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A Far Better Thing
H. G. Parry’s A Far Better Thing is a standalone, portal fantasy where Jonathan Strange & Mr. NorrelI meets A Tale of Two Cities in a heart-rending fantasy of faery revenge set during the French Revolution.
I feared this was the best of times; I hoped it could not get any worse.
The fairies stole Sydney Carton as a child, and made him a mortal servant of the Faerie Realm. Now, he has a rare opportunity for revenge against the fae and Charles Darnay, the changeling left in his stead.
It will take magic and cunning—cold iron and Realm silver—to hide his intentions from humans and fae and bring his plans to fruition.
Shuttling between London and Paris during the Reign of Terror, generations of violence-begetting-violence lead him to a heartbreaking choice in the shadow of the guillotine.
I feared this was the best of times; I hoped it could not get any worse.
The fairies stole Sydney Carton as a child, and made him a mortal servant of the Faerie Realm. Now, he has a rare opportunity for revenge against the fae and Charles Darnay, the changeling left in his stead.
It will take magic and cunning—cold iron and Realm silver—to hide his intentions from humans and fae and bring his plans to fruition.
Shuttling between London and Paris during the Reign of Terror, generations of violence-begetting-violence lead him to a heartbreaking choice in the shadow of the guillotine.
416 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2025
298 people are currently reading
30756 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Parry
9 books1,310 followersH.G. Parry lives in a book-infested flat in Wellington, New Zealand, which she shares with her sister and two overactive rabbits. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, and teaches English, Film, and Media Studies. Her short fiction has appeared in Intergalactic Medicine Show, Daily Science Fiction, and small press anthologies. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
June 2, 2025
This was A Tale of Two Cities with fae magic—and I loved every dark, emotional, beautifully written moment of it. H.G. Parry blends historical fiction and fantasy so seamlessly, it feels like this version was meant to exist all along.
The story is moody, atmospheric, and full of complicated characters, slow-burn tension, and big emotional payoffs. If you’re into dark retellings, magical realism, or just love a good cry over morally messy characters, this one definitely deserves a spot on your TBR. I recently obtained the audiobook from Macmillan audio of this and don’t miss out on it it was an excellent listen the narrator was top knotch.
The story is moody, atmospheric, and full of complicated characters, slow-burn tension, and big emotional payoffs. If you’re into dark retellings, magical realism, or just love a good cry over morally messy characters, this one definitely deserves a spot on your TBR. I recently obtained the audiobook from Macmillan audio of this and don’t miss out on it it was an excellent listen the narrator was top knotch.
August 8, 2025
Have you ever felt like a book was written just for you?
Parry’s latest work may be my favorite in her growing oeuvre, which is saying something given how much I’ve loved every one of her previous books. Her writing is always beautiful and rich in historical detail, and she is astonishingly adept at mixing in myth and magic in a way that blends perfectly with the setting.
In A FAR BETTER THING, we get not just rich period detail, warring faerie factions, and spellbinding magic (pun intended), but it’s a perfect riff on one of Charles Dickens’s most famous works. OF COURSE it makes sense that Charles Darnay was a changeling; it’s a brilliant conceit that Parry maximizes to its utmost.
One of the things I appreciate most about Parry’s writing is how she establishes and develops character through dialogue. I wish this book was twice as long just so I could enjoy more conversations between characters.
If you’re not me, well, be very grateful, because it’s exceedingly difficult to maintain one’s balance when one’s proboscis extends so far from one’s countenance, but, also, you may not appreciate this book to the same degree I did because, as you'll recall, it was clearly written expressly for me.
Still, I can’t recommend Parry enough and encourage you to dive into any one of her books, and especially this one.
Parry’s latest work may be my favorite in her growing oeuvre, which is saying something given how much I’ve loved every one of her previous books. Her writing is always beautiful and rich in historical detail, and she is astonishingly adept at mixing in myth and magic in a way that blends perfectly with the setting.
In A FAR BETTER THING, we get not just rich period detail, warring faerie factions, and spellbinding magic (pun intended), but it’s a perfect riff on one of Charles Dickens’s most famous works. OF COURSE it makes sense that Charles Darnay was a changeling; it’s a brilliant conceit that Parry maximizes to its utmost.
One of the things I appreciate most about Parry’s writing is how she establishes and develops character through dialogue. I wish this book was twice as long just so I could enjoy more conversations between characters.
If you’re not me, well, be very grateful, because it’s exceedingly difficult to maintain one’s balance when one’s proboscis extends so far from one’s countenance, but, also, you may not appreciate this book to the same degree I did because, as you'll recall, it was clearly written expressly for me.
Still, I can’t recommend Parry enough and encourage you to dive into any one of her books, and especially this one.
July 11, 2025
The first time I read A Tale of Two Cities I was 16 and was tormented by unrequited love. As such, the doomed character of Sydney Carton with his tortured sorrow and noble sacrifice resonated with me, and I identified with him as only a naive, puppy-lovesick boy could.
Perhaps that’s part of why I was so delighted and enthralled by H.G. Parry’s reimagining of Dickens’ famous historical novel as a dark portal fantasy. Sydney Carton is the first person narrator of A Far Better Thing, firmly at the story’s center, and unmistakably its hero (despite his opinion of himself). Parry has fleshed Carton out, building on Dickens’ sketch of him, giving him far greater depth, and an explanation why such a talented young man gave himself over to dissipation and despair.
And that reason for Carton’s despair is the heart of this book’s plot. Sydney Carton was stolen by fairies as a child, raised in their realm, then sent back as a mortal servant — a slave of Faery, to do their bidding in the mortal world. His life is not his own, and he despises himself for what they have made of him. The changeling left in Carton’s place grew up to be Charles Darnay. That fairy swap and all its implications becomes the cyclone-center around which this excellent tale rages.
