In this novella from T. Kingfisher, we are met with Toadling. When she was born, she was stolen by fairies and grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of fairieland. Now that she has reached adulthood, the fae ask her to return to the human world and offer protection to a newborn child. The task is not nearly as simple as it sounds. 

And then somehow, centuries later, a knight approaches the ridge of thorns to break a curse that Toadling must defend. As Toadling explores the curse and traverses time and place, T. Kingfisher weaves a rich story that has lovely prose in a tight page count. 

If you love twisted fairy tales, this one is for you. I think I may not have been smart enough for this one in the right ways, but I know it'll be a delight for many readers and listeners.