Many thanks to my friends at @torbooks and @macmillan.audio

 

Haunting.  Humorous. Heartfelt.  

 

Move over Walt Disney, THIS is how you do a fairytale.

 

Not all heroines are delicate and beautiful. Not all knights have a savior complex.  

 

Entertaining from beginning to end, Kingfisher delivers the perfect reimagining of Sleeping Beauty.  It’s a unique twist brimming with her signature wit and vivid imagery.  But this book is far more than simple enjoyment.  It shines brightest in its exploration of self-worth.

 

Neither of our protagonists fit the classic fairytale mold.  Toad is an unlikely fairy godmother.  Knight is an unlikely hero.  Yet that is where their beauty lies and what makes them so endearing. 

 

The originality found in both the protagonists and the roles they undertake hones a focus on inner value, delivering spot on messaging worthy of applause.

 

At just over 100 pages, it’s a short read.  Yet it’s packed with depth.  Each detail- from characterization to world building to plot- is fully developed with satisfying breadth.  

 

The dark undertones are met with whimsy and hope, reminiscent of Nettle and Bone, my first and favorite of Kingfisher’s books.  

 

Truly, her books never disappoint, and this latest continues to set her apart in the art of storytelling.  

 

🎧 At just under 4 hours at 1x speed, this audiobook is perfect for a quick read.  But more than that, Jennifer Bloom’s narration allowed for the kind of escape that I felt as a young child listening to a good read aloud.   A winner all around.