H.G. Parry displays impressive skills in creating this novel. Her world building is impeccable. The fairies and their Realm that she creates are magical, beautiful, yet frighteningly cold and remote. They are absent human affections, and even their logic works differently. These are not the happy fairies of modern children’s fairy tales, but are closer in feel to the remote monsters out of Lovecraft. Parry makes their continued interactions with humanity and their designs for the human world into something truly chilling.
At the same time Parry impressively builds on the story that Dickens created in A Tale of Two Cities. She uses the full range of Dickens’s characters, down to minor side ones like Jerry Cruncher and Miss Pross. Anyone who has read Dickens’s novel will immediately recognize each, in all their details, yet Parry has woven them skillfully into her own plot, making each fit seamlessly into the dark fantasy she has created. It is really quite the magnificent trick to pull off.
A Far Better Thing is my surprise gem of 2025. It was an outstanding reimagining of a favorite old classic that made it all feel new and original. It was thrilling and suspenseful, and truly did justice by its central hero, my boyhood favorite, Sydney Carton. This was the first of H.G. Parry’s books that I have read, but it will not be the last. Should any other of her books approach the quality of A Far Better Thing, I may just have discovered a new favorite author.
Perhaps that’s part of why I was so delighted and enthralled by H.G. Parry’s reimagining of Dickens’ famous historical novel as a dark portal fantasy. Sydney Carton is the first person narrator of A Far Better Thing, firmly at the story’s center, and unmistakably its hero (despite his opinion of himself). Parry has fleshed Carton out, building on Dickens’ sketch of him, giving him far greater depth, and an explanation why such a talented young man gave himself over to dissipation and despair.
And that reason for Carton’s despair is the heart of this book’s plot. Sydney Carton was stolen by fairies as a child, raised in their realm, then sent back as a mortal servant — a slave of Faery, to do their bidding in the mortal world. His life is not his own, and he despises himself for what they have made of him. The changeling left in Carton’s place grew up to be Charles Darnay. That fairy swap and all its implications becomes the cyclone-center around which this excellent tale rages.
H.G. Parry displays impressive skills in creating this novel. Her world building is impeccable. The fairies and their Realm that she creates are magical, beautiful, yet frighteningly cold and remote. They are absent human affections, and even their logic works differently. These are not the happy fairies of modern children’s fairy tales, but are closer in feel to the remote monsters out of Lovecraft. Parry makes their continued interactions with humanity and their designs for the human world into something truly chilling.
At the same time Parry impressively builds on the story that Dickens created in A Tale of Two Cities. She uses the full range of Dickens’s characters, down to minor side ones like Jerry Cruncher and Miss Pross. Anyone who has read Dickens’s novel will immediately recognize each, in all their details, yet Parry has woven them skillfully into her own plot, making each fit seamlessly into the dark fantasy she has created. It is really quite the magnificent trick to pull off.
A Far Better Thing is my surprise gem of 2025. It was an outstanding reimagining of a favorite old classic that made it all feel new and original. It was thrilling and suspenseful, and truly did justice by its central hero, my boyhood favorite, Sydney Carton. This was the first of H.G. Parry’s books that I have read, but it will not be the last. Should any other of her books approach the quality of A Far Better Thing, I may just have discovered a new favorite author.
June 19, 2025
⋆.˚✮ 5 stars ✮˚.⋆
a million infinite stars this was perfect and i am completely distraught by the ending ~ RTC!
a million infinite stars this was perfect and i am completely distraught by the ending ~ RTC!
Want to read
December 27, 2024The fact that I didn't get approved for this on Netgalley destroyed me 🥲 I want to read this so bad
November 25, 2025
✰ 3 stars ✰
Would it have been A Far Better Thing to have just reread the inspiration behind this retelling of the classic, with a magical fairy-ish twist to it? Perhaps. But I don't mind giving props to where it's due, even if reading the world changeling more than 120+ times was a bit more than I could chew. 😮💨
Since I am familiar with A tale of Two Cities, I did not have any real expectations, merely curious to see what creative spin this would offer of Carton's unfortunate plight, now having the dirty hands of a Fairy Realm involved. 🧝 His role as a mortal servant, his misfortunes, his plans for revenge, his memories, all whilst longing for the life stolen from him - be it his grudge against Charles Darnay, a far better version of himself, or longing for the affections of one Lucie Manette, who so very strongly resembled his own childhood crush.
“This is why mortals make deals with fairies. Sometimes we need something so badly that we are prepared to risk everything.”
About a third in, I took a break from reading since nothing of the plot was really compelling me to stay invested. No tension, no element of surprise that had me eager to see what Sydney would do to get out of a life of lies and trickery. 🪄 The fairy world's intentions, while malicious, did not have any strong bearing for me to feel that tension, when much was spent rehashing an existing plot. A lot of detail was put into setting the scene, but the storyline only inched a smidge further.
I was, though, disappointed that, for all the fairy world was depicted as the all-powerful kingdom, it was sadly anti-climactic to see how Sydney thwarted them by their own hands. It was bogged down by his ruminations of connecting the dots - life works like a parlour trick. God knows why - that any emotional spark it could have snapped, simply fizzled. 😕 There was no rush of anticipation, the fear of leaving a promise unfulfilled, just - eh.
“It had been a long, strange road back to myself, but I had made it in the end.”
