Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
4.5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

•••Spoiler free review below•••

Thornhedge is a clever fairytale retelling that takes everything you think you know about the classic Sleeping Beauty story and twists it around. Our kindhearted heroine - Toadling - and our courageous knight - Halim - are a pair perfectly matched. Their story will have you hooked from the start and Toadling's constant will to do what is right will endear you to her instantly. This is one of the most intriguing retellings I have ever read. Told between past and present, it will have you wondering how the tale will end until the very last page. While everything wraps up nicely, I wish it was longer! I want more Toadling!! I highly recommend this sweet and magical novella as your next fairytale fix.

Read this book if you like:
- fairytale retellings
- surprise twists
- faerie references
- found family
- happily ever afters

Thornhedge will be released August 15th and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

A girl under a sleeping spell in tower surrounded by a hedge of thorns. An enchantress guarding the tower. A knight determined to break the spell and free the girl. Thornhedge holds all the necessary elements of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale, but brings a twist. The girl, the enchantress, and the knight are not what the stories have reported.

I thought this was a very cute fractured fairytale by T. Kingfisher. I believe this brief novel transcends age, as there was nothing any more mature about it that the original Grimm's tale which was meant for children. Equally as dark, but not profane or explicit. All in all, an enchanting little story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audio of this book!

I received an audio ARC from Netgalley for an honest review

T. kingfisher is becoming one of my favorite authors. I’ve read “What Moves The Dead” by them and loved that, and now there’s this. I’m impressed by what they are able to do with their stories in such a short amount of time and Thornhedge is no different. They truly took the story of Sleeping Beauty and made it their own.

3.5 ⭐️ The new fantasy release „Thornhedge“ by T. Kingfisher follows the story of Toadling in this single POV, dual timeline fairytale. Toadling has been successfully guarding the overgrown tower for hundreds of years- until a mysterious knight shows up at her doorstep.

I’m a big fan of T.Kingfisher’s fantasy books so I was really excited for „Thornhedge“. I loved the dual timeline structure because it revealed the story that led up to the present day in an intriguing way.

I also found the dynamic between the characters and the worldbuilding very enjoyable.

On the other hand the tone was for my taste too strongly inspired by classical fairytales and somehow lacked Kingfisher’s signature quirky charm.

I listed to it on audiobook and the narration by Jennifer Blom was great!

Even though this book didn’t hit as strongly for me I’m still looking forward to more fairytales by T.Kingfisher since her Beauty and the Beast retelling „Bryony and Roses“ was excellent.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was wonderful and way too short!

A dark Sleeping Beauty retelling with a twist and diverse characters. LOVED IT.

Great narration for the audio! I felt very part of the story. There’s vivid storytelling throughout. I loved how unique the characters were. I enjoyed it overall. I did find it a bit sad for the most part (probably just me). But it was very well done and the vibes were there! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you netgalley for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I was able to listen to this on audiobook, and I really loved it! This is a novella (about 150 pages); the audiobook was only 4 hours. I loved the calm voice of the audio book narrator. It felt like someone was telling me a fairytale, which is perfect because that's exactly what "Thornhedge" is! The narrator did a great job creating differences in the characters voices, and I really liked her voice for the main character; it was really soothing to listen to.

I have loved a few of T Kingfisher's works, and was excited to get the chance to listen to this new book. While the cover looked a little spooky, this was anything but! It's basically a sleeping beauty retelling. I really enjoyed the story but don't want to say anything more than that. I also loved the length! I think it was the perfect length for what it was and the story felt complete by the end.

4.5/5 stars

This was such a fun (backwards) retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I really loved how the roles of who was good and evil were inverted. Amazing world development in such a short (120 pages or 4 hour) book. Would love more fairy tale retellings like this! Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!

I love a fairytale and this one is fantastic. I listened to the audiobook with my “wagtail” nearby. The narration by Jennifer Blom is perfection in this darkly magical story. The characters are richly drawn and the lush landscape was beautifully written. I’ve loved all things T. Kingfisher I’ve read.

