Review: A Far Better Thing by HG Parry

My Five Word TL:DR Review: Brilliant. No Further Words Needed

I thought I was going to love this, I loved The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door and I was excited to pick this up – and, I did love it, literally, it didn’t disappoint.

Firstly, I haven’t read a Tale of Two Cities – although I confess this book actually makes me wish to do so.  So, I have no idea how this story ties in to the Dickens tale.  However, I had such a good time reading this.  Parry writes with confidence and panache.  I love her style, this read like a period novel, not necessarily with the wordiness and antiquity but with a flavour of the times and an ease of reading.  I mean, you have to love an author that gives you a feel for Dickens but with a more modern take.  I really enjoyed this.

Secondly, I’ve read and loved two books now by this author, so, literally, HG Parry is on my list of authors to watch.

So, I’m not going to talk of the plot.  At all.

What I loved.

The writing is exquisite.  I loved the writing.  I mean, I really enjoyed reading this.  I’m really excited to see what this author comes up with next.

The characters, you care about them.  They’ve, for the most part been pretty much mistreated by the fae and, in fact, continue to be so.  Some of them are the fae, changelings in fact, and yet they’re not aware. How complicated is it really?

The setting is a perfect period setting.  It feels Dickensian in so many ways.  The dialogue, the description of places, the slums, the ways of life, the discrepancies between those with and without, and then of course the move to France and the Revolution.

The fae are perfectly hideous.  They’re all about the long game.  Plotting and planning and downright nasty.  I loved them.

Overall, I loved this, I can’t recommend it enough.  If you want a period feeling novel dripping with fae machinations you simply have to read this.

I received a copy through Netalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars

11 Responses to “Review: A Far Better Thing by HG Parry”

  1. Tammy's avatar Tammy

    Wonderful review, I must get to this sooner rather than later.

    • @lynnsbooks's avatar @lynnsbooks

      This was very much my style of book, historical, fantasy, great writing, fae.

      Lynn 😀

  2. pagesandtea's avatar pagesandtea

    Dickensian mixed with fae, I like the idea of that very much. I already have The Scholar… on my wishlist, I think I’ll add this as well.

    I’m sure I already have another book by this author, something about characters escaping from books (possibly), so if her writing is good then perhaps that’s another I should look at soon.

    • @lynnsbooks's avatar @lynnsbooks

      I’m loving her writing, she has an old fashioned feel but without being over elaborate or fussy and this was really good, a period novel with fae, plus I felt she brought something new to the lore of changelings.

      Lynn 😀

  3. Monthly/Weekly Wrap Up/What’s On My Plate June/July | Books and travelling with Lynn

    […] socialising.  That being said my weekly reading the past week has been good.  I did indeed finish A Far Better Thing by HG Parry and not only loved it but have already posted my review – a Dickens inspired […]

  4. wittysarcasticbookclub's avatar wittysarcasticbookclub

    Great review! This one is on my TBR.

  5. Charlotte's avatar Charlotte

    This sounds fantastic. The way that you’ve described the fae here definitely sounds like the sort that call to me plus I love seeing the French Revolution as a setting. Have you read any Dickens before? I haven’t read Tale either but I did read Great Expectations. I quite liked it at first but I was reading it because I had to rather than picking it up for choice (A Levels) and I only used to read one book at a time back then so I got very impatient to return to my own books 😂🙈 I think I could get on better if I tried again by choice though.

    • @lynnsbooks's avatar @lynnsbooks

      To be honest I’ve not read as much Dickens as I would like so really I feel like I should challenge myself – perhaps pick up Tale of Two Cities given this one was loosely based on that – I also read Great Expectations, I did like that one Miss Haversham and Pip. I also love A Christmas Carol which I reread quite a few times at the seasonal time of year.

      Lynn 😀

      • Charlotte's avatar Charlotte

        I hope you enjoy A Tale Of Two Cities if you do end up trying it out. And yes I think Miss Haversham in particular interesting. So many people love A Christmas Carol that I definitely feel like I’ll have to put it on my festive TBR one year. I’ve only ever seen adaptations 🙈 its the same with Oliver too actually 😅

  6. jessicabookworm's avatar jessicabookworm

    Hello Lynn, I am pleased you enjoyed this one so much. I loved A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – I highly recommend reading it – and I would like to read more books about the fae, so this sounds like one I should add to my wish list.
    Blessings, Jessica 💌

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