Toadling has spent hundreds of years on an important mission, to guard the tower surrounded by a hedge of impenetrable thorns. She left behind her beloved family and home in Faerieland to do so without complaint, driven to correct a mistake she tortures herself for making. One day a wandering, down on his luck knight shows up, his mission to break the curse. But Toadling knows that which lies sleeping in the tower must never be allowed to awaken.

Thornhedge is a splendid retelling of Sleeping Beauty, featuring a completely innovative spin on the fairy tale with the most unlikely of lead characters. Despite the seeming unsuitability of Toadling as the main character, she is completely lovable and complex. Toadling’s story is so interesting that it steals the show and the reader’s focus away from the traditional narrative. When the narrative comes back around to the classic princess in the tower storyline, the sense of dread and danger is like a gut punch to readers entranced by Toadling’s coming of age tale. T. Kingfisher is incredible at crafting marvelously descriptive word pictures that draw the reader deep into the world she has created in her narrative. While short in length, Thornhedge takes the reader on an expansive and immersive journey, leagues away from their everyday environment and deep into a fairy tale setting with unlikely heroines, sleeping princesses, and downtrodden knights looking for a quest to fulfill.

Thorn Hedge by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher is easily one of my favorite authors. I refuse to shut up about most of the books she’s written. Tor has really rocketed her into the public eye and I could not be more excited about it.

While Thorn Hedge won’t go down as my favorite from her. I think it is the sweetest (but also quite dark in parts) fairy tale retelling you could ask for. It goes the extra mile and flips perspectives in a fun way.

The characters are achingly sincere and thoughtful. Both leads are quiet heroes rather than forceful once, which is a huge breath of fresh air.

My biggest complaint is how abrupt one important event one. While it’s quite clear that was an intentional decision, I imagine it is probably one of the biggest point of discussion any readers.

Have you read? What did you think?

Plot - 3
Writing and Editing - 5
Character Development - 4
Personal Bias - 4
Final Score - 4

#ThornHedge #Tor #Retellings

Toadling, a human, was stolen on the day of her birth and brought to the faerie realm to be raised by the water dwellers. Over time, she becomes less human and more fae, toad-like in appearance and behavior. When she becomes an adult, she is sent to a neighboring kingdom to give a blessing to the newborn princess. Toadling accidentally garbles her words, which results in cursing the child instead. When the princess comes of age, she is put into a deep sleep and hidden away in a tower, guarded by Toadling as penance for her mistake. Years, decades, and even centuries pass, and a thornhedge grows up, further hiding the princess from the outside world, turning her and her story to legend. One day, a knight approaches the thornhedge, seeking the fabled princess with the intention of freeing her from the spell. But little does he know, she is guarded for good reason, and only Toadling remembers.

I thought this was an ok story. I usually ADORE Kingfisher, but I was a bit disappointed in this one. I felt that Toadling was a great character that was underused, and there was no moral "grey", just black and white. I wanted more character development.

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley, in return for my honest review.

I loved this book. Starting with the cover, that caught my attention due to its coloring. This sleeping beauty retelling gives an interesting spin on the class tale from the point of view of the fairy who put the spell on sleeping beauty. If you have not read a book by T. Kingfisher before, you need to, and you should start with this one. If you are a fan or fantasy and retellings, give this book a read.

I was unfortunately unable to finish this title before I could no longer access it, but I got about 40% of the way through and do plan to buy a physical copy to finish it up. The part I was able to get through was just what I’ve come to expect from Kingfisher and I adored it.

In this fresh and inventive retelling of a classic fairlly tale, Toadling is my new favorite fairy tale character. A gift gone wrong, duty bound to fix it and serve, Toadling guards the sleeping princess in her tower for centuries. Finally, someone comes along to beat back the thornhedge that has surrounded the tower and consumed Toadlings magic for so long. He wants her to go with him - will she? Can she? If they survive, Toadling can leave with the not so handsome, not a knight man who has ventured to her keep on whims of a story. A must read retelling!