It has been awhile since I've read the original since my high school days, but I have seen a few live adaptations since, so being treated with some of the familiar original texts was an Easter Egg surprise. However, I also feel it was not exactly a successful choice, because Dickens' prose did not align with the author's own style, which was more modern and less verbose. And with the sheer number of times these characters shrugged with their dialogue. Yeah, not a fan. 🙎🏻♀️
Despite already knowing what Sydney Carton's tragic fate would be, his final thoughts hit hard on the weight of his bittersweet journey. A man who never had control of his destiny finally claimed the life that had been stolen from him. 🥺 Without fairy interference, a decision of his own free will. It almost brought me to tears; I can't help it; my emotions tend to overwhelm me more than I'd like. For it was his final act that wholly and solely belonged to him, that to those whose lives he changed to A Far Better Thing, in their hearts he would surely be more than just a Memory. ❤️🩹
“Perhaps for us, love is always an act of revenge.”
Would it have been A Far Better Thing to have just reread the inspiration behind this retelling of the classic, with a magical fairy-ish twist to it? Perhaps. But I don't mind giving props to where it's due, even if reading the world changeling more than 120+ times was a bit more than I could chew. 😮💨
Since I am familiar with A tale of Two Cities, I did not have any real expectations, merely curious to see what creative spin this would offer of Carton's unfortunate plight, now having the dirty hands of a Fairy Realm involved. 🧝 His role as a mortal servant, his misfortunes, his plans for revenge, his memories, all whilst longing for the life stolen from him - be it his grudge against Charles Darnay, a far better version of himself, or longing for the affections of one Lucie Manette, who so very strongly resembled his own childhood crush.
“This is why mortals make deals with fairies. Sometimes we need something so badly that we are prepared to risk everything.”
About a third in, I took a break from reading since nothing of the plot was really compelling me to stay invested. No tension, no element of surprise that had me eager to see what Sydney would do to get out of a life of lies and trickery. 🪄 The fairy world's intentions, while malicious, did not have any strong bearing for me to feel that tension, when much was spent rehashing an existing plot. A lot of detail was put into setting the scene, but the storyline only inched a smidge further.
I was, though, disappointed that, for all the fairy world was depicted as the all-powerful kingdom, it was sadly anti-climactic to see how Sydney thwarted them by their own hands. It was bogged down by his ruminations of connecting the dots - life works like a parlour trick. God knows why - that any emotional spark it could have snapped, simply fizzled. 😕 There was no rush of anticipation, the fear of leaving a promise unfulfilled, just - eh.
“It had been a long, strange road back to myself, but I had made it in the end.”
It has been awhile since I've read the original since my high school days, but I have seen a few live adaptations since, so being treated with some of the familiar original texts was an Easter Egg surprise. However, I also feel it was not exactly a successful choice, because Dickens' prose did not align with the author's own style, which was more modern and less verbose. And with the sheer number of times these characters shrugged with their dialogue. Yeah, not a fan. 🙎🏻♀️
Despite already knowing what Sydney Carton's tragic fate would be, his final thoughts hit hard on the weight of his bittersweet journey. A man who never had control of his destiny finally claimed the life that had been stolen from him. 🥺 Without fairy interference, a decision of his own free will. It almost brought me to tears; I can't help it; my emotions tend to overwhelm me more than I'd like. For it was his final act that wholly and solely belonged to him, that to those whose lives he changed to A Far Better Thing, in their hearts he would surely be more than just a Memory. ❤️🩹
June 21, 2025
Wow! I would very much recommend this one to fans of Suzanna Clarke. I, having never read The Tale of Two Cities, fell in love with this story on its own merits. It's melancholy and magical.
The audiobook performance absolutely sold the book for me. It was extraordinarily well done.
This is a new favorite book of mine. I'm so grateful to the author for crafting something so compelling and unique.
Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The audiobook performance absolutely sold the book for me. It was extraordinarily well done.
This is a new favorite book of mine. I'm so grateful to the author for crafting something so compelling and unique.
Thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 21, 2025
Slow down & savor like a bowl of freshly picked 🍓🍓🍓🍓
New Release 🎧 Review-ish
This is my fourth H. G. Parry book and I think it’s her best work yet.
She always surprises me with her concepts - they are unique, a little quirky and world building that is so much fun to imagine.
I think I’m also a sucker for plots that have judicial + philosophy concepts interwoven.
Maybe because this book feels like a companion book to Dr. Strange and Mr. Norrell or that I tend to love excellent narrators that can do accents. 🥰 - but this was a solid win.
My thanks to #MacAudio2025 - was a fairy treat.
4.25/5
New Release 🎧 Review-ish
This is my fourth H. G. Parry book and I think it’s her best work yet.
She always surprises me with her concepts - they are unique, a little quirky and world building that is so much fun to imagine.
I think I’m also a sucker for plots that have judicial + philosophy concepts interwoven.
Maybe because this book feels like a companion book to Dr. Strange and Mr. Norrell or that I tend to love excellent narrators that can do accents. 🥰 - but this was a solid win.
My thanks to #MacAudio2025 - was a fairy treat.
4.25/5
December 19, 2025
Whew, this is a tour de force from H. G. Parry. There's a reason not many authors have taken on retelling Charles Dickens: it takes a lot of skill, ingenuity, and creativity to tell a different story within an intricate pre-existing plot. I knew from the opening premise - Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay look so similar because Darnay is Carton's fairy changeling - that I was in for a ride. There's so much to admire here: the fairies, who are imagined quite differently than they usually are; what happens to the children stolen away by the fairies; a complex plot that weaves in and out of the frame of Dickens's story yet brings magic into every major occurrence. I haven't read A Tale of Two Cities since high school, when I found Dickens annoyingly verbose and his Lucie Manette a bland and idealized Victorian 'angel of the house' type. A Far Better Thing made me wish I remembered it better.
These are big sweeping themes of love, loss, revenge, and sacrifice. And yet, I felt distanced from the narrator Sydney Carton ; a dissolute mortal servant of the fairies who drowns himself in alcohol because the fairies have difficulty seeing him through it, yet also someone who defends his changeling in court and while envying Darnay for the life he should have had.
