Thistlefoot

A Novel

By: GennaRose Nethercott

Narrated by: January LaVoy

Length: 14 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2022 GennaRose Nethercott (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

BOOK ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR • The Wall Street Journal • Washington Independent Review of Books • BookPage • Book Riot

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Tor • Paste • Business Insider • BuzzFeed • Library Journal • Literary Hub • Debutiful

JEWISH FICTION AWARD HONOREE

“Steeped in the ancient tropes of folk tales and animated by a passionate belief in the vital role of storytelling, GennaRose Nethercott’s first novel builds on her work as a folklorist and poet. . . . Gorgeously written . . . riveting and moving.”—Wendy Smith, The Washington Post

“At times solemn, at times playful, the [narrator] speaks to the reader like a storyteller to a crowd gathered around a campfire. . . . [Thistlefoot] balance[s] fun and solemnity, joy and suffering."—Mallory Yu, NPR

“An excellent dip into the darker side of Eastern European tales. . . . The author adriotly captures the challenges of adult sibling relationships in a story of survival and memory that is pure poetry, but never glosses over the violence of history.”—Liz Braswell, The Wall Street Journal

Ugly Crying

Loved this book, sobbed like a babe, laughed, and absolutely recommend it. I need more books like this in my life.

Beautiful, frightening and inspiring

Just so beautifully done, terrifying at times, and triumphant in its finish. Loved it!

Wonderful performance

Great performance with all the different characters. Even though this is not the type of book I would normally read on my own, it was a great storyline and very descriptive writing.

Fun Fairy-Tale Whimsy

This book is a well done, whimsical romp of an adventure. It is a casual fairy-tale style adventure story that is the perfect escape from your everyday doldrums.

Perfectly crafted storytelling.

I adore this book- my favorite in a very long time. The perfectly poignant ending had me weeping. What a gift this book is.

Memories Untold

The story was an excellent interpretation of folklore from the lives of my ancestors yet unknown to me. I hunger to know about the forgotten trials and injustices of those who came before me.

A Strong Story

As a breakout novel, I felt there was a lot of good, revolutionary storytelling taking place for this generation. However, it has story progressions that don't necessarily make sense, and GennaRose Nethercott uses a variety of storytelling methods to change the speaker and the era - switching back and forth from tsarist Russia to modern times.

The story is told from the perspectives of Bellatine Yaga, Isaac Yaga, Baba Yaga and from the perspective of Thistlefoot - a house with chicken feet and magical abilities.

There are heavy Jewish/Russian references and folklore throughout, creating a fascinating story that ties in influences of real historical events and acknowledges prejudice. The overall message of the story is beautiful - to remember the sins of the past in order to create and ensure a better future for our descendants.

There are references of lesbianism and they/them culture. The author checks all the boxes for your standard YA modern fairytale, with a heavy twist on the dark side of the human psyche - Overall, I found this novel to be well researched and entertaining!

The quirkiness of the characters, particularly Bellatine and her puppets, Hubcap and his symbolic relationship with Isaac, Thistlefoot's root of emotional creation and Winnie's desire to be alive all brought the experience home for me - this book is deep in the very way that this reality needs right now.

Bear witness.

Beautiful

Truly one of the best stories I’ve read in a while, and what a beautiful message to give readers.

A story for those who need wholes filled

I haven’t felt so emotional after a book in a while as a Jewish person I felt a deep connection to the feeling s and emotions in the book really a remarkable novel

This may be some of the best prose I've ever read

The only downside of this audiobook is that I couldn't highlight all the really amazing passages as I went. There are so many quotes from this book that just emotionally gutted me. I want the prologue read at my funeral - just so I can force everyone I love to hear it.