A Far Better Thing - by H G Parry (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell meets A Tale of Two Cities in H. G. Parry's A Far Better Thing, a heart-rending fantasy of faery revenge set during the French Revolution.

Most Anticipated SSF Books 2025--The Nerd Daily, BookPage

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

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.

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.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Far Better Thing

"A dazzling incarnation of A Tale of Two Cities; a spellbinding tale of vengeance, violence and enduring heartbreak."--Ariel Kaplan, author of The Pomegranate Gate

"A real heartburner of a novel--passionate, painful, with protagonists who were dragging all the weight of the past and could still strive towards something better for themselves and the ones they loved. The sort of book that one absolutely can't put down, that makes you cry in the best way."--Genevieve Cogman

"This book had me at 'fairy revenge set against the French Revolution' and it did not disappoint! An elegant blend of magic, history and fairy lore that taps deep into what it means to be human--and the love and loss that entails."--Kell Woods, author of Upon a Starlit Tide

"This book is perfect. Human changelings toil in revolutionary Paris and Dickens' London for the world's scariest fairy masters, just glad to be out of the Realm. A stage magician who excels at true magic uncovers a book with claws that our dissolute hero must fight with a sword. H. G. Parry is a brilliant writer who kept me on the edge of my seat, gulping down after page while still relishing all the flavors of her delicious prose."--Ellen Kushner, author of the Tremontaine series

"Parry dazzles in this masterful fantasy riff on A Tale of Two Cities. ... The result is a rip-roaring tale rooted in love, vengeance, and justice. Readers will be wowed."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"With intricate character work and a seamless blend of history, literature, and imagination, this novel crafts a tale as vivid and textured as the classic that inspired it."--Library Journal

Praise for The Magician's Daughter

"The Magician's Daughter is a delightful little fantasy that pulls at all the right heartstrings...For those who fondly remember the works of Frances Hodgson Burnett or Lewis Carroll, this novel will definitely be your (bread, butter and) jam."--Wall Street Journal

"A charming romp of an old-school coming of age fantasy about family and magic that will take your heart for a wild ride."--NPR

"The Magician's Daughter is that most rare and precious thing: a brand-new classic, both wholly original and wonderfully nostalgic. It's an absolute treasure."--Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

"I love the way Parry blends mythic elements with wit and heart. A fast pace, period detail and an intriguing cast of real, flawed people make The Magician's Daughter a book to be absolutely devoured."--Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong

"Innovative fairy tale and deftly researched historical fiction in one . . . HG Parry crafts an evocative world rife with a struggle for equity, justice, and the occasional miracle that readers won't be able to forget."--Rowenna Miller, author of Torn

"There are the best kind of fairytale elements in The Magician's Daughter--the ones that draw you in and make you believe that magic does exist. . . . I absolutely adored it!"--Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

"A compelling journey into a world of fading myth and mystery, evoking the magic of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by way of The Dark is Rising."--Cameron Johnston, author of The Maleficent Seven

"This is a fully realized world that feels like a homage to the classic fantasy tales of Diana Wynne Jones."--Booklist

About the Author

H. G. PARRY is the author of several books including The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, the Shadow Histories duology, and The Magician's Daughter. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and divides her time between her tiny Wellington flat and a house on the Kapiti Coast where she lives with her sister and a menagerie of small animals.