I think I needed to put more brain power into reading this book than I did to have something actual to say about it. You know when you admire a book more than you actually like it? Technical skill and creativity deserve all five stars, but I didn't connect to the characters well enough to feel passionate about the book and will likely never reread it. So...four stars?
These are big sweeping themes of love, loss, revenge, and sacrifice. And yet, I felt distanced from the narrator Sydney Carton ; a dissolute mortal servant of the fairies who drowns himself in alcohol because the fairies have difficulty seeing him through it, yet also someone who defends his changeling in court and while envying Darnay for the life he should have had.
I think I needed to put more brain power into reading this book than I did to have something actual to say about it. You know when you admire a book more than you actually like it? Technical skill and creativity deserve all five stars, but I didn't connect to the characters well enough to feel passionate about the book and will likely never reread it. So...four stars?
Want to read
November 2, 2024we have a cover!!
January 16, 2025
Damn if reading this wasn't as being wrapped in a warm blanket on an autumn evening. Odd for such a cold, bloody thing, but it was a comfort for all that.
June 16, 2025
3.75⭐️
Thank you @torbooks & @macmillan.audio for the ARC & ALC! ♡
·..·˙✧˖°⋆⊹ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝙳𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎. ⊹⋆..·˙✧˖°·∘
↳ A genre mashup combining historical classics with mercurial faeries, changelings, and magic.
↳ A Tale of Two Cities reinvented but closely following the revenge plot and its main protagonists.
The historical context of the French Revolution feels true to the era, marked by dank streets, civil unrest, and bloody guillotines.
The pacing is slower, more like cozy fantasy, with hazy stakes at the outset and muddy character motivations. In the end, the juice was worth the squeeze.
The writing is excellent, although similar to the classics, it takes a bit for the plot to develop and I don’t think I would have appreciated this book as much had I not read so much Dickens earlier in life.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Narrator Nathaniel Priestly kept me invested with his charming accent.
Thank you @torbooks & @macmillan.audio for the ARC & ALC! ♡
·..·˙✧˖°⋆⊹ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝙳𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎. ⊹⋆..·˙✧˖°·∘
↳ A genre mashup combining historical classics with mercurial faeries, changelings, and magic.
↳ A Tale of Two Cities reinvented but closely following the revenge plot and its main protagonists.
The historical context of the French Revolution feels true to the era, marked by dank streets, civil unrest, and bloody guillotines.
The pacing is slower, more like cozy fantasy, with hazy stakes at the outset and muddy character motivations. In the end, the juice was worth the squeeze.
The writing is excellent, although similar to the classics, it takes a bit for the plot to develop and I don’t think I would have appreciated this book as much had I not read so much Dickens earlier in life.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Narrator Nathaniel Priestly kept me invested with his charming accent.
January 23, 2025
I think fans of faithful retellings will greatly enjoy this novel, H.G Parry has certainly done her "A Tale of Two Cities" research and adding in many fantasy elements to tempt people into the story. That said, I just couldn't get into this novel for a few key reasons. I did enjoy the many nods to Dickens throughout the novel, but I found Parry's interpretation of the characters to be somewhat flat. You really only got a sense of Sydney Carton as a dimensional character, and it can be very difficult to relate to his misery and self-obsessed nature. I wasn't interested in any of the characters, so it was difficult for me to care about them or what was going to occur to them throughout the book.
I found the plot to be a little too slow as well, and combined with the lack of character development it made it very difficult to read. Dickens tends to be a very wordy author, as that was the expected writing style of the time; but we've largely moved on from that in our modern day. I found the long, drawn-out expositions between the major action points to be too much for me to continue to be invested in the plot.
I was also somewhat disappointed by the lack of world building or development in the faeries and their realm. I realize this was bound to be a bit of a problem since "A Tale of Two Cities" only took place in England and Paris originally, but I was disappointed, nonetheless. If you're going to include a fantasy element, it's always worth your while to develop it in a meaningful and intriguing way.
That said, I think this book will appeal to the reader who enjoys faithful retellings, historical fiction, and Dickens-style writing and plot development. If you're in it for the fantasy, you may be somewhat disappointed, as I was.
I found the plot to be a little too slow as well, and combined with the lack of character development it made it very difficult to read. Dickens tends to be a very wordy author, as that was the expected writing style of the time; but we've largely moved on from that in our modern day. I found the long, drawn-out expositions between the major action points to be too much for me to continue to be invested in the plot.
I was also somewhat disappointed by the lack of world building or development in the faeries and their realm. I realize this was bound to be a bit of a problem since "A Tale of Two Cities" only took place in England and Paris originally, but I was disappointed, nonetheless. If you're going to include a fantasy element, it's always worth your while to develop it in a meaningful and intriguing way.
That said, I think this book will appeal to the reader who enjoys faithful retellings, historical fiction, and Dickens-style writing and plot development. If you're in it for the fantasy, you may be somewhat disappointed, as I was.
July 27, 2025
As I started reading A Far Better Thing, I feared I might have to DNF it. That would be a shame, as I hate doing so with eARCs from NetGalley. Fortunately, after a few chapters, something shifted. H.G. Parry hooked me, and I was extremely invested in this tale of faerie changelings during the Reign of Terror.
Sydney Carton was switched at birth with a changeling, and now he exists as a mortal servant to the faeries. He was allowed to train as a barrister, but from time to time, the faeries send him on tasks that range from acquiring mortal remains to switching out babies with changelings. He despises his existence and loathes his masters, yet there is no escape. Or is there? When a faerie conspires to have Sydney cross paths with his own changeling, it sets off a chain reaction of events that will have far-reaching consequences for Sydney, his allies, and all of faerie. Oh, and the French Revolution is happening too.
