First, a huge thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to review. I found this book lacking the charm and engagement that The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door had for me. I am not sure if it was the main character/narrator who I found less likeable or if there was some other ingredient that was seriously lacking, but I was not invested at all from the get go and I struggled a lot being able to actually finish this book. I actually picked it up and put it back down quite a few times before actually finishing it. Overall, I would not recommend if the only Parry book you have read is Scholar, because they are definitely very different, and not in a great way.

I really enjoyed the fantasy elements in combination with the historical fiction backdrop. I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Nathaniel Priestley was fantastic. I did feel like it moved bit too slowly for me at times. It has been ages since I have read A Tale of Two Cities and I wish that I had done a reread before picking up this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listening copy.

At age two, Sydney Carton was abducted and whisked away by fairies. In his stead, a changeling grows up as Charles Darnay. Carton returns to the mortal world at 13 as a mortal servant of the fairies who demand much of him. This is the behind the curtain story for much of the intrigue of A Tale of Two Cities according to author Parry.

And intrigue there is. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, the tensions between aristocracy and the people of France are tangible. Dealings with fairies who have their own complicated agendas for interfering in the mortal world are deftly woven in.

It's always risky building a new story around well known characters and plot. I knew from almost the first, how the story would play out on one level which might have tainted my reading experience and yet, it did not. Parry's world building cleverly connects the dots of the two stories and the fairy kingdom's interference made sense. The question remains as to how readers unfamiliar with the Dickens original would feel. I found the tale satisfying and believable.

Thank you to Net Galley for access to the audiobook of A Far Better Thing by Parry.

What’s truly wild about this book is that it gives a far more satisfactory explanation for why Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay look exactly like than we ever got out of Dickens. A fairy changeling! Of course?!

This wasn’t my favorite HG Parry book and I wish she would move away from the fairy-centric stuff which has dominated all of her recent work. But as much as that is starting to feel repetitive, it was also a great way to reimagine A Tale of Two Cities, and Parry does a wonderful job of introducing the fantastical to a classic novel.

One of the things Parry does best is to insert fantasy elements into real history, and I’ll always pound the table for her Shadow duology, which is a flawless example of this concept. What’s going on here is a bit less ambitious and a bit more common, because here fantasy elements are imagined into a classic novel rather than real world history. But it still works.

This isn’t Parry’s first foray into reimagining Dickens, and it’s interesting how different an approach she took this time from her last Dickens reimagining.

This is a safer and far less ambitious undertaking than the Shadow duology and doesn’t have the perfectly rendered atmosphere of Heartless, but it’s a solid read. And yes, you do probably need to have read Dickens original novel to appreciate this one.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

It took me a moment but all of a sudden this book captivated me. The part where Memory recalls his 13th birthday when him and Ivy tried to leave was very compelling and I was devastated.
This is not your happy delightful fairy story! It had me feeling many feelings.

This book is very atmospheric and you will feel the mood of the French Revolution era as you read through this dark and emotional tale. The presence of faeries and magic are built so seamlessly into the world, making this such a good historical fiction. The pacing was a bit slow at times, which helped to build the world, but led to me taking a bit to settle into this read. The writing is beautifully done and evokes writing from the time of Dickens.

The narrator for the audiobook was fantastic and brought a really enjoyable listening experience that enhanced the book.

Thank you to @torbooks for the ARC and @macmillan.audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

I went into this without knowing anything about A Tale of Two Cities. I don’t think it’s necessary to have any background knowledge of the book now that I’ve completed it and read a synopsis for A Tale of Two Cities. This book does read a lot like a Dickens story- it’s not an easy or quick read. The story was essentially a retelling with the added element of fantasy. It was well done, if not a little slow in the beginning. The fantasy elements were great- I especially liked the goblins. I was an absolute mess at the ending (again- didn’t know it was coming, even though I had sort of pieced it together). I will be thinking about this book for years to come.

I received both an ALC and an eARC so I oscillated between the two. I really appreciated the narrator. He was easy to listen to. He did an excellent job of differentiating between the characters. His accents were spot in on.

Thank you Macmillan for the ALC

What a delightfully twisted rollercoaster of emotions this story took me on. First of all, please be assured that Nathaniel Priestley is a joy to listen to. Their accent and inflection helped immerse me even further into the characters and their adventures.

Speaking of the characters, our MMC, Memory is such a unique and twisted person. His backstory is so heartbreaking and I found myself rooting for his success more and more as the story unfolded. The other characters we meet along the way were very well developed and I thought really added depth as well. I was completely enthralled with the ambience of the setting and wish I could be listening to this book during a crisp, fall day.

If you like long lost love, a multi-layered revenge driven plot and learning about how the Fae vs. Mortal worlds collide, than I can not recommend this story enough.

