Review: A Far Better Thing by HG Parry
3 July 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Far Better Thing, Book Review, Books, Fae, Fantasy, HG Parry, Review
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
Review: Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill
25 February 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Review, Books, Fae, Fantasy, Greenteeth, Molly O'Neill, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I practically inhaled this book
Oh my, I think my little socks have been blown off. I absolutely loved Greenteeth. I saw a lovely review for this on a blog that I’ve come to trust very much (thank you Books Bones and Buffy) and decided I had to give it a shot. I was actually trying to be careful this month but the fae elements of this really appealed to me and so I threw caution to the wind. My giddy aunt – I’m so glad I did. I mean, if I hadn’t picked this up I would have missed this perfect little nugget – I don’t suppose I’d ever know just how much I’d be missing it, but even so – I would have been gutted – even if I wasn’t aware of it. Moving swiftly on.
This is a story full of myths and magic, high and low fae, a terrible evil that must be overcome and a witch, a goblin and a Jenny (swamp or lake hag – sorry Jenny) who go on a quest. First of all, who doesn’t love a quest? Second what a great cast and; third just read this if you need a quick injection of fae trickery.
So, I’ve not heard of a Jenny Greenteeth before – although having gone away to check out some more I must have done because apparently there’s one in Pratchett’s Wee Free Men. Anyhow, Jennyies inhabit lakes and the like (they’re all called Jenny apparently), they have green skin, slimy hair and wicked teeth. They were quite possibly dreamt up as a way to scare children so that they wouldn’t wander away from home and drown. Anyway, I absolutely loved Jenny, whose bark was definitely worse than her bite. She was grumpy and curmudgeonly, although she keeps an orderly lake and a spick and span cave, and she’s become used to living by herself (her daughter having left for different waters many moons since) although she begrudgingly confesses to missing some of the characters from the story when they become absent.
The plot. Well, as the story begins Jenny is disturbed when something large is thrown into her lake and goes to investigate (perhaps it will be a nice snack) – instead, it’s a woman. Seemingly thrown into the pool by the village folk. They have something of a standoff (whilst the woman continues drowning and Jenny ponders the situation) and then Jenny whisks her off to her secret lair. An underground cave where she stashes all the goodies that end up lost or abandoned in her environment.
I don’t really want to go into everything, best that you discover the tale for yourself. Its a quick read and easy to become absorbed in.
The other characters. Temperance is the witch, a good witch I hasten to add, no dark arts here, who is determined to return to her family. She has the notion that she can cast a ‘forgetting’ spell and return home safely, however, a powerful predator has taken up residence in her sleepy little village and it’s going to take something much stronger than a hedge witch and two lower fae to dislodge it. Brackus is the travelling salesman type goblin, he can acquire anything from Kelpie hair to strange candles. He has a soft spot for Jenny and the two have a constant stream of banter in which they attempt to show how much they dislike each other but fail spectacularly.
What I loved about this. Everything. The pacing was spot on. I mean, the story pretty much gets off to an immediate start and the writing is just lovely. I really enjoyed the dialogue and the way everything unfolds in such an easy and natural way. I really liked the characters and this is so character focused which is a real must for me. Jenny is certainly not without her faults, she constantly reminds Temperance and readers that she’s a monster and not to forget it, but even so – I simply liked her.
On top of this, there’s the quest of course. Our characters travel, through the use of fae gates and roads, to the high court seeking the aid of the Fae King. There are lake giants, fae dogs and everything is eventually tied together with some lovely olde English lore.
To be honest, this felt like the perfect book at the perfect time. A coming together of the planets in perfect alignment if you will. It felt cosy but also drifted into tense territory on occasion and particularly during the concluding chapters and, well, put simply, it made me happy – which is not something to be scoffed at. I eagerly await information about what Molly O’Neill is planning next.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 5 of 5 shimmering stars
Review: Gorse by Sam K Horton
19 September 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Cornwall, Fae, Fantasy, Gorse, Sam K Horton
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Simple. I loved this book.
I love stories of the fae but confess that I’m sometimes disappointed when they fail to shine, show their difference or stick their heads above the parapet. I recently fell for Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s fae stories which I highly recommend and now I think I’ve found another story of the Others that delivers on so many levels. This is definitely not a Disney version of the fae and I loved it.
Gorse is a period piece. Set in Cornwall of 1786 this is a time of very mixed beliefs. The church was trying to get a firm grip on people and shake the superstitions out of them and at the same time the Others and their Keepers were not totally ready to relinquish their hold. That’s a very quick overview for a story that pretty much throws you straight into the mire.
