This was my first T Kingfisher book and was totally hooked. I then went on to read nettle & bone, thornhedge and wizard’s guide to defensive baking. I think each of her books have their own characteristics which makes it really to difficult to rank them. And somehow she always manages to make horror elements so cute, making them less terrifying.
I feel like she holds your hand through it somehow, with her writing. I love it so much. I haven’t read her more scary ones yet though, I do have What Moves the Dead in my tbr! We’ll see how get on with that one 😅
My first T Kingfisher book was A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking from your cozy fantasy guide. It has become one of my comfort reads! I love the humor. I haven't read other works but I can't wait to check out more from them!
I totally agree with your praise for this book, the characters, the prose and the plot! "Being made obedient" is also a new unlocked fear for me as well, lol! Excellent!
This is one of my favorite books of the year. How is she capable of making me laugh during the horror parts?? How? She’s so great. I actually recommend reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Also super funny!
Wizards guide to defensive baking is probably my favorite with this being a close second. It's really hard to compare the two though. The horse emoji in the title is perfect lol
I loved this book, but I’ve never read a TK Fisher book I didn’t love. I have really enjoyed her Paladin’s series for the older adult main characters that act their age. I also love the friend groups she establishes for her main characters both in this book and the Paladin’s books.
The way you explained the feelings and thoughts I was having when I was reading this book! My favourite work by T. Kingfisher is Nettle and Bone, closely followed by What Moves the Dead. A Sorceress Comes to Call is up there too now. I love her stories and I love her writing style. As you said, she has this way of being funny. I love that. Hope to see more great books by her! I am happy you also loved this book. This is one of the best reads for me this year. 😊
@@dark.and.planty For me they gave the same kind of creepiness. And What Moves the Dead has a sci-fi thing going on too. That made it very interesting to me.
What a great read this book is!!! I have read 2 books by this author and I am in love with her writing. She is so witty and her characters are full of charm. I never hated a character as much as Doom, omg!!! So well done. T Kingfisher always manages to bring so much in what seems like such a short book!! I can’t wait to read more from her 🖤 Have you tried some of her more horrory books? Like What Moves the Dead or Hallow Places? I haven’t yet… it scares me a bit. But again, her writing seems to somehow hold your hand through the horror. It’s fascinating to me how she can write creepy af and sweet and funny at almost the same time. I love it!
I dunno if it's an asian parent thing but like, growing up, my family was always against closing doors. Like yeah, I got up to no good like everyone else my age lmaoo, but even when I'd grown past that age, closing the door to my room was pretty much forbidden and an act of defiance.
Loved it! It’s refreshing reading about witty older women and a teenage girl that isn’t your typical heroine. This isn’t my usual genre, but definitely will explore it more because of this book. Also not reading blurbs because I wouldn’t have read it knowing the premise.
I had a good chuckle when she referenced her own books within the story. “She was currently halfway through a book of folk tales, and everything had begun to blur together in a morass of lost princesses, feckless soldiers, evil wizards, and dogs made of bones.” 😁
I agree that abuse in the real world is nothing magical but I think this shows the hold and control an abusive person can hold and that feeling that you can't escape... The thing that others can't seem to understand with the whole "why didn't you just leave or say something"
I'm listening to my first T. Kingfisher book with Nettle & Bones and it's really impressing me, especially the party and the humor they bring on the difficult journey, so I'm already excited to pick up more!
YES I do love this book so much. :) Edit: One of my fav things Hester says is when she and a couple of others are talking about something a little bit ... not legal ... and Hester jokes, saying [paraphrasing] something like, she was up for driving the getaway [carriage?] but don't expect her to run. Hilarious.
