Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Thornhedge

by T. Kingfisher

From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story.

Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right?

But nothing with fairies is ever simple.

Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He's heard there's a curse here that needs breaking, but it's a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold…

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

5 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

We've all heard the story of a beautiful princess tucked away in a castle, cursed to sleep the rest of her days away. But what if the story was told from a different story? What if the princess wasn't a victim, and this wasn't a curse?

Toadling is a changeling. She was stolen from her family on the day she was born, and once grown up, she was given a very important role. Unfortunately, she didn't get the words of her blessing quite right, so now she is bound to watch over one castle.

My Review:

I absolutely adore twisted/fractured fairy tales, so I knew immediately that I would read Thornhedge. The fact that it was written by T. Kingfisher (one of my new favorites) made me all the more excited about it.

It's important to remember that fairy tales aren't the sweet and simple stories we were told when we were younger. Often, they are quite a bit darker, and many carry additional messages (beyond child-friendly ones). I feel like Thornhedge did a brilliant job of capturing this complexity.

In truth, it portrayed many different elements in a way that made me happy, including changelings, fae, and the power of words. So this story is perfect for anyone who loves fairy tales but also has a strong appreciation of their lore.

Toadling and her new ally are highlights of this novella, as is the magic surrounding them. I would give (almost) anything to see this world explored, just a little bit more. But at the end of the day, I have to admit that this story is perfect the way it is.

Highlights:
Fairy Tale Retelling
Fantasy
Twisted Sleeping Beauty
Changelings

Trigger Warnings:
Animal Abuse/Death
Suicide

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 25 May, 2023: Finished reading
  • 25 May, 2023: Reviewed