To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
OR

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $30.70

Save: $17.71 (58%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians: A Novel (The Shadow Histories Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 593 ratings

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 a 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.

Praise for A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians:

"A rich, sprawling epic full of history and magic,
Declaration is Jonathan Strange with international politics and vampires. I loved it."―Alix E. Harrow, Hugo Award-winning author

"A witty, riveting historical fantasy...Parry has a historian's eye for period detail and weaves real figures from history-including Robespierre and Toussaint L'Ouverture-throughout her poetic tale of justice, liberation, and dark magic. This is a knockout."―
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Shadow Histories
A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians
A Radical Act of Free Magic


For more from H. G. Parry, check out
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep.

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
Shop this series
There are 2 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 2 books.

Something went wrong.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Loading...

From the Publisher

declaration magician

declaration magician

declaration magician

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A rich, sprawling epic full of history and magic, Declaration is Jonathan Strange with international politics and vampires. I loved it."―Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

"
A witty, riveting historical fantasy....Parry has a historian's eye for period detail and weaves real figures from history-including Robespierre and Toussaint L'Ouverture-throughout her poetic tale of justice, liberation, and dark magic. This is a knockout."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Impeccably researched and epically written, this novel is a stellar start to what promises to be a grand new fantasy series."―
Booklist (starred review)

""I absolutely loved it. It held my attention from the beginning and throughout. It's a beautiful tapestry of words, a combination of carefully observed and researched history and a well-thought-out and fascinating system of magic.
An absolute delight to read; splendid and fluid, with beautiful and complex use of language."―Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library

"Fans of
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will be enchanted by this sprawling epic of revolution and dark magic."―Locus

"It's no simple task to wrangle fifteen years of tumult in a few hundred pages, but Parry manages it with a deft hand.
Her alternate history puts a human face on the titans of the past, while weaving in supernatural elements that add a whole new dimension. I stayed up well past my bedtime to find out what happens next."

Marie Brennan, author of the Memoirs of Lady Trent series

"Impressively intricate; fans of the magic-and-history of
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will be delighted."―Alexandra Rowland, author of A Conspiracy of Truths

Praise for H. G. Parry:



"A star-studded literary tour and a tangled mystery and a reflection on reading itself; it's a pure delight." --Alix E. Harrow, bestselling author of
The Ten Thousand Doors of January on The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep




"Many have tried and some have succeeded in writing mashups with famed literary characters, but Parry knocks it out of the park... Just plain wonderful." --
Kirkus (starred review) on The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep




"Fun, witty, and full of insights about the powerful effect of stories on our lives, this book is highly recommended." --
Booklist (starred review) on The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep




"H.G. Parry's ambitious debut novel is a delight of magic and literature, love and adventure. With vibrant characters and a passion for story that shines through every word, this engaging read establishes Parry as a writer to watch." --Kat Howard, author of
The Unkindness of Ghosts on The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep




"A delightful blend of adventure and mystery and marvel, a story in which the fantastical becomes real. This beautifully-written novel is an exploration of the power fiction wields -- the power to inform and to change, even to endanger, our everyday world." -- Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches on The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep




"A rollicking adventure that thrills like Neil Gaiman's
Neverwhere mashed up with Penny Dreadful in the best post-modern way. Equal parts sibling rivalry, crackling mystery, and Dickensian battle royale, it'll be one of your most fun reads this year." --Mike Chen, author of Here and Now and Then




"A joyous adventure through all the tales you've ever loved. Funny, charming, clever and heartfelt, you're absolutely going to adore
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep." --Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand

About the Author

H.G. Parry lives in a book-infested flat on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, which she shares with her sister, a cat, three guinea-pigs, and two over-active rabbits. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, and has taught English, film, and media studies.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07YSMLMJF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Redhook (June 23, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 23, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4725 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 545 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 593 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
H. G. Parry
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
593 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book's historical accuracy detailed and true to historical figures. They find the premise intriguing and mesmerizing, with political intrigue. However, opinions differ on the writing quality - some find it well-written and engaging, while others feel it's boring and hard to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

9 customers mention "Historical accuracy"8 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the book's historical accuracy. They find the details detailed and the world set up naturally. The book is described as historical fiction set in the times of Pitt, Wilberforce, and Robespierre. Readers appreciate the author's skill in tweaking biographies to fit the plot. They enjoy the mix of historical fiction and urban fantasy in a historic setting, political intrigue, and dialog.

