This was one of the best re-telling's. It's kinda the story of sleeping beauty but add some dark spice.
Toadling is just adorable and now I want to be her friend.

The only thing I have negative to say about this book and do not get me wrong I LOVE T. Kingfisher's writing is that it is $11.99 for a kindle book of just over a hundred pages. Das expeeensive. I know every dang thing is expensive but that is my only gripe.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

In Thornhedge, T. Kingfisher brings her lush, humorous and whimsical storytelling to a quick and adorably-reimagined Sleeping Beauty origin story.

Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors. I have loved everything of hers that I have ever read and after reading this, it doesn't appear that is going to change anytime soon. I will try to write an unbiased review, but it will be difficult. I'm a fan girl, what can I say?

In this story we meet Toadling, who as an infant was stolen and transported to live in the world of the faeries. They treated her well, and her early life was undeniably warm and comfortable. She couldn't lodge many complaints. Once she came into adulthood though, the faeries asked a favor of her that ended up changing everything. She is asked to return to the world of humans to bless a newborn child. A little girl. A bumbling, beautiful baby girl...

A century later, a knight approaches a wall of brambles, an impenetrable fortress of thorns. He's heard legends of a cursed Princess high in a tower. He's here to save her, as knights do. Toadling, however, has different thoughts on this so-called curse and she'll do anything to uphold it. You'll have to read this enchanting story to find out why.

This was a super fun and quick read, which I did listen to on audio. It has a nice, cozy feel to it, that I definitely need every once in a while to break up my darker reads. I enjoyed how Kingfisher gave us enough of the original tale that you could figure out what she was alluding to, yet she brought her own original twist that caused me to view the fairy tale in a while new light.

The twist itself was fascinating to me. Darker than I expected, but whimsical at the same time. I was really impressed with it. I think it is a great example of Kingfisher's skill as a writer. I also highly enjoyed the narration of the audiobook. This story is pure, engaging entertainment.

I would recommend it to any Reader who enjoys twists on classic tales, whimsical, cozy fantasies, or Kingfisher's work in general. There is no way this story isn't going to bring a smile to your face.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. T. Kingfisher is a gift. She has a gift and she is a gift!

I will continue picking up every single thing she writes.

2.5 stars

I love reading books that tell the other side of the story. Since Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney cartoon movies, I knew I needed to read this one.

I have read several T. Kingfisher books and this was not fully what I expected. Usually her books are more creepy and a little more entertaining. There were a few parts that were good, but it was just a little too slow for me. The end was great, but it took a little too long to get going.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I have read almost all of T. Kingfisher’s books, and this is one of my favorites. This isn’t like her normal horror books, but it is an amazing retelling of sleeping beauty. The story had a lot of depth for being so short (128 pages!) It was easy to follow and super binge-able. It might be one of my favorite books by her so far! I loved the dual timelines. This book was done SO well.

It’s a dark fairy tale retelling that’s really clean. I highly recommend this one!!

This is such a unique story about something that might make an appearance in the backs of our minds occasionally but that we mostly never consider: the child stolen from the faeries coming back to take care of the changeling that replaced them, with no one having a clue. I loved reading this, but I wished there were a bit more to it, especially when it came to the character dynamic. It was well thought out and could have been absolute dynamite in a longer book.

5⭐️

<b><i>It is only the wicked that are sent to make mischief.

And only the dutiful that are sent to try and stop them.</b></i>

I love T. Kingfisher’s storytelling. The style of writing feels like a classic tale, and I love this fresh take on an old story. This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, where the sleeping maiden is not a maiden at all but a changeling put to sleep by a toad-shaped heroine to keep her from doing harm. This story was interesting, quick, and fun to read!

<b>“I came to stop her from doing harm. The words of my gift or the terms of my sentence—take your pick.”</b>

✨ Review ✨ Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher's quickly became one of my favorite authors and I loved this little novella that took a different spin on Sleeping Beauty. Instead of following her tale, we follow the story of Toadling who guards her at rest. Stolen by the fairies at birth, Toadling spends years growing with otherworldly swamp creatures in the fairy world. The story alternates between her past and her present when a prince arrives outside the thornhedge she's guarding and he won't go away.

I loved how this took a very different spin on sleeping beauty (sort of a la Maleficent, but very different). I also adored Toadling and the Prince, and they were such endearing characters. I loved that together they acknowledged they didn't have to be perfect and gorgeous and strong, but instead, they were special and valuable just as they were.

The book's short -- novella-length -- and makes for a quick binge when you're in the mood for a quick fantasy read. This read most like Nettle & Bone of the books of Kingfisher's I've read.

Not least, the copy I received from Tor is a gorgeous hardcover volume, including cute little Toadling illustrations on the inside of the cover and start of each chapter.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.25-4.5)
Genre: fantasy
Reminds me of: Nettle & Bone, Sleeping Beauty flipped on its head
Pub Date: Aug 15, 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ fairy tale retellings
⭕️ fantasy novellas
⭕️ T. Kingfisher, fantasy queen
⭕️ imperfect characters

Thanks to Tor, Macmillan Audio and #netgalley for an advanced copies of this book!

This was absolutely delightful. I am a sucker for a good novella and this did not disappoint. Toadling is such a lovely and sweet character that is just looking to do the right thing. This was such a neat take on sleeping beauty and it is a story I am still thinking about.

A sleeping beauty retelling with a dash of changeling and old faerie lore wrapped up nicely in a little novella with melancholic and whimsical feels.