Parry spends very little time establishing or describing the setting. I don’t visualize things when I read, but I do enjoy reading scene description, and if I didn’t know we were in the middle of the eighteenth century, I would be hard pressed to tell from the narration. In the same way, though this book is split across London and Paris (with a little time in faerie), the two cities don’t feel any different.
I also didn’t like Sydney at first—he’s a bit of a sad sack—and so that didn’t dispose me well to the beginning of the book. Now, I know this is based loosely on A Tale of Two Cities (which I haven’t read yet), but that’s only more reason why the pressure is on to reify your setting with as much verve as Dickens.
I was just reading on, hoping it would get good.
It got good.
Specifically, the plot turned into one of political intrigue within the faerie court. Plus, I was worn down by Sydney’s irascible refusal to give up and his irrational conviction that one day perhaps he could win himself free of his faerie servitude.
In the end, I can’t say I adored this book. The plot’s pacing, the dearth of description that I noted above, the way it took me so long to warm up to it … A Far Better Thing is far from one of my favourite reads of the year. But it ended up being a decent enough tale.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
Sydney Carton was switched at birth with a changeling, and now he exists as a mortal servant to the faeries. He was allowed to train as a barrister, but from time to time, the faeries send him on tasks that range from acquiring mortal remains to switching out babies with changelings. He despises his existence and loathes his masters, yet there is no escape. Or is there? When a faerie conspires to have Sydney cross paths with his own changeling, it sets off a chain reaction of events that will have far-reaching consequences for Sydney, his allies, and all of faerie. Oh, and the French Revolution is happening too.
Parry spends very little time establishing or describing the setting. I don’t visualize things when I read, but I do enjoy reading scene description, and if I didn’t know we were in the middle of the eighteenth century, I would be hard pressed to tell from the narration. In the same way, though this book is split across London and Paris (with a little time in faerie), the two cities don’t feel any different.
I also didn’t like Sydney at first—he’s a bit of a sad sack—and so that didn’t dispose me well to the beginning of the book. Now, I know this is based loosely on A Tale of Two Cities (which I haven’t read yet), but that’s only more reason why the pressure is on to reify your setting with as much verve as Dickens.
I was just reading on, hoping it would get good.
It got good.
Specifically, the plot turned into one of political intrigue within the faerie court. Plus, I was worn down by Sydney’s irascible refusal to give up and his irrational conviction that one day perhaps he could win himself free of his faerie servitude.
In the end, I can’t say I adored this book. The plot’s pacing, the dearth of description that I noted above, the way it took me so long to warm up to it … A Far Better Thing is far from one of my favourite reads of the year. But it ended up being a decent enough tale.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
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October 28, 2025dnf at 261 - incredibly slow and repetitive, i thought it would get better?
July 5, 2025
If you never read a tale of two cities, I could see this being a very confusing read. It takes all of the characters of the original and adds in the layer of the fairy world with several characters related to that realm. There were times that even I knowing the original had to remind myself of which secondary character was which. This was an excellent but complicated retelling.
Even if you read a tale of two cities, if it’s been a while, you should probably revisit the character list and summary. I received this as an advanced listener, copy and wish I had it in print because of the complexity. I am a regular audiobook person, but I’m not sure that a book has layered as this one is best consumed by audio.
In the third act, there is some info dumping to clarify the “why” and “how” of the fairy layer of this book. I almost wish that this retelling simplified the Dickens plot or that some of his characters had been removed. In addition, elements of the French revolution were included that probably didn’t need to be here. For example, the assassination of Marat. Someone with French heritage and a keen interest and knowledge of the time that part was interesting, but did not serve the overall plot.
The final sequence is beautifully done and had me in tears. Dickens never moved me so!
For anyone who knows HG Parry well, there is one bunny in this story. It has a very brief appearance about 20% into the story.
Reviews are for readers. I received an advanced copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Even if you read a tale of two cities, if it’s been a while, you should probably revisit the character list and summary. I received this as an advanced listener, copy and wish I had it in print because of the complexity. I am a regular audiobook person, but I’m not sure that a book has layered as this one is best consumed by audio.
In the third act, there is some info dumping to clarify the “why” and “how” of the fairy layer of this book. I almost wish that this retelling simplified the Dickens plot or that some of his characters had been removed. In addition, elements of the French revolution were included that probably didn’t need to be here. For example, the assassination of Marat. Someone with French heritage and a keen interest and knowledge of the time that part was interesting, but did not serve the overall plot.
The final sequence is beautifully done and had me in tears. Dickens never moved me so!
For anyone who knows HG Parry well, there is one bunny in this story. It has a very brief appearance about 20% into the story.
Reviews are for readers. I received an advanced copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2025
I received a free copy from Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date June 17th.
I've read one of Parry's books in the past, and I was intrigued to see the changeling-themed premise of her latest. In A Far Better Thing, Sydney Carton was human child stolen by the faeries, and he's now bound into faerie servitude in late eighteenth century London. When a chance encounter results in Carton meeting his own changeling, he's plunged into a complex web of faerie manipulations, with himself at the heart of it...
A Far Better Thing is, of course, a retelling of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities from the evil doppelganger's perspective. Having not read the Dickens myself, I can't comment on the novel's merits as an adaptation. I can, however, say that it was an awfully good book. Magician's Daughter, Perry's previous novel, had a lightness and naiveté that made it read as almost middle grade. A Far Better Thing has an intriguingly bitter and complex taste, mostly established through the viewpoint character, Sydney Carton. Carton is twenty-five years old, bitter as gall, an alcoholic, and more than a little suicidal. He's been haunted his whole life by the death of his childhood friend Ivy in the faerie realm, and despises his servitude stealing old bones and children. The existence of Charles Dufay, who looks like a beautiful, happy version of him, is not helping Carton's feeling that he effectively died as a baby.