Generally I'm not a big fan of Fairy Tales (or of Fae). However, THORNHEDGE really struck my fancy. Toadling is such an empathetic, adorable, genuinely likable heroine, whose life is twisted at the very beginning (birth) through no possible fault of her own! But by good fortune, she is given into the care of a Found Family, and the love they provide, the love she returns, in view of their nature [as humans would see them] proves that Found Families Rule!

Then too, "Knight hopeful" Halim [personifying the definition of "feckless hero" and of the Fool card in Tarot] is agreeably vulnerable and unafraid to admit when he falls short, willing to admit he abhors bloodshed, immensely kind to Toadling.

THORNHEDGE is remarkably filled with Hope and Inspiration. This is a rereader!

I didn't expect a novella to be this good. This is a Sleeping Beauty retelling with an unexpected twist. Toadling was switched at birth. She was taken to the cruel fairy world and that might have been the end but instead she found family, acceptance and love. Then the fairies asked her to go and give a gift to a princess. Instead she puts her to sleep. Now she has to guard the princess and as time passes she feels that no one will remember the kingdom or the princess asleep in a castle covered in hedges and thorns. That is until a Knight named Halim returns from the Crusades and tries to solve the mystery. This book was just a pleasure to read.

What if the reason Sleeping Beauty was hidden behind a castle and a spell was for the safety of the world? Toadling was stolen from her family and replaced with a monster, one who grew ever more deadly to those around her. Now, Toadling maintains the safety of the world by holding the monster behind a hedge filled with magic, keeping her trapped inside and asleep. When a Muslim traveler can see her, she begins to tell him her story. A cool inversion of the expected fairy tale.

I love a good little Tor novella and I love the essence of a dark fairytale! The storyline was so unique and one that I would not have expected. Toadling as a character was so sweet, always looking out for her duties trying to keep everyone safe. I loved her little backstory, but the flashbacks weren’t my favorite. The knight was also a fun character & I liked how he wasn’t a “special” knight but just a regular person! What else can I say about this little 100 page book other than it’s a darkly fun good time!

I thought the beginning with the build up went on a little too long with the tower scene seemingly only taking up a short part of the story. I kinda wish more happened or something bigger took place than just a push out the window. However, I love that toadling got to go home and be with her real family but also got the option of leaving to find herself. So pure and sweet!

What a cute little joy!! I thought this was such a good fast read! I blew through it and didn't want to stop.
Thornhedge is kind of a run around fairy tale retelling, fairies, kings, queens, princessess, knights, all the good stuff.
The main character Toadling was taken from her family the day she was born, changeling style. They treated her well and things were fine, but when she becomes an adult they ask her a favor that turns into something unimaginable. Very Sleeping Beauty origin story.

I think this was great work from T. Kingfisher and I will read more from them!

Soft, as all T Kingfisher books are. This brought me joy and made me giggle. Definitely love the cozy and retelling vibes going on here.

This book was filled with whimsy and the weird. This was a short but entertaining anti-fairytale. It's something that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a unique reading experience.

This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but make it faerie. I had no idea what to expect from this little novella, but I loved it. I really enjoy T. Kingfisher's writing style.

This was a short and sweet retelling that had interesting characters and a fun way of integrating the timeline. I really enjoyed the storytelling of this book, and the open-ended nature of the ending; both Toadling and Harim were not your typical protagonists, and where this book ended for them made a lot of sense because there were so many possibilities for the years ahead. Thornhedge is definitely worth the read!

"Thornhedge" by T. Kingfisher is a delightful journey into a world where magic and the mundane coexist in perfect harmony. This enchanting novel weaves a tapestry of whimsy and wonder that captivates from the very first page.

Kingfisher's storytelling is nothing short of magical. Her vivid descriptions bring the whimsical town of Thornhedge to life, from its quirky residents to its enchanted flora and fauna. The protagonist, a young botanist named Molly, is a refreshingly relatable character who stumbles into a world of mystery and enchantment when she inherits her eccentric aunt's cottage in Thornhedge. Molly's journey of self-discovery and her interactions with the town's quirky inhabitants make for a heartwarming and endearing narrative.

