Thistlefoot had me at hello. Seriously. I have always had a soft spot for Eastern-European folklore. I grew up with it, and it fills me with a profound sense of joy to see it showcased in a book like this.
The Yaga siblings come into possession of a living, breathing house called Thistlefoot. Isaac, a ne’er-do-well street performer convinces his sister, Bellatine (a law-abiding woodworker) to revive their family’s theater show. Isaac, blinded by the fortune they could make, insists they should travel across the country together. Unbeknownst to them, Thistlefoot is more than just a magical house on chicken legs—it’s a sentient being with enemies of its own. A sinister being known as the Longshadow man follows them, leaving chaos in his wake.
My only grievance with this book is that I will never be able to read it for the first time again. If this story were any shorter, I would have torn through it in one sitting! So, I read it in two. Which is hardly a surprise.
Nethercott showed immense range in this debut. While the writing was consistently gorgeous, its tone and cadence changed depending on whose lens we were reading from. I particularly enjoyed Thistlefoot’s perspective, finding its bubbly, anachronistic speaking style to be quite enchanting.
This story was truly engrossing, and beautifully crafted! If you are someone who loves a dark fairytale with characters who jump off the pages, you will not be sorry to have picked up Thistlefoot. And, might I add, now that spooky season is upon us, it’s an even better time to jump on in!
You can find GennaRose Nethercott: Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter, and Website
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