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!

Absolutely obsessed with this fairy tale retelling!! I was completely entrantsed with this!!
I just reviewed Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher. #NetGalley
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Toadling was an incredible misunderstood MC! I adored the dynamic between them and the knight. I definitely wishes their was even more because whoever said you can have too much of a good thing is a liar!

4.5, may bump it up to 5 stars after sitting on it awhile.

T. Kingfisher is by far one of the most versatile writers that I have ever read-- which has made me realize that she is one of my favorite authors ever.

This novella was sweet and an incredibly creative retelling of Sleeping Beauty, in a way that had me thinking "how DOES she come up with this!?" Loved the crossover and inclusion of all types of creatures. Loved the sweetness of the relationships Toadling and her greenteeth family. And also the growing discovery of a relationship between Toadling and Halim.

I just adored this and Kingfisher's ability to mix a dark fairytale retelling with a dose of sweetness.

I would highly recommend this story who really loves fairytales and retellings. I did enjoy the story itself, T. Kingfisher is a spectacular writer and storyteller. The imagery of events is the most clear picture you can create it your head while also not feeling overly descriptive or wordy. The stories main pitfall for me is that the entire time I was reading I could not help but wish that Thornhedge was written in first person POV? My favorite parts of the story were when we'd get a snippet of the toadlings inter monologue. I'm someone who loves to get inside of characters heads. If you don't enjoy first person than I think you'd really enjoy the writing style.

I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley and Tor Books, thanks!
I read two of T. Kingfisher's books last year and something I liked in those stories and in this one as well is how unlikely the heroes are. This is a fairytale retelling and you have expectations of who the hero will be and how they'll act, and I think that one of the strengths of Kingfisher's books is that you're shown that even if (or especially if) you don't have those expected qualities, you can still be a great hero who does great things. So obviously, I really liked this book.
I don't really like the Sleeping Beauty fairytale very much, but I liked this one. I liked the relationships between Toadling and her family, and I liked Toadling's relationship to herself. She is very self-aware when it comes to what she feels her limitations are, although sometimes I think I wanted to poke her and let her know she was doing enough with what she had available to her. And oh man, did I love her and her little family.
My one gripe, and the reason I gave it 4/5 stars is the length. I love a good novella, but I feel like this story could have used another 20 or so pages. I think the resolution at the end of the book, as well as the events that lead up to the princess being put to sleep maybe could have used a little more explanation or development. They work well enough in the story, but it just kind of happens quickly, and then on to other stuff.
Overall, I will definitely be reading more of T. Kingfisher's work, and I look forward to it!