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.

Thank you to Hachette for providing an ARC. I received it in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars.

This is the book I never knew I wanted but have always wanted most of all.

The Enlightenment is my favorite historical era, and the Age of Revolutions my favorite part of that era. The last 40ish years of the 1700s are endlessly fascinating to me, and A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians brought them to life in a beautiful, enchanting, magical way.

—> The worldbuilding. Creating an alternate history like this, where a fictional magic system + magical history must be seamlessly interwoven with real events, is a massive undertaking. Parry did it with incredible skillfulness and creativity.

—> The prose. The writing was lovely; it had a bit of an old-fashioned and magical vibe about it, but it was still understandable and accessible. There was also a lot of dry humor sprinkled throughout, which I really liked.

—> The plot. Although, knowing my history, I could predict some elements of this plot, that didn’t ultimately spoil my enjoyment. First of all, there were several historical figures I hadn’t read about previously, like Wilberforce, Pitt, and Camille Desmoulins, and I had no idea what would happen to them. Second of all, Parry introduces a lot of magical intrigue that, despite how perfectly it ties into the historical events, can’t be automatically deciphered by knowledge of them. Who is Robespierre’s benefactor, and what does he really want? What’s with Fina’s powers and the voice she can hear in her head? Where did the mysterious shadows dogging Pitt come from? There are enough clues that you have a chance of figuring things out on your own, but you also very well might not. I was easily pulled from page to page, racing to put all the pieces together, as the tension built to a gripping and terribly inevitable climax.

—> The characters. The blurb is a little misleading regarding who the main characters are in this book. I would classify William Pitt, the driven and clever Prime Minister of England; Maximilien Robespierre, the quiet lawyer who ends up spearheading the French Revolution; and William Wilberforce, one of England’s leading abolitionists, as the main characters. Fina, a magician and Jamaican slave, also gets some POV chapters, but not nearly as many as the others. I really liked all of them (except Fina, who I could just never connect with for some reason?), but my very very favorites are probably Robespierre, Camille, and Pitt. I was super invested in everyone, even figures that I hadn’t much liked in the history books. All of the characters leapt right off the page and felt just as deep and complex as real people. I felt for them, I mourned for them, I celebrated with them, I laughed with them. They came brilliantly to life.

I’ve seen a few reviewers criticize the heavy doses of history and politics in this book. And they are definitely correct in observing that there is a good deal of history and politics in this book. It’s a reimagining of a whole historical era, and most of the main characters are central in politics. I loved that aspect of the book, and it’s part of what enchanted me so much about it; but although it never reads like a textbook, I do think it still might be a lot to wade through for people who aren’t very interested in history or politics.

tl;dr A gripping + suspenseful plot, engaging characters, and very clever worldbuilding make A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians a magical treat for any lovers of history, politics, and fantasy. If anything I’ve said interests you, I highly recommend picking it up on June 23rd!

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.

A sweeping, tour de force retelling of the Jacobins, the Reign of Terror, slave rebellion, the burgeoning rights of man, and did I mention the magicians?

It is always fun to imagine what the world would be like if keystone events played out while navigating the addition of magic. In A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, H. G. Parry does admirable work in re-imagining post-colonial war Britain against the rising tide of revolution across the channel. Enlisting notable figures from history, she imbues some with power while others remain plainly mortal (and oft time those pose the greatest threat). With prose that reminds me of my days spent reading Motion to Compel and drafting legal correspondence, A Declaration treats the reader to the same florid storytelling they enjoyed in The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, all-the-while casting an animated humanity on figures whose roles in history have been cast in ink across the pages of middle school history books world over.

