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anispaperbacks's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
WAAHHH I'm so glad I picked this up after adoring What Moves the Dead. This was so sweet and I just treasured Toadling and Halim the whole time they were such enjoyable and lovely characters. T. Kingfisher never fails to write in an unexplainably beautiful and strange manner. She's really such an inspiration for me. Her retellings are written in a way where you don't always realise or remember that it is a retelling, but the fact still sits there, coming back to you at parts. I think that's a sign of a good retelling, in my opinion anyway. That it can be lost in its own otherness from the original and not just stand there using the original as a crutch or marketing point. Thornhedge was just delightful. It really felt like such a comfort and sweet book, despite the horror of a child animating the dead and torturing animals.
I was so engaged this whole time, never waiting for the last page to come, never finding my self thinking "ughh I could read one more chapter I suppose. Then i can stop". When I wasn't reading this, I was looking forward to coming back to it. I really just enjoyed every second of it, which was so refreshing after the few reading months I've had.
Toadling's story spoke to me at times, about isolation, loneliness, not fitting in, and critiquing yourself by the standards of others. Ha. The story about changelings is relatable to the autistic person who would have guessed. And also - I'm just always down for a slightly gruesome story, especially if it features freak mer type people.
I was so engaged this whole time, never waiting for the last page to come, never finding my self thinking "ughh I could read one more chapter I suppose. Then i can stop". When I wasn't reading this, I was looking forward to coming back to it. I really just enjoyed every second of it, which was so refreshing after the few reading months I've had.
Toadling's story spoke to me at times, about isolation, loneliness, not fitting in, and critiquing yourself by the standards of others. Ha. The story about changelings is relatable to the autistic person who would have guessed. And also - I'm just always down for a slightly gruesome story, especially if it features freak mer type people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Torture
calliopereads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
4.5
A scrumptious twist on the faerie realm and the tale of sleeping beauty
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Violence
Moderate: Body horror and Suicide
frankenstens13's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
this book.... was amazing!! I've loved all the books I've read by T. Kingfisher but this might be my favorite! I loved how the back story was slowly revealed well continuing the main plot well not making it feel rushed, it's an all round amazing remake. also "i am not beautiful" (toadling) "no, but you are interested... and sad" the Knight
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Suicide, Torture, and Kidnapping
silverhill's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I am so glad T. Kingfisher shares her wonderful imagination with us. This is a lovely story about belonging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Bullying
Minor: Suicide
woodsybookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This might be my favorite T. Kingfisher book yet!
Toadling is a fairie, kind of, once she was a human who was taken from her crib and raised by a clan of watery fae (think swamp sirens and less Tinkerbell) which over time changed her into something of a half-fae half-human creature with magical powers, able to turn into a toad at will.
Given the task of watching over a changeling child, her mission goes from bad to worse and before she knows it Toadling has witnessed 200 years flow by...until a young knight happens upon her on his mission to find the truth in a story about a young maiden in a tower.
This was just such a beautiful written twist on the tale of Sleeping Beauty. It was dark and gritty but it also had some heart wrenchingly tender moments as well.
I read this from the library but now I'm thinking I might want a personal copy.
Toadling is a fairie, kind of, once she was a human who was taken from her crib and raised by a clan of watery fae (think swamp sirens and less Tinkerbell) which over time changed her into something of a half-fae half-human creature with magical powers, able to turn into a toad at will.
Given the task of watching over a changeling child, her mission goes from bad to worse and before she knows it Toadling has witnessed 200 years flow by...until a young knight happens upon her on his mission to find the truth in a story about a young maiden in a tower.
This was just such a beautiful written twist on the tale of Sleeping Beauty. It was dark and gritty but it also had some heart wrenchingly tender moments as well.
I read this from the library but now I'm thinking I might want a personal copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Suicide
abookwormspov's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is fantastic! I love Toadling so much!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Murder
thecandiegirl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
simmonsj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I quite liked this retelling of Sleeping Beauty, put on its head where the maiden is the curse and the fairy (Toadling) is needing to be saved. It is a weird mix of feelings with a rather sweet story but one that also has dark moments like someone animating the dead and suicide. I liked the darker bits as they gave a greater weight to the plot and informed Toadling's actions. The writing is quite nice and overall an easy read. This is my first read from T Kingfisher and I imagine I will be reading more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
fyre_flies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Animal death