Toadling was stolen from her family on the day of her birth by fairies and left in the swampy lands of the fae world. But she grew up happy, safe, and loved. Until one day, she is forced back to the human world to bestow an important blessing upon a newborn. Centuries later, when a knight encroaches upon the lands where a tower is overgrown with walls of thick brambles, Toadling finds herself frantically trying to protect the tower and the occupant inside. No matter the cost.

I quite enjoyed this retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Some of the previous works have gone into the realm of absurd with their antagonists or the humor that was heavily used, which I’m not always in the mood for. This work was much more somber and had a melancholic atmosphere, which I absolutely loved. It was also more nuanced overall, and I enjoyed the exploration of the idea that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

The fantasy worldbuilding was phenomenal. I loved how many interesting details the author included that were plot relevant, created an immersing setting, and just purely fascinating. As the book went on and some actual true history was included into the primary plot, I started looking up details to see where that situated this story in time, but then decided against it. I don’t prefer it when authors include the real world in works of fantasy, and I think this read would have been stronger without that incorporation.

I did find the characters to be decently written. It was instantly easy to sympathize with Toadling and I enjoyed seeing the story from her perspective. I wanted a more compelling reason for the evil in the antagonist – I imagine the author was relying solely on her being a changeling as the driving force, but it seemed that the author used a rather excessive interpretation. Toadling’s backstory was much more fascinating than the timeline involving the knight, but I did still enjoy both portions of the read.

I noticed this is put in the horror genre, which I think is incorrect despite it having some darker elements. If you enjoy fantasy and unique retellings, then this is worth checking out. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty. I liked the twist. The main character, Toadling was entertaining, but the ending fell flat for me.

Toadling was taken as a baby and replaced by a changeling. Raised in the fairy-world, she is forced to come back to the humans to make sure the changeling does no harm. Everything goes wrong and centuries later, she's still trying to make it right.

Big thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this!

I was really excited to read this short story from T. Kingfisher. The only other book I have read from from this author (in either of her names) was A House With Good Bones. Which was trippy and fantastic. Needless to say, I was excited to read another of her books. This one was quite a bit different.

We follow the story of Toadling. A changeling who grew up in fairy and, though not toad shaped, she could change into a toad. She has learned some minor magic over her years in fairy and now she has to go back to the human world to save it from the fairy that took her place.

This story goes against the grain of the fairy tales you hear as a child and retells the classic story of Sleeping Beauty. With an dose of inspiration from Maleficent, though I have not seen that film. We see what happens when the good guy is the one that traps the beautiful princess in the tower because beneath that childhood beauty is an evil little being. I loved the whole story of Toadling and how she came to be the guardian of the tower. I loved her sense of beauty and family. I really liked our scholarly "prince" who was kind and compassionate. I just really liked the whole overall story of this retelling. I thought the scene with the 3 "main characters" was pretty quick and could have been a bit more interesting, but other than that this was a fun and unique retelling.

This was a warm and quirky retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It was also my first book by this author. I enjoyed the twist, and I especially enjoyed the relationship between Toadling and her faerie foster family.

Thornhedge is a true fairy tale.

A dark melancholy carries the story forward, with a breath of hope resting just beneath.

This is a story of nature and nurture, of our duties and the roles we’re forced to play. It’s a story about family, love, holding on, and letting go.

I listened to this on audio, and Jennifer Blom does a brilliant job of capturing and conveying the mood and atmosphere.

*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download! I also bought myself a hardcover copy.*

This book left no lasting impression on me. The plot and characters are flat and boring with little depth. I think that this story had so much potential but by writing it as a novella, the story felt severely underdeveloped. The author was able to vividly build this world that’s magical and violent but without building anything else.

What I liked the most about Thornhedge was the narrator! She perfectly captured the melancholy attitude of our main character, Toadling. Despite the lack of depth for the characters, the narrator was still able to distinguish each of them, making this experience bearable.

Kingfisher weaves a fantastical tale giving a compelling backstory to the age old story of Sleeping Beauty. The characters are fresh and more complicated; the story more nuanced; and there are lots of surprising twists to the plot. Let Kingfisher carry you away with this delightful story.

When it comes to Kingfisher, I generally enjoy her horror stories more than her fantasy ones, but Thornhedge definitely did NOT disappoint!

Kingfisher wasted no time crafting a fascinating Sleeping Beauty esque retelling that centers her classic, immersive worldbuilding but with a twist on this fairytale that I was not expecting!

I thoroughly enjoyed Toadling’s character and her backstory. She's resilient and a lot stronger than anyone gives her credit for.

Lastly, for the audiobook lovers, this one is fantastic on audio!

