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).

Readers who’ve read Charles Dickens’s novel, A Tale of Two Cities, will already be familiar with several of the characters in H.G. Parry’s glorious reimagining of that novel, A Far Better Thing. Lucie Manette and her tragic father, Dr. Manette, appear. Charles Darney shows up from time to time. Unlike in Dickens’s novel, however, Sydney Carton takes center stage in Parry’s. And also, unlike Dickens’s novel, this one adds fae, other worlds, magic, and changelings to the already exciting scenes of courtroom drama and revolution.

Sydney Carton lives a lackluster life in London. He’s bright but morose. He’s hardworking but refuses to pursue any ambitions. Unless you know Carton’s secret, he seems baffling. He could do so much more with himself than drink his life away working for another lawyer. His secret is a doozy. Sydney Carton is a changeling. The fae can find him anywhere he might go and force him to do their bidding. We actually meet Sydney while he’s on one of those errands: fetching human bones from a resurrection man to give to the fae. This isn’t weird at all to Sydney (it’s actually one of the less odious things they ask him to do); what’s really weird to Sydney is when, the next day, he runs into the person the fae left in his place. Sydney comes face-to-face with his changeling, Charles Darnay, in the middle of a courtroom. Worse, his changeling is on trial, accused of being a French spy. Sydney’s quick mind manages to get the charges dismissed.

Meeting Darnay and the Manettes (who are friends of Darnay) throws Sydney completely off his stride. Sydney can’t help but grow entangled with the charming Manettes, especially Lucie, whose face always reminds him of a lost loved one. Further complicating things, one of the detested fae shows up to press Sydney into service for its own terrible schemes. Parry gives Dickens a run for his money in terms of complicated plots and I had a blast following all of the twists and turns. Even though I expected that the plot would roughly follow the shape of A Tale of Two Cities, Parry had me guessing the entire time about what would happen next. For a few chapters, I even hoped that Carton would be able to escape the destiny Dickens limned for him originally.

It’s been a while since I last read A Tale of Two Cities and I remember enough of that book that reading A Far Better Thing sometimes feels like I’m seeing events from the other side of the stage. Parry absolutely knocks my socks off with the things she does backstage of A Tale of Two Cities. In Dickens, Sydney pops up here and there where he’s needed. Dickens’s novel mostly sticks with the Manettes and Darnay. In A Far Better Thing, the reverse is true. We get to see what Sydney is up to as he races around, trying to keep Darnay and the Manettes out of the clutches of the Defarges and the Committee of Public Safety (they need a lot of saving) while also trying to thwart his fae tormenters. This book is a wild ride.

I suggest that readers who are interested in reading A Far Better Thing at least read a good summary of A Tale of Two Cities. It would be better to read the original novel, so that you’ll catch the allusions to Dickens. I know that Dickens can be heavy-going for some readers, but A Tale of Two Cities is one of his more tightly composed and exciting books. It’s my personal favorite work by Dickens. Madame Defarge (the original version) still gives me the willies. Sydney Carton shines in both stories, and I fell in love with his character all over again in A Far Better Thing.

Faeries, changelings, and the French Revolution collide in this stellar novel by H.G. Parry.

Sydney Carton is miserable. He's a mortal servant for The Realm living in late 1700s England, using his brilliant mind to assist with legal cases - when he's not drinking. Imagine his shock when the defendant in his most recent case walks in and Carton comes face to face with his own changeling. Across the courtroom sits none other than the changeling of his childhood best friend Ivy, who died on the eve of Carton's 13th birthday and last night in the Realm. Thus an adventure begins, stretching across the sea to France, into gritty alleyways, and behind magical doors.

Set in our real world but steeped in fantastical elements, this story is beautifully told and atmospherically set. The characters are all mostly unlikable, but put together they create a perfect cast of misfits and unsung heroes doing their best to survive and thrive in the most unusual of circumstances. I continue to be delighted and enthralled with Parry's writing and will absolutely be a completist of her work. Her imagination, creativity, and raw talent are well on display in these pages.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor, for the chance to come along on this adventure in exchange for this honest review.

Dickens’s fans rejoice. HG Parry has written a faithful retelling of A Tale of Two Cities from the POV of Sydney Carton. The fairy world provides all the explanations that I always wanted in the original. Her voice is strong and motivations clear. It felt like traveling gracefully back in time and seeing the world through realm silver.

I love the idea of an inspired by book, but it feels like this was more a retelling than an inspired by. The time setting and the vocabulary didn't feel like they matched well, and sometimes it felt like the author was trying too hard to make it seem older. I think that maybe the style of writing just isn't for me.

A dense mystery, with the sense of noir you would find in old detective movies. If you enjoy Sherlock Holmes, but with a fantasy twist, try out this novel.

This is a book that I really wanted to love, but unfortunately I think H.G. Parry's writing style just isn't something I mesh with. I found myself getting incredibly bored and a lot of things going over my head. I am sure it is a me problem, but this just wasn't the book for me.