with the characters being pieces moved along the board with a singular purpose invisible to the reader until the end.  

H.G. Parry introduces us to Fina a slave working on a sugar plantation under British rule in Jamaica. The slaves are mistreated, their powers bound by a potion so that they are under the plantation managers  complete control. In a brief period when her magic seeps through Fina hears a voice telling her to flee Jamaica in order to save her fellow slaves and join a slave rebellion on Santa Domingo.  Meanwhile in France, Robespierre is fighting for the rights of the commoners and their ability to use magic for the betterment of their lives and in London, a trio of politicians are working for the abolition of slavery despite it being heavily debated. Each character is well developed and deals with unique obstacles and the consequences of their actions.  There is so much going on in this book it's difficult to capture it all in this review without spoilers. Bottom line I loved the book although, ending on a cliffhanger of sorts was surprising and I certainly hope we get a second in the series from H.G. Parry. 

Clever plot lines, interesting characters, well written and researched, I loved everything about this book. This book is for you if you enjoy compelling, thought provoking historical fantasy with a twist!

Trigger warnings: slavery, compromising over human rights, really a lot of death.
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry is an alternate history fantasy novel. It follows three primary perspectives through the late 1700s. Unlike in our world, people in this world have magic. However, magic is used to maintain a rigid class structure. Horrifyingly, the Black people enslaved in this alternate history are also spellbound, which limits their ability to do anything other than what they are told (although they are conscious the entire time). The common white people in Europe have it better (obviously), but if they are caught using unregistered magical ability, they are pretty much immediately imprisoned. Of course, the aristocrats are free to use their abilities (with some exceptions), though it is considered gauche to do so. These rigid class structures lead to quite a bit of unrest, which leads to our plot.

H.G. Parry - A Declaration of the Rights of MagiciansH.G. Parry – A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
The first of these perspectives is of William Pitt and his friend William Wilberforce (both historical figures) as they rise in the British government and attempt to abolish slavery. The second of these perspectives is of Maximilien Robespierre and Camille Desmoulins (again, historical figures) as they chafe against the limitations put on them because of their class. The third of these perspectives (in this list only—her perspective opens the book) is Fina, the only of our main perspective characters who was not a historical figure. Fina was taken from her home and enslaved in Jamaica at a young age. Eventually, her powerful magic enables her to escape the spellbinding. She joins up with Toussaint L’Overture (historical figure) and works to free others from slavery.

Plot Development
I would argue that the plot develops at a moderate pace, although some may find it slow. The major plot here (as alluded to in the title) is the magicians’ fight for revolution. It focuses a lot on the political storylines—the first two storylines I listed. This may be far too much politics for you, and that’s fine. I knew the basic outlines of the French Revolution, but only really from France’s perspective. Although it doesn’t have footnotes, it’s a pretty good comp for Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. It can be dry in similar ways, and really focuses on male friendships.

If I had to ask for more from this book, I would prefer to see more of Fina’s storyline. It was my favorite of the three storylines, and there was clearly more we could have seen. However, this is the first book in a duology and her perspective opens and closes the book (no spoilers). Even though Fina’s storyline could have been more prominent, there’s room in the narrative for it to gain traction. Even though H.G. Parry is a white woman (and I’m a white woman, so I might be missing some red flags here), there is some cause for optimism. Additionally, Fina’s the primary female character in the book, which I know some readers might want to know. She’s not the only woman in the book, but she’s the only one with such a big role.

Conclusion – A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians Sees History Through a Magical Lens
Everyone knows that politics are pretty much about compromise. In the late eighteenth/early nineteenth century, there was a lot of compromising about human rights, specifically Black human rights. It’s hard to argue that these are good times to read about white dudes compromising over human rights, even though the characters know that they’re not doing what they could. However, if the politicking of it all doesn’t bother you, this book is far more than a slightly-askew history lesson. A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians shows how a well-done magic system can highlight class divisions, and illustrates how friendships can decay over politicking and compromise.

I received this title from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

3.5 /5 rounded up

This is a VERY political historical fantasy set during 1700s. It is a retelling of French Revolution with magic in it. It is phenomenal. I cannot express how well done it was. I highly recommend it to people who live for politics in books because this whole book is PURE POLITICS. If its not your cup of tea, please don't pick it up. You will only do this book a disservice and it deserves to be praised for what it is. I was so impressed with it that as soon as I was done with A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, I went out and bought H. G. Parry's last novel and I cannot wait to start it. There is a potential for Parry to become my new auto-buy author.