The worldbuilding manages to add a few original elements to the well-trodden tale of the changeling, which is no mean feat. In this world, faeries are ethereal, inhuman beings who can't touch the real world, and steal human children to do their bidding on Earth. I was a little skeptical about the French Revolution setting from reading the premise, but I think Parry did a decent enough job with it. I don't necessarily agree with all of her interpretations, but it escapes editorializing, as so many books do, about the dangers of Change and Political Violence. It helps as well that the book is grounded in moderately formal prose. Not the full Dickens, but it suits the setting nicely.
A melancholy tragedy with a compellingly dark and bitter protagonist to match. And what an ending! Recommended for fans of historical fantasy.
I've read one of Parry's books in the past, and I was intrigued to see the changeling-themed premise of her latest. In A Far Better Thing, Sydney Carton was human child stolen by the faeries, and he's now bound into faerie servitude in late eighteenth century London. When a chance encounter results in Carton meeting his own changeling, he's plunged into a complex web of faerie manipulations, with himself at the heart of it...
A Far Better Thing is, of course, a retelling of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities from the evil doppelganger's perspective. Having not read the Dickens myself, I can't comment on the novel's merits as an adaptation. I can, however, say that it was an awfully good book. Magician's Daughter, Perry's previous novel, had a lightness and naiveté that made it read as almost middle grade. A Far Better Thing has an intriguingly bitter and complex taste, mostly established through the viewpoint character, Sydney Carton. Carton is twenty-five years old, bitter as gall, an alcoholic, and more than a little suicidal. He's been haunted his whole life by the death of his childhood friend Ivy in the faerie realm, and despises his servitude stealing old bones and children. The existence of Charles Dufay, who looks like a beautiful, happy version of him, is not helping Carton's feeling that he effectively died as a baby.
The worldbuilding manages to add a few original elements to the well-trodden tale of the changeling, which is no mean feat. In this world, faeries are ethereal, inhuman beings who can't touch the real world, and steal human children to do their bidding on Earth. I was a little skeptical about the French Revolution setting from reading the premise, but I think Parry did a decent enough job with it. I don't necessarily agree with all of her interpretations, but it escapes editorializing, as so many books do, about the dangers of Change and Political Violence. It helps as well that the book is grounded in moderately formal prose. Not the full Dickens, but it suits the setting nicely.
A melancholy tragedy with a compellingly dark and bitter protagonist to match. And what an ending! Recommended for fans of historical fantasy.
May 14, 2025
I must confess I haven’t actually read A Tale Of Two Cities, so I no doubt missed heaps of stuff. The story stands alone well anyway. The dialogue is Dickensian, and the setting, but nothing else feels deeply so.
A deeply melancholic but fascinating tale of love and tragedy and rebellion and faerie, this is a story that haunts. Sydney - or Memory, as the faeries call him - is a human who was replaced by a changeling, sent out into the mortal world as a servant, endlessly enslaved to the very same faeries who took him. But when he comes face to face with his own changeling, the man living the life he should have had - and, perhaps, the woman he would have loved - the course of Sydney’s life is altered forever.
More than two cities, although the story indeed links London and Paris, in the throes of the revolution, this is the story of two realms: faerie and the mortal realm. Faerie is depicted entirely strange and unknowable, as are its denizens. There will be much to like for fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. But unlike that book, you are seated more deeply in the heart of a singular character, our narrator, and the reader gains a real sense of him- even though Sydney himself barely knows who he is.
A marvellously woven and emotionally compelling read.
A deeply melancholic but fascinating tale of love and tragedy and rebellion and faerie, this is a story that haunts. Sydney - or Memory, as the faeries call him - is a human who was replaced by a changeling, sent out into the mortal world as a servant, endlessly enslaved to the very same faeries who took him. But when he comes face to face with his own changeling, the man living the life he should have had - and, perhaps, the woman he would have loved - the course of Sydney’s life is altered forever.
More than two cities, although the story indeed links London and Paris, in the throes of the revolution, this is the story of two realms: faerie and the mortal realm. Faerie is depicted entirely strange and unknowable, as are its denizens. There will be much to like for fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. But unlike that book, you are seated more deeply in the heart of a singular character, our narrator, and the reader gains a real sense of him- even though Sydney himself barely knows who he is.
A marvellously woven and emotionally compelling read.
June 6, 2025
First, the narration for this book is fantastic! The voice is exactly how I'd imagine his character, and it honestly made the story easier to follow.
I reaaaally enjoyed this book and debated between a 4-5 star rating for awhile. I'm not a huge Dickens fan, but I do have fond memories of A Tale of Two Cities, as an incredibly weighty and emotional read. This book is as well, and the additions that Parry makes to the story, with the bits of faerie lore and with this Sydney's quandaries, are really meaningful.
That being said, the pacing at times is somewhat ponderous. It took me at least 30% of the book to really settle in, and at times I found myself kind of glazing over with the specifics of the faerie lore. I do think those who love Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell will enjoy this, as it does have a similar style and take on faeries, though the main character and tone are distinct.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'm continuing to love Parry's books and can't wait for more!
I reaaaally enjoyed this book and debated between a 4-5 star rating for awhile. I'm not a huge Dickens fan, but I do have fond memories of A Tale of Two Cities, as an incredibly weighty and emotional read. This book is as well, and the additions that Parry makes to the story, with the bits of faerie lore and with this Sydney's quandaries, are really meaningful.
