"Thornhedge" by T. Kingfisher is a captivating and atmospheric tale that blends elements of fairy tale and horror into a spellbinding narrative. Kingfisher's vivid prose and expertly crafted characters draw readers into a world where ancient secrets and dark forces lurk around every corner. With its gripping plot and unexpected twists, this book keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. "Thornhedge" is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and supernatural fiction, offering a thrilling and unforgettable reading experience.

This wasn't my favorite Kingfisher book. Mostly because I just wanted more to the story. I felt like just as things were getting exciting, it ended. It was interesting though.

T. Kingfisher does it again. I absolutely loved this book.

Thornhedge is a beautiful, fairytale-esque reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. It really turns the story on it's head in the best way possible. It is short but I easily felt immersed in the world.

Toadling is an adorable character and the story was fine.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!

So thankful to have received an ARC! I absolutely LOVED this novel and have recommended it to fellow librarians/friends/family members. It's a sleeping beauty retelling that is feminist, a little scary and an utterly fun read. T. Kingfisher is just so good at crafting characters.

I'm a sucker for a retelling with a dark, twisted, and tragic ending. I loved this book so much!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thornhedge is a novella that turns the "Sleeping Beauty" fairy tale on its ear! What if - the princess is really a villain? Toadling has been tasked to keep people away from the castle, and the princess - I don't want to spoil the story explaining why. When a knight named Halim meets Toadling, and finds her "not beautiful, but interesting, and sad" she knows that she just might have found an ally, and an opening into a new life.

4.5 stars

I’m a newer T. Kingfisher fan, only starting to read her books in the last couple of years, and not reading them too frequently…which is stupid, because I have enjoyed every one of them.

Seriously my main complaint with this one is that I wanted it to be longer. I wanted to spend more time with Toadling and Halim. I wanted more time for the story to breathe and expand. This was a novella, and it felt like a shorter novella, so probably around 120 pages. I read it very quickly. I think it only took me like an hour to complete.

I enjoyed the concept and the setup. But I feel like many things were basically glossed over. And perhaps that’s because our protagonist narrator Toadling doesn’t pay much attention to these things, but still.

Toadling was so sweet and loving, and I’m glad she found a loving family…even if they were a bunch of swamp-dwelling faerie monsters. And Halim seemed gentle and sweet and good too. He mentioned how great his mother was several times, and I found myself wanting to see Halim take Toadling to meet her, but that didn’t happen.

Thornhedge is a Sleeping Beauty retelling, with the interesting twist that the princess is the antagonist, and so there is a different reason for the enchanted slumber and the hedge of thorns around the keep. It was also interesting in that Toadling was a human who was taken by the faeries minutes after her birth and raised in the faerie realm, which basically gave her some faerie abilities and such. Our princess is the changeling left in her place. And all of this is made possible by the difference in the passing of time of the human world and faerieland, because years pass in the faerieland in just hours of the human world.

The story wrapped up nicely, and so it doesn’t necessarily NEED a follow-up, but I admit that I’d love to have another story where we could follow Toadling as she explores more of the world, because there’s so much out there she doesn’t know, and her family will be there to welcome her back when she’s ready to return, even if that is years and years later. There was something cute and warm and cozy about that fact.

T. Kingfisher never disappoints. This short retelling of sleeping beauty is like a fairy tale, but with extra magic. Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favored and go-to authors. This was a novella length and imaginitive, both silly and macabre.

Thornhedge is an amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty. T. Kingfisher completely turns the fairy tale on its head. Her world is so rich and detailed, the characters delightful, the story completely enthralling. this is a must read!

A nice way to retale Sleeping Beauty with a twist.

Toadling was taken by faeries when she was born. She was raised in the water in fairyland. She loved the monsters that lived there as her own family. Then, she is retaken from the water that she loves and told that she must be educated. Furthermore, she is told that she must go back to the human world and give a blessing to a child.

Due to her inexperience, the blessing she performs turns into a curse. As the years pass and the danger grows, Toadling decides to do what must be done to stop worse things from happening.

Centuries later, Toadling's isolation is interrupted when a knight stops by trying to break the curse. Toadling thinks he would be better off staying away but she can't seem to make him leave and starts looking forward to spending time with him. But can she let him break the curse?

I like the writing, the descriptions, and the main character, Toadling. Yet, I did feel like the end was underwhelming.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is short, but a tale that will stay with the reader for a long time. I still find myself thinking about it weeks later and have recommended it to several people who enjoy dark fairytales.

What an absolutely fantastic retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the point of view of a changeling girl who knows nothing but her time in faerie being forced to try to salvage a truly cruel secret-fairy Sleeping Beauty.

But: it's also a frame narrative, hundreds of years later, with the first knight (a kind and courteous Muslim man named Halim) to successfully reach the hidden castle, following the stories. Toadling has to finally decide if <i>she</i> can be freed from the tower -- and what to do about the ambitious slumbering fey child trapped inside it, as well.

Beautifully written, so kind. There's a spoken aloud point that the love doesn't matter -- but it does, just not in the areas that Toadling may have consciously hoped. It's beautiful and kind and a bit brutal all at the same time: hard-edged, but still kind to the reader.

T. Kingfisher is always a must-read author for me, and hasn't let me down. This is no exception!

This is a fantastic and imaginative retelling of Sleeping Beauty. The story is not about the sleeping princess in the tower amidst the thorn hedges but rather about the fairy that protects the tower from intruders. T. Kingfisher does an excellent job with the twist, and her storytelling is superb. Having read various retellings of Sleeping Beauty, this one is the best.

T. Kingfisher is amazing as always.
Not my favorite work, but still enthralling.
The storyline was subversive which is highly valuable in a time where writing what everyone else is writing can get you fame and fortune.

A short and captivating fantasy novel! With the classic dark touch of Kingfisher, they bring us in this weird world and captivates us. For the price point in store I would recommend it more to fantasy readers that are specially looking for this kind of vibes, but it is definitely delivery for that style!

Short and sweet but also with a huge sprinkle of weird, Thornhedge is a great read for when you want to while away an afternoon in a fantasy world.

Loved the knight and his charming ineptitude, not so much a fan of the MC with her inability to realise that she is the problem.

Worth checking out if you are a fan of retellings and love books of fae and changelings

T Kingfisher has become my favorite author. I love her ability to take a classic tale and make you see it in a whole new light. Sleeping Beauty has never been my favorite fairytale, but I loved this interpretation. My only complaint was that I would love to have spent more time with Toadling and Halim.

A tightly written novella with an interesting spin on Sleeping Beauty. I found it a quick and enjoyable read.

I love T Kingfisher so I had to request this book when it was available!!

I thought it was a great Sleeping Beauty retelling!! Very unique!! It can easily be read in one sitting!

I just wished it had a bit of T. Kingfisher’s humor in it!!

3.5/5 stars