This isn't the kind of fairytale where the princess marries a prince. It's the one where she kills him. As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, Marra escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate ― and after years of silence, Marra is done watching her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince.
Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks: build a dog of bones, sew a cloak of nettles, and capture moonlight in a jar.
But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning. Hero or not ― now joined by a disgraced ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother, an enigmatic gravewitch and her fowl familiar ― Marra might finally have the courage to save her sister, and topple a throne. From Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes an original and subversive fantasy adventure, in a special hardcover edition that includes endpapers illustrated by the author.
"The plot snaps along as quickly as a good joke, and beneath the whimsy, there’s an underlying sympathy and sincerity that enables Kingfisher to handle tricky issues like domestic violence with great compassion and care. At its heart a story of good people doing their best to make the unjust world a fairer place, this marvelous romp will delight Kingfisher’s fans and fairy tale lovers alike." — Publishers Weekly
Recommended Age | 14 and up |
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Author | T. Kingfisher |
ISBN | 1250244048 |
Publication Date | Apr 26, 2022 |
Publisher | Tor Books |
Language | English |