Because time passes differently in Faerie, she was able to return to the human world and stand as the fairy godmother for the christening of the changeling, Fayette.

Gary K. Wolfe writes that the novella exists in "that liminal space ... between fairytale lore and actual medieval history".

The opening chapter "serves as a remarkable evocation of loneliness" as Toadling watches the centuries pass around her.

Later, Halim's "references to the Pope, the Byzantine-Seljuk wars, and his own Muslim background" place the story more firmly in a historical context.

This version tells the story of princess Zellandine, who was cursed to eternal sleep by one of the three goddesses (Themis) who were invited to celebrate her birth.

[2] In the 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty, the word "evil" is used to refer to Maleficent, and her name also means evil-doer.

Moreover, in the review the author states that, "Toadling was supposed to be the princess, but she was stolen by the fae and a changeling was left in her place.

According to the review in Publisher's Weekly, Halim doesn't judge Toadling after she narrates her story to him, and helps her defeat Fayette.

"[12] Fiona Denton of Grimdark Magazine gave the novella five out of five stars, calling it "an exceptionally written, bitesize piece of escapism".

[16] Writing for The New York Times, author Amal El-Mohtar stated that the novella has a "particularly fine flexibility of tone that bends from sweet and shy to tragic and frightening".

[17] In Paste, Lacy Baugher Milas wrote that the novel is different from modern fairy tales, which are often seen as "colorful, romantic stories of princesses in magical castles, dashing princes, and first kisses".

"[18] Adrienne Martini of Locus'' wrote that the work is "both kind and brutal as it shows how narrow the power of love is".

"[19] Also writing for Locus, Gary K. Wolfe called the novella a "strikingly original" take on the Sleeping Beauty tale, based on a "central reversal".

He also wrote that Thornhedge is "a masterful demonstration of what novellas do best" and that "Toadling is one of the more endearing and memorable characters I’ve encountered this year, and pretty much the same can be said for her tale.