Name: Annabelle Gauthier's review of Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott
Item: Thistlefoot
Rating: 5
Author: Annabelle Gauthier

Gennarose Nethercott

In the tradition of modern fairytales like American Gods and Spinning Silver comes a sweeping epic rich in Eastern European folklore--a debut novel about the ancestral hauntings that stalk us, and the uncanny power of story. The Yaga siblings--Bellatine, a young woodworker, and Isaac, a wayfaring street performer and con artist--have been estranged since childhood, separated both by resentment and by wide miles of American highway. But when they learn that they are to receive a mysterious inheritance, the siblings are reunited--only to discover that their bequest isn't land or money, but something far stranger: a sentient house on chicken legs. Thistlefoot, as the house is called, has arrived from the Yagas' ancestral home in Russia--but not alone. A sinister figure known only as the Longshadow Man has tracked it to American shores, bearing with him violent secrets from the past: fiery memories that have hidden in Isaac and Bellatine's blood for generations. As the Yaga siblings embark with Thistlefoot on a final cross-country tour of their family's traveling theater show, the Longshadow Man follows in relentless pursuit, seeding destruction in his wake. Ultimately, time, magic, and legacy must collide--erupting in a powerful conflagration to determine who gets to remember the past and craft a new future. An enchanted adventure illuminated by Jewish myth and adorned with lyrical prose as tantalizing and sweet as briar berries, Thistlefoot is an immersive modern fantasy saga by a bold new talent.

Thistlefoot

Annabelle Gauthier

Some part of him wondered if all his motion came from a place of yearning to be still. That maybe, the more small lives he tumbled through, the sooner he’d find one worth keeping.

In the barrel of each gun, a haunting waiting to fly.

He was a tragic hero, a mythic bard traversing an endless stream of unfamiliar lands. He spent hundreds of hours with his headphones on, sounding out the notes of traveler songs and old ballads, voices that sang of hardship and suffering and loneliness, always the loneliness, but in a fashion that sounded romantic somehow. As if to be unwanted and untethered was something beautiful. Something true.

She is built of one thousand open mouths, and they are always wet at the jaw. 

Omar

This story is haunted. Also it’s about generational trauma, the small magic of moments, the ghost of history, and 2 stubborn hotties and a cat named Hubcap

In the tradition of modern fairytales like Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver comes a sweeping epic rich in Eastern European folklore-a debut novel about the ancestral hauntings that stalk us, and the uncanny power of story. The Yaga siblings-Bellatine, a young woodworker, and Isaac, a wayfaring street performer and con artist-have been estranged since childhood, separated both by resentment and by wide miles of American highway. But when they learn that they are to receive a mysterious inheritance, the siblings are reunited-only to discover that their bequest isn't land or money, but something far stranger- a sentient house on chicken legs. Thistlefoot, as the house is called, has arrived from the Yagas' ancestral home in Russia-but not alone. A sinister figure known only as the Longshadow Man has tracked it to American shores, bearing with him violent secrets from the past- fiery memories that have hidden in Isaac and Bellatine's blood for generations. As the Yaga siblings embark with Thistlefoot on a final cross-country tour of their family's traveling theater show, the Longshadow Man follows in relentless pursuit, seeding destruction in his wake. Ultimately, time, magic, and legacy must collide-erupting in a powerful conflagration to determine who gets to remember the past and craft a new future. An enchanted adventure illuminated by Jewish myth and adorned with lyrical prose as tantalizing and sweet as briar berries, Thistlefoot is an immersive modern fantasy saga by a bold new talent.

*A retelling bogged down by dense, flowery writing and lack of character development*

I love mythology and folklore, so this Baba Yaga retelling caught my eye. It’s the story is about two estranged adult siblings inherit Baba Yaga's chicken leg house, but someone else wants the house and is willing to kill to get it.