In the past, Toadling grows up amongst the bog creatures and is tasked with providing a blessing with the changeling who took her place, however it goes try and she must stay by the child’s side to prevent harm. In the present, a knight unlike other knights wants to solve the mystery of the old legend and goes adventuring through the brambles hundreds of years later, forcing Toadling to address him and the curse she created to contain the evil princess.

Toadling as a main character is kind, unselfish, and trying to navigate what is the right thing to do within the scope of her abilities in this retelling. Her swamp life and learning magic was the most interesting part of the story. The princess, on the other hand, is incredibly one-dimensionally evil and I thought that left more to be desired. I didn’t love the twist that for the “evil fairy” to be good that the princess had to become the villain. I also found the knight rather boring, although the philosophical bits and interweaving of Islam were well done.

Ultimately, I liked it, but didn’t love it.

CW: suicide, death, animal torture, dead body, self-harm, blood

Thanks to the MacMillian Audio, NetGalley, and Tor Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Enjoyable fairy tale re-telling of Sleeping Beauty, playing with notions of who is the villain. The writing flowed and you really felt like you were in the protagonist Toadling’s head.

Ahoy there me mateys!  Sleeping Beauty with a fantastic twist!  This is a lovely Kingfisher book (as usual).  What happens when the princess in the tower is the evil one?  This isn't the story of the princess but of Toadling, the stolen child tasked with a christening blessing that goes wrong.

Toadling was a wonderful character.  She may not be the best person for the job but she is tenacious in trying to do her duty.  I loved her time spent as a toad.  The descriptions made being a toad sound delightful.  Toadling is not beautiful, powerful, clever, or even fully human anymore.  She is endearing and a new favorite.

This is a character study and a commentary on fairytales.  I loved how this book dealt with the fae and changelings.  I loved the knight, Halim, and how he wasn't at all like the stereotypes.  This had commentary on family ties, love, and the ramifications of power.  Also loved the author's notes.  Arrrr!

I love that there are fairy tales that continue the true tradition of fairy tales. They have become far too simple or repetitive. Having a curse that isn’t necessary something to break is brilliant. The characters have depth. I always love T. Kingfisher for something completely different than what everyone else is doing.

Loved this book!!! T. Kingfisher is so good at modern adult fairy tales. There’s always a strong feminist bent and I appreciate that. These are fairy tales for the non Disney adults.

Thanks to Netgalley and and Tor for giving me the chance to review this novella!

An achingly brief, beautifully wrought Sleeping Beauty retelling that only a the clever and sensitive mind of Kingfisther could create. Flipping the narrative on its head, the short work was bursting with unique ideas and interesting spins on fae lore, and features one of my favorite protagonists in some time (though I've always been one to side with bog witches, so it already had that going for it). I only wish I could have spent another 200 pages in this world.

I think I would really like to sit as a toad under a mushroom with Toadling and just smell the dirt. It sounds very nice.

Toadling is definitely the highest point of this book, which makes sense given that if you boil it down this is mostly a protracted character study. I love an unsure, ineloquent protagonist with a different perspective than expected. Her perspective is what makes this interesting.

This was a delightful and endearing little story! I fell so in love with Toadling from the start. It's a novella length story, and I think it works really well for this story. Fairytales are not always my go-to, but I had a feeling that T. Kingfisher would deliver some good twists and a different spin, and I was right! This one is a spin on Sleeping Beauty, but Toadling is not here for princes trying to wake her up. In fact, she's built a whole fortress just to prevent that sort of thing.

It'll all become clear during the course of the story, but it was very enjoyable reading about Toadling, and how the world has changed, quite literally, around her, as she insists on keeping her promises (and curses). She's been without her beloved found family, a bunch of faery toads, and she misses them, but she must keep the princess in the tower. She's been turning away princes for ages, but when she meets Halim, he manages to claw his way into her heart. He shares his stories, and how he ended up at Toadling's tower, and she finally lets her guard down a bit and tells him why she is here, and that is really the bread and butter of this story, these two people sharing what has taken them away from their loved ones, and how they are finally building a bond with someone new.

Bottom Line: This story was so heartwarming, but still had enough twists and darker bits to make it a truly entertaining fairytale.

Thornhedge is a whimsical and quirky take on Sleeping Beauty told from the perspective of a human child taken to be replaced by a changeling. While I enjoyed the originality and voice of the story, it was missing the personality that I loved in T Kingfisher’s A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking.

If you’re looking for a quick read with a twist on Sleeping Beauty unlike anything you’ve seen before and traditional take on fairies, this might be the perfect read for you!

3.75 stars rounded up to 4. I enjoyed this short, creepy, and endearing fantasy! I loved Toadling as a character and following along as she found her way through her troubled and cursed life. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a quick fantasy read with some horror elements.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Books for this absolutely magical arc!

5/5 stars!

I absolutely LOVED this!! Thornhedge was everything I've been needing in a fantasy novel but haven't found in so long. The prose, the medieval world, Toadling, Halim, UGH I JUST LOVED IT ALL <3

- THORNHEDGE is a novella that asks "what if the damsel in distress was actually the villain?"
- I'm always impressed by Kingfisher's ability to craft a full world in so few pages. The world of this book feels lush, but it's only exactly as complicated as it needs to be.
- As I'm finding to be a hallmark of Kingfisher's work, THORNHEDGE is somehow cozy and gruesome at the same time. I don't know how, but it is.