Reviewed by Phoebe Bush
If you go down to the woods, today…watch out for a creepy horse.
Content Warnings: Emotional abuse/psychological abuse, physical abuse, mind control, violence/death/gore, suicide, trauma.
This is just another whimsical fairytale book, right?
You know, the type filled with quirky characters and good vibes, inspired by a sweet little story with a happy ending? Well, this book may seem so, with its premise and its marketing, but it is actually a riptide: one that drags the reader down into a darker, more twisted tale.
It is first and foremost a fairytale book, inspired by the grim tale of ‘The Goose Girl’, yet also contains whimsy and emotional depth, elements of horror and regency romance, and a very strange horse.
At the head of it all is a loveable cast – something that T Kingfisher is a master at creating, especially with her atypical and quirky protagonists. That is also true for Cordelia and Hester, the first the cowed daughter of a witch, the second the sister to a wealthy land owner. To begin with, Cordelia does seem weak and feeble, but do not be fooled, for her arc is emotional and her mother is not just some two-dimensional witch, either. But my favourite is Hester: with bad knees, a Jane Austen style love affair, and a determination to get everyone out of the mess of the plot alive. Also, if I do say so myself, this book also contains a rather swoon-worthy romance!
The setting is a bit odd at first, stuck between time and place, the way fairytale places often are. That being said, the dual perspectives do bulk it out, building the pacing and intensity, all the way to the end. This dual perspective also allows things to be viewed from different angles, something very interesting when it comes to magic – the means by which this story stalks into darker themes. This is also where I tap the content warnings, as this story does contain themes of abuse and manipulation that may be upsetting, to some readers.
Despite this, the ending is super satisfying, and the story itself ends in exactly the right place – which I do not say very often! To be honest, it does not even feel like an ending: more a new beginning.
The only issues I have relate to the world-building and the final climactic point. Both could have been helped along with more explanation, the lack of which makes it lacklustre, whilst also taking the full impact out of what is an emotionally impactful moment.
But this book is far, far more than I ever expected it to be, and kept me up to frankly stupid hours at night. For that reason alone, I would highly recommend it!