I am not sure Kingfisher is even capable of writing a book I don't enjoy. Her prose style is just my personal catnip, I adore the way her mind works, and I just love everything about her project.

Thornhedge by T Kingfisher is a sleeping beauty retelling with a twist. Toadling, our protagonist, is sweet and anxious but also determined to keep the beautiful maiden in the tower fast asleep. She does everything in her limited fairy power to keep misguided knights away for hundreds of years.

I absolutely loved this novella. I read it in one sitting, filled with the joy of consuming a perfectly formed and satisfying story. Toadling is adorable. As is the knight who turns up, lured in by a story and looking for a curse to break. I was impressed at how well the passing of time was conveyed in such a short space. The story manages to span centuries in around 120 pages.

It gets dark in places, in the way I'd expect from a story that features fairies and faerieland, but it doesn't feel like a dark, gritty read. Instead it's very sweet and lovely and I would like to give Toadling a hug because she deserves more hugs. This is the first book I've read by T Kingfisher and I'm very much looking forward to reading more of her stuff, especially if the writing is this good. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

(I'll post on Instagram on my book tour date)

This sleeping beauty retelling is a short but beautifully formed novella!
I'm a big fan of a fairytale retelling and T Kingfisher's writing style is magical and tells a wonderful story with a twist on the famous tale I've never seen before. I can't wait to read more of their work!
Highly recommend especially if you're a fan of Marissa Meyer and Holly Black

This was my first T. Kingfisher book, and it has me very excited to read more of her work. I expected to love this because of what I'd heard about her books, and I really did. In the afterword, she says she ultimately feels that this is a sweet book, even though parts of it are pretty brutal. And I have to agree. Fairytales in general tend to be pretty brutal but also often comforting, and this felt the same way. On top of that, it was refreshing and interesting how this turned the Sleeping Beauty fairytale on its head and turned it into something else entirely. Toadling was such a loveable main character, and her story worked really well as a novella - it was neither too short or too long, but exactly right.

I loved T. Kingfisher's Nettle and Bone and Bryony and Roses, so was excited to read another of her folktale retellings/reworkings. However, this novella fell a bit short for me. I loved the idea of a hedge of thorns designed to keep the sleeping princess in, rather than everybody else out, and the fact that the malevolent fairy is here acting as a terrified guardian. But I wanted this to lean harder into the horror, and it ended up being a bit twee for my tastes. (Kingfisher herself describes it as 'sweet'). Still keen to read more from her, though. 3.5 stars.

I absolutely loved this, it was the perfect twisted reimagining of Sleeping Beauty. So beautiful, and sad, and satisfying. Toad broke my heart, such a wonderful character, and what a story!

Book Review 📚
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher - 4/5 ⭐

As always, I went in blind. I was NOT anticipating a fairy tale retelling! And sleeping beauty as well, she's not usually the popular one. That for me has already bumped the stars up. My only disappointment with this book was the length! This could of gone on for 900 pages and I still would of loved it. I want MORE!

Our MC - Toadling. I ADORE her. I want to take her home and keep her. She deserves the world. Her entire story physically breaks my heart. Kingfisher has done a fantastic job in portraying her character in the book and the description was top tier alongside it. Wow.

It's a fantastic retelling of a fairytale, with a magical twist! I honestly can't rate it enough. It was such a beautiful, can't put down, holds a place in my heart kind of read. Flawless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

I read the ARC courtesy of NetGalley, my opinions are my own.

Imaginative, evocative and fun as always. This length is tricky, but Kingfisher strikes a good balance between detail and plot.

Toadling stands guard to an overgrown tower where a beautiful maiden sleeps. There's a monster, a changeling, a curse and a gift. And not in the order one might have expected. Kingfisher is masterful at fairy tale because she shows the gristly bits and renders the experience beautifully while never losing sight of character and mood. I loved reading it and wanted it to be longer. Basically, if you like Kingfisher, you'll like this one, too.

