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Thornhedge

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About this listen

From USA Today bestselling author T. Kingfisher, Thornhedge is the tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

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…

"The way Thornhedge turns all the fairy tales inside out is a sharp-edged delight."
—Katherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor

Action & Adventure Fantasy Magic Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"I opened, I devoured. Absolutely delightful and full of charm and truth." —Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education

"Immensely charming, unexpected, full of heart, I was utterly delighted by this incredibly original retelling of Sleeping Beauty." —Katherine Arden, bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

"Kingfisher never fails to dazzle."—Peter S. Beagle, Hugo-, Nebula-, and Locus-Award winning author of The Last Unicorn

“T. Kingfisher’s delicate, bittersweet style of fantasy is like nothing else on shelves at the moment and, as a result, she’s an author whose work I would read without knowing one single fact about it. But, in case you need facts, this Sleeping Beauty retelling with a twist is a perfect blend of sharp-edged humor and horror-tinged heart.”—Paste Magazine

“Haunting and unusual—a unique retelling of a classic tale!" —Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author of the Tortall series

"The way Thornhedge turns all the fairy tales inside out is a sharp-edged delight." —Katherine Addison, author of The Goblin Emperor

"Thornhedge is Vernon at her most Vernon-est. . . . There is whimsy and heart and pain. This story is both kind and brutal as it shows how narrow the power of love is.”—Locus

"Toadling will break your heart and mend it at the same time, and that is how you know that Thornhedge is a story by T. Kingfisher. I loved this book so much."—Travis Baldree, New York Times bestselling author of Legends & Lattes

"Kingfisher’s trademark wit and compassion transforms “Sleeping Beauty” into a moving meditation on guilt, grief, and duty, as well as a surprisingly sweet romance between outsiders. There are no false notes here.”—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"At every turn, Kingfisher subverts familiar fairytale tropes into a fresh, complex, and extremely human story about loneliness, and the protective barriers we put around ourselves." —Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters

"Kingfisher weaves elements of fairy tale, folklore, and history in this beautifully crafted story of loss, endurance, terror, and kindness. Thornhedge is sheer magic from beginning to end!" —Juliet Marillier, author of the Blackthorn & Grim and Warrior Bards series

"This marvelously fractured fairy tale takes a well-known and well-loved story and turns it completely around. . . . Highly recommended for anyone who loves to see fables fractured into new and different shapes, similar to Alix E. Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered.”—Library Journal, STARRED review

All stars
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Short but interesting story/retelling. Although I would like to see what our characters next adventures would be.

Discovered T Kingfisher from an article in writing magazine. I immediately bought this one on Audible and started listening at work. Shorter than authors other books. But will definitely get more. Although just starting my interest in to writing and reading. So have a few books to get through.

Nice first Intro to T, Kingfisher books

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sleeping beauty retold. some very heartfelt moments. a wonderful kind knight and a toadling fairy

haunting and beautiful

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I was looking for something reminiscent of Naomi Novik and was not disappointed! Really atmospheric twist on fairy tales. worth a buy, though as it's short could benefit from buying and reading personally. But the story and writing are excellent.

Great writing but the VO is a bit dull

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this is only a novella rather than a full novel but it was still a solid story. t kingfisher has very interesting twists on classic fairytales. totally worth listening.

great novella

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Very gentle and charming with some lovely imaginative tweaks. Not quite the level of Novik or Gaiman, but a lovely listen nonetheless

Nice alternative approach to an old tale

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