I love T Kingfisher’s horror so much that each time I read one of her fantasy titles, I feel a little disappointed because there’s not nearly as much humor, heart, or really good imagery. It feels like two totally separate authors.

Things that work really well in this story: Toadling’s character and how she doesn’t fit the fairytale archetype; our apologetic knight who is just genuinely a cinnamon roll; the overall theme of not believing stories even if they have a grain of truth.

Other than that, it just… didn’t feel special.

AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT OF AN AUDIO!! I loved the narration of this book. The voice actor does a wonderful job in enhancing the narration of the story. As we learned more about Toadling it was clear that the narrator was an excellent choice.

"Thornhedge" by T Kingfisher is a delightful and enchanting book that will transport readers to a world of magic, whimsy, and endearing characters. At the heart of the story is Toadling, a captivating protagonist with a sweet demeanor and a unique perspective on time and history. Kingfisher skillfully crafts Toadling's character, infusing her with innocence, curiosity, and a deep connection to the world around her. Through Toadling's eyes, readers are immersed in a world where time becomes fluid, and the layers of history drift in and out. Her unique perspective adds depth and wonder to the narrative, inviting readers to see the world with fresh eyes.

Kingfisher weaves a tapestry of magic, folklore, and fantastical creatures that will capture readers' imaginations from beginning to end. The intricate world-building and vivid descriptions bring Thornhedge and its inhabitants to life, creating a rich and immersive reading experience. Kingfisher's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world where wonder and danger coexist.

Thornhedge is dark and twisty, but still remains whimsical and full of faerie intrigue. The back lore of Toadling was complex and full of both horror, and joy. T Kingfisher does an exceptional job at making you invested in each character falling in love with them in so few pages.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e ARC of this book.

Whoops! I finished this audiobook in a day, completely by accident. Once I enteredToadling’s world, I couldn’t leave. And after such a short time with her, I am now bereft. T. Kingfisher nails it again with her latest novella, Thornhedge.

Toadling guards a tower, the contents of which are not immediately apparent. She stands vigilant for years, watching people pass by. But one day, a knight, Halim, breaks Toadling’s isolation, and he is on a quest to rescue whomever may be in the tower. As Toadling and Halim’s relationship develops, Toadling shares the devastating story of how she came to guard the tower, and the true nature of what lurks within.

T. Kingfisher is just so brilliant at adult fairy tales. I was bowled over by Nettle and Bone last year, and Thornhedge impressed me even more. Toadling’s story is heartbreaking and compelling; I loved rooting for this unconventional hero.

Audiobook narrator Jennifer Blom gave a perfect performance. Her soft voice perfectly complemented the whimsical story. In fact, her soothing, hypnotic tone made the sometimes violent twists and turns even more surprising. Combined with Kingfisher’s expert prose, it was an ideal pairing.

Like I said earlier, I finished this audiobook in a single sitting. Thornhedge is perfect escapism. The fantasy elements combine perfectly with the occasional bit of horror, and the central relationship is just beautiful.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for sending me an audio ARC of this novel in exchange for a honest review.

T. Kingfisher is a recent fantasy discovery of mine, and what a powerhouse she is -- her stories focus on older protagonists who know their limitations, feel anxiety about it, but still take action to make things better, often while falling in kinship with a kindred spirit along the way. She also layers in considerable diversity in her character construction as a matter-of-fact element in her world-building, which I appreciate.

Thornhedge is an exceptional novella-length retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I don't want to say more about the story's construction -- you should discover its edges for yourself. I will say I blew through it in less than 12 hours.

If you're in a book club, this story would pair well with Nettle & Bone. The protagonists share some emotional similarities, although their circumstances are quite different.

