Why would a beautiful young princess be ensorcelled to sleep forever behind a hedge of thorns? Kingfisher once again takes a trope and turns it on its head with gorgeous language and pitch-perfect characters. Toadling is ... not quite human, not quite faerie, left to fix a faerie problem on her own, with her own kind heart getting in the way. As always, Kingfisher tells a story that is, at its heart, about sweetness and kindness -- somehow they make ugly fish-eating monsters and cruel faeries seem a soft and necessary part of the world.

A clever and delightful take on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale, flipping it on its head. I loved Toadling, what a dynamic and enjoyable protagonist. I found it so easy to empathize with her. Kingfisher is a master of language, giving us such delightful prose to read.

T. Kingfisher has a new book coming out? I don't need to read anything about it, I'm in!

THORNHEDGE turned out to be a thoroughly charming retelling of Sleeping Beauty. A warped Sleeping Beauty, yes, but that's what Kingfisher does best, she warps things.

Imagine a Sleeping Beauty that is sometimes, a toad. Imagine a princess locked in a castle, but this princess is psychotic. Imagine a knight that is more charming and kind than the knights of old. If you can picture all that, you might have an inkling of what this novella is about.

That's all I'm saying about the plot. The characters though, the characters. In this short tale, Kingfisher caused me to truly care about "Toadling," (our princess), and Halim, (our knight). They both were charming, likable, and sometimes even a little pathetic, (in Toadling's case.) I loved them. What else can I say?

Whatever Kingfisher is writing, I'm in. These novellas of hers, especially, are wonderful. They contain engaging stories, almost always contain some humor, and you can read them in a relatively short time. Kingfisher works her magic on me every single time so far. Maybe it's time to let her work her magic on you?

Highly recommended!

*Thank you to Tor and to Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

"Thornhedge" by T Kingfisher is a delightful and enchanting book that will transport readers to a world of magic, whimsy, and endearing characters. At the heart of the story is Toadling, a captivating protagonist with a sweet demeanor and a unique perspective on time and history. Kingfisher skillfully crafts Toadling's character, infusing her with innocence, curiosity, and a deep connection to the world around her. Through Toadling's eyes, readers are immersed in a world where time becomes fluid, and the layers of history drift in and out. Her unique perspective adds depth and wonder to the narrative, inviting readers to see the world with fresh eyes.

Kingfisher weaves a tapestry of magic, folklore, and fantastical creatures that will capture readers' imaginations from beginning to end. The intricate world-building and vivid descriptions bring Thornhedge and its inhabitants to life, creating a rich and immersive reading experience. Kingfisher's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world where wonder and danger coexist.

Thornhedge is dark and twisty, but still remains whimsical and full of faerie intrigue. The back lore of Toadling was complex and full of both horror, and joy. T Kingfisher does an exceptional job at making you invested in each character falling in love with them in so few pages.

Thank you Tor and NetGalley for an e ARC of this book.

I prefer T. Kingfisher's horror books, but that's definitely a me problem, as I'm not a fan of fairytale-esque fantasies, and that's how her writing style feels.

I have generally been ambivalent when it comes to fairy tale retellings. Some are good, some are bad, but most that I read were mediocre.

Thornhedge is like none of those. It is tragic and beautiful all at once, mixed with the history of the middle ages, the cost of immortality, and faerie power. In this book, the fairies dwell in Faerie and are wild, powerful, and unpredictable creatures. Toadette, our protagonist, is just one of the most minor fairies attempting to resolve an insurmountable task. But read it yourself- it won't go the way you remember.

Yet again, T. kingfisher brings us an outstanding retelling, this one the tale of sleeping beauty, only the beauty here is only skin deep.

I absolutely devoured this novella in no time. The Kingfisher spins a yarn is always so compelling and her characters are never what they seem. I love that they are imperfect and beautiful at the same time.

What an incredible story.

I never know what to expect with a T. Kingfisher book, and I LOVE that. This is the story of 'Sleeping Beauty' as we've never read it before, where the heroes and villains are turned upside down. Toadling is a changeling child tasked with blessing the daughter of a human king. Many (many) years later, she guards a tower surrounded by a forest of thorns. A kind knight is eager to break the curse, but Toadling is determined to uphold it. Readers of twisted fairy tales will clamor for Kingfisher's excellent novella.

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

Thornhedge is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty and it was absolutely PERFECT! Honestly, I love this more than the original... I had been going through a bit of a slump where nothing I read really hit the spot, and Thornhedge was exactly what I wanted and needed!

