Book Reviews

Review: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

Thornhedge is perfect for those who love fairytales. It evokes images of ones you might be familiar with and is woven together seamlessly. Thornhedge is about intentions gone astray, fairy wishes, and sacrificial love. Keep reading this book review of Thornhedge for my full thoughts.

Summary

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…

Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

I listened to Thornhedge on audiobook which meant that Jennifer Blom was essentially telling me a fairy tale before bed. Thornhedge evokes fairytales, curses, and dangerous knowledge. Listening to it makes it nostalgic and I definitely recommend it since there’s a storytelling component to the story. Half of Thornhedge is Toadling in the present as she meets a knight who’s stubborn and good hearted. The other half is Toadling narrating the past, of good intentions led astray and of love which sometimes doesn’t seem like enough. It’s this beautiful interwoven story about love in all forms. About trying to do what’s right, what’s best, even when it’s hard.

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Thornhedge is an homage to the power of love. To trying so hard to protect someone. But it’s also about loneliness and Toadling’s fear that no one will believe her. She’s been trapped so long, she’s become accustomed to the story in her head and as she tells it she fears that no one will listen to her. That no one will hear her intentions, all her sacrifices, and instead believe the one who looks the part. I enjoyed Thornhedge‘s fairy tale atmosphere and the ending was particularly satisfying. This cements T. Kingfisher as one of the fantasy authors I can count on for a story that is entertaining, beautiful, and thoughtful all at once.

Find Thornhedge on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.

Discussion

What is your favorite fairy tale novella?


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