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 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 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

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.

Incredible narration!!

January LaVoy’s voice acting made this story for me. It’s an incredible story and was so clearly communicated and played. Bravo!!

A fairytale to remember

Once I suspended logic, this tale took on a life of its own. The message is an important one to be remembered!

At first this story beas a bit tough to follow... but... it made sense as it was pieces together. I loved it.

This story was so well done. I enjoyed it. I actually just finished it. I cried. Well done.

Awesome

This story, and the performance of it, were amazing. It is a tragic, but joyful story of personal pain and triumph. The reader is amazing. And the story is so important for our time.

It was a ten.

Loved it. This girl can write! At my ancient age she made me cry for the beauty of it all.

The importance of remembering

Retelling of story you thought you knew with brilliant characters and sadly still timely message

Enjoyable fairytale

This is a creative story that melds fantasy, folklore and history. A very enjoyable listen. The narrator does a good job with the different characters.

Amazing

If you are a fairytale nerd like me, this will surpass your expectations. I am enthralled with this author.

Wonderful Tale

A wonderful tale. Very clever. Did not stop listening once I started. Narration is great. One of my all time favorites.