H.G. Parry has undertaken one of the most audacious literary endeavors imaginable: reimagining Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities through the lens of fairy folklore. In A Far Better Thing, the author poses a deliciously subversive question—what if Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay look identical not through authorial convenience, but because one is a changeling left in place of the other? This premise alone could have fueled a novel of considerable merit, but Parry’s ambitions stretch far beyond simple fairy tale revisionism.
The Magic Behind the Madness
Plot Architecture and World-Building
The novel follows Sydney Carton—renamed “Memory” in the fairy realm—who was stolen as an infant and raised as a mortal servant to the fae. Twenty years later, he encounters Charles Darnay, the changeling left in his place, during Darnay’s treason trial in London. This meeting sets in motion a complex web of fairy politics, revolutionary fervor, and deeply personal revenge that spans both London and revolutionary Paris.
Parry’s world-building proves both her greatest strength and occasional weakness. The fairy realm operates under its own brutal logic, where mortal servants like Memory perform dark errands in exchange for their lives. The author skillfully interweaves fairy magic with historical events, creating a sense that supernatural forces have been pulling strings behind the French Revolution’s most pivotal moments. The concept of gates between worlds opening only upon the death of royalty during times of martyrdom provides elegant mythological scaffolding for the narrative.
Yet this same complexity sometimes threatens to overwhelm the emotional core of the story. The rules governing fairy magic, Realm-silver, cold iron protection, and gate-opening require significant exposition that occasionally bogs down the pacing. Readers may find themselves pausing to untangle the relationships between various fairy factions—the Summer King, the Wild Hunt, and competing court politics—when they’d rather be following Memory’s internal journey.
Character Development and Voice
Parry’s greatest triumph lies in her transformation of Sydney Carton from Dickens’ self-loathing drunkard into a complex anti-hero shaped by supernatural trauma. Memory retains Carton’s cynicism and self-destructive tendencies while adding layers of genuine victimhood and justified rage. His relationship with Ivy—the real Lucie Manette who was also stolen by fairies—provides the emotional anchor that Dickens’ original sometimes lacked.
The author demonstrates remarkable skill in adapting Dickens’ voice for a modern fantasy audience. She captures the rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality of Victorian prose while streamlining it for contemporary readers. Memory’s first-person narration strikes an effective balance between period authenticity and accessibility, though occasionally the formal diction feels at odds with the raw emotion of his experiences.
Charles Darnay emerges as more than a mere plot device, developing into a genuinely sympathetic figure despite being, technically, a fairy replacement. Parry resists the temptation to make him villainous, instead exploring the tragedy of an innocent being caught between worlds he never chose to inhabit.
Historical Integration and Thematic Depth
Revolutionary Context
Parry deserves considerable praise for her historical research and integration. The French Revolution serves not merely as backdrop but as an active force in the narrative. The author demonstrates deep understanding of the period’s social dynamics, from the grinding poverty of Saint-Antoine to the paranoid atmosphere of the Terror. Her depiction of revolutionary Paris—with its constantly shifting political allegiances and omnipresent threat of the guillotine—creates genuine tension that complements the supernatural elements.
The parallel between fairy court politics and revolutionary justice proves particularly effective. Both systems operate on capricious rules where life and death depend on the whims of those in power. This thematic resonance elevates the novel above simple fantasy adventure into pointed social commentary.
Moral Complexity and Sacrifice
Where Parry truly excels is in examining the cost of justice and revenge. Memory’s quest for vengeance against the fairies who destroyed his life gradually evolves into something more complex—a recognition that cycles of violence perpetuate themselves across both mortal and immortal realms. The novel’s treatment of sacrifice goes beyond Dickens’ somewhat simplistic Christian allegory to explore how trauma shapes identity and choice.
The relationship between Memory and Shadow—revealed to be another stolen child turned fairy servant—provides the novel’s most psychologically complex material. Their parallel journeys from victims to potential perpetrators raise uncomfortable questions about how suffering transforms people and whether redemption remains possible after crossing certain moral lines.
Strengths and Shortcomings
What Works
The novel succeeds admirably in several key areas. Parry’s prose captures both the grandeur and grit of its dual settings, from London’s fog-shrouded streets to Paris’s blood-soaked squares. Her action sequences, particularly those involving the Wild Hunt and fairy magic, pulse with genuine excitement and terror. The author demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how to adapt classic literature without simply copying its themes or structure.