What sets "Thornhedge" apart is its blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Kingfisher effortlessly combines the supernatural with the everyday, creating a world where talking animals, sentient plants, and eccentric ghosts are as much a part of life as a cup of tea. This seamless integration of the fantastical into the mundane is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess.

Overall, "Thornhedge" is a charming and whimsical tale that will transport readers to a world where magic lurks just beneath the surface of the everyday. T. Kingfisher's masterful storytelling and imaginative world-building make this book a must-read for fans of fantasy and the magical realism genre.

I love a good retelling and I was particularly excited when I found out T. Kingfisher wrote one. Thornhedge is a Sleeping Beauty retelling that takes the fairytale and turns it upside down. What if not all curses are meant to be broken?

Thornhedge is the story of Toadling whose mission is to prevent curious people and ambitious knights from entering the tower. Born a human and raised by faeries, Toadling is kind and anxious, always doing her best to keep her promise and do good by everyone. One day, a knight comes to the tower, bent on breaking its curse.

This is the story of family and promises, of the binding need to right past mistakes, of friendship, compassion, and things never being what they seem. Despite the dark moments, Thornhedge is a heartfelt retelling and I appreciated T. Kingfisher's take on it.

While I enjoyed the story, I was also left wanting a bit more with how some things were handled. The end felt too quick and easy and one particular character felt one dimensional.

I was engaged throughout and still recommend this book, specially in the Fall when the weather is a bit chilly. I'll also always read anything T. Kingfisher writes so there's that. 😆

Thank you Tor for sending me a copy to review! All opinions my own.

T. Kingfisher tells a nice variation of Sleeping Beauty and the fairy guarding the Thornhedge (ebook from Tor). Toadling was stolen by fairies as a child, raised with pond monsters, and sent with the magic of the curse to the tower whenSleeping Beauty is born. She can turn into a toad. The knight is a second son on his own and not very good at knightly deeds. And sleeping Beauty is not what the stories tell. A very nice novelette.

Thornhedge is a sweet book about beastly things. With this novella, author T. Kingfisher revisits the fairytale of Sleeping Beauty, but with a twist. What if the princess was the villain?

Toadling, born human then raised by monstrous water spirits in Faerie, is the endearing heart of the tale. After Halim, a Muslim knight, insistently befriends her, she tells her story and that of the “damsel” in the tower.

Thornhedge is a quick and enjoyable read with themes of family, purpose, belonging, beauty, and the power of stories.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for this eARC.

It only took a couple books to add T. Kingfisher to my short list of must-read authors. Her creativity and sense for the (frequently macabre) absurd set her work apart, and Thornhedge certainly delivers on those fronts. However, it is in may ways Kingfisher's sweetest book I've read and would serve as a great introduction to her writing — or even as an alternative if you've found her other works to be too absurd or intense.

Thornhedge is a retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," and in typical Kingfisher fashion questions basic assumption of the original tale (or at least of the tale as we know it). In this case, the questions are: Why do you need to hide a princess behind a wall of thorns? Are you trying to keep others out or to keep her in? Told from the perspective of not-quite-fairy, not-really-godmother Toadling, it's a bittersweet reflection on the meaning of love and its limitations.

While I enjoyed the story, it was really the telling of it and Toadling herself that stole my heart. Born human but raised by monstrous fairies, called the greenteeth, she's an outsider in the mortal realm, and human ways are strange to her. First her upbringing and then her position as sole guardian of the tower isolates her completely, and there's a deep loneliness in Toadling and a yearning for her own adoptive family. As she slowly unfolds the story of how this all came to be, my heart ached for her. But though she is weary and sad, Toadling isn't a wet blanket. She's curious, kind, resilient, and endearingly pleased with herself when she hits upon a clever plan. I wanted everything good for her, and her occasional victories felt well-earned and satisfying.

If you, like me, enjoy vivid reimaginings of fairy tales (especially with a streak of dark humor), Thornhedge is sure to delight. I hope you'll check it out!

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.