The story was told in third person, past tense with flashbacks in present tense as well as First person narration from the house. Franky, the whole thing was a mess. Added on top of that was florid purple prose that made the story even more opaque. The modern parts of the story also felt like they were trying to push the story into an older time period. Given one of the main themes was generational trauma, I wondered if it was an intentional choice? Regardless, reading this felt like trying to wade through a muddy swamp with loose boots on.

It's a Magical Realism story, but there was no sense of wonder or magic - just random supernatural stuff that felt discordant. It just didn't make sense. Like people's nonchalant reaction to the house walking around on chicken legs. And the sibling's magical abilities. The worldbuilding just didn't make sense. I'll admit, there may have been things that I missed because I had the damnedest time paying attention to this book or absorbing the information. I was so disconnected and bored from cover to cover.

I really didn't like the characters. They were two damaged people too good at hiding from their secrets which just left the reader in the dark. I got so fed up with being strung along and truly did not care what happened to any of the characters.

Deep down, the house - and the story - had good bones. But that didn't stop this story from being a dense, tedious bore that I'm so glad to be done with. I did not feel that this story delivered on its promise that it “reads like a fairy tale godfathered by Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton,” at all.

Characters and Character Development: 1 Star

Colleen

2 Stars

*A retelling bogged down by dense, flowery writing and lack of character development*


I love mythology and folklore, so this Baba Yaga retelling caught my eye. It’s the story is about two estranged adult siblings inherit Baba Yaga's chicken leg house, but someone else wants the house and is willing to kill to get it.

The story was told in third person, past tense with flashbacks in present tense as well as First person narration from the house. Franky, the whole thing was a mess. Added on top of that was florid purple prose that made the story even more opaque. The modern parts of the story also felt like they were trying to push the story into an older time period. Given one of the main themes was generational trauma, I wondered if it was an intentional choice? Regardless, reading this felt like trying to wade through a muddy swamp with loose boots on.

It's a Magical Realism story, but there was no sense of wonder or magic - just random supernatural stuff that felt discordant. It just didn't make sense. Like people's nonchalant reaction to the house walking around on chicken legs. And the sibling's magical abilities. The worldbuilding just didn't make sense. I'll admit, there may have been things that I missed because I had the damnedest time paying attention to this book or absorbing the information. I was so disconnected and bored from cover to cover.


Trust. It is a meaningless word, precious only to kibitzers who think all business is their business. I reserve the right to lie to you outright and often – and we must always make use of our rights, lest they vanish from neglect.


I really didn't like the characters. They were two damaged people too good at hiding from their secrets which just left the reader in the dark. I got so fed up with being strung along and truly did not care what happened to any of the characters.

Deep down, the house - and the story - had good bones. But that didn't stop this story from being a dense, tedious bore that I'm so glad to be done with. I did not feel that this story delivered on its promise that it “reads like a fairy tale godfathered by Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton,” at all.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 2 Stars
Writing Style: 2 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 1 Star
Plot Structure and Development: 2 Stars
Level of Captivation: 1 Star
Originality: 3 Stars

Firstly this book might be triggering for Ashkenazi Jews, Jews in general or people who have experienced generational trauma.

It is a beautiful book, but take your time with it as it is devastating.

The story is written absolutely beautifully and alternates Isaac, his sister Bellatine and Thistlefoot the walking house.

Their parents had a traveling puppet show about the fool who drowns.

A mysterious man, the longshadow man is hunting Thistlefoot.

The story weaves beautifully between fiction, historical fiction, magical realism and fantasy. I annotated so much in this book, here are two of my faves.

I highly highly recommend this book. I expect it will stay with me for a long time.

“You can watch something and walk away after like you were never there. Witness is a testimony." He looked up. "With a witness, it could be like we never died."

“What is a house but a container for a life? What is a life but a container for a story? When a container is broken, it does not destroy the contents. It sets them free.”

Suzanne

What an incredible debut.

Firstly this book might be triggering for Ashkenazi Jews, Jews in general or people who have experienced generational trauma.

It is a beautiful book, but take your time with it as it is devastating.