Thornhedge is a twisted and magical novella brought to us by T Kingfisher, the author of the fantastical Nettle and Bone. And it brings us much of the same: the strict fairytale logic, the unconventional ‘heroes’, and the uncanny valley of a plot which the reader knows and also does not know.

We follow Toadling, a woman and not a woman, a toad and not a toad, who guards a fort long sheltered by a wall of thorns. And, just as you begin to recognise the story, it completely derails you with Toadling’s past and a childhood surrounded by flesh-eating water monsters, then once more with the appearance of a wimpy knight in the present – who shall probably be a reader favourite.

The characters are definitely a highlight, especially as the main protagonists are both awkward and introverted social outcasts, who have the narrative thrust upon them, rather than the other way around. There is also an interesting subversion of themes, which leaves the story feeling like a fairytale where the characters keep forgetting the script and start to ad-lib the lines. The sense of place is another particularly strong aspect, but is probably at its best during Toadling’s childhood section, in the murky lakes and bogs of the Fairie Realm.

It is a novella that progresses in two threads: the present at the thorn wall and Toadling’s past. Throughout the reader is given little hints, from the idea of a sleeper in the fort, to Toadling’s guilt in the present – which is certainly given more weight by the adjoining storyline.

Sadly, there are moments where one section becomes more interesting than the other or where one section moves faster than the other, which may lead to skim reading – though they mostly complement one another.

Amidst all of this, there are vaster areas for improvement, all of which come back to one common denominator. The sheer awkwardness of Toadling and her interactions with other characters slows the pace, changes the tone, and impacts the plot – in a way that left me demanding more from the story. It left me wondering, even though T Kingfisher’s point was to write about underdogs, if the narrative, pacing, and tone could have benefitted far more from forthright characters, rather than ones more inclined to become a toad and sit in the mud?

All in all, it begs the question: how far will fairytale narratives go to subvert our expectations and shock us? I cannot give the answer, but I can say that if you are in search of a quick read centred around Faeries, loveable characters, and unravelling mysteries, then Thornhedge might just be for you!

The sleeping beauty fairytale has been spun around, played with and more by T. Kingfisher. Toadling is the sweetest main character. The knight isn’t the focus at all, this is a Toadling tale through and through! I did like how he came into her story and developed it in his own gentle manner.
The world-building is detailed and enchanting. Everything is whimsy in the story so the dark themes that are explored are made much lighter for that.
This is a quick read, despite this the story feels complete and wholesome. I am left wanting more, maybe an illustrated version of this book to be a prized possession on my shelf!
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

3.5/5

this was a pretty unique spin on sleeping beauty - i liked our unusual protagonist and the slow, creeping sense of dread as the story uncovered the truth behind the sleeping princess. i do think the ending was a bit rushed and underwhelming and maybe a few more pages at the end would've rounded off the story better. ultimately though, it's a nice, offbeat novella and i'd recommend it to anyone looking for a creative fairytale retelling.

This is not your typical sleeping beauty story. It has all the right components: a fairy blessing, a sleeping princess, a wall of thorns, a chivalrous knight determined to hack his way through to the tower. Except that this is one princess that no one wants to wake up. Toadling has resigned herself to an eternity of guarding the tower. But then a knight arrives and it is not the princess he has come to save.

The motivations behind this plot are a little bit fuzzy, but that is probably to be expected when trying to understand the minds of mischievous fairies. What is easy to understand is that Toadling is the true hero of the story. An unassuming creature, the power she holds is found in her courage, determination and kind-hearted protectiveness. She is constantly striving to do her very best and never realises that she is actually performing above anyone’s expectations. It is her sweet nature that keeps her trapped in the tower as she is unable to make the final blow which would free her. This could be viewed as a weakness, allowing for the risk that evil could still rise again. However, I prefer to focus on the strength of character that prevented her from taking an easy way out and kept her standing guard for so long.