I love t kigfisher and have read heaps of her books. My favourite still is paladins grace but I haven't read this book or nettle and bone so we will have to see if that changes 😌
I'm reading this book right now,I've never had that happen before. I DNFED Kettle and Bone(it gave me a flashback to something I couldn't put my finger on....?)but so far so good on this one👍
I don’t even know if I could handle reading this because this sounds way too close to my own mother. I probably shouldn’t say this here but it’s cathartic in a way to get it down “somewhere”. Get it out into the universe and out of me. Apologies to the sensitive and an obvious ((trigger warning)). My mom obviously wasn’t “magic” but yet she was. She had the magic of pure sensual beauty at her disposal and she used it in exactly this way. She has the most magnetic personality and people flock to her in droves, always have. Sounds great right? No. The flip side of this coin was massive manipulation skills, gaslighting, lying, physical/emotional abuse of me and of her partners, she was never faithful to anyone and she was extremely abusive in most ways to me, her only child. She’s the sort of woman that I can literally look out my front door and see the broken dream house two blocks down on the corner built for her by a lonely man who won the lottery and she conned him out of everything that she could. He died penniless and alone and lost everything. One of the upstairs bedrooms was made for me in the house he built for her but I chose all of the room details. She never planned on living in it unbeknownst to me, she just lied to him to string him along and take what she could of his money. She left him as soon as she extorted everything she wanted because “she couldn’t stand him or stomach his touch”. So she said. I heard he moved away broken hearted and died alone in another state living paycheck to paycheck. Someone else owns his lottery house now. She could afford the best of everything on the money that she hustled from male admirers but couldn’t make sure that I ate. If I complained of hunger she would tell me that I needed to lose a few pounds anyway so just be quiet about it. I remember not being able to stay alert in classes because I felt exhausted and had bad headaches from lack of food. Everyone else would be at lunch tables while I stood against the wall waiting to go back to class because I couldn’t pay for the food and she refused to sign me up for lunches. She would beat me and leave black and blue marks up and down my back, butt, and upper legs. Kids reported it when they saw them on me in gym class in my skimpier gym clothes. She had me terrified of being taken away so I lied about how I got them. I said that I fell down the stairs. She told me that if I got taken away that I would be put in another town with nothing I owned like my clothes and special things like mementos and never see any of my friends again. I would be in a different school district with people who didn’t love me and they would give me as little as she did and also work me to death like a slave. And that the foster dad would probably mess with me and then lie about it (SA). She once gave me the number to CPS and told me to call them and tell on her after one particularly bad beating and I was crying my eyes out. “See what will happen to you then if you do” she said. I never called. I just ran away when I got old enough and finished school living with various kind hearted friends.
I was looking forward to reading this book, but unfortunately, for me it was a disappointment. Too long and too boring. I really liked Cordelia's perspective and her perception of how f-ed up her mother was, but once the house party stared, the plot became a slog. I was also annoyed by how long it took the adult characters to believe Evangeline was a sorceress. The best character was the butler :) Also, the original Grimm's Goose Girl tale is much creepier than anything in the book.
Makes me a bit sad I won't be able to try this book out however ever since I read my first and only Kingfisher, "Hollow places" I can't stand her writing ever. Hollow places was the first book ever where I was so fricking close to throw the book and smash it on the wall😤 It started promising and then she made so many unforgiveably bad decisions regarding the story (and the characters reactions etc) I just, nope I can't. Had to DNF it like 80% into the book. Then I read reviews agreeing with my points and appearently Kingfisher before Hollow places were writing YA books and Hollow places was her first book for adults. That explains so much. Anyways I have a TBR list very long thanks to all your recommendations as it is 😊
I've only read Thornhedege and I loved it. Ordinarily, I steer clear of horror, but I'm wondering if I would be able to handle this one? Will it give me nightmares? 🫣 lol
I can't even watch a horror movie trailer. You can definitely handle this book. I was never scared. While there are scary themes there is humor and sweet relationships that take up a lot of space. I never even felt unease like in a gothic romance. It felt more like an old movie with supernatural elements, scheming and witty characters.
This was my first T Kingfisher book and was totally hooked. I then went on to read nettle & bone, thornhedge and wizard’s guide to defensive baking. I think each of her books have their own characteristics which makes it really to difficult to rank them. And somehow she always manages to make horror elements so cute, making them less terrifying.
I feel like she holds your hand through it somehow, with her writing. I love it so much. I haven’t read her more scary ones yet though, I do have What Moves the Dead in my tbr! We’ll see how get on with that one 😅
My first T Kingfisher book was A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking from your cozy fantasy guide. It has become one of my comfort reads! I love the humor. I haven't read other works but I can't wait to check out more from them!
I totally agree with your praise for this book, the characters, the prose and the plot! "Being made obedient" is also a new unlocked fear for me as well, lol! Excellent!