The story is written absolutely beautifully and alternates Isaac, his sister Bellatine and Thistlefoot the walking house.

Their parents had a traveling puppet show about the fool who drowns.

A mysterious man, the longshadow man is hunting Thistlefoot.

The story weaves beautifully between fiction, historical fiction, magical realism and fantasy. I annotated so much in this book, here are two of my faves.

I highly highly recommend this book. I expect it will stay with me for a long time.

“You can watch something and walk away after like you were never there. Witness is a testimony." He looked up. "With a witness, it could be like we never died."

“What is a house but a container for a life? What is a life but a container for a story? When a container is broken, it does not destroy the contents. It sets them free.”

Joy Bush

I did not expect to like this one as much as I did. 

This book is serious, and sad, and dark in a way, telling a dark history of the pogroms in eastern europe. But it is also folklore and myth. 

Baba Yaga's old house, that is alive, Thistlefoot, is passed down to her descendants in the USA. Bellatine and her brother Isaac. As soon as they receive the house, the Long shadow man starts pursuing them and so Thistlefoot runs and their adventure begins....

I liked Bellatine from the start. Her brother is a much harder character to like and I didnt like him til close til the end. Their relationship is strained and weird but when the 2 interact is some of the best bits of the book I think. 

The audiobook was fantastic as well, read by January LaVoy

Equal parts whimsical and sobering, Thistlefoot honors Jewish and Russian mythology, contains diverse and touching characters, and includes clever prose. A page-turning and promising debut standalone!

Liz Griffin

Absolutely gripping! This was a beautifully written story about families, generational trauma and folklore with unreliable narration that left an ache in my chest. The Yaga siblings/family were written with such quality that I feel everyone will be able to see a bit of themselves and their families in them. 

Ashlei Cottom-Moran

Absolutely gripping! This was a beautifully written story about families, generational trauma and folklore with unreliable narration that left an ache in my chest. The Yaga siblings/family were written with such quality that I feel everyone will be able to see a bit of themselves and their families in them. 



Alexis Palew

yaya

Grace M

Erik Wallace

Heather Harrington

Josefina

Whitney Lambert

Michelle Miller

Sadie Kimbrough

Melissa Railey

GennaRose Nethercott

In the tradition of modern fairy tales like Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver comes an immersive fantasy saga, a debut novel about estranged siblings who are reunited after receiving a mysterious inheritance. “A wonderfully imaginative, wholly enchanting novel of witness, survival, memory, and family that reads like a fairy tale godfathered by Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton in a wild America alive with wonders and devils alike. Thistlefoot shimmers with magic and mayhem and a thrilling emotional momentum.” —Libba Bray, bestselling author of The Diviners The Yaga siblings—Bellatine, a young woodworker, and Isaac, a wayfaring street performer and con artist—have been estranged since childhood, separated both by resentment and by wide miles of American highway. But when they learn that they are to receive an inheritance, the siblings agree to meet—only to discover that their bequest isn’t land or money, but something far stranger: a sentient house on chicken legs. Thistlefoot, as the house is called, has arrived from the Yagas’ ancestral home outside Kyiv—but not alone. A sinister figure known only as the Longshadow Man has tracked it to American shores, bearing with him violent secrets from the past: fiery memories that have hidden in Isaac and Bellatine’s blood for generations. As the Yaga siblings embark with Thistlefoot on a final cross-country tour of their family’s traveling theater show, the Longshadow Man follows in relentless pursuit, seeding destruction in his wake. Ultimately, time, magic, and legacy must collide—erupting in a powerful conflagration to determine who gets to remember the past and craft a new future. An enchanted adventure illuminated by Jewish myth and adorned with lyrical prose as tantalizing and sweet as briar berries, Thistlefoot is a sweeping epic rich in Eastern European folklore: a powerful and poignant exploration of healing from multi-generational trauma told by a bold new talent.

Omar &
Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott

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Thistlefoot by Gennarose Nethercott