Memory is a mortal servant of the fairies. Replaced in the world as a young child by a changeling and now forced to serve the very faeries that stole him, the main things that keep him going in this world are drink, fear, and anger. Drink to numb the pain of all he's been forced to do. Fear of the faerie prison they could send him back to for disobedience, real or imagined. Anger for the love he lost, for the one who didn't save her. A lawyer's assistant (though he does most of the work) he stumbles upon a court case that brings him into contact with his own changeling (something that is never supposed to happen) and the changeling that replaced his own lost love. Given an opportunity to meddle in the affairs of the faerie he holds responsible, will he risk it all? Can he win? And at what cost?

This was a really intriguing idea, and the writing is beautiful, so atmospheric. Unfortunately I just couldn't stay gripped in the story, so it's a DNF for me at this time. I fully intend to return in future; I suspect I'm not in the right frame of mind for a faery/adaptation right now. Apologies.

A Far Better Thing is retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities (with fairies and magic).

Fans of historical fantasy and Dickens’ original tale will likely enjoy this one. The world is rich and intricately illustrated. I found the pacing to be somewhat slow, but I felt it suited the style and plot of the story. I haven’t read the original story so I feel that I may have missed on some of the nods to Dickens’ text.

The integration of fae into the historical context time period was a highlight for me. Parry’s writing is loquacious and detailed.

Read if you enjoy:
-historical fantasy
-detailed writing
-fairies and magic
-darker, eerie tones
-some mystery and twists

My rating: 3.75⭐️

A Far Better Thing is a reimagining of A Tale of Two Cities — with faeries and changlings!

It definitely works on its own without knowledge of A Tale of Two Cities. I did read that first though and was fascinated by how HG Perry crafted the story behind the original story. I particularly appreciated the added context and motivations for Sydney Carton’s actions.

I also appreciated the addition of faeries, of course. Magic is always welcome here.

Thanks to Tor for providing an arc through NetGalley for me to review!

Quick very high level summary.
Described as a "A Tale of Two Cities" with a faerie twist! Yes please! Sydney Carton, who was stolen by faeries as a child and replaced with a changeling named Charles Darnay, plots revenge against Darnay and the fae who stole him. Along the way Sydney meets people, forms relationships and learns information that will make him question everything.

My Take.
This story blends the detailed world-building of historical fiction with the fantastical elements of fantasy. There’s a wonderful balance between the real-world aspects of the story and the magical fairy world. The author uses the conflicts and complexities of the French Revolution as a foundation then weaves in fantastical and magical elements immersing the reader in a unique and mystical world. A world that blurs the edges of reality beautifully.

I loved how the author weaved together elements of faerie folklore with historical events to give us a new and fascinating take on a Dickens classic.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

A Tale of Two Cities is one of my absolute favorite classic novels. A Far Better Thing takes that beloved classic and gives it a spin. In this retelling, fairies are real and fond of interfering in the lives of normal mortals, for all sorts of reasons. Sydney is a mortal servant of the fairy realm, having been stolen away as a baby. Charles Darnay is the changeling who replaced him. You may think you already know this story. Believe me, you don’t! I loved this so much!

I picked up this book because I loved the changeling trope and was excited about Sydney's POV and his relationship with his changeling. I loved the prose, which evoked the atmosphere of late-18th-century England but simultaneously was contemporary enough to read smoothly and flawlessly. Author found a perfect balance between beautiful language and clarity, without each overwhelming the other. As suspected, I also thoroughly enjoyed Sydney's point of view, his flaws, his initial apathy, and his evolution throughout the novel.

I was unaware, however, (this context was missing from the marketing/description) that this is a retelling of Charles Dickens' "Tale of the Two Cities" and while I enjoyed Sydney's perspective and the fairy lore, I'm a bit disappointed with how the retelling was developed.
First, I wish I had refreshed Dickens before this and it might be confusing for readers unfamiliar with the original.
Second, I appreciate when a good retelling completely changes our perspective on the original story (this might be a personal preference and I might not know Dickens deep enough) and this one seems too faithful to the original in some parts. Is this supposed to be a novel about changelings and if yes, what does Dickens's plot and setting contribute to that? Or is this supposed to be a retelling of the classic and if yes, what do fairies contribute to it? I think it's both and sometimes this interplay is nicely nuanced in the book, but oftentimes I wish the contrasts or the commentary (fairies on Dickens, Dickens on fairies) were sharper.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review and I'm grateful for an opportunity to read this book early — given it's fantastic theme, I was going to read it on the release date and I was eagerly anticipating it!

This slow-burn atmospheric reimagining of A Tale of Two cities crossed with magic will absolutely knock your socks off! An emotional read that mixes fantasy and historical fiction; absolutely enjoyed this one. The complex characters and the intriguing plot, I really can't wait to read this one again. I feel like this will make a perfect fall read.