The first time I picked up A Declaration of the Right of Magicians, I wasn’t sold. So I decided to put it aside and come back to it because I loved the author’s first book. And I’m so glad that I did. If you’ve thought “I want history but make it magic,” pick this one up.

As it says in the Acknowledgments, this book is an amalgam of the real history of Britain, France, and Haiti in the eighteenth century. Just with magic to make things even more interesting. And Parry blended everything together seamlessly. I found it fascinating to see how the abolitionist movement grew and changed over time. And how certain events set the movement back or moved it forward.

The beginning is a bit slow as everything gets set up. But the time that Parry took to lay the groundwork for the rest of the novel is so well-spent. In general, the world-building in this novel is just breathtaking. Not only did Parry create a brilliant magic system but she integrated it perfectly into real-world politics. The characters were all beautifully brought to life, with all of their flaws and foibles.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians struck the perfect balance between political intrigue, intricate world-building, and action. I’m really hoping that we get a sequel in the future though because I need to know what happens to these characters (okay, I already know the general idea because of the internet rabbit hole I fell down after reading but I want the magic version). While it is long and, at times, rather dense, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians will leave you thinking long after you turn the final page. I would definitely recommend this one if you’re intrigued by the summary.

*Disclaimer: I received a digital advance copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

2.5/5

The Declaration of the Rights of Magicians (henceforth referred to as Declaration) is an alternative history of the late 18th century that includes the push to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain, the French Revolution, and the Haitian Revolution. In this story, magic looms over these significant historical events and the major players in them. Brought to life are complex historical figures including Maximilien Robespierre, William Pitt the Younger, William Wilberforce, and Toussaint Louverture, among many others, some of them magicians, some of them not. As the Revolution sweeps the world, magicians rise up to define their place in the world, but darker forces are at work behind the scenes, and what transpires will alter the state of the world forever.
I have such mixed feelings about this one. I absolutely adored the premise, as a historian and a lover of historical fantasy. I love this time period in history, and I am glad that William Wilberforce was so prominently featured here, because he's one of my favorite historical figures that not a ton of people know about. Parry's writing style is refined, and it is clear that a lot, and I mean A LOT, of research and work went into this book. Unfortunately, this was a really long read for me, and I don't mean in length. The pace of this novel just slogged on and on. There is so much attention to historical detail here, and on a level I appreciate that, but there was just so much dense historical detail here as well as philosophical and political discussions between the characters that I just lost track of the plot all together in some places. A historian by trade, I usually can track with this kind of thing, but I was lost and had no idea what was going on much of the time. It made it a chore to get through the more I got into this book. Also, this narrative is a male dominated one, and although there are women playing roles here, only one of the main characters was a woman. It would have been nice to see women have a more predominant role in this book, as it is historical fiction. For me, the historical details and philosophical discussions drowned out the story, and I am sad to say I did not love this book as much as I wanted to. But it is well-written and I encourage people to learn more about the events covered here, because they are so important.

If you want a book that’s almost an impromptu history lesson check this outtttt. This is set right around the time of the French Revolution from 1779 – 1794 and primarily follows William Pitt, Maximilien Robespierre, and a slave girl named Fina. I knew some about the French Revolution from past history classes (though I generally preferred pre-modern Europe), but this sort of opened a fascinating rabbit hole of additional reading. I was googling characters to see if they were real people and if events sort of did really happen as such (aside from the clearly magical fiction). This is basically a history lesson with magic.

Fina was a slave on a sugar plantation in Jamaica who eventually made her way to the French island of Saint-Domingue to join the rebellion of Toussaint L’Ouverture. She doesn’t have as many chapters in the beginning of the book, but they are nonetheless interesting and heartbreaking. The slave masters use a potion that essentially traps people in their bodies and most can’t even speak or move without a direct command to do so. Fina is stuck like this for so many years, until she eventually and inexplicably is no longer affected.

William Pitt is a rather famous figure in British history, well known for his position as Prime Minister. In this book, the reader gets to follow him and he and several of his dear friends including William Wilberforce as they take on the slave trade, the French, and so many other things. Pitt has magical talents, though he keeps his true classification a secret from all but Wilberforce who acts as a balancing voice to him. They have quite the adventures and come face to face with loose Shadows on several occasions.