That being said, the pacing at times is somewhat ponderous. It took me at least 30% of the book to really settle in, and at times I found myself kind of glazing over with the specifics of the faerie lore. I do think those who love Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell will enjoy this, as it does have a similar style and take on faeries, though the main character and tone are distinct.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tor for an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'm continuing to love Parry's books and can't wait for more!
August 17, 2025
You know I’ve spent a lot of time thinking that the French Revolution was missing something. Sure, it had chaos, rebellion, political unrest and the slaughter of dissidents, oppression of the working class and mass starvation. But there’s just this nagging feeling that it’s not complete. You know what it needs… faeries. Evil, asshole, deal-making, conniving, backstabbing faeries. H. G. Parry obviously shares the same sentiment, because she’s back with another historical fantasy that adds a touch a magic to the era. Billed as a faerie version of a Tale of Two Cities, this hits that “what if” feeling you might be having about the Reign of Terror. Built on the rich history of both England and France during the late 1700s, we get a taste of everything plus some serious evil faerie action. I really enjoyed this! Parry does an incredible job of weaving the fantastical into the factual.
October 2, 2025
read:
This was soo GOOD. I adored the original text of ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ and the dark fae twist was soo refreshing. The layers of politics within the mortal and fae world were extremely intriguing!! I will say the first 100 pages mostly focused on ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ but afterward the fae aspect became more prominent within the story!
pre-read:
A Tale of Two Cities STANDALONE fae fantasy during the French Revolution?!? Sign me up ✍️
This was soo GOOD. I adored the original text of ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ and the dark fae twist was soo refreshing. The layers of politics within the mortal and fae world were extremely intriguing!! I will say the first 100 pages mostly focused on ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ but afterward the fae aspect became more prominent within the story!
pre-read:
A Tale of Two Cities STANDALONE fae fantasy during the French Revolution?!? Sign me up ✍️
November 29, 2025
I *love* Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, and I enjoyed H. G. Parry's A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, so I was intrigued by the idea of A Far Better Thing, but also a bit uncertain. Would a fairy-realm influenced version of A Tale of Two Cities delight or would it feel like some sort of oddity cobbled together from spare parts? The good new is—A Far Better Thing really works. Really works. Really. Parry brings together two disparate worlds and weaves a tale that combines the best of both and doesn't compromise either.
Dickens person? Fantasy person? Historical fiction reader? Maybe even romance reader? (Definitely not my favorite genre.) I'm pretty darn confident that any of these readers would find A Far Better Thing a pleasure to read. It's long enough (just like A Tale of Two Cities was) to let readers really sink into the narrative and savor its details. If this sounds at all interesting to you, check it out. I think you'll be like me and find you've been taken on an engaging, interesting ride.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
Dickens person? Fantasy person? Historical fiction reader? Maybe even romance reader? (Definitely not my favorite genre.) I'm pretty darn confident that any of these readers would find A Far Better Thing a pleasure to read. It's long enough (just like A Tale of Two Cities was) to let readers really sink into the narrative and savor its details. If this sounds at all interesting to you, check it out. I think you'll be like me and find you've been taken on an engaging, interesting ride.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
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August 12, 2025
I should have DNF'd or this should have been like, 200 pages shorter.
I have regrets.
I received an ARC from the publisher
I have regrets.
I received an ARC from the publisher
December 11, 2025
Cried so hard at the ending that I woke up my cat who was asleep on my lap and now won’t stop looking back up at me in concern so take that information as you will
July 20, 2025
2025 reads: 170/300
i received a complimentary listening copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
as a child, sydney was stolen from his human parents to be a servant in the faerie realm. now, he has a chance at revenge against both the fae and charles, the changeling left in his place.
this was an interesting book! it took place during the reign of terror, which i don’t think i’ve read about before. this made for a neat setting, in my opinion! i also loved the fae folk, of course, and sydney’s relationship with them. h.g. parry truly built such an interesting world, with equally interesting characters. the audiobook, narrated by nathaniel priestly, was lovely, so i’d highly recommend that format to anyone interested in this book!
i received a complimentary listening copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program. this did not affect my rating.
as a child, sydney was stolen from his human parents to be a servant in the faerie realm. now, he has a chance at revenge against both the fae and charles, the changeling left in his place.
this was an interesting book! it took place during the reign of terror, which i don’t think i’ve read about before. this made for a neat setting, in my opinion! i also loved the fae folk, of course, and sydney’s relationship with them. h.g. parry truly built such an interesting world, with equally interesting characters. the audiobook, narrated by nathaniel priestly, was lovely, so i’d highly recommend that format to anyone interested in this book!
November 20, 2025
Really disappointing read, for me. I've loved H. G. Parry's books in the past (her Uriah-Heap-tries-to-take-over-the-world is a triumph!).
March 27, 2025
The Scholar And The Last Faerie Door was one of my top reads of 2024, so I was excited to learn that the author had a new book coming out that's being pitched as Jonathan Strange & Mr. NorrelI meets A Tale Of Two Cities. I haven't read the former, but the idea of a Tale Of Two Cities retelling with faeries was too good to resist.
I feel like the best retellings maintain a balance of new and original story- which H.G. Parry has managed to pull off.
This was absolutely devastating, but never without hope. The friendships/bonds that formed between certain characters warmed my heart- and the glimpses we got into the Faerie Realm were unsettling, but necessary to show the contrast between Sydney and Charles' lives.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I feel like the best retellings maintain a balance of new and original story- which H.G. Parry has managed to pull off.
This was absolutely devastating, but never without hope. The friendships/bonds that formed between certain characters warmed my heart- and the glimpses we got into the Faerie Realm were unsettling, but necessary to show the contrast between Sydney and Charles' lives.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2024
Ouch, my heart hurts.
The moment the publisher sent me an advance copy of this book I began reading. A Dickensian fairy story is about as perfect a premise for my current reading tastes.
