Thank you NetGalley for the arc. I loved Toadling and would love to have another story from her pov. I have and will always love T Kingfisher’s writing and this was no exception. 3.5 stars

T. Kingfisher is an author I’ve grown to love, whether it’s romantic fantasy, horror, or in this case a twisted fairytale retelling.

This is a reimagined sleeping beauty, where the sleeping princess is an evil changeling and the fairy godmother is actually the heroine of the story. Yes, there is even a kind-hearted knight bent on rescue, but he’s not what you’ve come to expect either.

Thornhedge is a novella-length story about Toadling and her unselfish and enduring strength in doing what is right. After she’s taken as a baby by fairies and switched out with a changeling she’s raised by a small group of water fae, and they are her family. But after a few years she’s sent on a mission, back to the land of her father, there is where she stays for the next two hundred (or more) years. Until a gentle knight arrives after hearing tales of a princess in a castle.

This was such a charming, endearing tale. A fresh take on Sleeping Beauty that kept me turning pages right up until the end.

An interesting retelling, if Maleficent had been the saviour in the story, oh how things might have been different. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

I thought this was a fun and cute spin on a classic fairytale. This is only my second work from this author, but so far I can see that she has this ability to take stories that have these underlying darker themes, but incorporate light and fun moments that somehow balance everything out. I loved the characters of Toadling and Halim. Toadling was so sweet and innocent and just wanted to do the right thing while Halim just wanted to be considered useful. I liked how this story was told and how the flashbacks were nicely incorporated into the story so that we understood why Toadling was so protective of the tower. My only issue was that the ending was very abrupt. Everything felt as though it got wrapped up to easily and with how things were explained it just felt like things should have been harder for Toadling and Halim to resolve at the end. I still plan to pick up more from this author because so far I have enjoyed what I have read from her thus far!

I don't know what I was expecting with Thornhedge, but after reading other books by T. Kingfisher, I definitely was.not expecting this.

Thornhedge is a fairytale retelling of sleeping beauty. Only sleeping beauty is a sociopathic fae or demon? Unclear. Our heroine is probably one of the most interesting characters I've encountered recently.

I really enjoyed Kingfisher's world building. I can be someone who has a tough time with world building, as many authors leave too many loose ends and their stories don't add up. Not a problem here. From Toadling's origin story all the way through the end, it held my interest. I agree with Kingfisher that the story is sweet, even with animated corpses. I really hope she does more fairy tale novellas, as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. And while Kingfisher IS one of my favorite authors, I'm going to try to be as objective as I can during this review. That said, however, Kingfisher is still a highly talented author, and her novella "Thornhedge" is a fascinating twist on the "Sleeping Beauty" mythos. Because while we've seen various versions of this story that make the wicked fairy heroic, this is the first I've seen that flips the tables entirely... and it's awesome.

Toadling was born human... but at birth she was swapped for a changeling, a fairy baby left in her place while she ended up raised by the fair folk herself. A goddess has charged her with watching over the changeling that took her place, and keeping a great harm from being done... but a bungled spell traps Toadling in the human world, watching over a tower surrounded by a great wall of thorns. When a knight arrives to break the curse and see what lies in the tower, Toadling must fulfil her duty to keep harm from being done... for some curses were never meant to be broken.

Novellas have to walk a fine line between character development, worldbuilding, and story -- it's not easy to adequately develop world, story, and characters with a limited page count. But Kingfisher manages this brilliantly -- Toadling's story is compelling and she's a wonderful character, and the knight that happens into the story is not your typical knight but is delightfully sweet and apologetic. The story is tightly knitted and plays out smoothly, taking a familiar story and adding new wrinkles and aspects, and while the setting feels like your usual European-based fantasy kingdom, it adds elements that help flesh out the world and the magic system.

Kingfisher argues in an author's note at the end of this story that she intended it to be "sweet," and despite some disturbing elements in the story (it's Kingfisher, she's fond of some macabre elements), it actually does fit that term. The story of Toadling's evolution as a character and her struggles to accomplish her mission are sweet to follow, and we're given a very sympathetic take on a character who's usually villainous (even "Maleficent" makes its title character more of a tragic villain than a hero). As for what Sleeping Beauty is like in this story... just read and find out.

