Carregue numa fotografia para ir para os Livros Google.
A carregar... A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians: A Novel (The Shadow Histories, 1) (edição 2021)por H. G. Parry (Autor)
Informação Sobre a ObraA Declaration of the Rights of Magicians por H. G. Parry
Books Read in 2021 (3,370) A carregar...
Adira ao LibraryThing para descobrir se irá gostar deste livro. Ainda não há conversas na Discussão sobre este livro. Hits and misses in this one. Some really fascinating alternative history world-building, but also spots that slog rather a lot, and a few characters that felt quite one-note. I will read the second one, though, since I want to see where the author's going. ( ) 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I feel generous. While an amazing look at an alternate history, one where the French Revolution started because of magic, and vampires are real but have been long gone from the world, with some truly great world building, I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Towards the end, Pitt and Wilberforce's ambling conversations were a bit tiring, and I found that I was more interested in Robespierre, even though he was about to be killed. I wanted more of Fina in what is now known as Haiti, and only got so little. I wanted to know who the Voice was, and though I know that he will be using Napoleon now (hint hint he said that his next tool will rule an Empire), I just want to know who he is. Will I read the next one? Probably, yeah! I just feel like there was something more out of this that I could get and I'm not sure what it was yet... Fans of slow historical narratives, like PBS Masterpiece series or HBO's The Gilded Age, will revel in the measured pace and intensive detail of this interesting fantasy, which takes the events of the French Revolution and situates them in the context of a Europe in which magic not only exists, but is wielded unequally. Familiar characters of history, including Robespierre and his compatriots on the French side and Williams Pitt and Wilberforce (who are the main characters, with the other perspectives coming slightly less frequently) on the British side advocate for magical freedoms alongside other civil rights and the walls of Parliament and the streets of Paris sing, literally and figuratively and magically, with the words of their inspirational declarations. Those who are not fans of Parliamentary process or inspirational speeches, however, may grow impatient here. I found the level of detail delicious, but could see where others might find it tedious. The prose occasionally wobbles, though it does strengthen in other places. My biggest issue, and the loss of a star as a result, is that, as the novel weaves in a third perspective -- that of an enslaved woman in the Caribbean, fighting for her own freedom and that of others -- it sometimes reads as less meticulous and a bit more stereotypical than the white characters. I understand the context of this difference -- clearly, the author has access to considerably more resources on the Euro-centric parts of this historical moment -- but I hope that the characterization of the Black and POC figures in this story becomes more well-rounded as the duology continues. I agree with another reviewer--this was a hard one to rate. As you may have surmised from the title, this is an alt-supernatural-Western European history, a shadow history, if you will. It's a fusion of history, politics, and fantasy/magical realism with historical figures (Robespiere as a necromancer, Toussaint L'Ouverture as a mage). Very well-written and comprehensively detailed which is why I bumped it over three stars. It reads as if it's intricately researched and crafted. Be aware if you tackle this it's nearly entirely dialogue driven with political intrigue and legal arguments/hearings--500 pages that feel like it's entire job is to set the stage for the action to come in the next installment. It's scholarly, but not stiff--a pageturner it isn't. Best analogy in tone I can muster: it's sort of like a supernatural Wolf Hall or maybe one of Caro's Years of Lyndon Johnson series if Johnson was up against undead world leader opposition. Remember Seth Grahame-Smith's books from awhile back (Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter)? They're sorta playing in opposite corners of the same playground, but wildly different in execution and in tonality. If those were too one-note jokey, this is like eating dry toast. It works and you're fed, but it's a polite 'no thanks' if offered seconds.
An impressive beginning to what looks to be an ambitious series. Pertence a SérieShadow Histories (1) Prémios
A sweeping tale of revolution and wonder in a world not quite like our own, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a genre-defying story of magic, war, and the struggle for freedom in the early modern world. It is the Age of Enlightenment -- of new and magical political movements, from the necromancer Robespierre calling for revolution in France, to the weather mage Toussaint L'Ouverture leading the slaves of Haiti in their fight for freedom, to the bold new Prime Minister William Pitt weighing the legalization of magic amongst commoners in Britain and abolition throughout its colonies overseas. But amidst all of the upheaval of the early modern world, there is an unknown force inciting all of human civilization into violent conflict. And it will require the combined efforts of revolutionaries, magicians, and abolitionists to unmask this hidden enemy before the whole world falls to darkness and chaos. For more from H. G. Parry, check out The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep. Não foram encontradas descrições de bibliotecas. |
Current DiscussionsNenhum(a)Capas populares
Google Books — A carregar... GénerosSistema Decimal de Melvil (DDC)823.92Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 2000-Classificação da Biblioteca do Congresso dos EUA (LCC)AvaliaçãoMédia:
É você?Torne-se num Autor LibraryThing. |