H.G. Parry’s A Far Better Thing emerges as a daring literary experiment that takes Charles Dickens’ beloved A Tale of Two Cities and threads it through with fairy magic, creating something that feels both familiar and utterly transformed. This standalone portal fantasy doesn’t merely borrow from Dickens—it reimagines his classic through the lens of faerie lore, positioning Sydney Carton not as a dissolute lawyer, but as a stolen child seeking vengeance against the changeling who took his place.
The premise alone is audacious: what if Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay look identical because Darnay is actually a fairy changeling? Parry takes this seemingly whimsical “what if” and constructs an intricate narrative that spans two worlds—revolutionary France and the mysterious Fairy Realm—while never losing sight of the emotional core that made Dickens’ original so enduring.
The Heart of Memory and Shadow
Parry’s Sydney Carton, who goes by “Memory” in the Fairy Realm, carries the weight of profound loss. Stolen as an infant and raised as a mortal servant to the faeries, he is haunted by the death of his childhood friend Ivy, murdered by the fairy he calls Shadow. When Shadow’s machinations bring Memory face-to-face with his changeling Charles Darnay during Darnay’s treason trial, old wounds tear open and long-dormant plans for revenge begin to stir.
The author skillfully weaves together personal vengeance with the broader canvas of the French Revolution, creating a narrative where individual trauma mirrors societal upheaval. Memory’s struggle against his fairy masters parallels the French people’s fight against aristocratic oppression, while the Fairy Realm itself becomes a site of political tension between the Summer and Winter Courts.
Revolutionary Magic and Political Intrigue
What elevates A Far Better Thing beyond simple fantasy reimagining is Parry’s sophisticated understanding of both historical context and fairy lore. The French Revolution provides more than mere backdrop—it becomes integral to the fairy plot. Bartholomew, a rogue fairy, manipulates revolutionary events to open a gate between worlds, using the execution of King Louis XVI as a catalyst for magic that could reshape both realms.
Parry demonstrates remarkable restraint in her magical worldbuilding. The fairies operate by strict rules and ancient hierarchies, their magic bound by iron and bargains. The author resists the temptation to solve plot problems with convenient magic, instead using supernatural elements to deepen character conflicts and moral dilemmas.
The historical elements feel authentic without becoming overwhelming. Parry clearly understands the period, weaving real events and figures into her narrative with precision. The atmosphere of revolutionary Paris—its violence, hope, and desperation—comes alive through Memory’s eyes as he navigates both mortal and fairy politics.
Character Depths and Moral Complexities
Key Strengths:
- Complex protagonist development – Memory/Sydney Carton emerges as genuinely three-dimensional
- Authentic historical atmosphere – Revolutionary Paris feels lived-in and dangerous
- Innovative fairy mythology – Rules and hierarchies that feel both ancient and logical
- Emotional resonance – The grief and love that drive the plot feel genuine
The supporting cast proves equally compelling. Lucie Manette retains her essential goodness while becoming more than Dickens’ somewhat passive heroine. Dr. Manette’s backstory receives crucial expansion, revealing how his own bargain with Shadow set these events in motion. Even Charles Darnay, potentially the most difficult character to make interesting, gains depth through his unknowing role as changeling.
Rosemary and Addison Thorne represent Parry’s most original creations—fellow mortal servants to the fairies whose own romance provides both hope and tension. Their relationship demonstrates that love can survive even in circumstances designed to destroy it, offering counterpoint to Memory’s more tragic devotion.
The Weight of Sacrifice
Parry’s prose carries echoes of Dickens without becoming pastiche. She captures something of his grand, sweeping style while maintaining her own voice. The dialogue feels period-appropriate without becoming archaic, and the first-person narration allows readers to experience Memory’s internal journey intimately.
The climax builds inevitably toward the guillotine, but Parry earns her tragic ending through careful character development and moral complexity. Memory’s final choice feels both heartbreaking and inevitable, the culmination of everything we’ve learned about his character and circumstances.
Where Revolution Meets Resolution
The novel’s treatment of revolution—both political and personal—proves particularly sophisticated. The French Revolution serves as backdrop for Memory’s own rebellion against fairy authority, while changes in the Fairy Realm mirror earthly upheavals. Parry suggests that true revolution requires personal sacrifice, that meaningful change often comes at terrible cost.
Areas for Improvement:
- Pacing inconsistencies – Some middle sections feel slower than the dynamic opening and climax
- Secondary character development – A few supporting players could use deeper exploration
- World-building exposition – Occasionally becomes dense with fairy politics and rules
- Romantic subplot balance – The Rosemary-Thorne romance, while sweet, sometimes feels disconnected from the main plot
Literary Inheritance and Innovation
A Far Better Thing stands confidently alongside other works that reimagine classic literature through fantasy lenses. Readers who enjoyed Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will find similar pleasures here—the marriage of historical detail with supernatural elements, the dry humor underlying serious themes, the sense that magic and mundane world intersect in complex ways.
The novel also connects to Parry’s previous work in The Shadow Histories series, demonstrating her continued interest in how magic might have shaped historical events. However, this standalone work requires no prior knowledge of her other books.
The Author’s Growing Mastery
Having previously demonstrated her talents in The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep and the Shadow Histories duology, Parry continues to establish herself as a major voice in historical fantasy. A Far Better Thing represents perhaps her most ambitious work yet, successfully balancing multiple genres and influences while telling a deeply human story about love, loss, and the price of justice.
Her academic background in literature serves her well here, evident in both her nuanced approach to Dickens’ source material and her sophisticated understanding of fairy tale traditions. This is fantasy written by someone who truly understands both history and literature, not merely someone borrowing their surface elements.
Final Verdict
A Far Better Thing succeeds as both homage and original creation. Parry has crafted a novel that honors its source while telling an entirely new story, one that feels both inevitable and surprising. The blend of revolutionary history and fairy politics creates something unique in the fantasy landscape—a book that takes its emotional stakes seriously while never forgetting the wonder inherent in magic.
For readers seeking fantasy that engages with serious themes, historical fiction with supernatural elements, or simply a well-crafted story about the power of love and sacrifice, A Far Better Thing delivers on multiple levels. It’s a novel that trusts its readers’ intelligence while never forgetting to entertain, a combination that marks truly successful fiction.
While not without minor flaws, this is essential reading for fans of historical fantasy, demonstrating once again that the best fantasy novels are those that use magic to illuminate fundamental human truths.
Similar Books to Explore
If A Far Better Thing captivated you, consider these companion reads:
- Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – For similar historical fantasy with fairy politics
- Katherine Addison’s The Angel of the Crows – Another creative reimagining of classic literature
- Alix E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January – For portal fantasy with historical elements
- V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – For immortal characters and bargains with supernatural forces
- T.J. Klune’s Somewhere Beyond the Sea – For found family themes and magical societies
- Marie Brennan’s A Natural History of Dragons – For Victorian-era fantasy with academic rigor
These recommendations span the spectrum from classic historical fantasy to contemporary voices exploring similar themes of love, sacrifice, and the intersection of magic with human history.