Maxmilien Robespierre may be the most well known of the historical figures in this book, as he is one of the fathers of the French Revolution. He starts out as a peaceful man, calling for reform while his companions write burning critiques of the monarchy and the Templars that control and punish commoner magicians. You see, commoners with a magical talent are braceleted at birth, so that the Templars might track them and punish them if they were to use their powers. It all starts with good intentions and then things get out of hand and thousands are being guillotined and the streets run red with blood.

Behind so much of this is a dark figure pulling the strings. He’s in contact with Robespierre, granting him more powerful mesmeric magic, he’s summoning shades, he’s enabling the slave revolt in Saint-Domingue all for his own gain at the end. The reader spends almost the entire book wondering who and perhaps what this shadowy figure is and what they hope to gain from the chaos.

This was such a well-written historical fantasy and though it took me a week to finish it, it was well worth the time. The subject matter was deep and it needed to be read carefully and sometimes in small doses when things got serious. The characterization was brilliant; you could feel the desperation as things spiraled out of control and ultimately, if you know history you know how things end. Who lives and who dies.

A Declaration Of The Rights Of Magicians By H.G. Parry

This review I am going to do that thing I don't normally do. I'm going to provide the summary, for both our sake. I need to ensure that I do A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians and its creator, H.G. Parry every due it deserves (including you having a solid summary of what it is about), and that you understand that I am taking every precaution to not spoil ANYTHING. The temptation to spoil so many things is so high that I feel like a fiend shaking with the need to unleash all the magnificent things. But I can't. And I won't.



I have, actually set a percentage. I will NOT mention any specific events, reveals etc. past 100 pages. Those are all safe. Generalities that are not spoilery, of course I will speak to because that's how I have always review books. But I don't deal in spoilers and will continue not to. So, in order to abide by these two principals. I will provide the summary.

Shape

Buddy Reads  Co-Hosting With Becky @CrookBooks

I quit. I give and wave the white flag. Apparently, for whatever reason, Becky is not yet sick of me. I don't have an explanation for it. We just keep finding books to read together. Forest of Souls is next. Forest of Souls is next. With Witches Steeped In Gold and, I think Gilded Ones, we already have buddy reads for next year?! Maybe I'm imagining that, but I don't think so. At this point I figure she's just co-hosting my site. So, there's that. You know. Like a podcast. Co-hosting, with Becky. And so welcome to Becky co-hosting my read and review of A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by H.G. Parry (her review is linked above).

Upfront Disclaimers 

DO NOT. LET ME REPEAT. DO NOT. DO NOT SLAM THIS BOOK DOWN OR TRY TO SLAM THIS BOOK DOWN IN A DAY. Most readers, I imagine will read that sentence and think, is this a thing? I speak, mostly to other reviewers out there, truly. This is not a book you can pick up and expect to just throw back in a day. It is dense, but definitely not in a bad way. Anyone who has been around my site longs enough knows that I am diagnosed and medicated for ADD. I can't deal with twenty pages to describe a tree. I can't handle overly descriptive, lack of action type books (see 800-page Adult Fantasy books). A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is NOT THAT BOOK.

What I mean is that H.G. Parry is working with a lot of material (specifics coming later). To rush through it would be a sin. Not only is Parry working with a lot of material, but she is working with it masterfully. To rush through it as a reader would not only contribute to you missing the intricate blending on her craftsmanship, but it would be completely overwhelming and you would end up either stopping altogether or walking away with a negative view of an exquisite work.

Second, do you have to be a history geek to enjoy A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians? No. You don't even have to love history. I would imagine not having a vitriol hatred of history to be helpful. Outside of Kiersten White (And I Darken and Guinevere Deception), I haven't read a lot of Alternative History because it tends to veer into the romantic. This does not. What it does do is align to the events leading up to and during the French Revolution with brilliant accuracy (with magic, of course). But you don't need to know any of that to enjoy it.

About This Alternative History Thing...

The bulk of my historical curiosities and my minor in America History surrounded the American Revolution. There is overlap there between Jefferson, Lafayette and the French Revolution. I will say that I was surprised and a bit disappointed that they didn't make an appearance in A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians. I'm sure Parry had her reasons for this, and it is nitpicking to bringing it up. I mean hell, the title is taken from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

I only bring it up because Parry sticks to the history of that time period with such meticulous accuracy that it is mind-blowing. It isn't just the historical figures, times or places. Beyond that, it goes right down to the speeches (I'll go further into that in the questions below), documents, events and how one dominoes into the other. It is completely and utterly mind-blowing.

