 | Thornhedge is a delightful novella (111 pages) inspired by Sleeping Beauty, but told from the perspective of the “bad” fairy. It's written by T. Kingfisher, who also wrote one of my favorite books, Nettle & Bone. The main character is Toadling, who was stolen from her family as a baby. Toadling grew up with water creatures called greenteeth who loved her and taught her water magic. We meet her as an adult trying to maintain a thick hedge of protective thorns around an abandoned tower. |
Plot:
 | A kindhearted knight appears, curious about tales he’s heard of a beautiful maiden sleeping in the tower. Toadling is both terrified and intrigued by the knight. For hundreds of years, she has stayed near the hedge, reinforcing its protective magic. Her loneliness is palpable while she spies on the knight. As the story unfolds, we learn more of Toadling’s childhood in fairyland. She was instructed to perform a very important task: to give a specific blessing at the christening of a newborn child → a blessing she believes she botched. |
Characters:
 | The main characters, Toadling and the knight, are both a joy to spend time with: earnest and endearing. Their awkward relationship felt real, surprising, and inevitable. The beautiful princess in the tower is deftly portrayed, and provides an interesting contrast to the homely Toadling, encouraging the reader to reflect on stereotypes regarding the inherent “goodness” of beautiful people and suspect natures of less attractive people. I also enjoyed the steel-spined queen and more amiable king. Although they didn't have much page time, they felt like actual people. |
Overall:
 | There’s an unfortunate accident during the climax that felt a trifle unearned, but the novella’s ending was exquisite. I was planning to review a sprawling book we read in class, which had incredible worldbuilding and imaginative language but it ended with a bitter tragedy that felt gratuitous. Happily, I got Thornhedge from the library after finishing that other book, and it was the perfect palate cleanser. The writing in Thornhedge is excellent and the story is a heart-warming romp. Highly recommended, particularly if you enjoy reimagined fairy tales. |
Other favorite books by T. Kingfisher: Nettle & Bone, What Moves the Dead, A Sorceress Comes to Call.
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