Most importantly, the emotional stakes feel real and earned. Memory’s love for Ivy, his complicated feelings toward Lucie Manette’s changeling, and his growing understanding of his own agency create a character arc that justifies the novel’s considerable length and complexity.
Areas for Improvement
The novel’s ambitions occasionally exceed its execution. Certain plot threads—particularly involving the various fairy courts and their complex hierarchies—feel underdeveloped despite consuming significant page time. The magic system, while creative, sometimes lacks the clear internal logic that would make the stakes feel more immediate.
Pacing proves inconsistent, with some sections racing ahead while others bog down in exposition. The novel’s middle third, set primarily in revolutionary Paris, occasionally loses focus as Parry juggles multiple plotlines involving fairy politics, historical events, and character development.
Some secondary characters, particularly the historical figures borrowed from Dickens, feel more like plot functions than fully realized people. While Parry succeeds in making Memory and the key fairy characters compelling, figures like Mr. Lorry and Miss Pross sometimes seem to exist primarily to advance plot mechanics.
Literary Merit and Genre Innovation
Subversion and Homage
A Far Better Thing represents a fascinating exercise in literary conversation. Parry simultaneously honors Dickens’ original while subverting its fundamental assumptions about identity, sacrifice, and social justice. The novel’s exploration of what it means to be human when your very existence results from supernatural intervention adds philosophical depth that enhances rather than diminishes the source material.
The author’s decision to maintain Dickens’ structure while completely reimagining its mythology demonstrates considerable literary sophistication. This is not simply fanfiction with fairy elements but a genuine reinterpretation that uses fantasy to illuminate themes already present in the original.
Genre Boundaries
The novel succeeds in bridging literary fiction and fantasy in ways that respect both traditions. Readers seeking pure historical fiction may find the supernatural elements intrusive, while fantasy enthusiasts might wish for more consistent world-building. However, those willing to embrace the hybrid approach will find rewards in both areas.
Final Assessment
A Far Better Thing represents an ambitious and largely successful attempt to breathe new life into a classic story through the lens of fairy folklore. While the novel occasionally struggles under the weight of its own complexity, Parry’s emotional intelligence and literary skill carry it through most rough patches. This is a book that respects its readers’ intelligence while delivering the excitement and wonder that fantasy literature can provide at its best.
The novel will particularly appeal to readers of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, who appreciate fantasy that takes its historical setting seriously, and fans of authors like Susanna Clarke and Naomi Novik, who excel at blending literary sensibility with fantastical elements. Those seeking straightforward adventure or simple fairy tale retelling should look elsewhere, but readers hungry for complex, emotionally resonant fantasy will find much to appreciate.
Parry has created something genuinely unique—a novel that honors its source while charting entirely new territory. Despite its occasional flaws, A Far Better Thing stands as a remarkable achievement in both historical fantasy and literary adaptation.
Similar Reads and Author Context
H.G. Parry’s Literary Journey
Readers familiar with Parry’s previous works—The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians, and A Radical Act of Free Magic—will recognize her signature blend of literary sophistication and fantastical invention. Her Shadow Histories series demonstrated her ability to seamlessly integrate magic into historical settings, making A Far Better Thing a natural evolution of her interests and skills.
Recommended Similar Titles
Readers who enjoyed this novel should consider:
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke – The gold standard for literary fantasy set in historical periods
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – Portal fantasy with similar themes of belonging and identity
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – Historical fantasy examining social justice through supernatural lens
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – Fairy folklore integrated into historical setting
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – Deals with themes of memory, identity, and supernatural servitude
- Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik – Sophisticated fairy tale retelling with complex moral themes
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – Epic fantasy with strong historical elements
Literary Influences and Conversations
The novel participates in several important literary conversations, from the tradition of fairy tale retellings to the growing subgenre of historical fantasy that treats magic as seriously as it does history. Parry’s work stands alongside authors who recognize that fantasy can illuminate rather than escape from real-world concerns.
A Far Better Thing proves that classic literature can be successfully reimagined without losing its essential power—indeed, the right fantastical elements can amplify rather than diminish a story’s emotional and thematic impact. In an era of endless adaptations and reboots, Parry shows how to honor source material while creating something genuinely new.
Conclusion
Despite its occasional stumbles with pacing and world-building complexity, A Far Better Thing succeeds as both an entertaining fantasy novel and a thoughtful literary exercise. Parry has created a work that respects its readers’ intelligence while delivering genuine emotional payoff and fantastical wonder. This is historical fantasy at its most ambitious—flawed perhaps, but undeniably memorable and worthy of the literary tradition it seeks to honor and transform.