This is one of my favorite books of the year. How is she capable of making me laugh during the horror parts?? How? She’s so great. I actually recommend reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book. Also super funny!
Wizards guide to defensive baking is probably my favorite with this being a close second. It's really hard to compare the two though.
The horse emoji in the title is perfect lol
Oh so happy you talk about this book. I loved it so much that I wanted to communicate about it with someone so desperately. ❤❤❤
I loved this book, but I’ve never read a TK Fisher book I didn’t love. I have really enjoyed her Paladin’s series for the older adult main characters that act their age. I also love the friend groups she establishes for her main characters both in this book and the Paladin’s books.
The way you explained the feelings and thoughts I was having when I was reading this book! My favourite work by T. Kingfisher is Nettle and Bone, closely followed by What Moves the Dead. A Sorceress Comes to Call is up there too now. I love her stories and I love her writing style. As you said, she has this way of being funny. I love that. Hope to see more great books by her! I am happy you also loved this book. This is one of the best reads for me this year. 😊
Is What Moves the Dead much scarier?
@@dark.and.planty For me they gave the same kind of creepiness. And What Moves the Dead has a sci-fi thing going on too. That made it very interesting to me.
@@willowsnow oh that sounds awesome!
What a great read this book is!!! I have read 2 books by this author and I am in love with her writing. She is so witty and her characters are full of charm. I never hated a character as much as Doom, omg!!! So well done. T Kingfisher always manages to bring so much in what seems like such a short book!! I can’t wait to read more from her 🖤
Have you tried some of her more horrory books? Like What Moves the Dead or Hallow Places? I haven’t yet… it scares me a bit. But again, her writing seems to somehow hold your hand through the horror. It’s fascinating to me how she can write creepy af and sweet and funny at almost the same time. I love it!
I dunno if it's an asian parent thing but like, growing up, my family was always against closing doors. Like yeah, I got up to no good like everyone else my age lmaoo, but even when I'd grown past that age, closing the door to my room was pretty much forbidden and an act of defiance.
I had the same case with my Latino parents. Door shut was forbidden. Oh and knocking? Whats that? They always waltzed right in. lol good times.
Loved it! It’s refreshing reading about witty older women and a teenage girl that isn’t your typical heroine.
This isn’t my usual genre, but definitely will explore it more because of this book. Also not reading blurbs because I wouldn’t have read it knowing the premise.
I had a good chuckle when she referenced her own books within the story.
“She was currently halfway through a book of folk tales, and everything had begun to blur together in a morass of lost princesses, feckless soldiers, evil wizards, and dogs made of bones.” 😁
I'm currently reading this book and I love it so much already. I just love her writing and her humor as well.
This was my first T.Kingfisher book and I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to check out more of her books.
Then stay away from Hollow places if you don't want to hate her writing on wards lol
“I have my eye on this lady” 😂 I love your reviews
This book got me out of my reading slump! 😊
Its my favorite of hers! And a top all time. I hope she continues in this direction, I also loved Thorn hedge and Nettle and Bone
Sword Heart and Nettle and Bone are my faves! But OH MAN you have me excited for this one
I agree that abuse in the real world is nothing magical but I think this shows the hold and control an abusive person can hold and that feeling that you can't escape... The thing that others can't seem to understand with the whole "why didn't you just leave or say something"
I'm listening to my first T. Kingfisher book with Nettle & Bones and it's really impressing me, especially the party and the humor they bring on the difficult journey, so I'm already excited to pick up more!
I loved this book!! It’s a tie between this book and Nettle and Bone for my favorite. No way to choose lol
If you liked that, read The Twisted Ones. That’s a horror story about parenthood holy fuck lol
You’ve sold me, I need this
YES I do love this book so much. :)
Edit:
One of my fav things Hester says is when she and a couple of others are talking about something a little bit ... not legal ... and Hester jokes, saying [paraphrasing] something like, she was up for driving the getaway [carriage?] but don't expect her to run.
Hilarious.
I love t kigfisher and have read heaps of her books. My favourite still is paladins grace but I haven't read this book or nettle and bone so we will have to see if that changes 😌
This is my favorite read of the entire year. 10/10. She killed it.
Just finished this book and loved it :) I think it's her best book :)
I shall get this book...reading Twisted Ones.....read nettles and bones while back...