This book was magical, and while some dark things go down it was still sweet, and whimsical I love the world that T. Kingfisher has created, it left me with a smile on my face and a desire to reread all the books I have by T. Kingfisher.

All the macabre majesty of a Grimm fairytale in a wholesome toad shaped package. Most all of us are familiar with the story of Sleeping Beauty, but this twist on a classic tale is not about the beauty in the tower, waiting to be saved. It's about the anxious and loveable Toadling, who was stolen away at birth by fairies and replaced by a changeling, an evil imposter child to bring mayhem and destruction as it grows. Being raised as a fairie has granted Toadling with gifts of magic, that she must use to offer a blessing of protection over a newborn child. As the centuries pass, Toadling stands ever the watchful guard of the tower. That is, until a kind and gentle knight arrives with "breaking curses" on his mind.

Thornhedge was a joy to read, and Toadling is one of my most favorite Kingfisher characters. The story itself is as familiar as a classic fairytale, yet in an entirely new light. What if the princess is locked up because she's the dangerous one? This one is way less of a horror novel and so much more of a dark fantasy. There is a lot to be said about hurt and self love in this small novella, and so many pieces stuck with me. Toadling is so relatable to those of us who feel the need to apologize for simply being alive. I recommend this to any dark fantasy fan, any T. Kingfisher fan, and it's one I will add to my collection as soon as I can.

I adored this book and wish there was more of it! Kingfisher’s stories remind me of those of Neil Gaiman and John Connolly. Their prose is beautiful and melancholy and lovely to sink into. The settings and characters, while familiar in the sense that one has an idea of what the fey and changelings are, still manage to be unique and believable. I feel so thankful to have been introduced to Toadling and am happy with the open ending. She is a character I would love to revisit.

I should not be surprised to once again thoroughly enjoy another of Kingfisher's stories and this is likely the fastest I've fallen in love with a character - Toadling is incomparable. You don't have to know Sleeping Beauty or fairy lore for this to make sense, the history and story blend together so perfectly even more impressive for the fact it is a short novella that goes back and forth in time relaying how Toadling came to be watching over the tower and the princess asleep within. Gruesome and traumatic in the traditional fairy tale style, yet resolution is achieved. There isn't a soul on this earth that I will not recommend this book to.
Thanks Net Galley for the e-copy this is my honest review.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

This novella is a Sleeping Beauty retelling that asks: why would you imprison someone in a hedge of thorns? and comes up with the answer: because they were very dangerous indeed. Its villain is the beautiful princess, and she is an extremely nasty piece of work as only Ursula–oh, sorry, we’re pretending her name is “T.” today–can write a nasty piece of work villain, and this is only not one of her horror works because she spends most of the novella asleep.

Only most of it.

The protagonist is Toadling, the evil fairy who curses the beautiful princess. She is polite, and she tries hard, and she speaks some very wet languages. Toadling is not quite sure what to do, but she will try things until something works. I love her. I am in the curious position of loving this protag but not actually wanting more about her, because this story is very complete. Anything else would be tacked on. Her life is not complete, but her story arc is, there is a very satisfying beginning, middle, and end that are well balanced at novella length, which is hard to do.

This was beautiful written and a unusual retelling of sleeping beauty. It is actually better than the orginal story. Still has the dark and gritty elements to the story as the orginal but I had more magical lyrical feel cause T. Kingfisher brilliant writing.
I loved every minute of this story and I think others would too. Leaves you with wanting little bit more but with satisfying ending that you the reader can fill in on your own.

Thank you NetGally and the publisher for letting me read this wonderful arc.

This is my first ARC! Thanks so much Netgalley for the approval, it was a great one! 4.5 stars rounded up.

I love retellings, and everything that was adapted in this made for such a fun story. But of course, as usual, T. Kingfisher blew me away with her characters. I'm shocked that I loved them so much in 120 pages, but I really shouldn't be at this point!

By bringing together lovable Toadling and a knight who is more interested in stories and mysteries than battle, T. Kingfisher explores themes of heavy expectations, guilt, and strong family ties. The beautiful atmospheric descriptions were wonderful as well.

