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“A wonderfully imaginative, wholly enchanting novel of witness, survival, memory, and family that reads like a fairy tale godfathered by 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.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
September 13, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593628751
- File size: 424424 KB
- Duration: 14:44:12
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 13, 2022
Nethercott’s dark, difficult debut offers a heartbreaking reinterpretation of the myth of Baba Yaga. Isaac Yaga and his younger sister, Bellatine, are the “youngest living direct descendants” of Baba Yaga. They’ve been estranged since Isaac ran away from home at 17, but cautiously reconcile six years later when they inherit Baba Yaga’s famous chicken-legged hut. Woodworker Bellatine, who can bring inanimate objects to life, loves the house on sight, so actor/shape-shifter Isaac offers her a deal: they’ll tour the U.S. performing puppet shows and, at the end, all the proceeds will be his but the house will be hers. However, the mysterious Longshadow Man has been stalking the hut since 1919 and seeks to destroy it—and the Yagas—once and for all. Told largely by Isaac, Bellatine, and—fascinatingly—the hut itself, Nethercott’s ambitious attempt to write the next American Gods falters in its handling of evil. The characters themselves point out that the villain talks like a Nazi from an Indiana Jones movie, which cheapens the examination of racism and mob mentality—especially in the context of depictions of horrific antisemtism witnessed by the house (including a graphic infant murder in a Russian pogrom). Still, fans of thorny, contemporary retellings of folklore will appreciate Nethercott’s take on the theme of inherited trauma. Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. -
January LaVoy's performance of this fantasy audiobook demonstrates why she is an AudioFile Golden Voice narrator. Estranged from one another, the Yaga siblings are surprised when they jointly inherit Thistlefoot from their great-great-grandmother. The odd little house, seemingly alive, moves around on chicken legs. As the siblings travel the country in the house, they are followed by a malevolent entity that is set on its destruction. LaVoy breathes life into the characters while weaving the story between the past and the present and taking on multiple points of view. Her skill with voices and accents further entices the listener, pulling one deeper into the tale. This thoroughly entertaining production is perfect for fans of stories with fairy-tale origins. A.L.S.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine -
December 1, 2022
Estranged siblings Bellatine and Isaac Yaga, descendants of Baba Yaga herself, reunite to accept an inheritance from a Russian relative they've never met. They were not expecting their endowment to be Thistlefoot--a sentient house that walks on chicken legs. As Bellatine and Isaac prepare the house, and themselves, for their traveling puppet show, the menacing Longshadow Man, a sinister Russian figure, pursues them, intent on finding Thistlefoot. Although the action of the story is occasionally ponderous, listeners will appreciate the Baba Yaga lore and enjoy the unique perspective from Thistlefoot itself. This modern-day fairy tale is narrated by the extraordinary January LaVoy, who imbues each character with a unique voice and personality. The audio is so full-bodied and multilayered that listeners may even forget that this is not a full-cast audio. LaVoy even sings! VERDICT Outstanding narration and an enchanting story line make this book a must-buy for all audio collections. Recommend to listeners who enjoy fiction with a fairy tale twist, such as that found in Rena Rossner's The Sisters of the Winter Wood or Olesya Salnikova Gilmore's The Witch and the Tsar.--Danielle Arpin
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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