3.5 stars. This is is a richly imagined, emotionally resonant novel that reimagines A Tale of Two Cities through a bold new lens. Parry masterfully blends historical fiction with speculative elements, offering a fresh perspective on familiar characters while deepening their emotional arcs. With elegant prose and a profound understanding of justice, sacrifice, and redemption, this novel is both a love letter to Dickens and a powerful, standalone story in its own right. A must-read for literary fans and historical fiction lovers alike.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for this digital e-arc.*

4.5 stars

Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this as an ebook for review from NetGalley.

Thoughts: This was an intricate and well-done retelling of A Tale of Two Cities but with faerie involved. The story is engaging but complex at times with many different moving parts. Prior to reading this, I had also read Parry's "The Magician's Daughter", which I loved.

The story follows Sydney Carton, known to the fae as Memory. He was stolen by the faeries as a child and is now living in the human realm as a mortal servant for the faerie realm. He works as an attorney and, when he accidentally gets a client that is his own changeling, he gets drawn into complex politics (both faerie and human world). This also gives him the unique ability possibly get revenge against the fae and the changeling that took his place.

This is an intricate and well written story with some amazing world-building. I thought that this world of fae and humans was marvelously blended with the contentious history between London and Paris. I struggled to engage with the characters since none of them were all that likable, but I was drawn into their lives and story despite this.

One thing that did bother me was how much of this story was driven by hatred. Most of the hatred wasn't even between people that knew each other, but between people who blamed the current generation for actions taken by generations that came before them. Even though Sydney learns compassion throughout the story, this wasn't a story that made me feel good about humanity.

This was very well written, flowed well, and was easy to read.

My Summary (4.5/5): Overall I found this engaging and interesting. This was very well written and I was impressed by the integration of fae into this historical time period. I did struggle to engage with the characters and also disliked how much of this story was driven by hatred, although there are glimpses of light throughout as well. I look forward to reading more of Parry's books in the future and would strongly recommend if you enjoy historical fantasy with intricate world-building and thoughtful themes.

A retelling of A Tale of Two Cities set during the French Revolution, with fairies. I have never read A Tale of Two Cities, so I am sure that I missed a few things, but I overall enjoyed A Far Better Thing. It does start off a bit slow, but the last half, I could not put it down. A dark and emotional retelling with a unique take on the Fae and their realm, this is a perfect read for anyone looking for something similar to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell with fewer pages. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

I'm continuing to love Parry's books and can't wait for more!

Okay so A Far Better Thing by H.G. Perry kind of snuck up on me. The beginning is definitely on the slower side—I wasn’t totally sure where it was going—but I’m really glad I stuck with it because the ending felt earned and satisfying.

The main character? Honestly one of the most relatable portrayals of mental health I’ve read in a while. He’s not overly dramatic or stereotypical—just a guy quietly unraveling and trying to hold it together. I found myself rooting for him hard.

Also: fairies!! Not the whimsical kind, but the eerie, unsettling kind that feel like they’ve got their own rules and don’t really care about yours. The way the magic and the mystery slowly tie together was so well done.

It’s the kind of book that’s a little quiet, a little strange, but hits you emotionally when you least expect it. If you’re into slower, character-driven fantasy with a bit of mystery and mental health rep, definitely check it out.

truly a unique retelling of a tale of two cities. i enjoyed the fairy realm/changeling aspect of the story, and the characters were quite compelling. but i did feel as though it took too long to get to anything of substance. that is, a bit, because a tale of two cities, as i recall, is a rambling piece of work, but for that time and the story it was telling, it made sense. i think a bit more action to this piece would have satisfied the story just a bit better.

the story is very atmospheric and the magic system is one of the more unique ones that i have encountered in a while. i did enjoy that the fairies were more entity than something solid, though i would have enjoyed understanding their motivations a bit more.

A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry is a standalone fantasy retelling of A Tale of Two Cities. Set during the French Revolution with time split between London and Paris, this beautifully written story explores the classic story as though the fairy realm was orchestrating it all.

“I feared this was the best of times; I hoped it could not get any worse.”

H.G. Parry absolutely knocked this retelling out of the park. A Tale of Two Cities is already quite dark, and Parry played into that while adding a level of emotion that made the story all the more captivating. The fantasy elements blended into the historical setting incredibly well and while not much world building was needed, the descriptions of the fairy realm and of the magic system was absolutely phenomenal. This was my first book by H.G. Parry and I will absolutely be reading her other books as soon as possible.

Thank you Tor for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

-I will post my review to Instagram on release day.

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.