What I loved about this. The writing is gorgeous. The entire story is steeped in atmosphere and intrigue. The setting jumps off the page. Bogs, moors, flowers, patches of beauty followed by the grim and ethereal. There’s a feeling of cold grubbiness, of strife, of bitter recriminations and murder all shrouded in mist and shadow. And, slowly but surely, the body count is stacking up.
There’s a mystery here but not in the traditional sense. And you really do have to bear with the storytelling because there is some set up here – but, I loved it all.;
The characters, Nancy and Pel, the dog Pat and the horse Selkie. I fell for them all with their secrets and lies, their steadfast loyalty and courage. Let’s also not forget the fae, those cheeky little critters that are full of mischief and danger, living in the rafters and dusty corners, tending the hearths and helping out generally when treated right and then the more dangerous Others that dwell below, The Hunt and their King. There is much danger in these pages but it’s tempered by the beautiful writing and the love that grows for the characters.
These are savage and desperate times. Crowds are easily driven to frenzy with mobs baying for blood and our characters have their work cut out to stay alive – in fact there is much death amongst these pages.
On top of this there’s the whole split world, Cornwall and beneath. Startlingly similar and yet dramatically different.
I had such a good time with this. History meets folklore. It’s not particularly fast paced in the first half but this isn’t a criticism. I loved the set up, getting to know the world and the mystery that’s taking place in the pages. It’s deliciously dark, full of intrigue and ends with a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come next. I can’t wait.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4.5 of 5 Pisky stars
#SPFBO X : My Second Batch of Books
29 June 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: #SPFBO X, Book Reviews, Books, Fae, Fantasy, My Second Batch of Books, reading, Romance, SPFBO
SPFBO X is now underway and the books allocated. I’ve divided my books into three sets of five. Hopefully tackling one batch of five per month for the next three months.
For those who don’t know about SPFBO (the Self Published Fantasy Blog Off) – this is a competition created and run by Mark Lawrence. The competition is now in its tenth year and you can find more about all the other entrants and judges over on Mark Lawrence’s blog. This year I am again teaming up with the Critiquing Chemist.
This year I am planning on reading the first 25% (or for those larger books the first 100 pages) of all the books in my allocation. This way I will quickly gain an idea of the books that I want to continue to read.
I’ve managed to read the first 25% of my first batch of books. At the moment I haven’t made any firm decisions, I am planning to read further with a couple of titles at least before posting an update.
Without further ado let’s take a look at my second batch of books.
A Song to Wake A Thousand Sorrows by Michelle Manus
A woman with unimaginable power. A king hellbent on ruling the world. An ancient force that could mean salvation or destruction.
The survivor of a brutal childhood, Clare Brighton craves the kind of wealth and notoriety that will mean the horrors of her past can never again touch her. With nothing but a battered guitar and a Songweaver’s talent, she comes to the capital of the Faelhorn Provinces, determined to gain her place.
But there is another, more dangerous power that dwells within Clare. An entity she calls the Song, it is ancient and fathomless…and no longer content to be held in the cage she has trapped it in. It is a power the ruthless Jackal King has long been searching for, and should he discover she possesses it, the cost will be far greater than her life.
Clare has sworn that she will never again let anyone control her. But escaping the Jackal King’s notice will require the one thing she never wanted to help. It will come first from the two lords who have taken her under their wing. Next from the second prince of Faelhorn, who Clare alone knows is not what he seems. And finally, from the Song itself.
The Song has the strength to save her—if it doesn’t destroy her first.
***
Changeling by Arista Holmes
Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone knows that.
When Lizzy’s mother is the next to vanish she’s expected to grieve and move on. Instead, Lizzy wants to find out what happened, but the answers she seeks can’t be found in the fey realm of Arbaon.
With the help of her best friend, Booker Reed, Lizzy’s determined to retrace her mother’s final steps… straight through an illegal portal and into the mortal realm.
Whatever leads she expected to find, it wasn’t an academy of vampires, and a world stalked by their rabid cousins—the kavians.
Forced to rely on the vampires for protection, and secluded away behind the high walls of Speculo School, it quickly becomes clear not everyone is pleased with Lizzy and Booker’s investigation. With danger building the further they dig, the two fey need to decide if the closure they seek is worth risking their lives for.
But the longer they remain amongst the vampires, the more Lizzy suspects that her answers lie with the deadly kavians instead.
***
Touched by Magic by Celine Jeanjean
I’m Apiya. No, I’m not a badass magical assassin. I’m a barber to the supernatural.
My magic is very weak and very niche—it works best with keeping things clean.
I know. I can sense your awe at my power already. And I’m sure you can see why barbering suits me well.