I read this in November and loved it!
I'm reading this book right now,I've never had that happen before. I DNFED Kettle and Bone(it gave me a flashback to something I couldn't put my finger on....?)but so far so good on this one👍
I don't like horror but I am intrigued with the sound of this book so will be purchasing it.
This book is really good-but had to stop 1/2 through since it triggered me-but after the break back to it-such a well written book😁
I don’t even know if I could handle reading this because this sounds way too close to my own mother. I probably shouldn’t say this here but it’s cathartic in a way to get it down “somewhere”. Get it out into the universe and out of me. Apologies to the sensitive and an obvious ((trigger warning)). My mom obviously wasn’t “magic” but yet she was. She had the magic of pure sensual beauty at her disposal and she used it in exactly this way. She has the most magnetic personality and people flock to her in droves, always have. Sounds great right? No. The flip side of this coin was massive manipulation skills, gaslighting, lying, physical/emotional abuse of me and of her partners, she was never faithful to anyone and she was extremely abusive in most ways to me, her only child. She’s the sort of woman that I can literally look out my front door and see the broken dream house two blocks down on the corner built for her by a lonely man who won the lottery and she conned him out of everything that she could. He died penniless and alone and lost everything. One of the upstairs bedrooms was made for me in the house he built for her but I chose all of the room details. She never planned on living in it unbeknownst to me, she just lied to him to string him along and take what she could of his money. She left him as soon as she extorted everything she wanted because “she couldn’t stand him or stomach his touch”. So she said. I heard he moved away broken hearted and died alone in another state living paycheck to paycheck. Someone else owns his lottery house now. She could afford the best of everything on the money that she hustled from male admirers but couldn’t make sure that I ate. If I complained of hunger she would tell me that I needed to lose a few pounds anyway so just be quiet about it. I remember not being able to stay alert in classes because I felt exhausted and had bad headaches from lack of food. Everyone else would be at lunch tables while I stood against the wall waiting to go back to class because I couldn’t pay for the food and she refused to sign me up for lunches. She would beat me and leave black and blue marks up and down my back, butt, and upper legs. Kids reported it when they saw them on me in gym class in my skimpier gym clothes. She had me terrified of being taken away so I lied about how I got them. I said that I fell down the stairs. She told me that if I got taken away that I would be put in another town with nothing I owned like my clothes and special things like mementos and never see any of my friends again. I would be in a different school district with people who didn’t love me and they would give me as little as she did and also work me to death like a slave. And that the foster dad would probably mess with me and then lie about it (SA). She once gave me the number to CPS and told me to call them and tell on her after one particularly bad beating and I was crying my eyes out. “See what will happen to you then if you do” she said. I never called. I just ran away when I got old enough and finished school living with various kind hearted friends.
I was looking forward to reading this book, but unfortunately, for me it was a disappointment. Too long and too boring. I really liked Cordelia's perspective and her perception of how f-ed up her mother was, but once the house party stared, the plot became a slog. I was also annoyed by how long it took the adult characters to believe Evangeline was a sorceress. The best character was the butler :)
Also, the original Grimm's Goose Girl tale is much creepier than anything in the book.
Makes me a bit sad I won't be able to try this book out however ever since I read my first and only Kingfisher, "Hollow places" I can't stand her writing ever. Hollow places was the first book ever where I was so fricking close to throw the book and smash it on the wall😤 It started promising and then she made so many unforgiveably bad decisions regarding the story (and the characters reactions etc) I just, nope I can't. Had to DNF it like 80% into the book.
Then I read reviews agreeing with my points and appearently Kingfisher before Hollow places were writing YA books and Hollow places was her first book for adults. That explains so much. Anyways I have a TBR list very long thanks to all your recommendations as it is 😊
I've only read Thornhedege and I loved it. Ordinarily, I steer clear of horror, but I'm wondering if I would be able to handle this one? Will it give me nightmares? 🫣 lol
I can't even watch a horror movie trailer. You can definitely handle this book. I was never scared. While there are scary themes there is humor and sweet relationships that take up a lot of space. I never even felt unease like in a gothic romance. It felt more like an old movie with supernatural elements, scheming and witty characters.
@saramm3765 Thank you so much! This is the most helpful response I could have received! Another for the TBR then.