It is no easy task to bring Pitt the Younger and William Wilberforce to life as skillfully as Parry manages, but even then amidst witty repartee and the unveiling of fascinating magical history in England, the novel shines when it casts it's light upon Haiti and France. The inner turmoil and slow revolution (no pun intended) of Robespierre from unwilling passenger to the historically fanatic murderer of the Reign of Terror is masterfully handled. Yet for all the care and attention paid towards our MP, PM and Jacobin leader, none is handled quite so well as Fina whose journey from West Africa to the plantations of Jamaica follows a woman of character so well-rounded I still find myself in awe. Through her eyes we learn of the part magic plays in this world of slave trade and toil, of how widely spread the Art is throughout the known world, and we see a woman navigate the minefields of sugar cane, rebellion and her own strengths both owned in self and nurtured through experience.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians was a fabulous read, every bit as engaging and witty as Uriah Heep, while being wholly and utterly a separate beast from Dickensian Wellington. I cannot wait to see what else H. G. Parry puts out into the world, for these two efforts have both been outstanding.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians by HG Parry is an alternate history of the French Revolution where magic is common in the world. Parry weaves magic into the lives and events of the French, English, and Haitian people prominently involved in the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror including Maximilien Robespierre, William Pitt the Younger, and many more.
I found A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians to be an engaging and entertaining read. There were some point that felt they could have been trimmed a bit to keep the story moving. I hope there is a sequel intended, as the ending had an unresolved feeling to it.
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians has been compared to Susanna Clarke's book Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, while Clarke's book clearly influenced Parry and the two books cover similar themes and generally similar time period, Parry's book lacks the depth and grandiose of Clarke's book. This can be seen as a good or bad thing, there are many who consider Clarke's book too slow and wordy, in which case, Parry's book would be a good alternative as it is written in a more modern style. However, if someone was coming to Parry's book looking for the same tone and feel as Clarke's book, they could be left wanting.
Overall, I recommend A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians as an entertaining read, especially for those interested in the French Revolution and magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an eARC of this book.
#ADeclarationoftheRightsofMagicians #NetGalley

Came for the abolition, stayed for the vampires.

If this review is short, don’t be deceived. I loved it, and the more I like a book, the less I feel there is to say beyond, “Go. Read. Now.”

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is the first book in a historical fantasy duology featuring conscientious William Wilberforce and the fight for abolition, his friend and prime minister William Pitt, Robespierre, the French Revolution, the rhetoric of the Reign of Terror, the Atlantic crossing, slavery and plantations, what it means to forgive or hate, and how many lines can be crossed for the sake of fighting the darkness.

What I loved most about this book is how the fantasy elements don’t distract from the core moral and philosophical issues. Is progressive change better than none at all? Where is the line between restriction and regulation? Are there lines that shouldn’t be crossed when seeking justice? Unlike most other historical fantasy, magic doesn’t change the conflict. It heightens it, underscores the tensions already present, emphasizes the joys of freedom, disparities of privilege, and delicacy of diplomacy which were all very much present in the late 1700’s.

This book delivered everything it promised, and more. Wilberforce and Pitt’s conversations are hilarious, and I never thought I’d become so emotionally attached to Camille Desmoulins.

I hesitate to say it was slow, but it was thoroughly attentive to detail, with equal emphasis on the shifting moods of societies as well as individual action. Overall, a great blend of history, magic, and lurking suspense.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for the ARC!**

I was so excited for the opportunity to read this book, as one of my favorite authors had given it a stellar review back in March. Unfortunately, our sentiments ended up not matching. I absolutely love the genre bending in this book - historical fiction and fantasy are not often weaved together like this, and it was really cool to see how Parry recreated history to include magic, especially with historical figures like William Wilberforce. I cannot commend the alternate history here enough. However, the pace was just so slow, and the content very dense. There was also a lot going on and jumping around between different people and situations. I would still recommend this book to those that are interested in it, it just wasn't a good fit for me - I read a little more than half of it and skimmed the rest.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, via NetGalley.

Alternate histories are tricky books. When authors are trying to infuse magic into historical events that have already happened, they run the risk of not getting the "ratio" right -- too much magic, too little historical accuracy OR too much accuracy and too little magic. In this instance, I think Parry strikes the perfect balance.

Much about this novel is character-driven, despite the fact that it focuses on three of the most compelling historical events taking place during this time period. I was surprised to find myself enjoying the character interactions -- the long speeches, the philosophical discussions -- the most, since I know myself as a reader and can find myself skimming passages like that. Perhaps it's because my reading of this novel comes at a time in our current history where many of the questions raised here are questions we unfortunately are still trying to answer.

As others have noted, this is not a fast read, nor is it an easy read at times. Fortunately, my interest in these characters (particularly Wilberforce, Pitt, and Fina) kept me eagerly turning pages.

Genre bending readable gripping story. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell meets Les Miserables and ghosts and shadows and the undead. Historical fiction with a touch of horror. It's a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and H.G. Parry for the chance to review an advanced reader's copy of this book.

I'm left wanting resolution after reading the book. Thankfully, this is the first of a duology.

I was going to leave a four star review, with the sole reason this is not five stars for me is that it was unclear whether this book is the start of a series, or meant to be a stand alone book, from the advanced reader's copy. However, I just noticed a question on Goodreads that the author answered, in which the author stated this is to be a duology. The book leaves major plot points unresolved at the end, much as one would if this was intended to continue in a series. There is a clear refinement in the development of the plot, but the larger social action is stopped mid-arc. As this is a first book in a two book series, then I would give this five stars. The story is good enough to warrant continuation in the series and there is action that demands resolution. The story is sufficiently advanced that a second book should complete the action started in the first book. I would definitely purchase the next book continuing this story!

