A Far Better Thing, H. G. Parry
A Far Better Thing, H. G. Parry
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A Far Better Thing

Author: H. G. Parry

Narrator: Nathaniel Priestley

Unabridged: 13 hr 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/17/2025


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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

About H. G. Parry

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.

About Nathaniel Priestley

Nathaniel has brought over 170 audiobooks to life, earning recognition in 2024 with an AudioFile Earphones Award, and Best Audiobook Performance at the VOX Awards. His work spans diverse genres and authors from around the world, driven by a genuine curiosity about stories outside his usual reading preferences.What makes Nathaniel's narration distinctive is his natural ability to adapt his delivery to match each book's unique tone and atmosphere. Critics have noted his "broad tonal palette with theatre-quality diction and phrasing," highlighting how he can shift from quiet, reflective moments to more intense, dramatic scenes as the story demands.For Nathaniel, the real reward comes from discovering unexpected literary treasures and sharing them with listeners. His approach focuses on serving the story rather than showcasing technique, creating audiobook experiences that feel authentic and engaging. Whether tackling contemporary fiction or classic literature, he brings a thoughtful, well-crafted performance that honors both the author's vision and the listener's experience.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Leanna on June 02, 2025

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 character......more

Goodreads review by Chloe on June 20, 2025

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 fa......more

Goodreads review by brewdy_reader on June 16, 2025

3.75⭐️ Thank you @torbooks & @macmillan.audio for the ARC & ALC! ♡ ·..·˙✧˖°⋆⊹ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝙳𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝙴𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎. ⊹⋆..·˙✧˖°·∘ ↳ A genre mashup combining historical classics with mercurial faeries, changelings, and magic. ↳ A Tale of Two Cities reinvented but closely following the revenge plot and its mai......more

Goodreads review by Hillary on January 16, 2025

Damn if reading this wasn't as being wrapped in a warm blanket on an autumn evening. Odd for such a cold, bloody thing, but it was a comfort for all that.......more

Goodreads review by Kat on March 27, 2025

I received a free copy from Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date June 17th. I've read one of Parry's books in the past, and I was intrigued to see the changeling-themed premise of her latest. In A Far Better Thing, Sydney Carton was human child stolen by the faeries, an......more


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