Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher is a fantasy novella and Sleeping Beauty retelling (4.25/5 stars)

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher is a fantasy novella and Sleeping Beauty retelling. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at a little under four hours and is narrated by Jennifer Bloom.

Toadling, born human, was stolen by the fairies and was raised lovingly in the warm waters of faerieland. When she comes of age, a favor is asked of her: to return to the human world, to the house of her mother and father, and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Many hundreds of years later, a gentle knight approaches the tower Toadling still watches over after hearing a story about it.

I’m a big fan of fairy tale retellings, and this one absolutely did not disappoint. Here we follow the fairy that puts the princess to sleep, and not “Sleeping Beauty” herself (a name of which is never spoken). The knight who arrives is Muslim and prefers books to swords. He was great.

Toadling focuses on using kindness to make the princess change. And so do all the other people around her, especially the queen. But no matter how much love and kindness you can try to help someone grow into a better person, if they do not wish to become better nothing will change.

T. Kingfisher is usually amazing with novellas and their pacing, etc. For this one, I wish the ending was fleshed out a bit more. It felt like it was rushed.

CW: animal abuse (off-page, mentioned), torture, murder, suicidal ideation, suicide (mentioned)

I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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