The book is a alternate-history, fantasy book, focusing on several different figures during the Age of Enlightenment, during the late 1700's. The book examines two major issues which have some linkage, bound together in class and social conflict:: slavery and class restrictions on the use of magic. The author offers an in-depth and intriguing explanation for how the issues are related, which becomes a major theme throughout the book. The book examines the political struggles in Great Britian, France, and Carribean colonies, with both slavery and class restrictions on the use of magic, with a lesser examination of the social and economic costs of a harsh criminal justice system. The author appears to have carefully researched slavery, politics, and the criminal justice system in these areas historically, and made appropriate changes to incorporate the use of magic in that era. It sounds like it should be boring, but it is not. Given the extensive political unrest we presently experience due to social and racial inequality, exhibited economically, politically, and within the criminal justice system, this book is especially well timed for release, as it correctly suggests that our current inequities trace all the way back to the scourge of slavery.

The book introduces numerous characters, but particularly focuses on a pair of English members of Parliament, including former Prime Minister William Pitt; a handful of French revolutionaries, including one notable historical figure, Robespierre; and colonial figures including a former slave and a revolutionary general Toussaint L'Ouverture. The author, in fitting with the alternate history-fantasy theme, attributes magical powers to each of these parties, and examines how those magical powers would have been reflected within their individual bodies of work. The author examines how social, political, and religious institutions were used in the oppression of slave and magic user alike, and how resistance to that oppression may have differently resolved. The book details the development of the French Revolution, as a matter of rights for magicians, and the start of an accompanying war; the pursuit of abolition and criminal justice reform in Great Britian, as well as preparations for war with France; and the impact of slavery and slave revolts in Carribean territories.

The book details extensive violence, because there are both a revolution and a war that develop over the course of the book. The violence is not gratuitous in nature, and serves to advance the plot. The book makes only passing reference to sexual content, so this should not present a caution for parents with teenage children. The characters are vivid and well-developed. The story is intriguing and maintains the reader's interest, despite the length of the book. This was not a quick read, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Fans of alternate history would certainly enjoy this, for while there is a fantasy element (magic), the author focuses on the historical social and political context, rather than dwelling on magic.

H.G. Parry sets her second novel in 18th century England, Jamaica, and France. She also uses known historical figures, like William Pitt, Robespierre, and Toussaint L’Ouventure to tell the story of events leading to the French Revolution. What makes this alternate history story unique is that magic plays a major part in the cries for revolution. Everyone has magic, but the aristocrats have managed to make it illegal for “commoners” to use it. The Knights Templar enforce the law and commoners are either imprisoned or executed. And, of course, there is an evil force in the background that is manipulating events and people into a worldwide upheaval.

The author makes history come alive and has obviously done her research into the historical events. The book is a page turner until it is not. Somewhere in the middle of the book Parry felt compelled to over-share her research with her reader and the story slows down because of it. The author has made this story male-centric and the women who were involved in the birth of revolutions are forgotten once again, which is too bad because Parry had an opportunity here to include the French and English women involved in revolutionary acts and that opportunity was squandered. Yes, there was Fina, a slave in Jamaica, but her story was minimized in this book.

There is no doubt that Parry is a talented writer and has the imagination to pull this book off. So if you like historical novels that includes known historical figures, this book may be for you. If you like historical novels that take a new and different approach to the facts, this novel is for you. If the concept that magic was at the core of the French Revolution and the slave revolts in Haiti and Jamaica intrigues you, then this book is definitely for you. If you like books that bring history alive, this is a must read.

My thanks to Redhook and NetGalley for an eARC.

As a historical fantasy enthusiast, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is everything I could ask for and more from a magic-imbued reimagining of the interrelated histories of the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, and the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire!

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians presents an alternate version of the late eighteenth century world, a world with magic in it. The story travels back and forth between France, Haiti, and Britain where magic is confined strictly to the aristocracy in the European countries. In France, Robespierre dreams of a country free of constraints, a France where commoners and aristocrats alike use their magic freely. He’ll go to any means to make it a reality, even if that means he has to associate with dark magic. As the abolition of the slave trade is heavily discoursed in London, Prime Minister William Pitt is locked in a constant battle against his own nature. Fina, a slave stuck in a sugar plantation in Jamaica struggles to be free of the enchantment suppressing her magic and join the Revolution. In the midst of it all, an ancient, dark presence is stirring, slowly leading the world into utter chaos.

