Litsy

Thornhedge | T. Kingfisher

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This was a fun little read. This is a fairy tale retelling of Sleeping Beauty. What if the fairy gifts weren‘t to protect the Princess, but to protect others *from* the Princess? It really is a charming little novella. Give it a go!

19 likes

Honeybeebooks

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread | Kate DiCamillo

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Purchased a copy for a child and realized some readers were concerned about the content and I needed to check it out. I found that this quirky fairytale reminds children that the world can be difficult and silly, but that all are searching and fighting for their heart‘s desire. Read and discuss together. This tale of an unlikely hero fighting fear and rats to save a princess is a four ⭐️ read.

12 likes

Jen2

At the Bottom of the Garden: A Dark History of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Nymphs, and Other Troublesome Things | Diane Purkiss

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Good story.

40 likes1 stack add

Singout

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

“Black boys don‘t get to be sad and feel their feelings.”
#RiseupReads

18 likes

DebinHawaii

We Are All So Good at Smiling | Amber McBride

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#Read2025

OK, I think this is my last book to review for April. This one was for #RiseUpReads & I loved the lyrical verse it was written in. Using fairytale & folklore room around the world to talk about clinical depression is such a creative way to talk about a difficult subject, especially for young adults. I enjoyed reading it & might listen to the audiobooks as I think that would be a powerful way to experience the prose. 💜💜💜

DieAReader, Catsandbooks

TheBookHippie I loved this read last year and the reread was just as good! 2d

DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2d

Catsandbooks Glad you enjoyed it! ✊🏼❤️🔥 11h

56 likes3 comments

Amiable

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry: A Novel | Fredrik Backman

My husband and I are traveling in Romania right now. I love looking at books—even in languages that I can‘t read!

sarahbarnes So cool! I love doing that too. 3d

tpixie Loved this book!! I love bookstores! Romania! How exciting! How did you choose Romania? 🇷🇴 (edited) 3d

Tamra Have a wonderful trip! And yes, books are books, thrilling in any language! 😄 (edited) 3d

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Amiable @tpixie We are on a tour of eastern Europe that starts in Transylvania! Will be heading through Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and into Hungary (ending in Budapest). We thought it sounded like a fascinating area to visit. 3d

tpixie @Amiable yes! Wow! That sounds amazing! I‘d love your itinerary! Have a wonderful trip! 3d

Amiable @sarahbarnes @Tamra It doesn‘t even matter that the words don‘t make sense —I just have to browse anyway! 😄 3d

Amiable @tpixie It‘s a tour with Viking —the first part is the Transylvania land extension, then we‘re headed to Bucharest to get on a boat for a cruise up the Danube River. I think the itinerary is called “Passage to Eastern Europe” or something like that? (edited) 3d

AnnCrystal 🆒📚💝. 3d

tpixie @Amiable thanks so much! 3d

59 likes9 comments

monalyisha

Nettle & Bone | T. Kingfisher

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Marra, who is not-quite-a-nun & barely a princess, learns that her eldest sister was killed by her husband, the prince. Her middle sister is now married to the same man, crowned king; she stays pregnant to keep him from beating her — or at least hold him back a bit. Marra vows to save her sister, loosening the political noose around her neck, by killing the monster. She assembles a band of not-so-merry, magical misfits to aid her in her quest.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/3: This was my first T. Kingfisher. It won‘t be my last. Two words: “tooth. dancer.” That fantastically discomfiting imagery won‘t soon be forgotten. Amara Jasper‘s audiobook narration is pretty fab, too (with the exception of the way she pronounces, “Eh?”). 5d

monalyisha 2/3: At first, I griped about repetition & Marra‘s immaturity but any complaints were soon quelched (though I could‘ve done without the “cursed child” character; evil puppets have never really done it for me). Soon enough, I yielded to total immersion in the story. 5d

monalyisha 3/3: While not shying away from darkness, the tale somehow maintains a cozy vibe. And, as an added perk, the words Kingfisher chooses to end with are perfect. She leaves the story open to the possibility of further development while still providing a satisfying resolution. 5d

shanaqui I really don't know how Kingfisher manages to put darkness and cosiness together so well. It's a consistent *thing* through all her books I've read: somehow it's cosy reading even when it's also dark and awful. 5d

56 likes4 comments