ARC Read: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

⭐️⭐️⭐️

There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story.

Toadling had one job, but what happens when what you mean to say isn't what comes out?

This story seems like a twisted tale on Sleeping Beauty.

I liked the story. The only thing that I wished would have been a little different would be how fast it finished. I wanted a lot more out of the climax. I really enjoyed how it ended, though. I know they didn't want to put a lot of emphasis on the princess since this was necessarily what the story was about. But overall, it's a good story from Kingfisher.

This is possibly a novella. It is an interesting Sleeping Beauty retelling. The author asks if perhaps there is a reason that Sleeping Beauty was made to sleep. And she runs with it from there. I believe this was my first experience with this author, despite seeing tons of favorable reviews on social media for her books. I am interested to see what she comes up with next.

A fun twist of a fairytale! I thought the writing was great and the story itself was fun. There were times when I felt like the story got a little slow, but it had seemed to pick up pace later on. Just a fun story overall.

A wonderful story. A nice palette cleanser in between heavy books and very quick. And yet such characters and world building even though the book is short. This author never disappoints.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Tor Publishing for giving me the chance to read this gem of a novella early. I love when fairy tale retellings turn the original on its head, and was not disappointed here. Toadling, the not-quite human, not-quite fairy heroine, is a character whose adventures I would happily read more books about, She is the fairy godmother to the beautiful young princess, but this Sleeping Beauty retelling is nothing like the original. Instead, this is a whimsical retelling where the princess was cursed for the safety of everyone around her.

I was swept away by the writing style that felt exactly like a fairy tale with its dreamy quality. Aspects of the story were dark and even gruesome, but they were described through the eyes of a girl who could turn into a toad and was raised by ravenous water fairies. The knight was wholesome and unpretentious, unlike many of his counterparts in other stories—including retellings—and I was pleased with Toadling’s decision to go on adventures with him in the end. I was intrigued by the concept of the princess being the villain and only wished that the story could have been longer. While I liked the fairy tale quality of the ending as Toadling can return to those she loves while also realizing she could be free, I was waiting for a final twist at the end, as it seemed the villain was vanquished almost too easily. Nevertheless, this was a charming read and I will definitely pick up Kingfisher’s other works sooner rather than later. Fans of Uprooted by Naomi Novik and even The Cruel Prince by Holly Black will be sure to enjoy this novella as well.

A delightful fractured fairy tale! This was a one-sitting read for me, with a charming heroine, deft but spare worldbuilding, and a great central idea. I'll read anything T. Kingfisher writes, but this was a special delight.

Thornhedge is the perfect “I’m uncomfortable and can’t sleep” novella! I say this at 2:13am, as someone who is currently uncomfortable and can’t sleep. It’s not too long and it’s not terribly short either.

I love T. Kingfisher’s writing style to begin with. Then, this story just made my “fairytale with a twist” loving heart so happy!

I wasn’t quite expecting what she dished out for the princess. I certainly didn’t expect who Toadling was or what she was hiding.

I found Toadling to be such a sweet, kindhearted character. The way she cared about not only the implications of her actions but also protecting what needed to be was beautiful to read.

I also loved the knight’s character and personality. For the other characters, you don’t quite get what you’d expect from them. It fits perfectly in this upside down fairytale.

I did find some bits repetitive. I feel like certain aspects could have been expanded upon in place of the repetition. I would have really loved them to be. However, this novella is definitely a winner to me!

This subverted fairytale retelling of sleeping beauty just completely stole my heart. Toadling has burrowed inside and taken permanent residence inside my heart and I would literally die for her. My one and only complaint was that it was way too short. I could have spent hours, days, weeks more with Toadling and her adorable knight, Halim. Highly highly recommended.

Thornhedge is another delightful fairy tale retelling by T. Kingfisher. This novella reimagines Sleeping Beauty, except Sleeping Beauty is a blood-thirsty changeling and her fairy godmother, Toadling, is tasked with keeping the world safe from her. After hundreds of years of keeping watch over the princess/changeling in the tower, Toadling encounters a human who is drawn to the area by tales of the princess. Reluctantly, Toadling tells her tale, and allows him into the tower. To say much more about the plot would spoil it. I loved all the characters in this book. Toadling is kind and bumbling; Halim is both noble and down-to-earth; the changeling is terrifying. I enjoyed the brief glimpse into the world of the fae and the exploration into how different their morals are from those of humans. The climax of the book moved too quickly, but the ending was very satisfying, and I hope to see more tales in this world. Highly recommend. Thank you to Tor and to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

So gorgeous and lovable, just a great story all around. This author never disappoints. The length was appropriate, but I also wish it was longer because it was just so good. I will be recommending it to everyone upon release.

Hmm. Toadling was a bit too hapless a heroine for me. And this is a minor thing, but I hope the kinks in the timeline are sorted out before publication. It’s stated at one point that the Justinian plague occurred two hundred years before Halim comes to visit, and that Toadling observed many decades if not centuries of people coming and going before the plague. Yet through the latter half of the novella, it’s stated that Fayette has only been asleep for 200 years.