When I first spoke of this to Becky, I called it code-switching but that isn't really the right term. Through my educational lens that made the most sense as a vehicle to explain what I meant. Parry effortlessly and expertly switches between the correct vernaculars and dialects in correlation to that that time period, and each location with ease. This makes it even more authentic and incredible to read. She truly wrote those pieces as a historian, in my opinion.

What makes this alternative history, the one thing that makes A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, alternative? Is the incredible magic system that is interwoven throughout this entire time period. A period pitting aristocrats vs. commoners that designs to bring about the rights of commoners, the fight of abolitionists and a removal of a monarch.

Magic+Politics...

I mean what is the one thing that could make politics any messier than magic... let alone dark magic? Especially during one of the bloodiest, nastiest revolutions (yes, including the American Revolution- at least they had George Washington to fall back on as President and a semblance of government in place), to boot. The French? They had nothing. And then rebooted, restarted and rebooted again. There were councils and committees, but at no point was the country really ever on the same page. It was a MESS.

The brain of the Revolution, Maximilien Robespierre and his best friend, who "lit" the fire of the Revolution, Camille Desmoulins are a mesmerer and a shadowmancer. However, Camille has always been "spellbound" by a bracelet on his wrist that prevents him, a commoner, from utilizing his magic. Robespierre's vision is a France where commoners are as free as Aristocrats to utilize their magic.

On the other side of the channel, William Pitt, youngest Prime Minister in history, is fighting with the breaking of spellbound magic for a whole different reason- abolishing slavery. If the moral atrocities aren't enough to bring everyone to end it, the physical proof of its horrific abomination, surely will be. Using spellbound magic, slaves are kept underfoot going long past their mind's and body's actual abilities, literally working themselves to death in a matter of years.

Pitt and William Wilberforce, along with the evidence of the atrocities slaves suffered brought by Thomas Carter, were fighting to bring an end to this hideous practice.

Men Become What They Fear Most

Nothing worth having is ever easy. Try to take the short-cut or the easy way and you are likely to make a mess of it all. It might seem, at the time to be the perfect solution. It rarely is. And man, in its ignorant genius, often becomes everything they hate, everything they try not to defend against. They want peace, they go to war. You want to defeat mortality. Have children. Someday I'll get through a review without quoting Marvel. Probably not. But most of what I just said is not only true long before Marvel but was also the basis of the MCU and summarized in Age of Ultron. It is why Tony Stark couldn't be trusted to create a super bot... a suit of armor around the world (Don't bring up Endgame, not the point).

Everything Stark feared, he put into Ultron. He went too far. Magic, technology? Same thing. Same result. You take something you don't understand, and you mix it with politics? It won't end well.

Nothing and no one is beyond this idea. You have a vision you believe to be correct and then become so fearful of losing it that you start doing all the wrong things, become paranoid and cutting out those that you trusted above all, your voice of reason. And nothing good comes of that. Especially when someone, or something is there to play on those fears, the anger, the desire. And is willing to handle it all. For a very, tiny price.

It is never small. It is never tiny. And nothing good ever comes of it. So, when a dark figure comes to Robespierre and offers him support in bringing his version of France to fruition by awakening weak magic in his blood? Robespierre jumps at the chance, for France, of course.

William Pitt

Things you don't expect in Alternative History for 300, Alex.

Dark Magic running through the Prime Minister's bloodlines.

I'm gonna leave that there and move on.

Because I'm mean. And because I promised not to spoil anything.

Wrapping Up With Some Thoughts
The pacing is fantastic. Again, just don't rush it. That's all I'm gonna say there. This book, in fact is so good, that I believe I'm going to buy the audible to "reread" (as long as the narrator is good) because, yeah.
The Holmes and Watson dynamics between Wilberforce and Pitt is brilliant, heartwarming and just hysterical.
To expand on the above-- there are MANY parts of this book that are just dead-pan funny and its perfect.
The main characters, the side characters, are well flushed out through dialogue and action. As aligned to history as A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is, H.G. Parry never just sits back and rest on it. The world, the characters, and the events are vividly painted without ever being overdone.




Lastly, and as generally as possible... I keep mentioning dark magic, blood magic... if you put two and two together... there are well... just put those things together in your head and well... IT IS A PARTY!




I HOPE YOU LOVE THIS BOOK AS MUCH AS WE DID... on to the QUESTIONS

What other historical period would you like to be written to include magic?

I can't believe we both have Ring Shout on our TBR...

The American Revolution, without a doubt. I kept hoping America's debate on whether to join the French Revolution would somehow show up in here, but it didn't. That is just a preference thing, not a knock.