This book is a beautiful and well-balanced combination of extensively researched history and a captivating magic system. I’m completely in awe of the way Parry has woven magic into the late eighteenth century world and given it a magical background so convincing! As you read the book, you’ll find yourself firmly believing that the Parisian mob that stormed the Bastille consisted entirely of commoner magicians, or that Robespierre, a necromancer, raised an army of undead during the French Revolutionary Wars. In terms of pacing, the story itself moves quickly enough, but it also demands to be read slowly and savoured thoroughly. The writing can seem quite dense and history book-ish at times, and I can see why that might make it difficult for some to get through this brick of a book. That being said, I think the writing style suited the tone of the book perfectly, and I was engrossed enough in the story to not feel thrown off by the verbosity.

The magic system in the book is not something we haven’t seen before, but you can never go wrong with elemental magic. We don’t actually witness most of the magical battles since we get to know about them from the conversations the characters have, but the few scenes where we do see various types of magic in action are exhilarating, especially Camille Desmoulins’s fire magic. The antagonist in this novel possesses dark, mysterious magic that brings about countless deaths and devastation, and while that’s not fun to read about at all, his abilities are fascinating all the same.

Along with William Pitt and Maximilien Robespierre, we see several other prominent historical figures in this book, including William Wilberforce, Camille Desmoulins, and Toussaint Louverture. Parry brings them alive on the pages, and most of them possess magic in some form or other. She makes you deeply care for these people and what they fought for and that’s not something very easily achievable, especially when dealing with characters most readers had to reluctantly learn about in history class while wistfully looking out the window and dying to be let out.

The fact that all of these characters perceive the concept of the greater good in radically different ways, and yet each of them think they are doing the right thing even when their actions directly contradict each other’s makes this book a compelling and thought-provoking read. One of the things that really appealed to me about the characters was the complex but heartwarming relationships they shared, especially the one between Pitt and Wilberforce. Their friendship and their constant witty banter bring a breath of fresh air in the otherwise solemn and at times depressing narrative.

The one issue I have with A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is that we didn’t get to see much of Fina and the Haitian side of the story in general, and the characters there didn’t get as much development as the ones in Britain or France. However, the ending leads me to believe that I might get my wish in book two. Except for that, this book was pretty much perfect to me.

If historical and heavily political fiction is something you enjoy, or if you’re just looking for an intriguing read to really get you thinking, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a book you want to keep your eyes peeled for. And just in case you need more convincing to add it to your high priority TBR: this book has vampires.

This book seems to want to be a successor to 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell', and on the whole it more succeeds than fails. 'Declaration' is a politically dense book, and as I happen to like politically dense books, I enjoyed the machinations between William Pitt and Maximilian Robespierre, both transformed into magicians with potentially dark powers. The conceit allows Parry to hold a slightly warped mirror up to our own world's history of enfranchisement, abolition, and revolution, digging deep into a lot of weighty issues. The thaumaturgy is chewy and leaves a lot of room for future exploration.

It does take a while for the story to get going, however -- I would say a solid third of the way into the book is when things begin to pick up -- and while I never mind a somewhat meandering plot, the characters and the world need to pull their weight to make up for it. I did not always feel they did so, particularly early on. Not much description is spent on immersing the reader into the feel of the world; rather the narrative often reads like a history text, catching the reader up on the events of the alternate-world. Pitt and Wilberforce have some crackling dialogue, but it often feels more designed for TV than for the page, as so little other material bolsters it.

I was also disappointed in the only female POV, who is also the only Black POV, a woman called Fina. She receives much less page-time than Pitt, Wilberforce, and Robespierre, and her story feels somewhat tacked-on rather than truly woven into the greater narrative. I would have liked more from her in counterpoint; as it stands, her voice is rather drowned out by the European men.

In this alternate universe, set around the era of the French Revolution, magic is a genetic trait which only the nobility is permitted to exercise, and only if their strain of magic is not classified as dark magic, such as vampirism or necromancy. The Knights Templar act as an international religious judiciary which registers all magic users, polices the use of magic, and even imprisons or executes offenders. The novel follows several historical figures, from William Wilberforce to Robespierre to Toussaint Louverture, as each grapples with how magical oppression intersects with the real historical oppression they fought.

