A Far Better Thing
Book Review
Have you ever wondered what happened to the kids who were switched with changelings? A Far Better Thing is an adult fantasy novel by H.G. Parry that focuses on a man named Memory, who at the age of two was whisked away to the fairy world, known as the Realm. But at the age of thirteen he was dropped off back in the mortal world to act as a mortal servant, seeing that the will of fairies be done. His tasks range from collecting bones, to kidnapping babies and swapping them with their changelings. Memory, or as the humans know him, Sydney Carton, hates his life. And he hates fairies. He has always longed for a way to get back at them for what they did and still do, but most importantly, he hates the fact that they killed his only friend Ivy.
When Memory recognizes the fairy that did the deed, he begins plotting revenge. But for now, he remains doing his due diligence as a law clerk…bringing him face to face with his very own changeling, and Ivy’s. What are the faeries up to? And what does the turmoil in France have to do with it?
I received a physical ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stars: 4.25/5
Honestly, I don’t have anything too negative to say about this novel. I love the idea of a malcontent mortal servant who one day finds purpose. And the fact that the purpose he finds is revenge just sweetens the deal for me. Memory has lived his entire life at the beck and call of faeries, doing things he hates but knowing that they can find him anywhere. As Parry takes us through the story, we learn as he learns and we are rooting for Memory. What will happen to him if the Summer King finds out he has met his changeling, something strictly forbidden? Or if the King discovers that a faerie has tasked him with murder? Is that the sound of the Wild Hunt? And why in the heck does his changeling have to be so decent? Memory is petty and a drunk, yet still very relatable.
Once entirely alone, Memory partners up with another mortal servant called Rosemary and a stage magician by the name of Thorne, who for some reason has had his eyes opened to the Unseen World. Thorne wants to help the mortal servants, but for all the wrong reasons. With the added twist of a potential revolution in the Realm and not just France, there is a lot at stake. There is no point in this novel where I was not fully seated. It’s not a page-turner per se, but it is definitely one that no one will have trouble picking back up. As Memory is forced to do more for the faeries, he learns about the horrors of his real family and Ivy’s. We get to see his character develop as he makes tough decision after tough decision. I enjoyed all the characters, even the faeries, Shadow and Bartholomew, both of whom Memory resents.
Aside from the characters and the plot, the tension builds nicely and Parry knows how to give a description to make you feel like an unseen character in the room. There was nothing that really pulled me out of the story. And it is odd to say, but overall it felt quite cozy…if cozy murderous revenge plots are a thing.
Let me know in the comments if this is a book that sounds right up your alley!
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