Description

‘Parry knocks it out of the park . . . Just plain wonderful’ Kirkus

For his entire life, Charley Sutherland has concealed a magical ability he can’t quite control: he can bring characters from books into the real world. His older brother, Rob – a young lawyer with an utterly normal life – hopes that this strange family secret will disappear with disuse, and he will be discharged from his duty of protecting Charley and the real world from each other.

But then, literary characters start causing trouble in their city, making threats about destroying the world, and for once, it isn’t Charley’s doing. There’s someone else out there who shares his powers and it’s up to Charley and a reluctant Rob to stop them – before anyone gets to The End.

‘A pure delight’ Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

‘[A] delectable debut novel’ Locus

‘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

Publisher Review

'[A] booklover's delight, filled with the most popular characters from Western literature, from Heathcliff, Dorian Gray and five brooding Mr. Darcys to more modern characters like Matilda . . . delightful literary fantasy -- SHELF AWARENESS This story is a truly a tale for bibliophile's and literature enthusiast's everywhere and everyone no matter who they are should read this book -- THE BIBLIOPHILE LIBRARIAN Engaging and intelligent, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep kept me turning the pages to discover familiar characters and surprising twists -- Rowenna Miller, author of TORN 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 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 IMMORTALS 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 MAGICIANS 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 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 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, 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. She plays with the canon without trying to imitate it, all the while spinning a truly heartfelt story about the strained but powerful love between Rob and Charley. An appreciation for Dickens and a passing knowledge of literary theory will provide extra enjoyment, but a lack thereof is no excuse to miss this page-turning fantasy. Just plain wonderful -- KIRKUS