"Thornhedge" is a fantastic novella, a great retelling of a familiar tale but also a fine fantasy story that stands well on its own. Kingfisher's fairy-tale retellings are magnificent, and deserve more recognition.

5 Stars
This was such a sweet, wonderful read.
Sweet in a dark and twisted way that only T. Kingfisher can achieve. It packs a punch in so few pages and I loved it. I'm usually not a fan of retellings but Kingfisher really hit the mark with endearing characters and turning the story in a way that feels fresh and unique.
I read this in one sitting and was not left wanting. It's rare to find a book that is solid from start to finish but maybe it's because it's so short.

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 10/5 - I would die for Toadling and Halim, though I'm sure they'd apologise for troubling me.
World: 4.5/5
Enjoyability: 100/5

T. Kingfisher maintains her position as an auto-buy author.

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

WOW. This novel proves the adage that mighty things come in small packages! The blurb of this book caught my attention immediately and I don't think that I have ever hit the request button so fast before. The world building and character descriptions in this book are fantastic, the attention to detail was perfect. I loved the story line and the twist/mashup of some familiar fairytale concepts. Toadling is the best unlikely hero, and will forever be one of my new fave MCs. The ending for me was bittersweet and I may have found myself a little teary eyed at the story came to an end. My only complaint, if you can even call it that is that I wish it had been a little longer.

In a forest, hidden by thorn bushes, there is a tower with a strange creature inside. Toadling has been alone for a very long time. She has watched from afar for hundreds of years as humanity changes, roads are built, kingdoms rise and fall, and she remains alone. But one day a knight comes looking for her tower. Halim is a strange kind of knight, the kind that doesn't really like violence or competing in tournaments. He read an old story about a tower and a sleeping maiden in need of salvation and he went looking for it. So when he meets the mysterious Toadling he does not know what to make of her, is she a cursed maiden in need of saving? Or is she the evil enchantress who is hiding something? As Toadling slowly reveals her story, the truth is stranger still and Halim is left with an impossible choice. Kingfisher tells a wonderful captivating tale that embodies the wonder of fairy tales but turns the premise on its head in a delightful fashion. Well written and compelling, this book is a quick read that is perfect for lovers of fairy tale inspired fantasy, and those who enjoy retellings of classic story lines.

An absolutely original retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the fairy who cursed Sleeping Beauty. I love Kingfisher's unique take on this story. It is very engaging, and, because of the unique perspective, the reader has to keep reading in order to find out what happens. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes new twists on fairy tales. A+!

T. Kingfisher’s Thornhedge takes the story of Sleeping Beauty and bends it till it breaks, flipping things round to give us a different perspective. That massive thorny hedge makes a great defence — but what if it was keeping something in, rather than out? What if we really, really don’t want Sleeping Beauty to wake?

Toadling is a changeling, raised in Fairy and then sent back to her original parents to avert disaster. Fayette is wilful, powerful and destructive, and Toadling… well, she knows how to turn into a toad, and how to command water. She has minor magics, nothing like Fayette’s strength, but somehow she has to contain her and protect the world.

Into the familiar story comes a knight, as you’d expect — but he’s a pretty singular sort of knight, one rather more interested in books, and not entirely sure what to do with a sword. He’s drawn to Toadling and the way she’s trapped within the thorny hedge, and he’s determined to fix things. Somehow.

The friendship that grows up between Halim and Toadling is really sweet, and I love his gentleness and the warm humour around him. I raced through this and loved it; fans of Kingfisher’s work won’t be disappointed.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Standalone
Publication Date: August 15, 2023
Fantasy - Fairy Tale

Toadling was stolen by fairies on the day of her birth. As an adult she is asked to return to the human world to bless a newborn. It should be a straightforward task but nothing has even been easy for Toadling. Her failure will have larger implications for the realm. Centuries later, a knight sets out on a question when he hears a rumour of a curse which needs breaking. Luckily Toadling is there to try and sway him in his mission. 