I really enjoyed this novella which was a real departure from the kind of book I usually read. I wanted to dip my toe into fantasy and fairytale stories and this was the perfect introduction. I found I didn’t need to know/understand the whole fantasy world and fairylore to engage with the characters. I really liked Toadling and felt sorry for her and her unending task. The ending left me wanting more and wishing for a sequel but I’m happy to imagine what happened next. I will definitely read more from this author!

Toadling is trying to make sure that the Beauty stays asleep, safe, undisturbed. But why? What happened that means she needs to do that, and just who is being kept safe?

A great twist on Sleeping Beauty - Toadling was swapped by the fae as a child, brought up by the Greenteeth, then returned to her family with a task. Centuries have passed and she's still here, but a knight who will not be dissuaded has come and now she has a new challenge.

It's a short book, which is possibly its biggest flaw - everything goes past quite quickly! The characters are good though, Toadling's desperate attempts to get things right, her loneliness and how much she misses the greenteeth (fearsome monsters who love her) are all well done. Halim is great, and overall it's a fun read. I really enjoy T Kingfisher's books and very much hope she writes more of them!

What an awesome little novella! At just 88 pages, I was fully drawn in to this endearing retelling of Sleeping Beauty where the princess is actually the villain.

Toadling is such a sweet character who thinks very little of herself and everything about everyone else, including Fayette who cares about no one but herself.

Halim was super cute too with his endless cursing and apologies. I loved how he didn't balk from Toadling and stuck around, intent on helping her break her curse, despite her insistence that she isn't under one.

I would absolutely read another book by T. Kingfisher

This was such a beautiful Sleeping Beauty retelling in such a short novella. I honestly want and need more!

We have a sweet Toadling who is sent to put a curse on a newborn. She ends up messing it up. She gets trapped in the human world for many years possibly centuries. (It was truly amazing to see how the time past in the Toadling’s eyes. With the comings and going of humans past the tower.

Eventually a knight, who has heard of the curse, comes to the tower surrounded by brambles and the story truly begins. Very quickly the story ends. With only 128 pages, I will light a candle in hopes Kingfisher gives us more.

This was a quick read, and I enjoyed the twist on the well known fairytale of Sleeping Beauty.

This book was fine. I think it was just too short to make much of an impact on me, and we didn’t spend enough time with the characters for me to really care about them.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.

This is the first book I have read by T Kingfisher...it was 100% a 5 start read!

I read this book in one sitting (it's not very long as its a novella) but I would not put it down until I had finished it.

A fantastic fairytale, a retelling of sleeping beauty with a magical fantasy twist.. you all love toadling...

Definitely one to add to your TBR. I will be picking up books by this author when I come across them.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This was a sweet and funny story about a sleeping princess in a tower and the toad fairy sent to protect the world from her. Toadling was a great protagonist. She was humble and kind, but had a strength of conviction that I really appreciated. Lets all give much love to Halim, the rather rubbish but utterly adorable knight - we could all wish that people would find us interesting if they were as kind as Halim. The twist to the familiar enchanted princess tale was very well done and as always, T. Kingfisher has accomplished a lot in a few pages. Will this story change your world? Probably not, but it will definitely warm your cockles.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A skilful re-weaving of a classic tale, a familiar story but one that manages to feel, taste, and smell different to those I've read before.

This is the first T. Kingfisher book I've had the pleasure to read, and now I'm going to seek out her other works, because this novella felt so clever, vivid, and perfectly paced for me, and I'm still reeling at how well-written her characters are for such a short work, and how, in a genre filled with faery, retellings of classic fairy tales, romance, this book, which should feel to done to death, stands out and felt like a breath of fresh air.

It is the first novella I've read where the ending didn't feel rushed, and nothing felt contrived, no triumph or character moment unearned. It was creepy, eerie, murky, and at the same time filled with light. Despite the danger, the sharp teeth, and the threatening atmosphere, I agree with the author, in that when I'd finished reading, I felt like I'd read something beautifully sweet.

Loved it!