The description is not lying, this is a dark and angry book. But also very human and beautiful. I hated putting it down every time life got in the way.
I can't wait to hold a physical copy in my hands so I can torture myself through once again.
The moment the publisher sent me an advance copy of this book I began reading. A Dickensian fairy story is about as perfect a premise for my current reading tastes.
The description is not lying, this is a dark and angry book. But also very human and beautiful. I hated putting it down every time life got in the way.
I can't wait to hold a physical copy in my hands so I can torture myself through once again.
August 4, 2025
This is a standalone historical fantasy novel (a rarity these days!) written by a NZ author and set during the times of the French Revolution. I read it as a part of the monthly reading for August 2025 at SFF Hot from Printers: New Releases group. It is said to be a reimagining of A Tale of Two Cities, but I’ve never read that novel. It is definitely similar in mood to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
The story starts in 1780 with Sydney Carton, stealing bones from a grave for fairies and quickly escalates to meeting his double. Sydney is a twenty-five-year-old legal advocate. It is during the court session that he sees that his copy is the accused Charles Darnay. Sydney isn’t surprised at all that he has a double – after all, he is a mortal servant of fairies (they call him Memory), one of the infants stolen by the Realm of the fairies with a changeling left to live in the mortal world. However, meeting his changeling in only half of the shock – the main witness is Miss Manette and she was a changeling too. She was Ivy’s changeling, another kid the fairies stole, the one with whom Memory was in love till her death.
The starting intrigue is great and the style, both comprehensive and borrowing from the 19th century, is brilliant. Readers are slowly introduced to the intrigues in the fairy realm as well as facts of life in England and France in the last quarter of the 18th century. There are family secrets, assassination attempts, love and betrayal. I admit, it got a bit maudlin closer to the end, but still quite interesting.
The story starts in 1780 with Sydney Carton, stealing bones from a grave for fairies and quickly escalates to meeting his double. Sydney is a twenty-five-year-old legal advocate. It is during the court session that he sees that his copy is the accused Charles Darnay. Sydney isn’t surprised at all that he has a double – after all, he is a mortal servant of fairies (they call him Memory), one of the infants stolen by the Realm of the fairies with a changeling left to live in the mortal world. However, meeting his changeling in only half of the shock – the main witness is Miss Manette and she was a changeling too. She was Ivy’s changeling, another kid the fairies stole, the one with whom Memory was in love till her death.
The starting intrigue is great and the style, both comprehensive and borrowing from the 19th century, is brilliant. Readers are slowly introduced to the intrigues in the fairy realm as well as facts of life in England and France in the last quarter of the 18th century. There are family secrets, assassination attempts, love and betrayal. I admit, it got a bit maudlin closer to the end, but still quite interesting.
October 7, 2025
When I discovered my first H. G. Parry book, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, I hadn't read a bit of Dickens (unless you count the beginning of A Christmas Carol when Mom started reading it out loud to us one winter and then had to stop because my brother got freaked out). I loved it so much though that a year or two later I recommended it as the next read for my book club, and everyone else liked it so much that we decided to read David Copperfield next, since that story plays a big role in The Unlikely Escape. And since I enjoyed /that/, I decided I needed to read more Dickens, and chose A Tale of Two Cities at random.
To be honest, I didn't enjoy it as much as David Copperfield. Without the one POV character like David Copperfield had, I felt much less grounded and had a harder time placing who the main character was, and I got a little lost sometimes with all the different things going on. It definitely had its moments, though, and I don't regret reading it-- /especially/ since I found out almost a year later that H. G. Parry had written a fantasy retelling of it involving changelings and the fey.
While I believe this book can still be enjoyed on its own, the way I enjoyed The Unlikely Escape without reading any Dickens, I am so, so glad that I read the original so recently before finding A Far Better Thing, because I was able to appreciate just how /clever/ Parry is in her retelling. Most books of this kind would fall more under the category of "inspired by", like "Les Mis meets The Hunger Games!" with whole new characters and settings, but there are so many places in this book where Parry includes the same scenes and even dialogue from A Tale of Two Cities, but gives them new context and meaning. She gave herself limits by sticking so closely to the events of the original, but pulled it off in such creative and interesting ways. And the characters and events that are fully original to this story are also so enjoyable (I love Rosemary <3). I just love the way she writes her characters and the relationships between them.
So, long story short, I need to read every other book that H. G. Parry has out so far. And I need to get back to reading more Dickens, just in case Parry decides to write another retelling.
To be honest, I didn't enjoy it as much as David Copperfield. Without the one POV character like David Copperfield had, I felt much less grounded and had a harder time placing who the main character was, and I got a little lost sometimes with all the different things going on. It definitely had its moments, though, and I don't regret reading it-- /especially/ since I found out almost a year later that H. G. Parry had written a fantasy retelling of it involving changelings and the fey.
While I believe this book can still be enjoyed on its own, the way I enjoyed The Unlikely Escape without reading any Dickens, I am so, so glad that I read the original so recently before finding A Far Better Thing, because I was able to appreciate just how /clever/ Parry is in her retelling. Most books of this kind would fall more under the category of "inspired by", like "Les Mis meets The Hunger Games!" with whole new characters and settings, but there are so many places in this book where Parry includes the same scenes and even dialogue from A Tale of Two Cities, but gives them new context and meaning. She gave herself limits by sticking so closely to the events of the original, but pulled it off in such creative and interesting ways. And the characters and events that are fully original to this story are also so enjoyable (I love Rosemary <3). I just love the way she writes her characters and the relationships between them.
So, long story short, I need to read every other book that H. G. Parry has out so far. And I need to get back to reading more Dickens, just in case Parry decides to write another retelling.
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