SEPTEMBER 2019 - AudioFile
New Zealand native Calum Gittins portrays a host of characters in this mash-up of classic and contemporary literature. Charlie, a “summoner” who has the power to read objects and people out of books, is voiced in a soft and often frazzled tone that sometimes reaches an excited pace. Charlie’s older brother, Rob, has a thicker New Zealand accent and a stern voice that gives way to guilt whenever he becomes upset with his younger sibling. Throughout the book, Gittins seamlessly transitions between a variety of accents, including Midwestern American, various British accents, and others. With the help of characters from well-known English literature such as Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein, the brothers must solve a puzzling mystery while ensuring that no one outside the family discovers Charlie’s uncanny ability. V.T. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
"If you've ever checked the backs of your wardrobe for snow and lamp-light — if you've ever longed to visit Pemberley House or 221B Baker Street, to battle the Jabberwock or wander through a fictional London fog — this book belongs to you. It's 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
"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)
"Fun, witty, and full of insights about the powerful effect of stories on our lives, this book is highly recommended. Give it to readers who devoured Jasper Fforde, Jim C. Hines' Libriomancer (2012), and Genevieve Cogman's The Invisible Library (2016), and to readers looking for adventurous fantasy with a soupçon of family drama."—Booklist (starred review)
"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
"Part mystery, all magical, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is both amusing and perceptive; the novel entertains as it reminds us of the power of words and how fiction can influence real life."—Locus
"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 An Unkindness of Ghosts
"A daring exploration of the worlds within words. Parry writes with the keen insight of Sherlock Holmes, the generous heart of David Copperfield, and the haunting soul of Dorian Grey."—Jordanna Max Brodsky, author of The Wolf in the Whale
"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
"H.G. Parry has crafted an imaginative and unique exploration of how words shift our lives in ways big and small. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is 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
"Clever, emotionally compelling, and teeming with witty allusions. In a story reminiscent of the literary world-bending adventures of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next, Parry has crafted a tale which will appeal to the cherished dreams-and secret nightmares-of all bibliophiles."—Cass Morris, auctor of From Unseen Fire
"Parry does a lovely dance on and around the stage of Dickens and other classical literature, playing fast and loose with the nature of reality to tell a story about the transformative act of the reading process and the importance of family, both found and not. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is dead clever and enormously satisfying."—Vivian Shaw, author of Strange Practice
"Engaging and intelligent, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heepkept me turning the pages to discover familiar characters and surprising twists."—Rowenna Miller, author of Torn
SEPTEMBER 2019 - AudioFile
New Zealand native Calum Gittins portrays a host of characters in this mash-up of classic and contemporary literature. Charlie, a “summoner” who has the power to read objects and people out of books, is voiced in a soft and often frazzled tone that sometimes reaches an excited pace. Charlie’s older brother, Rob, has a thicker New Zealand accent and a stern voice that gives way to guilt whenever he becomes upset with his younger sibling. Throughout the book, Gittins seamlessly transitions between a variety of accents, including Midwestern American, various British accents, and others. With the help of characters from well-known English literature such as Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein, the brothers must solve a puzzling mystery while ensuring that no one outside the family discovers Charlie’s uncanny ability. V.T. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