When Toadling was born, she was taken from her parents in the human world and whisked away to faerie land. She grew up among the warm waters of the land, safe and loved by her new family. She was never treated differently and even picked up bits of magic throughout the years. One day, a mighty goddess appears and tells Toadling she must leave her home to get an education. Soon, Toadling gets sent back to her family home to bestow a gift of protection on a newborn child, but something goes wrong. Now, centuries later, a knight fond of legends comes to break the curse on the fair maiden trapped in slumber, but Toadling will do whatever it takes to ensure that doesn't happen.

Can T. Kingfisher reimagine every fairytale? I loved how she took the story of Sleeping Beauty and flipped it on its head. I adored Toadling. She was kind and selfless, and I wanted to protect her at all costs. I admired her dedication to doing the right thing even when everything was against her. Since this is a Kingfisher book, you know you're in for some weirdness, and I enjoyed how she created this faerie world that felt so different from other books. The little family that Toadling forms there is so sweet, and you felt how much they all love one another. I liked the changeling aspect and the earnest, awkward knight full of good intentions. Everything about this was whimsically dark and reminiscent of Nettle and Bone, and I enjoyed every moment.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this novella about a toad, a princess, a knight, plagues, politics and sometimes the cost of being helpful.

I don't remember when I found out that the fairy tales and folktales that I loved hearing had been Disney-fied for my young ears. I thought most of the scary enough, that really how much worse could they get. I think I found at a book sale a compilation of Grimm's tales illustrated by the Brothers Hildebrandt that freaked me out both with stories and art. Snow White, Rose Red, Cinderella, all of them were dark, dark stories, more for nights by the fire, than clustering around the cathode ray tube of the television. The real stories are loaded with lots of murder, cannibalism, body horror, stuff that some children would spend the whole night with a wiffle ball bat in hand watching the door. However as disturbing as the stories were, I never really cared what happened after they started living happily ever after. T. Kingfisher understands this, and in Thornhedge has written a novella that might be short in length but is full of characters dealing with magic, responsibility, mother issues, and of course, a princess in trouble.

Toadling is a fairy creature who resides outside a deserted keep, hidden by brambles, thorns, and water, ignored by the world for over two hundred years. Kingdoms have risen, fallen, and are starting to rise again, as plague has devastated the lands, and wiped the keep from memory. Toadling was once a human baby, taken from her crib at this very keep, and replaced by a changeling. Toadling grew up in fairyland, in the swamps with the fish creatures, creatures who cared for her and loved her. Toadling is given an assignment to protect the changeling that replaced her, as task of great importance to the rulers of fairy. Things go wrong. A knight appears, one who has read of the princess surrounded by brambles, lost to time, and wants to do the knightly thing of rescuing the princess. Toadling just sees trouble.

T. Kingfisher can tell more in a novella than most writers can in 5,000 page epic sagas. The world, the plot, the characters, fairy land, the way the characters interact is just special. And told in about 130 pages, with a real resolution. Writing short is very tough, as one can tell from my review. Kingfisher does it so well, I can't imagine the work that Kingfisher put into the writing. Everything works. Halim the knight is interesting, and I want to know more about him, his life and his mother. Toadling is sketched so well in just a few pages, that one feels like they have known Toadling for at least a series or two. The writing is very good, scary, twisty, different and one at the end wants much more to read. A really enjoyable story.

For fans of fantasy novellas, fractured fairy tales, great writing, good characters and more. Also a good book for roleplayers to see how a fairy tale or myth can be changed to make a new adventure for your players. Also for aspiring writers to see how to write short and well. This is only my second book by T. Kingfisher, but I can't wait to read many more. A real talent.

An absolute gem from Kingfisher. I was pleasantly surprised to find the author's usual fantasy vibes combined with our real world! Everything about this book worked for me. The subversion of the Sleeping Beauty myth and the wildly original fairies were incredible. Kingfisher is the absolute best at fairy tale fantasy. Long may she reign.

A wonderful little story that subverts the Sleeping Beauty story. I loved Toadling and while I was satisfied with her story, I would definitely spend more time with her!

This is a short and sweet little book that is a spin on Sleeping Beauty in only the way T. Kingfisher could tell it. Toadling was swapped at birth with a changeling, and in Fairy Land she takes on various fairy powers before being sent back to her father's house to keep the changeling from doing harm. Only the spell goes awry and she's left guarding the sleeping changeling forever, hoping no one gets any ideas about saving anyone.

When a knight arrives unlike all the others, Toadling finds her notions about the curse she's been guarding challenged. Will she be able to stop the knight from breaking the curse, or help him?

Overall, I did really enjoy this. It's a novella and slight on story, although I don't think it needed more words. It works just fine on its own.