Do you think the inclusion of magic would fix 2020?

Short cuts never worked. And people confuse power for peace... for Covid? God I'd hope so- for everything else? It could too easily get into the wrong hands and be used to make everything much worst. And that is 2020's brand.

Did you go into this book knowing about the historical period? And did that affect your reading/enjoyment in any way?

I know more about the American Revolution, than the French Revolution to recognize when names and actual speeches were being utilized. I also knew dates, events etc. So, I guess I knew a bit. The French Revolution isn't why I chose this book. I like revolutions in general. I'm that type of person, I suppose. It definitely didn't hurt.

Favorite Quotes

I laughed when Becky said- can I do multiple quotes- sure cause I'm gonna give you a speech from Prime Minister, William Pitt:

I find it difficult, personally, to see evidence that the people of Africa are uniquely susceptible to dark magic in the fact that they are bound by a spell designed to bind them. One point cannot be denied: Africa does not have Europe's great cities, nor her libraries, nor her technological advantages. But think of this. Why might some Roman senator, reasoning on the same principles, and pointing to British barbarians, have predicted with the equal boldness, 'There is a people that will never rise to civilization- there is a people destined never to be free- a people without the necessary understanding for the attainment of useful arts, and created to form a supply of slaves for the rest of the world.' Might this not have been said as truly of Britain herself as can now be said by us of the inhabitants of Africa?

We may live to behold the natives of Africa engaged in the calm occupations of industry, in the pursuits of a just and legitimate commerce. We may behold the beams of science and philosophy breaking in upon their land, which, at some happy period in still later times, may blaze with full luster. Then may we hope that Africa, though last of all the quarters of the globe, shall enjoy at length, in the evening of her days, those blessings which have descended upon us in a much earlier period of the world.

(Part of the original speech: Mr. William Pitt on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, delivered to the House of Commons April 2, 1792)

The premise of this book is very imaginative and intriguing, and I was very drawn to it. However, I had a tough time with this book. I stopped and started it three separate times over the course of a few months, and ultimately ended up DNF-ing it. The book just didn’t grab my attention from the outset. It jumped to seemingly unrelated places/characters and I had a hard time understanding how it would all come together, especially with Fina’s story. I was particularly bored with Pitt and Wilberforce - there just seemed to be so much unnecessary detail/scenes that seemed to go nowhere. I understand the value in needing to weave a rich tapestry to bring together these stories that cross England, France, and Jamaica, but I just couldn’t keep spending time trying to find when that would happen.
I also wish there was more actual magic happening. There was so much talk about it and the politics of it, but not enough occurring (at least up to the point I quit).
Finally, and most importantly, I was very much bothered by the horrible things being done to Fina including her capture, drugging, and enslavement, while so much more attention was paid to laws that prevented British and French citizens who couldn’t use magic if they weren’t nobility. Big deal. I understand that slavery was an active institution in this historical setting, but I’ll be interested to hear how Black reviewers receive this book.

WHOA! This book was... breathtaking. In scope, in storytelling, in characters and perspectives and emotions and political machinations.

I seem to have read this at just the right and the wrong time, simultaneously. The wrong time, because this story requires an intense amount of concentration, and thanks to the current state of the world, my reading attention span has been SHORT. But also the right time, because this book is basically historical fantasy about abolition in Europe & the Caribbean. The debates, the questions, the implications, and the reminders (both of how far we've come and how far we have yet to go) feel very relevant at the moment, when George Floyd's death woke many up to the way systemic racism has been affecting Black people. (The racism is not new; the awareness being raised and universality of racism as a conversation subject is, at the very least, not something that's been tackled on this scale in recent history.)

It took me a while to get into this book. 25% or so. Before that, it felt like a jumble of characters and places. I could tell there was a lot going on, but my mind had trouble grasping it all.

Then... as occasionally happens, something clicked. (Also, it probably helped that my husband watched the baby for a bit so I could actually concentrate without her constantly trying to steal or click on my kindle.) I found myself riveted. Invested. Fully absorbed. Obsessed. In AWE.

Sooooooooo I do want to give readers warning that this book will take time to get into. I've read some of the other reviews saying it's boring or they DNF'd the book, and I honestly understand that. I considered it as well. But I'm so, so glad now that I read on. It's worth it!

