Thistlefoot

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.

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

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