Although now that I’ve mastered the art of trimming a weretiger’s regrowth, my biggest challenge is fielding the insults of the shop’s cat. Sometimes I wish I had enough magic to go deeper into the city’s magical underbelly.
You know what they say—be careful what you wish for.
Everything changes when a pair of forest fae come into the shop one night, asking for help to protect their youngling. Something’s got them properly spooked, but they won’t say what.
If it’s big and bad enough to scare the fae, it’s most definitely powerful enough to make a mouthful of me—probably a small mouthful, at that. And now that the fae have come to me, whatever’s after them is also after me.
My weak magic and a sarcastic cat for backup are unlikely to be enough to keep me alive and save the fae youngling.
There is someone who’s willing to help me—Sarroch. Arrogant, unpleasant, wealthy, and I don’t even know what kind of magical creature he is beneath his human form. Or what his motives are in offering to help.
I have no idea if I can trust him, but I’m so short on allies, I might not have a choice. I just hope I’m not making a huge mistake…
Grab Touched by Magic to see if I make it. Oh, and don’t get offended if the cat insults you…
***
The Fate Of by JE Lynn
Evangeline is a cleric at the Church of Stars – an institution dedicated to healing and taking care of the people of Lovern amid a mysterious plague. After being warned that there is a cult infiltrating her beloved home, she starts her investigation. She aims to uncover the truth of who they are and what they want while maintaining her secretive relationship with her childhood friend.
Dianthus, memoryless and with nowhere else to go, has been living with the city’s royal family ever since they awoke five months ago, found confused and delirious by the youngest prince. They’ve become accustomed to the family’s lavish lifestyle, ignoring the burden of discovering their past identity in favor of the comfort they offer, but as the days move forward and a courtship with the crown prince begins, they start to find that they can only turn away from themselves for so long.
Harr is a wayward assassin who recently joined a strange circle of collaborators pursuing immortality. Haunted by the memories of her past and profession, she works to find the key to living forever while trying not to lose her head in the process.
The Fate of is the first novel in a seven book series set in a dark fantasy world with inspiration taken from the cosmic horror and gothic genres. It follows three protagonists as they slowly uncover parts of a larger conspiracy that threatens the peace of their city but none of that will matter if they can’t overcome themselves.
***
The First Assignment by Billy Kramer
Dead.
Seventeen-year-old Shawn Turner no longer belongs to the world of the living. Armed without a heartbeat, he starts his afterlife as a reaper. After being given the name of a person destined to die in the next seven days, he must go out and collect their soul.
As Shawn separates himself from the living and moves below ground, he attends Wayward Academy which teaches him the training and traditions all first-year reapers need to know to perform their duty.
The only thing is, Shawn isn’t sure he can handle this new responsibility. Dying at seventeen, Shawn never got to make the impact he wanted. So, when an opportunity arises, he has a choice to make. Does Shawn stay in his lane as a reaper, or go out of his way to make a difference?
***
Good luck everyone 
Lord what fools these mortals be!
11 March 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fae, Fantasy Review Barn, Tough Travelling
This week over at the Fantasy Review Barn we are once again tough travelling with our trusty guide Nathan. This week our topic for discussion is FAE
Surprisingly not in the Tough Guide. How can this be? Fairies are a constant in the fantasy world and it is time they get their own week. Give us your Fae, be they sweet or nasty.
- The Rebel Angel series by Gillian Philip – sithe – some of these are nice (Seth) – some not so much (Kate McNiven)
- Dreamer’s Pool by Juliet Marillier – good old fashioned style fae, tricky, beautiful, ethereal – be careful what you agree to.
- Tithe/Valiant and Ironside by Holly Black – I loved this series and it’s the first I read that portrayed the fae as maybe not always so nice!
- The Tiffany Aching Series by Terry Pratchett – first the Wee Free Men, a type of fae (pictsies??) and then in the Wintersmith Tiffany gets embroiled with fae – if I remember correctly?? Maybe it wasn’t this book – doh – Nathan, chuck me a bone??
- Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream – ‘methought I was enamoured of an ass!’ Full of Fairies – The King and Queen of the fae no less not to mention pesky Puck.
- Alex Bledsoe’s The Hum and the Shiver – appalachian fae – a unique read. Very good.
- The Blue Girl by Charles deLint – ghosts and fae in Newford Town – I’ve only read the one from Newford but I do intend to return.
- Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series – great books
Can I say the elves from LotR – and perhaps somebody can help me out here – are elves sort of related, in a far removed kind of way, to fae?? Or no????
Books and travelling with Lynn 