Rating: 3.75 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Cover: 3.5/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Fairy Tale, Retelling
-Fantasy: 5/5
-Horror: 0/5
-Fairy Tale: 4/5
-Retelling: 4.5/5
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yes

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

A quick and easy read. I love Toadling but felt so damn sorry for her. The retelling of Sleeping Beauty is well done. I loved how T. spun it in her own way and gave us something new yet oddily familiar.

In Thornhedge, T. Kingfisher brings her lush, humorous and whimsical storytelling to a quick and adorably-reimagined Sleeping Beauty origin story.

Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors. I have loved everything of hers that I have ever read and after reading this, it doesn't appear that is going to change anytime soon. I will try to write an unbiased review, but it will be difficult. I'm a fan girl, what can I say?

In this story we meet Toadling, who as an infant was stolen and transported to live in the world of the faeries. They treated her well, and her early life was undeniably warm and comfortable. She couldn't lodge many complaints. Once she came into adulthood though, the faeries asked a favor of her that ended up changing everything. She is asked to return to the world of humans to bless a newborn child. A little girl. A bumbling, beautiful baby girl...

A century later, a knight approaches a wall of brambles, an impenetrable fortress of thorns. He's heard legends of a cursed Princess high in a tower. He's here to save her, as knights do. Toadling, however, has different thoughts on this so-called curse and she'll do anything to uphold it. You'll have to read this enchanting story to find out why.

This was a super fun and quick read, which I did listen to on audio. It has a nice, cozy feel to it, that I definitely need every once in a while to break up my darker reads. I enjoyed how Kingfisher gave us enough of the original tale that you could figure out what she was alluding to, yet she brought her own original twist that caused me to view the fairy tale in a while new light.

The twist itself was fascinating to me. Darker than I expected, but whimsical at the same time. I was really impressed with it. I think it is a great example of Kingfisher's skill as a writer. I also highly enjoyed the narration of the audiobook. This story is pure, engaging entertainment.

I would recommend it to any Reader who enjoys twists on classic tales, whimsical, cozy fantasies, or Kingfisher's work in general. There is no way this story isn't going to bring a smile to your face.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. T. Kingfisher is a gift. She has a gift and she is a gift!

I will continue picking up every single thing she writes.

I enjoyed this audiobook and thought the narrator was excellent! Her voice was really soothing and gave a great tone to the story and to Toadling's voice.
Thornhedge is a twisted retelling based on sleeping beauty. I liked the premise and really enjoyed that the "fairy godmother" was a toad girl (named Toadling), and that the prince was kind of just an average guy. I liked that the story was from Toadling's POV, and I thought the ended was absolutely sweet and adorable. This was a great retelling, and a short, sweet, and satisfying novella!

(4.25/5 stars)

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher is a fantasy novella and Sleeping Beauty retelling. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at a little under four hours and is narrated by Jennifer Bloom.

Toadling, born human, was stolen by the fairies and was raised lovingly in the warm waters of faerieland. When she comes of age, a favor is asked of her: to return to the human world, to the house of her mother and father, and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Many hundreds of years later, a gentle knight approaches the tower Toadling still watches over after hearing a story about it.

I'm a big fan of fairy tale retellings, and this one absolutely did not disappoint. Here we follow the fairy that puts the princess to sleep, and not "Sleeping Beauty" herself (a name of which is never spoken). The knight who arrives is Muslim and prefers books to swords. He was great.

Toadling focuses on using kindness to make the princess change. And so do all the other people around her, especially the queen. But no matter how much love and kindness you can try to help someone grow into a better person, if they do not wish to become better nothing will change.

T. Kingfisher is usually amazing with novellas and their pacing, etc. For this one, I wish the ending was fleshed out a bit more. It felt like it was rushed.

CW: animal abuse (off-page, mentioned), torture, murder, suicidal ideation, suicide (mentioned)

2.5 stars

I love reading books that tell the other side of the story. Since Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney cartoon movies, I knew I needed to read this one.

I have read several T. Kingfisher books and this was not fully what I expected. Usually her books are more creepy and a little more entertaining. There were a few parts that were good, but it was just a little too slow for me. The end was great, but it took a little too long to get going.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

“She was theirs; they were hers. The love of monsters was uncomplicated.”

What an absolutely charming and captivating little novella. My love for T. Kingfisher goes uninterrupted at this point.

Toadling, so sweet, taken early and raised in the magic-filled waters of the fairy realm. Sometimes magic can go awry and it can happen to anyone, even Toadling. Her mission now is to keep the curse holding the sleeping beauty inside the castle intact.

The Knight, who can't stop saying sorry (I can relate), is just so gentle and he heard there was a curse that needed broken and that's his mission.

On opposite sides these two unlikely companions develop an endearing friendship where they navigate the truths of exactly who sleeps in the castle for centuries now and why.