"...The author does a marvelous job of tweaking biographies to fit his plot...." Read more

"...A rather accurate at that. The timeline and the characters are all relevant for that time, but it's not just the French Revolution this book is about..." Read more

"...This is a very different enterprise: ambitious alternate history over two much longer books, and much darker...." Read more

"It's a historical fiction set in the times of Pitt, Wilberforce, and Robespierre but with magic in the world...." Read more

5 customers mention "Intrigue"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its mesmerizing and detailed narrative. They appreciate the intriguing premise and historical setting, as well as the political intrigue and dialogue. While some find the ideas interesting, others feel the book is slow-paced and lacks excitement.

"...This book was mostly a cover buy. Plus, the premise sounded intriguing - a retelling of the French revolution with magic? Yes, please!..." Read more

"...Truly an original and fascinating read!" Read more

"I really like this one. It's been a true page turner for me...." Read more

"...It's fascinating to read more about these people, as I don't really know much about them, and the magic system is solid...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive2 negative

Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written and engaging, while others find the style boring and difficult to read.

"...H.G. Parry's writing is incredible. She was able to make all of this interesting to me, even though I like my books fast-paced and full of action...." Read more

"...myself keep reading at times, which is a sign that the style of writing is rather boring for me...." Read more

"...fan of Alt-History this one truly ranks up there on my list of very well done novels. It's truly hard to put down!" Read more

"Well written" Read more

Alternative History 18th Century, Period Piece where Magicians fight for rights
4 out of 5 stars
Alternative History 18th Century, Period Piece where Magicians fight for rights
I received this book specifically to write a review. That said, I try to be honest and open in all my reviews.(Please see the enclosed pictures.)This is the second novel by H.G. Parry that I have had the chance to read.She, the authoress, does a good job at researching historical personages and keeping them just tethered enough so that you can see parallels with our own history.In this particular book, magic is real, but only certain people can wield it. It is apparently (mostly) the result of genetics, and the royal families in particular try to use eugenics to ensure that they have the toughest, most capable magicians around.To further the nobility's hold on magic, magic is strictly legally regulated, and the practice of magic is illegal for "unregistered" users.One of the key stars in the novel is William Pitt, yes, that William Pitt, but in this book he is a lawyer defending commoners using magic in London. We are also introduced to a slave, Fina, who is a commoner African with some native magical ability. We meet a who's who of 18th Century luminaries include Robespierre and most of the protagonists of the French Revolution.Some aspects are the same, the French use terror tactics in their revolution. King George III is mad, but he is also a powerful mage.We know how the book ends (looking at the back cover of the book and the title tell you that), with the declaration of the rights of magicians of all cuts of the cloth, and they win their freedom. The fun part of this book is how H.G. Parry gets us from point A to point B.One of the interesting, unique aspects of this book is that H.G. pays quite a bit of attention to common law and how things become a precedence.This is a very nice second novel.
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2021
    Someone unfamiliar with history might criticize this book by arguing how unrealistic a Mary Sue character this William Pitt is, becoming chancellor of the exchequer at 22 and prime minister at 24?
    And surely it is implausible for a wealthy member of parliament to have the sort of spiritual awakening that hits Pitt’s good friend, William Wilberforce! (By the way, if you haven’t seen the Wilberforce biopic Amazing Grace, I strongly recommend it before reading this book.)

    I have long been a fan of Wilberforce, so I recognized some of the ridiculous youthful adventures from his biography, though they didn’t make the wiki pages.

    Basically, the most implausible things about these characters are probably the things most likely to be historical.

    The author does a marvelous job of tweaking biographies to fit his plot. Desmoulins actually had a stutter and Robespierre’s mother did die young; the author twists these facts into his plot, keeping their biographies as close to our time as possible while setting up motives for the book’s world.

    I am sure this would be a fun read on its own just for people who enjoy period urban fantasies, but people who have engaged with the late 1700s will find quite a lot more to appreciate.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2021
    I'm posting this review after I finished the second book of the duology.