Now, onto the actual book. In the alternate historical world of A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, magic is strictly controlled. The rights of magicians are under debate, and the author doesn't hold back when it comes to the way magicians of different classes and races (well, Black & White, as I recall no mention of other races in the story) are treated starkly differently. The story is as much about slavery and abolition as it is about the rights of magicians. And more than anything else, at its heart is the question of change. How do we bring about change? What's the best way to upend everything? Must it always turn to bloody revolution, or can it be done through peaceful negotiation? Is it fair to ask oppressed people to wait a single minute for freedom in order to usher in a new era with little or no bloodshed? Do the people who benefit from systems of oppression deserve to die for their parts in perpetuating those systems?

This story tackles all of these questions and more. For someone like me, who loves thought-provoking reads, this story was so powerful and generated so many interesting questions without clear-cut answers. It's all so wonderfully complex and interwoven with such brilliance. The magic, the mystery, the characters, the friendships, the absolutely illustrious quotes (mostly from the debate floor)... all of it. This story will appeal to philosophizers, or anyone who's fascinated by morality and moral quandries.

I also think this story will appeal to epic fantasy readers. There are a LOT of perspectives, and while the subject matter places it more squarely in historical fantasy, in scope and scale it reads like epic fantasy.

I do wish Fina's POV was expanded. We get a lot more of the White character's thoughts than the one Black POV. Granted, this may be a matter of the author exercising caution when writing outside her racial lane? But as a reader, I think it would've been interesting to see more of Fina's world and perspective.

I'm also surprised to see that this book isn't labeled as a series. Perhaps that will change? The ending to the story didn't feel like a full resolution. Maybe that's the point, or maybe I need to actually go research and see if this is planned as a series.

Overall, this book is not going to appeal to every fantasy reader, but there is a certain subset who will absolutely LOVE this book. Thank you to Redhook via Netgalley for providing me a free advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Out June 23 via Redhook.

I was unable to finish because I got bored. I don’t know enough about the actual historical figures who are the main characters in this book to tell if their depictions have any similarity to reality, but I can tell I wasn’t very impressed by most of them. The plot also just felt a bit dragged on.

Maybe it just wasn’t for me and other readers who are history nerds might appreciate it more.

The description doesn’t really do "Declaration of Rights" justice, so I figured I would give a quick take here. The story is divided into three broad perspectives that don’t intersect until a little while into the book:

In England, we follow William Wilberforce and William Pitt the Younger, two friends that end up in politics as an MP and Prime Minister, respectively, who are fighting for abolition of the slave trade and against dark forces;

In France, we follow young Robespierre, a secret necromancer and budding politician who, with his friend Camille Desmoulins, wants to bring about the French Revolution with the help of a mysterious friend in his head; and

In Jamaica we follow Fina, a young slave who hears the call for revolt from a mysterious voice and leaves Jamaica to follow Toussaint Louverture in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti).

Instead of general social unrest regarding the unfairness of socioeconomic status, the unrest in France is started because commoners across the world are not allowed to use their birthright magic, and are braceleted at a young age to prevent use. The punishment for illicit use is often a terrible length of imprisonment, or death. In the Caribbean, it is a step further, with African slaves being drugged to be obedient, magicked to follow orders, and not be able to use their own magic. The kings and queens are all swollen with inbred magic, and nobles are also allowed to use freely.

The only magic that has been outlawed completely is vampirism and necromancy, which requires blood to live and comes with a nasty side effect of needing to take territory and control it wholly (ala Dracula) while challenging all other vampires. In the early kingdoms, vampires ruled France and England, and wars were fought with magic, no holds barred. All of the vampires were killed centuries ago and the Concord was signed to prevent magic from being used on the battlefield… but were they all killed? And what is preventing someone from breaking Concord and unleashing years of oppressed magic users?

What I Loved:

The characterizations & interactions. It seems impossible for an author to have such an insane amount of worldbuild and setting also be able to write good characters, but Parry did, and I think that Declaration is actually carried by its killer cast of characters and their friendships. Pitt and Wilberforce have the sort of tight knit bond that I feel isn’t often portrayed in men (probably because author Parry is a woman): they are candid and emotional to each other, and not afraid to show genuine affection. They challenge each other intellectually, and both have an overwhelming sense of duty to their country, as well as a wickedly dry sense of humor. Robespierre and Desmoulins have a similar burning desire to do the right thing by their country, and balance each other’s strengths with Robespierre’s oratory skills and calm head and Desmoulin’s fire (literally) and wicked pen. Having gotten a very different side of these characters in real life (Reign of Terror, anyone? Ireland folding into the UK?) it was so nice to see these young men as just that: Young, revolutionary young men who want what is best for their respective countries.

