dragonyphoenix

A Declaration on the Rights of Magicians by H. G. Parry. Fascinating world-creation. She takes the idea of inherited magical abilities to a new level. There's the usual control of water or fire, but also mesmerism, necromancy, and vampirism. It's set during the French Revolution in Jamaica, Saint Dominique, London, and Paris. Hundreds of years ago, in response to the vampire wars, the Knights Templar started using talismans to block the powers of magic users but commoners only. Aristocrats can still use their powers. It's very much caught up in the politics of the day, with William Pitt and Robespierre being main characters, but with the twist that they are magic users, and the last remaining vampire is manipulating behind the scenes to build his own empire starting with France. I guess I'm not great at describing why I like a book, but this one is on the list of books I want to own.

I also finished Heartstopper Volume 2. The Heartstopper series is a graphic novel about two high-school boys in love. At the end of the first volume, Nick and Charlie kissed. In this volume, we have Charlie's angst of I kissed my best friend who's straight and now he won't want to be friends and Nick's realization of I kissed a boy and I like it. I like the characters, the boys are very cute, but I didn't connect with this volume as well as I did with the first. Too much working through and talking about feelings? But that's what the overall story needs at this point, so I'm a bit disappointed with myself for not enjoying it more.