This is my second Kingfisher book and I love love love the writing. This is kind of a retelling of Rapunzel with Fae and it’s such a great take on this fairytale. I wish it was a little longer but for a short story it was compelling and hard to stop listening too. The narrator did a fantastic job. Kept me interested and I could tell the difference between characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read.

I would have preferred a longer story that showed more descriptions of the world. I found Toad to be unlikable.

This was a delightful little short story. My second T. Kingfisher story and she is quickly becoming a favorite author.

This story was weird (in the best way!), and creative in the best ways. The details surrounding the various fae creatures was wonderful to read and I appreciated Kingfisher ability to honor the true lore of the fae and make them a little scary.

A very unique twisted retelling of Rapunzel plus fey. Holy moly this was a dark and creepy tale.
In Thornhedge by @redwombatstudio we follow the story of Toadling, the daughter of the king and queen that had been stolen at birth and whisked away into faery.
The child left in her place, Feyette, a changeling, was cursed to be terribly evil. Toadling is given the job of ensuring that Feyette causes no harm but it turns out to be too big of a job, Toadling does the only thing she can think of to keep everyone safe from the evil of the child, and keep her in a forever-sleep, for hundreds of years. But even that long has not buried the story of the cursed princess in the tower, and a knight finally comes to set her free, unknowing of the evil that lays dominant within the sleeping woman.
The only thing I wish about this story was that it was longer and more detailed. It was a cool little read but very short!

Really good quick little read! Definitely want to read T.K's other works now!

BEST BOOK EVER!!¡!

Opened the audiobook and fell deeply in love. This author had won my bookish heart previously, but taking a new twist on Sleeping Beauty (Beeping Slooty was our childhood name for Disney-style Princess Aurora) could have easily given me pause and opportunity for grumbles. The soundtrack and that lovely blondie and her handsome prince. . .well, I normally don't do change well. At all. This book is NOT that story. . .exactly. . .some of the bones shine through though. . .and there's the genius of it. . . .

This inside out fairy tale didn't just suit me. . . I LIKE IT EVEN BETTER!!!!!! Love it, in fact, and dreamily fantasized as I listened for the 2nd time at the end. . .what a great movie this would make. . .and what would it be like to have a sassy kelpie of my very own. . . .could she possibly be talked into a longer version? I keep thinking about this story and the magic of it. . .very sticky, this.

*A sincere thank you to T. Kingfisher, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC to devour and review*

4⭐️

T. Kingfisher does it again! Making a fairytale story that I just absolutely love. I listened to the audio of this one and really enjoyed it. The narrator was really great, easy to listen to, and did a great job differentiating between characters. I was easily able to follow along and finish the audio book in one afternoon.

This is a twist on the princess stuck in a tower in an endless sleep. What if that princess is asleep to save the world and should never be awakened? I love how this story is not like the rest. That you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, the princess may be beautiful and look innocent, the fairy god mother is toad like and seems menacing but things are not always as they seem.

Although this book short, I also found deeper meanings and layers I was not expecting. That sometimes you can love someone with all your heart, but their actions are their own and you can't necessarily save them by just loving them. Some people can come to peace with that while others can not,

Although I did love this story, it was not one of my favorites from T. Kingfisher. I enjoyed the characters but I did not fall in love with them, I also found that the wit and humor that I have come to love from Kingfisher was not present in this book sadly. However it is still very much worth the read or listen. I would recommend this to any of my friends.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance audiobook. My review is voluntarily my own.

I will be posting my review to my Instagram page the.floofs.booknook and retail sites close or on publication.

Wow. Just wow. What an amazing sleeping beauty retelling. T. Kingfisher is such a good writer, just mesmerized by the way they write characters and plot and everything in between. I wish this was longer or part of a series. It reminded me so much of the wayward children series and toadling being taken as a baby and growing up among her water loving fairies was like the children stepping through their respective doors. I will always pick up anything by this author, they have such a way around fantasy and horror that just draws you in leaving you wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this fantastic book.