The magical system: Given how insanely f***ed up France and England both were as far as colonialism and imperialism at this time, the idea that commoners are braceleted by the church in order to not use magic and are punished for even using magic to defend themselves is not hard to imagine in a magical world. The types of magic being passed down bloodlines made sense, as did the variations based on region. I loved that the kings and queens were “bred” for their magic to react to threats on the nation (see: the madness of King George III), and how the wanton use of magic by the French monarchy was a part of their downfall (coinciding with the excess of riches at the time). I thought that the insert of magic into this world was fairly seamless, easily interspersing the concept of regular oppression and economic repression.

The history. I have a feeling I may be in the minority for enjoying the dense historical aspects of Declaration, but Parry clearly did so much research into British, French, and Caribbean history, and it shows. This is a time period that is pretty interesting to me (most of my undergraduate English degree focused on Irish troubles lit, with a lot of British influences), so I was familiar with the whole cast of characters and did not have trouble keeping up. I have a feeling that other people will have a problem with how densely historical this is, but I never felt as though Declaration was dry or like a textbook – it is just a better fit for a more educated audience. The span of time this book covers is also pretty impressive (more than a decade), and given how this ends, I feel that Parry is gearing for a sequel. A massive undertaking.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

The heavy and lengthy political dialogues: Again, I had a great time with the historical aspects of Declaration, but the chambered politicking got to be too much for me. This was mostly in the English chapters and a little in post-Revolution France, but the pages really added up for every fiery speech and down-to-the-wire vote that occurred in Parliament and Chambers. While I appreciate you can’t show history without the discussions surrounding major political decisions, this went a little far and probably could have been summarized a bit instead of recited. Pitt, Wilberforce, and Robespierre are all thoroughly described, then shown, to be expert orators – I wish I could hear it instead of have to read it ad nauseum.

The Caribbean. Honestly, I wanted more from the Caribbean point of view, with Fina and Louverture. There has always been a discussion as to whether white authors should write about slavery and financially gain from fictionalizing the African experience during that time, but Parry’s historical research was so thorough and her treatment in Declaration unflinching, that this didn’t seem problematic… what was more problematic was how few of the chapters Fina got to occupy. It felt as though Parry waned to include a black voice to her narrative that is overwhelmingly about abolition, but then shied away from adding too much of that voice (perhaps out of fear of telling it wrong, or being accused of exploitation). Fina as the sole main female character deserved more “page time,” as did her story in plantation Caribbean.

Conclusion

"Declaration" is not a book for everyone, but it is definitely a book for people I want to read books with (I am kidding, that was mean – but seriously this is so far up my alley Parry may as well have been in my head). Here is a book for history buffs and for fantasy heads, for fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and Diana Wynne Jones’ YA Chrestomanci series. While there were some problems with pacing/length, and could at times jump too quickly, the journey is worth it.

DNF

2020 resolution: do not finish books that are boring me to tears! Because, god, this is boring as hell. And it shouldn’t have been because I’m the perfect audience for this. I majored in political science, took several classes on political philosophy/18th century revolutions, and am extremely interested in this era of history.

And yet. So boring. Not enough magic, weird narration/POV shifts, lack of investment to any of the characters after a long time... time to call it quits, I think.

Also: I feel very uncertain about the slavery/plantation depiction (it’s a major part of the book) and am unequipped to critique it. Will look for reactions by Black reviewers on the issue.

As usual, your mileage may vary, so please read a sample and other reviews to decide if this alt-history fantasy is for you. One person’s “I’m bored to tears” is another’s favorite book.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The title and blurb for A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians piqued my interest as a lover of both history and fantasy, evoking a magical revolutionary vibe. But while the book has good ideas, I feel they may have gotten a little lost in the execution.

I love the idea of a version of the late eighteenth century where people in France, England, and the Americas are rising up and demanding equality for all and integrating that with magic is fascinating and more or less well done. And Parry has clearly done her research to ensure her depictions of the various historical figures rings true, even in this fantastical context.

However, in trying to cover so much ground, I found that as often as I was intrigued, I was bored, or feeling a little bogged down by the scope of it all. It’s my understanding that there will be a second book, so hopefully I’ll feel more satisfied upon reading that and having pieced everything together.

While I’m not 100% in love with this book, I think it has a lot of potential. And I would recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction and fantasy, in hopes that you’ll enjoy it more.

