I received an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In Thornhedge, Toadling is a foundling, separated from her human parents and raised by fairy creatures. She is sent back, however, to watch over the changeling fairy creature sent in her place, and to put a blessing upon the child. Things go awry, though, and the changeling proves to be quite dangerous, prompting Toadling to keep her from causing harm, whatever it takes. Then, centuries later, a knight arrives at a wall of thorns, determined to break the curse within. But Toadling can’t allow that, nor can she allow herself to make a new friend only to risk losing him.

This book reminded me that I need to go back sometime and read more of T. Kingfisher’s backlist! Her books are just so weird and whimsical.

This story is really short, barely over a hundred pages, so I think this review will be pretty short too. After all, the plot is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, so I don’t have much to elaborate on there.

The characters, though, are really fun. Toadling is a fantastic protagonist, very witty and kind, with a delightful narrative voice. And I absolutely loved Halim the knight. The way that Kingfisher interwove some history into the fairy tale was great, and Halim’s stories about his upbringing and his current struggles in countries where he is the racial minority were wonderful. He’s also just really sweet and endearing, and his bond with Toadling is the best part of the book.

The magic is cool, too; I like how the original, familiar fairy tale gets a little twisted. It’s a dark and tragic tale, for the princess, but she isn’t the hero here—Toadling is. It’s a fun concept and I think that Kingfisher executes it well. I would like for the book to have been a little longer, though, so that I could have dwelled in this strange and magical world longer.

In the end, though, Thornhedge is a lovely novella, even for all its darker aspects. I mean, yes, there are strange human-devouring beasts in Faerie, and a small girl who is full of inherent darkness that seeks to harm others, but ultimately I walked away from this book feeling… oddly charmed. The simple affection between the two main characters, and the sweet bonds Toadling so easily forges with her fairy family, makes this weird, thorny fairy tale feel unexpectedly kind. It was a good time, and I look forward to finding more of Kingfisher’s work.

Thornhedge will be published on August 15th, 2023!