I had a difficult time writing this review, because it took me a while to figure out how to put into words my discomfort with the premise of this novel. Normally, I have no problem with how urban/historical fantasy layers magic and myth over reality. I was very much looking forward to reading this novel, precisely because it's such a fascinating era that seems generally under-explored in the fantasy genre. However, I thought the way the author approached the era was fundamentally flawed.

In essence, Parry has layered magical inequality and oppression on top of historical inequality and oppression, and made that magical oppression the primary lens through which the characters understand that inequality and oppression. The abolitionist movement becomes not just about slavery, but about how magic makes slavery even more evil. (Alchemists dose slaves with a potion that robs them of all power to control their bodies.) The French Revolution becomes not just about the aristocracy's opulence and indifference to the suffering of their subjects, but also about the freedom to use magical gifts. Colonial fear of slave rebellions becomes not just about slave owners' fear of economic loss and reprisals for their brutality, but also about their fear of their former slaves' often powerful magic being unleashed upon them. (This treads awfully close to racist beliefs, still pervasive in our contemporary society, that black people are superhuman.)

I wanted to like this book. Parry is an engaging writer, and her interpretation of Robespierre in particular was fascinating. Unfortunately, she needed to handle the historical issues with more care. I have no doubt she was well-intentioned as she wrote this book, but I don't think she had the knowledge and experience to address the slavery and class inequality aspects in a meaningful way. Rather than weaving the idea of magical oppression into historical events in a nuanced way, Parry keeps the revolution and historical figures, but replaces the causes and context of their fight with one of her own invention.

I am not quite sure in retrospect why I requested a galley of this book. Alternate history isn’t my favorite sub genre. But I heard a lot of good buzz on this book and I was curious. I am happy to have read it. It’s very well written.
This is our world with a LOT of magic added in. Europe used to be ruled by vampires. The nobles bred for magic but it also shows up frequently in commoners as well. The commoners have bracelets shackled on them to prevent them using magic. The story is set England, Paris and in what will be Haiti. It’s very well written and researched. If you like alternate history this one is worth reading.
I feel it does deserve a content warning for the early on scene of a little girl being abducted into slavery. The later scenes with the slaves are also distressing but the worst is the scene with a terrified child... If that would be too much for you you might want to skip this one.

The world, characters and writing was truly amazing. There’s multiple point of views, magic, a well thought magic system, different countries and cultures. I was nicely surprised and really love books like this one.
But on the other hand, it was a book with heavy subjects and political talk that dragged and ended boring me. It was still all very well written, and maybe if I had been in a more relaxed mood to read it, I’d have enjoyed it and it wouldn’t have bothered me.
All in all, I can’t wait to get the physical copy of this book.

The eArc was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This book had a lot of promise. It is the story of the French Revolution but interlaced with magical elements. The inclusion of magic with real-life history was extremely well-done. The story is told from the viewpoints of politicians in England, Robespierre of France, and a slave in the British colony of Jamaica. It focuses on the French Revolution and also on the attempt to abolish slavery in both England and France. In this alternative history, people have magic through their bloodlines but only the titled are allowed to use it. Commoner magicians are fitted with a bracelet which burns them when they use magic and which alerts the Knights Templar to their unauthorized use of magic, resulting in imprisonment or death. The French Revolution begins as a fight for equality for all magicians to be able to use their magic freely.

An alternative history with magic and vampires certainly is a great idea. Unfortunately, this book was a struggle for me because it was so political. There was very little action, but lots of politics and dialogue. I didn't connect to any of the characters and I didn't really care about what was going on most of the time. There were moments in the book where I was enveloped in the story, and where I could really see the potential of what this book could have been. It was a fairly easy read which is why I was able to get through the book and not DNF but the last 20% really dragged for me. And then the ending was so infuriating. The book didn't really come to a satisfactory ending; instead, it ended on a kind of "to be continued." I have no doubt there is another book planned. This book though was just too boring and too long for me to be interested in another one.

**I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion**

This book is so much fun! A richly imagined alternate history that inserts magic and caste privilege at the forefront of the revolutionary events of England, France, and the colonies in the late eighteenth century. Characters are endearingly entertaining, Parry's writing is lighthanded and witty, and the book has the sort of meandering, meticulously detailed narrative that would best be appreciated by lovers of books like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel.

The premise of this book was so fascinating and perhaps I over-hyped it to myself. Unfortunately the writing is lackluster. There is an old piece of advice about writing: show, don't tell. There is a lot of 'tell' in this book. We get large chunks of paragraphs in which nothing happens and no characters speak, but the author dumps information in the most bland way possible. I'm saddened that this book had so many other creative aspects to it, but the writing held it back from being an enjoyable read.