H.G. Parry’s A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a sweeping fantasy novel that takes major events during the Age of Enlightenment — the French Revolution, the Haitian slave revolution, and the madness of King George — and overlays them with a skein of magic, investing the three major players with various powers: France’s Robespierre is a necromancer, Britain’s Prime Minister William Pitt is a mesmerist (among other things), and Toussaint Louverture is a weather mage (albeit a weak one, the focus in Haiti is really on a more powerful woman named Fina). The three, though, are actually dancing to the tune set by an immensely powerful and mysterious figure manipulating things to his own intended goal, which threatens ruin and destruction not seen for centuries. The concept has some potential, and occasionally that potential is met (particularly toward the end stages). Unfortunately, though, the concept’s mixed execution wasn’t enough to overcome issues of pace and character.

My first issue is that if one is going to introduce magic into the real world, I need to feel it’s truly an embedded magic in that reality and also that its addition is, well, an addition. Here I never quite felt either. The magic in this alternate Enlightenment feels a bit muddy or inchoate. I was never quite sure of its prevalence among the population, its abilities or limitations, or how it’s been working in the society at large. We see characters employing magic, and we see its effects certainly, but it feels somewhat random and more of a plot device than a natural part of this world. In related fashion, I was never quite sure what I was gaining with the addition of magic. The French Revolution, L’ourverture’s revolution—these are compelling, moving, dramatic stories on their own and their events have been related in both fiction and non-fiction in enthralling fashion. It’s A Tale of Two Cities” but with magic isn’t quite enough. Not on its own at least.

I also had a problem with pacing, which to be honest felt more than a little plodding through the first three-quarters of the book, which felt all of its near-600 pages and a bit more. Somewhat ironically, I did want more time with Fina in Haiti, whose story felt like it was given short shrift until the end. But I’d achieve that extra time not with more pages but by streamlining the book by about 100-150 pages and rebalancing the POVs, reducing the European leaders’ and giving that extra time to Fina. The pacing also wasn’t helped by the reliance on telling (via dialog) rather than showing nor by the relatively mundane style.

Characterization was hit and miss for me. The villain is the weakest point—more shadow than character and until the very end portrayed as “evil because he’s evil.” Fina should have been a much more captivating figure, but between the few pages we spend with her and the character’s passivity, she doesn’t really compel. Pitt is interesting in how he weighs the ethical and pragmatic concerns of protecting England, abolishing the slave trade, avoiding greater bloodshed, and restricting his own use of magic, but as a character he’s distant and more than a little cool, so he is more interesting than engaging. Robespierre, until the near end, feels like a missed opportunity. A man of truly honorable goals chased with deep compassion and conviction who finds himself overwhelmed by events and by his own fears/insecurities, he should have been a much more vitally fascinating character, that sort of “can’t look away” evil of “the ends justify the means.” There are hints throughout, but it’s only at the end I felt he came into his own potential as a gripping character psychologically. The same holds true for his best friend, Camille Desmoulins, who realizes the Terror has gone too far in its methods, and I wish we could have spent more time in both the realization and the changing relationship between the two men. As it is, it makes for several strong scenes, but they feel a little rushed and made me think of what could have been. My favorite character, and I think the one most richly, fully drawn, is Wilberforce, Pitt’s closest friend and a staunch abolitionist who works tirelessly to end the slave trade, even when, toward the novel’s end, it puts him on the opposite side of Pitt. Wilberforce is a thoughtful, moral man full of self-doubt, but laser focused, and the two men’s warm relationship is one of the strongest aspects of the novel, perhaps the strongest.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians was a difficult novel for me to persevere through. I put it down multiple times (never a good sign for me as I prefer to read books through in one or two sittings), never picked it up with what I’d call eager anticipation, and the last few times I questioned whether I’d finish it or not. I did obviously, and I will say its best pages are its last 50 or so. Whether that’s enough to entice me into picking up the sequel I’m not sure yet, but it does mean I can’t quite recommend the story yet until I (maybe) see how that second book goes.

I was thrilled at the opportunity to read this book ahead of time, and absolutely tore through it. Historical fiction and fantasy are my favorite genes, so I had high hopes around this book; the book delivered. The book works as a kind of alternate magical history, covering everything from the French Revolution to rebellion in Santo Domingo. Those with power are allowed to use magic; in other places it is used to subjugate and subdue. I truly enjoyed this book because I enjoy well-researched and detailed historical fiction; I could see fantasy purists finding it a bit too historically detailed for their liking. However, for me, the detail added to the joy. I'm excited the book is a duology - you certainly finish it being ready for the next.