Review by Booklist Review
Rumors of a revolution in France are simmering, but Sydney Carton doesn't care much about them--he has problems of his own. Raised in the Faery Realm and bound to follow fae orders for the rest of his life, he spends his days doing the best work he can as a lawyer and his nights drinking away memories of Ivy, the girl he grew up with. But one day, he's confronted with an unexpected sight: the changeling who the fae replaced him with is in Faerie, and the resemblance is uncanny. It turns out that the faeries have plans for him, and he's about to be drawn unwillingly into a dangerous game of murder, betrayal, and sordid family secrets. This book, a magical rendition of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, is a richly woven historical fantasy that starts slowly but soon becomes addictive. The fae are convincingly terrifying, and readers will root for Sydney's attempts to carve out some autonomy for himself and protect the ones he loves in a Europe steadily approaching war.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Parry (The Magician's Daughter) dazzles in this masterful fantasy riff on A Tale of Two Cities. Faeries whisked Sydney Carton away to the faerie realm when he was a baby, leaving behind a changeling named Charles Darnay. Now Sydney, who goes by his faerie name, Memory, returns to the human realm as a servant to the faerie Shadow. He's secretly plotting revenge against Charles for stealing his life and hoping to break free of his master's grasp. With the recent escape of former human servant John Barsad, Memory is emboldened to seek his own freedom and avenge his beloved, Ivy, who died in the faerie realm at age 10. Over the course of many years, as the French Revolution rages, Memory gets assistance from his human friends and makes deals with another faerie to achieve his goal, all while evading Shadow's suspicion. Along the way, he uncovers Shadow's plans, a dark family history, and his true identity. Parry takes her time unraveling the story's knots and does an excellent job of distinguishing the characters from their changeling counterparts. The result is a rip-roaring tale rooted in love, vengeance, and justice. Readers will be wowed. (June)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In this fantasy reimagining of Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton is more than just an English law clerk in the late 1700s. He is also a mortal servant bound to ruthless fairies, having been switched at birth. His world is upended when he unexpectedly encounters his changeling, Charles Darnay, in court. Such meetings are unprecedented and dangerous, and soon after, a fairy entangles Sydney in a web of schemes. As the Fairy Court's influence spills into the turmoil of the French Revolution, Sydney is drawn into the conspiracy, all while quietly plotting his own revenge. Parry's (The Scholar and the Last Faery Door) storytelling exudes a Dickensian charm, weaving a touch of the fantastical into a beloved classic. Every scene is steeped in atmospheric elegance, capturing a tale of rebellion, suffering, and sacrifice. Sydney, a wretch burdened by envy and lost potential, is a deeply compelling protagonist. Shaped by his circumstances, his struggles and triumphs carry an emotional resonance that makes him profoundly human. VERDICT 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.--Andrea Dyba
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