*Thank you to Macmillian Audio, Tor Books, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced readers copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review*

5 stars and full of feels.

🎧 Audiobook 🎧 is incredibly well narrated: full of emotional and character range.

From the start, I was incredibly invested in this winding story and its main actors. The world building - an intertwining of inspiration from the Tale of Two Cities and Human/Fae dynamics - is achieved flawlessly. The Fae politics are revealed only so much as they affect our human and changeling characters, but they have the potential to be utterly devastating. The human world is falling apart and on the brink of horrendous violence, as we enter the French Revolution. And yet the Human and Fae interactions continue apace regardless of their impact on the surrounding climate. In flashbacks, we see how human servants are acquired, used and disposed of. Meanwhile, their changeling counterparts continue on with their stolen lives.

Characters are deeply embodied, and go through ruinous personal emergencies with impressive growth and awareness. And then, the plot pushes them beyond their own limits into even more. There were times where I didn't even know who I should be cheering for, as they each reached out for any semblance of balance.

In today's world of shortening stories and selling two books instead, I was greatly impressed by the vastness and range of this author. Plus, the incredible climate that we are currently living through makes this fantasy even more real.

Now, to grow back all of my fingernails and get some sleep ......

Truly, one of my favourite reads so far this year!

Huge gratitude to Netgalley, and the publisher Macmillan Audio, for an Audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks for the audio ARC goes to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Alternate History, Mystery
Audio Narration: Excellent and moody
Language: Some profanity
Other: Rape is mentioned but it is not on the page.

A FAR BETTER THING caught me up in the world of changelings, and I didn't even know who to root for at times!

What an intriguing set up.

This book was riveting as I wound through the twists and tried to figure out where this would go. Because of the depth of the characters, I truly felt for them. And our main character tries to be nonchalant, but he is actually agonizing over every decision he must make. I wanted him to find happiness and peace. And the plot carries the weight of the problems the characters face so well. This was an absolutely intriguing novel. I would say the ending was satisfying to me.

Things to look forward to:

- Dangerous fae
- Shadowy purposes
- Secrets
- French Revolution
- Love
- Revenge
- Sacrifice
- Truth & lies
- Family generational trauma
- Disparity of social classes
- Manipulation
- Poison

Happy reading!

H.G. Parry remains a frontrunner for best writing about fae. This story is a meld of fae and A Tale of Two Cities, and it is well written and dense with intrigue and fae lore. And let’s be frank—these fae are not cute and cuddly; they are vicious, conniving, and scary.

I love that Parry can write such full stories that show us difficult topics with fae woven in. I mean, the Reign of Terror?! And it doesn’t suck and isn’t overly ambitious?! Parry is a master of the craft, and I would recommend you dive in and experience it yourself.

I read this via audiobook, and, as usual from Macmillan audio, the production was flawless. I’ve read a couple from them, and I’m learning to trust that if it comes from them, the production will be amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, I have been completely swept off my feet. I am in absolute awe and left entirely devastated by this masterpiece.

Set during the French Revolution, the story follows Sydney Carton. Living as a human servant, Carton grew up his entire life knowing he was stolen at birth by Faeries. But when Carton meets his Changeling for the first time in court, where he works as a law clerk, life as he knew it forever changed.

However, this was never supposed to happen. Carton knew meeting his Changeling could mean his own death. So, Carton was left with two options. Say nothing and let his Changeling be executed for espionage, or speak up and save his life. The decision he makes will change his life and the lives of those around him for years to come, and has the potential to break down the barrier between the Fae Realm and the human world.

Unfortunately, I have never read "A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, so all of the characters, parallels, Easter eggs, and references to the original story went entirely over my head.

Having that said, I don't think it is entirely necessary to know the original to enjoy this story. I learned that this was a retelling of Dickens after I finished the audiobook, and now I have added "A Tale of Two Cities" to my TBR, which I can honestly say was not om my BINGO card for this year, but hey, people change and grow lolol.

The narrator, Nathaniel Priestley, did an outstanding job of setting the tone and scene, as well as keeping each character distinctive from one another. It was an absolute pleasure to listen to.

The author's writing was nothing short of perfection. I was completely taken in by the story and on the journey of my life while I listened to this story. And don't even get me started on the historical accuracy on this one, because if I do, I will literally NEVER shut up.

I took a VERY in-depth course on the French Revolution in college, so I am uniquely knowledgeable on this topic, and I have literally no notes. It almost felt like I was transported to the late 18th c. France.

Additionally, I loved the Fae world and Faeries in this story. They are not your typical Faeries. They are at best morally grey, and at worst, vindictive and evil.

Overall, this was a great read. I can’t wait to come back to it after I read the original it's inspired by. 4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5).

