Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Book Description

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.

Review

Before you squint at me for yet another T. Kingfisher story review, let me tell you how much I adored Thornhedge.

From the very first pages, T. Kingfisher’s signature wit and skill pulled me in. Unlike the brittle, hard tone of A Sorceress Comes to Call, this story wrapped around me like a cozy quilt. Albeit one woven with nettles and secrets.

Confession time: I don’t love fairytale retellings. My reaction to them mirrors how I feel when I hear someone’s remaking a beloved movie. (Skeptical at best!!). But I love Kingfisher’s writing. Plus, the premise intrigued me.

And wow, does this novella deliver.

This isn’t just a clever twist on Sleeping Beauty. Instead, it’s a compassionate meditation on duty, monstrosity, and what it means to protect rather than save.

Toadling is a wonderfully endearing protagonist. Her voice is gentle, self-effacing, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. I rooted for her happiness long before I understood the full weight of her burden.

In Thornhedge, Kingfisher doesn’t just remind us that shadows exist in fairytales. Instead, she explodes the darkness lurking in the story.

Even better, her version of this tale asks us to examine our own motivations and actions. It’s one of the many reasons I love stories. The reminder that sometimes, the monsters are not who we expect. And that heroism can look a lot like patience and kindness.

If you enjoy fairytale retellings, Kingfisher’s distinctive voice, or stories that challenge expectations with grace and insight, Thornhedge deserves a spot on your TBR.

Content Warning

Animal Cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Death, Emotional Trauma, Isolation, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicide, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Dustin Humes on Unsplash