Bumpy Oak Books

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Actual rating: 4.5

GennaRose Nethercott presents Thistlefoot, a story steeped in the magic, folklore, and tragedy of Jewish traditional storytelling. Readers follow siblings Bellatine, whose hands burn with anti-death, and Isaac who must run from everything including his very life. The Yaga siblings have inherited a house from an ancestor and the house walks to them on chicken legs.

This story is everything. Thistlefoot is beautiful and tragic and hopeful and bold. The shifting perspectives between Bellatine, Isaac, Thistlefoot (the house), and more just work so fluidly. Thistlefoot as a perspective character is especially effective at presenting the past and how things have come to be as they are. The Longshadow Man is such an effective villain and the message of silencing stories and memories is one that is undeniable.

My one and only grievance about this book is one of entirely personal taste. This book runs slow. There were many times where I did not want to pick the book up only because I did not have the mental bandwidth to process all of the information and did not want to accept the pace at which the information was given. I wanted to skim. I wanted to stop. I’m so very glad I didn’t. But, for that feeling, unfortunately I don’t think a full five stars is fair.

That being said, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fairytale, folktales, fantasy, and history. I will be screaming from the rooftops and I will be purchasing a copy.