Beautifully written riff on a fairytale. More magic, more mystery, more emotion. Toadling has more responsibility than one faerie should ever be burdened with and when its security is threatened by a curious knight she must choose between herself and her duty. So good I wanted there to be more.

Another retelling of a classic fairytale, but with lots of humor and heart along with it. T. Kingfisher is the best at this. The story does get a little high fantasy for my own personal tastes, but the author still makes it easy to follow and understand. The characters are lovely and interesting with so many layers and its just fun to read her stuff.

I love anything T. Kingfisher writes, and this was no exception. This was a lovely twist on Sleeping Beauty, and I absolutely loved Toadling. The story starts in a familiar format and then turns you like a top until the end.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, a great quick read. I really enjoyed this take on the enchanted castle, damsel in distress and fairy curse.

I finished this early this morning and then proceeded to weep (I ain't too proud to admit that) for at least fifteen minutes. This has been one of the most wonderful reading experiences I have had in a long time. I can relate to Toadling in many ways. The way she tries her best and has no faith in herself, just resonated so much. This twist on "Sleeping Beauty" was a refreshing take. The sub plots of found family and seeing beauty in everything are what made me have such strong feelings. T. Kingfisher has done something that many writers have tried before but she pulled it off in the most fulfilling way. Highly, highly recommend.

4.5 stars

T. Kingfisher has been putting out the most creative novellas, and this is no exception. Prepare for a Sleeping Beauty take that gets a little darker but in ways that fans of the cycle may not expect.

Toadling, the m.c., is a truly charming character who is as uncertain about her roles and responsibilities as readers are, at least during the early parts of this piece. One of the most fun parts of this read is learning more of those details, so I'm keeping this intentionally vague. Toadling has been maintaining what for her is the necessary status quo, but when an external party appears, she has to manage that person and consider her own path forward for the first time in a VERY long time.

This is a fast and engaging addition to the Sleeping Beauty cycle, and it comes not only with existential questions about also some moral questions and contemplations about the importance of family and a sense of place. Added props for a version that - unlike nearly all of its companions - does not require an assault-based trigger warning. That's refreshing on its own.

I love this author and can't wait to read whatever comes next!

This was lovely! I’ve always found fairy tale retellings are a bit hit or miss. I found this one entertaining and unique without obscuring the original tale so much it wasn’t recognizable. Toadling is a perfect fairy tail heroine.

4.5/5
Thornhedge is a brilliant subversion of all things fairytale with a prickly exterior that hides hidden depths. Kingfisher skillfully melds history and legend together in this unexpected retelling of Sleeping Beauty that breaks down classic character archetypes and explores the side of a supposed villain. Equally weird and wonderful, Thornhedge is my favorite flavor of fairytale!

Full review will be available on my blog closer to publication!

What is Sleeping Beauty didn't need to be rescued... This is a clever retelling of the sleeping beauty story.
As this was a novella, and a bit of a quick read there isn't too much to say about the plot without giving it away. Toadling was a delight, her "knight" Halim was sweet and less there to save her, and more to help her save herself.
Captivating and fresh in a way that retelling often are not, I can not recommend this story enough to fans of Kingfisher or fairytales.

I have a deep and abiding affection for reimagined fairytales, but, even within the strange magic of that particular subgenre, this is a breath of fresh air. Or...pond water...or something.

Somewhere deep inside me there’s a feral child who loves stories about other feral children who, despite everything, are raised with the love of the wild creatures around them. I’m not sure where this inner child came from, but this book made them very, very happy.

In some ways this was a simpler story than I’m used to from Kingfisher, but that really only served to show off the beautiful, terrible ideas and the gorgeously spare prose. Top notch fractured fairy tale retelling. I’ll be coming back to this one again, and I hope to the reader’s gods that there’s an audiobook version.

When I start a new Kingfisher, I usually think there’s no way she can create characters that I love as much as the last Kingfisher book I read, but then she does it, again and again. And in a novella! This was a lovely, warm-hearted retelling of Sleeping Beauty that recasts the Beauty as the villain and the fairy as the awkward, out-of-place protagonist. There’s so much to like about this, but it should satisfy readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings, strong women characters, knights who mean well, and Kingfisher’s writing. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the advanced copy of this book!