My favourite T. Kingfisher novels are the ones where there is a fairy tale-like atmosphere. Thornhedge kind of reminds me of a dark and creepier version of A Spindle Spintered, in the sense that this book takes on the well known tale of Sleeping Beauty, and turns it on its head. It will leave you questioning what you thought you knew about that beloved character and how the tale as we usually know it, only tells one perspective. What if Sleeping Beauty is actually the villain? It features Kingfisher’s usual blend of whimsical and comedy with elements of gothic horror. 

At only 128 pages, it is a quick read but it is still a fun, action-packed adventure that like all other Kingfisher books I highly recommend checking out!

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THORNHEDGE is a delightfully subversive retelling of The Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of the maligned fairy in the story as we know it today. In THORNHEDGE we know her as Toadling. This version of a classic western fairytale focuses on how Toadling came to have responsibility for the princess trapped in a tower.

I really enjoyed reading this retelling because the world we see is quite unlike that of the animated Disney movie. I don't know that it had a profound impact on me, but I enjoyed it for what it is, a fairytale hug. It has a distinct hesitant and reminiscent yet slightly ethereal vibe to it. The story flits between Toadling's past time spent in faerieland and her present time as guardian of the tower. As the synopsis states, Toadling was stolen from her human family. Brought up instead by fairies, we get to see the lifestyles of a certain sect of them, which I found very interesting.

The portrayal of the knight was a departure from their classical presentation in western tales of old with respect to both personality and race. Since this is a novella, I won't get into too much detail lest this review becomes too spoiler-y. But the knight is Muslim and has a gentle and inquisitive disposition, which makes for a nice set up for Toadling to tell her story. One of my favorite parts of Toadling's tale is her revelation about how she was taught to see beauty in the fairy realm versus how humans define beauty. That is, beauty is the sum of the good qualities of a fairy rather than their appearance.

Overall, THORNHEDGE is a fascinating backstory that further drives the point that not everything is as simple as it might seem.

[To be posted at a later date on www.aliteraryescape.com]

T. Kingfisher is one of those automatic read, buy, and recommend authors. Her skill is next to none with crafting quirky, charming fantasy tales that leave you thinking about the characters long after you've left their world. Naturally T. Kingfisher's unconventional take on Sleeping Beauty is no exception. Thornhedge is the story of Toadling, a human adopted by water fairies and taught to be a toad-shifter, who is asked to gift a blessing onto a newborn child...and let's just say things go a little south. I loved this novella, but at only around 130 pages I really want more Toadling in my life. I'd love a continuation of Toadling and Halim's adventures.

This was a cozy, quick read which gave me all the feel-goods. Thank you so much to Netgalley, T. Kingfisher, and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The author’s note at the end really explains how I feel about this book: yes, the main character is raised by child-eating swamp monsters, but it was such a sweet book. So short though! The story felt very complete and I’m okay without knowing more about the world, but I would love to read this in maybe a collection of short stories? I adore Toadling, and I wish her all the best.

I was given this book in exchange for a review. Yay!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for sending me an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favorite short-story authors. The way she can create beautiful worlds, interesting and unique plots, as well as relatable and developed characters in 150 pages or less will always leave me in awe.

Thornhedge is a Sleeping Beauty retelling with a bit of a dark twist. It follows Toadling; a human stolen away as a baby, raised and loved by fairies. Once an adult, the fae ask a favor of her; go back to the human world and bestow a blessing on a newborn child...however, this child is not exactly what she appears to be.

I loved this novella. The unique twist of a beloved fairytale with new lore was so refreshing and fun. This book is short, but the pacing was so balanced. Nothing felt rushed and too drawn out. I enjoyed the glimpse into Toadling's backstory and life, I adored her character.

Overall this story was so cozy and wholesome. I hope that the author decides to write another novella about these characters; I love to learn more about them, their world, and more of their story together.

Thornhedge releases on August 15th, 2023. I recommend reading it if you're a fan of fairytale retellings. It's short, sweet, and a nice palate cleanser in between bigger or more intense books.