This was such an intriguing retelling of sleeping beauty where the princess is the monster, a faerie toad is trying her best, and the knight/prince is here to listen instead of save the princess. I also enjoyed the change in actions of the prince/knight interesting as well since he was willing to listen to Toadling’s story and not insist on trying to save the princess afterwards.
I think the author does an amazing job at world building especially for such a short book. I was not left confused or felt like the book was lacking or missing information. Although I do feel the ending was kind of rushed and I wished we could have learned what happened in the end to Toadling and the Prince.

Thornhedge is a story about Toadling, a fairy who is sent to bestow a gift upon a human child. Things don't quite go as planned, and Toadling spends 200 years watching over a keep that holds a 'sleeping beauty.' One day, a knight comes along, having read a story about a princess in a tower, and Toadling has to contend with his curiosity.

This novella is a breezy, fun read. While I found myself invested in the characters in a short amount of time and would like to spend more time with them, I am similarly grateful that Kingfisher didn't belabor the story for the sake of it.

I previously read Nettle & Bone by Kingfisher, and was pleased to find a similar balance of sweetness & spookies in Thornhedge (greenteeth are a new one for me). I also enjoyed the way Kingfisher explored the themes of family, beauty, and kindness.

While this is a re-telling of Sleeping Beauty at its base, I would say the association is loose and the story and the themes extend well beyond the original framework. I think anyone interested in a quick, uplifting, enchanting story will enjoy this.

I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley.

What if that famous princess cursed to sleep in a tower was secluded away for good reason? This is the story of a monstrous beauty, a shy kindhearted heroine, and a charming prince in search of stories. As all good fairytales should, it has dark elements but it’s also reflective and sweet. The novella format really suits this story, any longer and it would lose that fairytale feeling. I really loved the characters of Toadling and Halim and the lore was so interesting, T. Kingfisher never disappoints

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Toadling has faithfully guarded over the tower for more years than she has cared to count. She protects the world from its hidden danger, and the world passes her by. Until, as fate and fairy tales would have it, a young knight happens upon the bramble patch. He came for the stories, for the damsel in need of rescue. Will he stay for the remarkable friendship he's found with Toadling?

T. Kingfisher just doesn't miss, and this reimagining of Sleeping Beauty is no exception. A wholly original twist on a familiar and beloved tale, full of the charming characters and delightfully weird magic I've come to expect from her stories.

🌊📖🧚🏼Book Review

Thornhedge by T.Kingfisher

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5


Thank you @netgalley for this ARC! I was so excited I was able to read my second T.Kingfisher book ahead of publishing day! I adore her writing and it truly made me day!

Thornhedge stars a gentle and kindhearted girl who switches between toad-form and can weld water magic, a apologetic knight and a princess locked in a tower who’s anything but a sleeping beauty. Toadling’s original task was to gift the princess with protection but the gift goes wrong, very wrong. Many years later whilst doing her best to uphold her original gift, the knight stumbles upon the Thornhedge in search of a story he read in a book and a desire to break the “curse”. The curse being what Toadling’s kept up for centuries and will do anything to protect.

I truly adore the majority of T.Kingfisher’s writings as they are eerie and one of a kind! (What Moves The Dead being one of my favorites) Thornhedge brings a different style of writing into play compared to others I have read. With magic and darkness, this novella was a easy and quick read I enjoyed. In the words of T.Kingfisher “but it’s sweet! Really”

You think you know, but you have no idea - A fresh take on sleeping beauty with this imaginative re-telling.

If you love fairytale retellings, this is a must-read perfect for both YA and adults. I loved T. Kingfisher's Nettle and Bone and was worried this may not live up - but it blew me away and kept me guessing about the ending all the way through.

We're following a fairy called Toadling who is tasked with watching the castle our 'sleeping beauty' rests in. The story is so descriptive that you can feel the leaves and thorns of the hedges closing around you as the story progresses. I don't want to say too much about what happens next, because T. Kingfisher starts flipping the story sideways almost as soon as we enter it, but the pacing is great and the journey is worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for an advanced reader copy. With this book T. Kingfisher is becoming an automatic buy and read for me (and hopefully you too!)

This book is best read by a pond, with the sound of toads croaking and fish splashing.

I read this back-to-back with T. Kingfisher's other upcoming novel "A House With Good Bones" and have decided I'd like to read more from them.

Thornhedge was an engaging short read. Parts were slow, but the world building was super well done, and it was a really fun take on a Rapunzel retelling.

Another charming piece from T. Kingfisher, pulling on well known folktales to create something new to delight readers. Perfect for fans of Angela Carter, Holly Black, and Catherynne Valente!

This retelling for Sleeping Beauty was unexpected and very beautifully written. I felt a strong connection to the characters even though the story was short, and I loved reading through twists of this classic fairytale. I was never quite sure where it was going to go next!. My only criticism is that I would have wanted a little more at the end for a little more sense of closure. I’m so glad netgalley and Tor sent me this advanced copy!