    This book was mostly a cover buy. Plus, the premise sounded intriguing - a retelling of the French revolution with magic? Yes, please! But the book is so much more! Yes, it is a retelling. A rather accurate at that. The timeline and the characters are all relevant for that time, but it's not just the French Revolution this book is about, also the slave uprising in Haiti at the same time.

    Book one is rather slow-paced. The focus is on the dialog between the politicians, friends, and colleagues. While the magic is explained here, you don't see much of it yet. Surprisingly, none of this mattered to me because I was so enthralled in the dialog. H.G. Parry's writing is incredible. She was able to make all of this interesting to me, even though I like my books fast-paced and full of action. The historical aspects are so detailed and the world is set up in such a natural way that it was really hard for me to put that book down.

    Book 2 is different, it picks up in pace, and you get to see all of the magic, vampires, and more (but read my review for that book to learn more ;) ).

    I can highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, urban fantasy in a historic setting, political intrigue and dialog, etc.
    17 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
    Do you like history? Do you like fantasy? Do you love when authors mix them both? Then this is a perfect book for you. In this AU, magic exists and is highly correlated with the social class system in Europe. When commoner magicians revolt against the bonds keeping them from fully utilizing their magic, it sparks the French Revolution, the Haitian slave uprising, and more.

    With viewpoint characters in the "great men" of the era (Maximilien Robespierre, William Pitt, William Wilberforce) but also in people whose stories have not been recorded (an enslaved woman in Jamaica, young magicians in France and England), the book takes the conceit to its logical end.

    Truly an original and fascinating read!
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
    Picked this up after The Magician's Daughter. This is a very different enterprise: ambitious alternate history over two much longer books, and much darker. For me, it's both too long and too dark. Certainly one has to question what "too dark" means in writing about slavery and the French Revolution. But that's just it: there's plenty of human darkness to explore in those. If an author ALSO needs necromancy, vampires, and undead armies to keep it going -- well, it was too much for me.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2022
    I really like this one. It's been a true page turner for me. As a fan of Alt-History this one truly ranks up there on my list of very well done novels. It's truly hard to put down!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024
    I studied the French Revolution in college and beyond. This (although it is historical fantasy) is now one of my favorite books on the topic. The magic is complete fiction but manages to do an incredible job bringing the characters and events to life. I knew every awful loss coming, and still couldn’t stop reading. The fantasy and history are woven so deftly.

    Don’t be fooled by the “slower” pace others mentioned - this is just plain great writing. It’s not going to catch your attention in a flashy way at the beginning, like a summer blockbuster or some one-season-wonder Netflix series does. But you know better than to follow that cheap dopamine! Those books are just junk food for your brain. Indulge all you want, but this is not that.

    The assignment here was really hard, but H.G. Parry completely smashed it out of the park. I wasn’t familiar at all with Wilberforce, but the characters just get better as you go. Such compelling writing - I’m already on the next book.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Manda Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant. Captivating. Intriguing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 7, 2020
    I have never found the 18th century particularly interesting, but then it’s never had Pitt as a vampire or Robespierre as a necromancer before... Even Wilberforce becomes someone worth following rather than the sanctimonious bore he always seemed before. This is a beautiful book, brilliantly written. It captures neatly the intelligences of the time and while the dark magic may not have been intended as a metaphor for the evil at the heart of capitalism, it achieves that end with remarkable skill.
  • Jeremy Keating
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great concept but a little flat in places
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2021
    I really liked the concept and the story is good. It just falls a little flat in places
  • m
    1.0 out of 5 stars not nearly as good as her later work
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2023
    I read Magician’s Daughter and really enjoyed it. The sample of this seemed promising, but I’m barely slogging through it, giving up at 33%.
  • Simon
    1.0 out of 5 stars Pitt and Wilberforce weren't exciting, this book emphasises that fact.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2021
    The 1st couple of pages, yes it looked to be a good read, but by page 21 it has settled in to a level of boring that when flicking forward seems to be well established. I want to be entertained. If I want a detailed history of Wilberforce or Pitt, that is what I will choose to read, not this rather pointless fantasy which seems to try to present itself as an alternative history rather than amusement.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?