It’s no secret that I am, in fact, a ginormous fan of Ursula Vernon, aka T. Kingfisher. I’ve read almost everything she’s put out at this point, and I’m clambering for more. PLEASE GIVE ME MORE. When I saw that her latest novella was on Netgalley, you can safely imagine me literally leaping at my mouse to request an ARC. Thankfully, Tor seems to like me, and they very generously allowed me a copy.

Needless to say, I loved Thornhedge. I would have gladly read an entire novel with these characters, in this world, but honestly? An entire novel wasn’t needed! Thornhedge is very short, but Kingfisher is a master at working in the short form. You don’t miss anything. There’s nothing absent from the story for the sake of shortness. It is, in fact, wrapped up rather neatly by the end.

Kingfisher, as always, has sprinkled a little horror inside her fairytale retelling, and we see it in the form of Fayette. Fayette is a changeling, and she’s a horror from the moment she’s born. She tortures animals. She tortures the servants. She hurts everyone she comes in contact with, and very quickly people who are around her turn up dead. Toadling, our heroine, is a fairy. She’s not a pretty fairy, she doesn’t have wings, or sparkle. She turns into a toad. She’s a sweetheart. She does what she must — she puts Fayette in an enchanted sleep.

Two hundred or something years pass, and Toadling has spent it all in the shadow of Fayette’s tower, keeping watch Then, Halim comes to try and rescue ‘the fair maiden’ in the tower. I loved Halim. Halim is a sweetheart knight who always apologizes when he curses, who tries his best to help Toadling, and most importantly of all, listens and believes Toadling. Halim was a welcome change from the usual hero. He is also thoroughly Muslim, and talks about his religion on page.

I loved how Kingfisher wrote this, but that’s not new for me and my experience with her writing. As I said on Goodreads, I will literally read anything that Kingfisher writes. Her water bill. Her grocery list. Whatever. She’s a genius, and I love her. Thornhedge is a solid five stars. I know you will love it.

3 stars? ish?

This was really cute, but lacked some of the depth in character that T. Kingfisher's other fairy tale retellings sometimes have--don't get me wrong, character depth is not Kingfisher's Thing that shines, but characters felt a bit more hollow in this one. This kind of read like a Wayward Children book in some ways: the really interesting takes on fairy tales and mythic creatures (the Greenteeth!) very much read like a Seanan McGuire novella, so I think if you like that series (specifically the books taking place in other worlds), you could like Thornhedge!

But, in my opinion, there were some plotholes and a lot of showing instead of telling... in flashbacks, we sort of just went through the motions. Like, why lead the knight you want away to the exact place he shouldn't be? How does time work again in Fairyland and why wasn't it explained until the last chapter of the book? The ending was also pretty anticlimactic--we are going to build up this little girl villain for the entire time and then... just push her off the tower??? The FAE CHANGELING?? Dies on impact?? And then this hundreds-of-years-long-nightmare is just... over. Are you kidding me?

I was really disappointed by this book because the vibes were just not what I thought it'd be, and everything I expected it to be turned out mediocre. Kingfisher and I have this problem in general, though I keep hoping for different in every new subgenre I try of hers. Fairy tale Kingfisher remains not strong for me, and I think it is because of, ultimately, the lack of depth and confusing vibes. The earlier fairy tales had more of that for me (Raven and the Reindeer and Bryony and Roses) while the newer ones just... do not. However, I'm a sucker for fairy tale retellings, so I'll probably keep picking them up.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher may be presented as a twist to the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, but it is so much more than a mere retelling. The story is only under two hundred pages long, to give away too much would be a crime, but readers, please if nothing else, Toadling deserves your love and attention. Kingfisher weaves this story with darkness and sweet light. I think I connected with Toadling's loneliness, hope to have her kindness, and know I will never be so gentle.

Officially T. Kingfisher should be an automatic buy for all of us who love a twisted fantasy.

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Thornhedge" for an honest review.

I have to admit, I've been on a Kingfisher kick since I read "What Moves The Dead," and I loved that this one was going to be the take on rewriting Sleeping Beauty. I love, love, loved this retelling. I love that it's told from the point of view of the baby swapped with the changing, and that we turned the curse, and why the curse happened, what the hedge is keeping in and keeping out. I definitely advise this to everyone who has a love of fairy-tellings and their reworking!