Quirky, lush and vivid this quick fairytale will capture you and possibly never let go ... unless of course you can break a curse.

I received an audiobook copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I really like it when a familiar story is reimagined, so I was excited to read Thornhedge. I was not disappointed! This reinterpretation of Sleeping Beauty is melancholy, disturbing, and enveloping. Since most readers are at least a little familiar with the story, Kingfisher is allowed to play with some accepted aspects of the story: what happens to the children the fae steal? Is redemption possible? Does the stereotype of beauty=goodness and ugly=evil require a nuanced examination? And does this book do that (eh... not really. But it's still pretty great)

Overall, I really enjoyed this. The narrator was on point and the story itself drew me in. An enjoyable quick read!

This was perfection. If all I got to read for the rest of my life were T Kingfisher fairytales, I wouldn't complain one bit.

This was an enjoyable read, but I think fairy tale retellings are not really my thing. Probably my least favorite Kingfisher I've read, but I can't pinpoint why. The characters were fine, the writing was good. I just never really connected with it.

Thank you to the author T Kingfisher, publishers Tor Books, and NetGalley for an advance audio copy of ᴛʜᴏʀɴʜᴇᴅɢᴇ. All views are mine.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I connected to the idea of "The Greenteeth," magical folk who are both skilled and queer, who keep themselves to themselves, and according to their own and not that of the "civilized world."

2. I love characters that have a hard time. Antiheros and unlikeable characters are the best. But I have speciaI love for underdogs. Both of the main characters in the book, the main character, Toadling, and her "knight" figure, are hard luck babies. Toadling...well, she's named Toadling, so that's a start. And her knight is a hapless, unsuccessful, third in line prince with very little confidence. They help each other throughout the book, and grow equally (despite what this means for cgaracter diversity).

3. This story includes some beautiful and important themes, like even outsiders deserve their place.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Those themes? They're great, but Kingfisher really wallops the reader over the head with them. I'm a fan of moralistic fiction, so long as the delivery is elegant.

Rating: 🐸🐸🐸🐸 / 5 adorable changlings
Recommend? Yes for fantasy lovers
Finished: August 19 2023
Format: Audiobook, NetGalley
Read this if you like:
🏰 High fantasy
🪄 Magic and curses
🐶 Underdogs

✨ Review ✨ Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher's quickly became one of my favorite authors and I loved this little novella that took a different spin on Sleeping Beauty. Instead of following her tale, we follow the story of Toadling who guards her at rest. Stolen by the fairies at birth, Toadling spends years growing with otherworldly swamp creatures in the fairy world. The story alternates between her past and her present when a prince arrives outside the thornhedge she's guarding and he won't go away.

I loved how this took a very different spin on sleeping beauty (sort of a la Maleficent, but very different). I also adored Toadling and the Prince, and they were such endearing characters. I loved that together they acknowledged they didn't have to be perfect and gorgeous and strong, but instead, they were special and valuable just as they were.

The book's short -- novella-length -- and makes for a quick binge when you're in the mood for a quick fantasy read. This read most like Nettle & Bone of the books of Kingfisher's I've read.

Not least, the copy I received from Tor is a gorgeous hardcover volume, including cute little Toadling illustrations on the inside of the cover and start of each chapter.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25-4.5)
Genre: fantasy
Reminds me of: Nettle & Bone, Sleeping Beauty flipped on its head
Pub Date: Aug 15, 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ fairy tale retellings
⭕️ fantasy novellas
⭕️ T. Kingfisher, fantasy queen
⭕️ imperfect characters

Thanks to Tor, Macmillan Audio and #netgalley for an advanced copies of this book!

A sleeping beauty retelling with a dash of changeling and old faerie lore wrapped up nicely in a little novella with melancholic and whimsical feels.

In the past, Toadling grows up amongst the bog creatures and is tasked with providing a blessing with the changeling who took her place, however it goes try and she must stay by the child’s side to prevent harm. In the present, a knight unlike other knights wants to solve the mystery of the old legend and goes adventuring through the brambles hundreds of years later, forcing Toadling to address him and the curse she created to contain the evil princess.

Toadling as a main character is kind, unselfish, and trying to navigate what is the right thing to do within the scope of her abilities in this retelling. Her swamp life and learning magic was the most interesting part of the story. The princess, on the other hand, is incredibly one-dimensionally evil and I thought that left more to be desired. I didn’t love the twist that for the “evil fairy” to be good that the princess had to become the villain. I also found the knight rather boring, although the philosophical bits and interweaving of Islam were well done.

Ultimately, I liked it, didn’t love it. The audio version is well done, with good pacing and narration.

CW: suicide, death, animal torture, dead body, self-harm, blood

Thanks to the MacMillian Audio, NetGalley, and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!