Thank you to H.G. Parry, Tor Books, Macmillan, and NetGalley for sending me an advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"The faeries stole Sydney Carton as a child, and made him a mortal servant of the Faery Realm. Now, he has a rare opportunity for revenge against the fae and Charles Darnay, the changeling left in his stead."

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry! I am admittedly quite picky when it comes to audiobooks- the writing, the narration, and the pacing all have to work in tandem for me to truly enjoy the experience. I am happy to say that our narrator, Nathaniel Priestly, made H.G. Parry's world and characters perfectly come to life- I cannot imagine Sydney Carton with any other voice. I LOVE H.G. Parry's writing and A Far Better Thing was no exception; I am forever impressed by the way Parry creates an atmosphere that pulls you in, holds you hostage, and makes you wish it didn't have to end. A Tale of Two Cities has never been reinvented so well (I say, as I haven't read A Tale of Two Cities since high school... shhh).

With a painful but necessary end, A Far Better Thing is character driven, full of heart, and emotionally complex. For fans of historical fantasy, faeries, Susanna Clarke, Emily Wilde, and Charles Dickens with a twist. A Far Better Thing is already out in the world, and I hope you love it as much as I did!

For most of this book I thought it was going to be a four star read. Yet, as I followed along with Sidney Carton's story I found myself being drawn in so deeply that I finished a 13 hour audiobook in one day. (Even if I did stay up until 1 am to do it.)

And no, I absolutely was not crying into my bowl of cereal at the ending.

A Far Better Thing is a reimagining of Charles Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities, adding a dash of magic, Fae, and, well, a truly Dickensian revenge plot. I am only vaguely aware of the plot of the original thanks to my (obsessive) viewing of Wishbone as a child, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the copy of this book. All opinions stated are my own.

H.G. Parry wove new plot elements and characters into the original story with a mastery I can only dream of having one day. The plot manages to be incredibly character driven while it races on to the inevitable conclusion. The main character is not truly a good man in the beginning, but I couldn't help but like him despite his bitterness and anger.

Sidney's journey from that drunk, bitter man into a man who faces his inevitable end with peace and serenity is quite the ride. Several times I was on the edge of my seat, holding my breath as I worried for the characters.

And the prose. H.G. Parry's use of language is absolutely fantastic. I don't think I will ever forget a character's voice being compared to the sound of the ends of a broken bone rubbing together.

This book was the highlight of my month and is definitely a contender for the best of the year.

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.

Beautifully written standalone. Tale of Two Cities but written with faeries. It was an exquisite take that made me feel sadness upon its ending. The narrator brought the story to life and did an amazing job going back and forth between English and French accents across multiple characters.

unique fairy revenge story! some parts got a little murky, but it was an entertaining listen. thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Negalley for the ARC.

The one thing about H.G. Parry, they will write about the French revolution and make you cry so hard that people look at you weird.

A Far Better Thing is a beautiful story about human beings overcoming while also showing how who we become is all due to circumstances. The fae are accurately portrayed in here, as evil and complex. I loved how the story of changelings were discussed and the additional mythology that Parry adds. Though I knew the outcome of the story from chapter 1 (I don't trust Parry as far as I can through them after their previous books), I still couldn't help falling in love with the main character. He's cranky and grump and angry at the world, but also noble and hopeful and kind. I loved how hard he fights for his changeling, even when he could just let the man die and take his life.

Seriously, if you like magical realism and historical fiction, pick this book up!

I feel I am in the minority here, as I have not read A Tale of Two Cities, so I lacked the understanding of the connection to it as a retelling of sorts. I typically do enjoy retellings, so I believe if I had read it first, I would have enjoyed this more.

I did enjoy Sydney as a character - flawed and with a desire for revenge, the ability to get creative in completing assignments, yet he is conflicted by his role in the same events that stole his own life.

This was a unique perspective of the changeling concept, and I loved the idea of seeking revenge. I am always eager to see how bargains with fea will be twisted and turned against humans.

Unfortunately, this didn't pull me in and make me curse the late hour, or make me eager to pick it back up. The writing is beautiful, I am just eager for faster pacing and more action. I was excited for this one as I heard it was a bit darker than other books by Parry. This is my second adult book from Parry, and both have felt a bit more YA than adult to me (perhaps I've been reading too many gory stories lately). I started with the eARC and hopped into the audio ARC, which did help me, as the narrator did a fantastic job.

If you have read A Tale of Two Cities and enjoy retellings, historical fiction with a dash of fantasy, you may enjoy this one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and listen to this one.

I listened to the ALC for A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry narrated by Nathaniel Priestly and I really enjoyed it. First, I think Nathaniel Priestly is a fantastic narrator and he really inhabited this character. So well done. The book's pacing could be better, but with Nathaniel's narration - I was fully engaged and easily managed to keep me engaged and moving forward in the story. And, I did enjoy the story - a combination of a reimagined Tale of Two Cities and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Thank you so much to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.