From the first few paragraphs of Thistlefoot I knew it was going to be one of my favorite reads on 2022. 

The best way to describe this book is a modern day folklore retelling of Baba Yaga’s descendants. It is about how stories are made and told. How stories can never die, how each generation keeps the stories and myths of old alive. It is a hauntingly beautiful story of two estranged siblings who find each other again, find themselves and confront their generational trauma. 

Some of my favorite things about Thistlefoot are 1) the house, Thistlefoot, has its own pov. They are telling you about themself and the many stories and myths of their origin. 2) Isaac Yaga, one of the two Yaga siblings, is Jewish and he has migraines. I rarely see migraine representation in books, especially paired with Jewish representation and to see that part of myself represented brought tears to my eyes. 3) The writing of this book is literal magic. The way Nethercott describes the setting, characters, events that are happening is phenomenal. 

The in-depth look at generational trauma, a love of theater and the importance of family is just perfect. On the whole I couldn’t love this book more and I highly highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. 

Tropes & themes
Found family
Traveling theater 
Ancestral trauma 

Rep 
Jewish
Sapphic

Cw
Eugenics 
Anti-Semitism 
Death of a Child
Immigration 
Death
Violence
Gore 
Blood