The Language of Thorns

Released OUT NOW! 304 pages | Hardback/ebook

Author leigh Bardugo Publisher Orion Children’s Books

This collection of fairy tales eschews a Disney feel in favour of the darkness of the Brothers Grimm, with a lavish helping of Neil Gaiman or Michael Chabon on the side. By this we mean that they’re meaty, textured and satisfying – and even though they’re ostensibly aimed at young adults, they’re grown-up enough to be enjoyed by everybody, as all good fairytales should be.

Racially and ethnically diverse, they have a feminist edge and, despite their fantastical settings, are grounded in reality (traditional heroines of fairytales rarely have the good sense these women exhibit). Some stories might feel familiar: “The Witch Of Duva” riffs off Hansel and Gretel; “When Water Sang Fire” could be said to show the origins of Ursula the Sea-Witch in The Little Mermaid (the author hints as much in her notes) and “The Too-Clever Fox” reads like a horror version of Enid Blyton’s Brer Rabbit books. Elsewhere you’ll also detect One Thousand And One Nights and The Nutcracker.

Every story is superb; Leigh Bardugo has an honest, vibrant voice that’s capable of unfolding her imaginings with true skill. She’s aided by Sara Kipin’s beautiful illustrations, which grow in complexity as the stories progress, until a final luscious vision is revealed – making this a sumptuous feast for the mind and eyes. Jayne Nelson