Kingfisher became an instant read for me after Nettle & Bone and in Thornhedge we get another reimagined fairytale. This is a novella so it's a quick read, but it's very satisfying at the same time. We meet Toadling, who can take a human form or a toad form, as she is spending years hidden in a tower. She watches the years pass by as she's hidden behind the dense brambles that protect the tower and keep from the outside world. Occasionally people come to the tower after hearing tales of a princess trapped in the tower, but none ever make it through the thorny barrier. Eventually people forget about the tower, until one day a knight comes and doesn't leave. We then learn the true tale of the princess in the tower and why Toadling is there. Not all princesses should be saved.

Toadling has already failed at her task. She has given up everything to keep her charge hidden from the changing world. When a humble knight stumbles across her forgotten bramble patch, his curiosity places her secret in peril. Can she hold fast against him, or will her fears that she is not enough come true?

5 stars for the magic with which T. Kingfisher spins the traditional rhythms of this newly woven fairy tale. Through THORNHEDGE, you'll reconsider what "ugliness" really means and rethink your expectations about how the story is meant to end. Anyone with anxiety issues will feel this tale deeply. I will now count it among my favorite comfort re-reads.

I was given the opportunity to review an e-ARC of THORNHEDGE through NetGalley.

So anything Ursula writes is going to get an automatic read from me. This is a captivating novella that looks at Sleeping Beauty through fresh eyes. Highly rec'd for fans of fairy tale retellings and the darker aspects of fantasy.
Thank you very much to Tor and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sleeping Beauty retelling but make the princess the villain and the witch the hero. Oh, and the witch named Toadling looks like a toad in human form and can transform into a toad? SIGN ME UP

On the day she was born, Toadling was stolen by the fairies and grew up in the water of the faerieland safe and loved. When she grew to adulthood, the fae asked her if she would return to the human realm and offer a gift to a newborn child, and things go horribly wrong. Centuries later, a knight comes to the hidden tower covered in brambles and thorns in search of a curse that needs to be broken. What he finds is Toadling having stayed guarding the tower and willing to uphold the "curse" no matter the cost.

Seeing the classic fairytale turned on its head was exciting since it opened up a new path for the story to take and was able to explore other aspects of the characters without it being the same story told over and over. I love everything this author writes, and this did not disappoint. Thornhedge is 128 pages of pure page-turning enjoyment. It was short just like fairytales themselves are, but that didn't take anything away from the story. In fact, I think the length was perfect. The writing was beautiful, and I loved Toadling and the prince getting to know each other and Toadling slowly coming to the realization that she's been at the tower far longer than she herself knew.

I think one of the most intriguing parts of the story was seeing the juxtaposition between the Princess and Toadling. Toadling was raised in a safe, loving world knowing that she would always be accepted whereas the Princess was raised with those around her fearing her for her horrifying outbursts. I also really enjoyed the love story between the Muslim knight and Toadling. They both admitted that neither are conventionally attractive, but are "interesting" and it just made my heart so happy to see that in a book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC. 5/5!!

This twisted take on Sleeping Beauty is gracefully written with subtly lyrical descriptions of a vivid world of faerie both beautiful and horrifying and a human world that makes the reader feel the damp and fear the thorns. It is an exceptional fantasy.

Familiar and warm but with a touch of terror, Thornhedge catches the mood of a fairytale brilliantly. Kingfisher knows she doesn’t have to introduce the shape of the Sleeping Beauty story, so the new twists are established first then it slowly unravels how they fit within the shifts of this version of the tale. Both Toadling and Halim were interesting, delightful people I wanted to spend more time with in the end.

I never would have thought that a book that included murder and violence and toads could be adorable? But it is. This is a great novella for those looking for a quick fantasy world to dive into. I rooted hard for the characters. I wish the action scene had taken a bit longer, but honestly, loved this world. More Kingfisher please!

T. Kingfisher never has a bad book it seems and this book continues her streak of amazing works. I loved Thornhedge. I gobbled it up in two sittings and it's one of my favorite books this year. The story was heartbreaking, hilarious, and thrilling all in turn and it's a book I foresee going back to again and again for rereads in the years to come. I'm already planning for this book to be my recurring Christmas present this upcoming Christmas.