When H.G. Parry announced that her next book was going to be a retelling of A Tale of Two Cities from Sydney Carton's perspective (plus FAIRIES), I added 2 books to my TBR: ATOTC, because I'd never read it before; and A Far Better Thing, Parry's book. I will read anything Parry writes, because I love her books, but I didn't know anything besides the famous first and last lines of ATOTC plus the general plot. So while I was /generally/ excited for her book, I was not specifically into this particular retelling. Well, I did read ATOTC and it was ... FINE. I was not thrilled with the characters, who were mostly caricatures, and the plot hinged on a whole lot of coincidence. (Sorry for all the Dickens lovers out there!)

Well, I just finished listening to A Far Better Thing and it was INCREDIBLE. It made me cry several times (Parry has a knack for that; I think I've cried reading every single one of her books). It also engaged with the original text in an immensely complex way. The plot is exactly the same as ATOTC except that, from Sydney's POV, we learn that all of the events have been orchestrated by fairies. (This does a really amazing job of explaining all of the coincidences that started to bug me by the end of ATOTC, BTW.) Charles Darnay is, in fact, Sydney's changeling; Charles's meeting with the Manettes was set up by fairies; and even the French Revolution itself has been influenced by the fairy folk, who are plotting their own royal coup.

Parry borrows and expands on the dialogue from ATOTC, as well; if you're familiar with it, it's fascinating to see what she keeps and what she adds. (She may choose to omit certain conversations where Sydney is not present, but if Sydney does have a conversation with the characters, his words are /added to,/ not approximated or changed.) Parry is also supremely knowledgeable about the French Revolution (as I first learned when reading her earlier Shadow Histories). She knows a lot more about it than Dickens did (or than Dickens chose to portray; one of my gripes with ATOTC was the simplistic portrayal of the French Revolution itself).

As far as the characters are concerned, instead of giving us a perfect "Angel in the House" version of Lucie Manette, who has men falling for her left and right but who ultimately chooses the most noble rather than the richest or most successful, we see a conflicted character struggling to do the right thing. And Sydney's "dissipation" is a result of his trauma at the hands of the all-powerful fairies, rather than an unexplained character flaw. (I'm really bagging on Dickens, but I'm not kidding when I say that Sydney's alcoholism and indolence felt much more authentically explained by Parry's fairy servant situation than when an omniscient narrator told me he was just an idle, unambitious dude who let other people take the credit for his good deeds.)

TL;DR: I loved this book. I'm glad I read A Tale of Two Cities before jumping in, but I don't think it's necessary at all. You should read A Far Better Thing whether or not you're familiar with ATOTC because it's wonderful.

There is an art to adapting a very well-known and widely read classic, and HG Parry nails it with A Far Better Thing. Her spin on A Tale of Two Cities takes us into the streets of the French Revolution, but with changelings and faerie magic. She's running two plots at the same time: on the one hand, the plot of the classic novel with Sydney Carton, Charles Darnay, Lucie Mannette, and Madame Defarge; on the other, a faerie plot to grab power and subvert and trick humanity. Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton don't only look alike, Darnay is Sydney's changeling, who replaced him when he was two. Changelings aren't meant to meet, but nefarious unseelie forces are at play, and Sydney suspects it was no accident.

I haven't read A Tale of Two Cities since 10th grade (circa 2000), and all that remains of the book in my head is vibes. That said, I found that Parry's retelling is an incredible and compelling story even without remembering the original by Dickens. I'm always thankful for a @plottrysts buddy read, but this one was even better because Meg did read ATOTC and pointed out to me the parts that HG Parry borrows and adapts and improves upon. After finishing A Far Better Thing, I read a plot summary of ATOTC, and if you're a reader who likes to know an original, I'd recommend reading the summary first rather than the original.

this was a ham-fisted retelling. it brought nothing new to the original narratives about love and revolution except... juxtaposing it with a parallel plot in fairy world. the narrative relied WAY too hard on the idea that the reader had read a tale of two cities (which i had) but then so deeply and thoroughly misunderstood many of the characters/refused to focus on them in favor of ocs.

i just think retellings are better done from scratch (ie a these violent delights being a romeo and juliet story with adjacent characters but not invoking that actualy shakespeare time period/mythos). i was also VERY irked by how carton/memory thought and behaved and maybe that's personal but like... that is NOT my sydney!!!

finally, the more i rest on it the more i think darnay and carton being changelings and all of this being fated actually spits in the face of the og story. idk. this is just me.

Title: A Far Better Thing    
Author: H. G. Parry         
Genre: Fantasy  
Rating: 4 out of 5

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.

A fantasy re-telling of A Tale of Two Cities? Yes, please.  This started off a bit slow, and I found Sydney very hard to connect with—he was just so negative and bitter about everything. Gradually, he grew on me a little bit, but I never really liked him. I enjoyed the read, but it wasn’t fast-paced or thrilling (I mean, it’s A Tale of Two Cities. What do you expect?). A solid fantasy read.

H. G. Parry lives in New Zealand. A Far Better Thing is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Tor in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 6/16).