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Woodcutter Sisters #4
Thieftess
Thursday’s child has far to go…Pirate Queen Thursday Woodcutter (aka “Captain Cutter”) and her infamous brother Jack left Arilland after their little sister’s magical ocean fiasco to reunite with the crew of the Sea Hag. But what they find on the way is grim: the Troll King is on a rampage, the Dragon of the North is terrorizing the Permafrost, and the Pirate King has disappeared.
Determined to find her husband, Thursday travels the world on an enchanted ship crafted by her father and brother. Tracking down the Pirate King presents Thursday with one giant hurdle after another. And when faced with a choice—saving the world or saving the person she loves—Thursday realizes that it’s not really a choice at all.
Thieftess is heavily influenced by the fairy tales “The Story of the Seven Simons,” “The Flying Ship,” and “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.” Thursday’s adventures on the high seas are chock full of unlikely friendships, found family, and, of course, true love.
From dragons and unicorns to bloodthirsty sirens and murderous trolls, fans of Arilland will be delighted to find that it’s banter and booty and business as usual in this long-awaited follow-up to the Woodcutter Sisters saga!
Determined to find her husband, Thursday travels the world on an enchanted ship crafted by her father and brother. Tracking down the Pirate King presents Thursday with one giant hurdle after another. And when faced with a choice—saving the world or saving the person she loves—Thursday realizes that it’s not really a choice at all.
Thieftess is heavily influenced by the fairy tales “The Story of the Seven Simons,” “The Flying Ship,” and “East of the Sun, West of the Moon.” Thursday’s adventures on the high seas are chock full of unlikely friendships, found family, and, of course, true love.
From dragons and unicorns to bloodthirsty sirens and murderous trolls, fans of Arilland will be delighted to find that it’s banter and booty and business as usual in this long-awaited follow-up to the Woodcutter Sisters saga!
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2026
About the author
Alethea Kontis
154 books1,490 followersAlethea Kontis is a New York Times bestselling author, storm chaser, Saturday Songwriter, and granddaughter of a pirate. She has received the Scribe Award, the Garden State Teen Book Award, and is a two-time winner of the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award. She was twice nominated for both the Andre Norton Nebula Award and Dragon Award. Alethea narrates stories for multiple online magazines and does freelance work for Writing the Other. Born in Vermont, Alethea currently resides on the Space Coast of Florida where she watches K-dramas with her teddy bear, Charlie. Together they are ARMY, VVS, and Black Roses. 🥀
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"A veritable badass fairy princess." --Jim Butcher
"The faerie princess of the worlds of weird." --Jonathan Maberry
"Alethea Kontis IS fairy tales." --Jim C. Hines, author of Libriomancer
"Alethea Kontis: Awesome, racks up award nominations, wears tiaras." --SF author Ferrett Steinmetz
"I want to live in [Alethea's] head because I think that might be the most interesting place in the world!!!!" --Ellen Oh, author of Prophecy
"Alethea Kontis, the woman who writes like Shakespeare would if he were alive today." --Aaron Pound
"The beauty of a princess, the confidence of a queen, the brilliance of a writer, and the demeanor of a cheerful fairy comedian!" --Cheyenne Z.
"This was the story before all of the other stories, and it was the other tales that were changed over time." --Nerdophiles, on ENCHANTED
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"A veritable badass fairy princess." --Jim Butcher
"The faerie princess of the worlds of weird." --Jonathan Maberry
"Alethea Kontis IS fairy tales." --Jim C. Hines, author of Libriomancer
"Alethea Kontis: Awesome, racks up award nominations, wears tiaras." --SF author Ferrett Steinmetz
"I want to live in [Alethea's] head because I think that might be the most interesting place in the world!!!!" --Ellen Oh, author of Prophecy
"Alethea Kontis, the woman who writes like Shakespeare would if he were alive today." --Aaron Pound
"The beauty of a princess, the confidence of a queen, the brilliance of a writer, and the demeanor of a cheerful fairy comedian!" --Cheyenne Z.
"This was the story before all of the other stories, and it was the other tales that were changed over time." --Nerdophiles, on ENCHANTED
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Want to Read
July 10, 2019It's so sad to hear that the publisher dropped the Woodcutter Sister series I adore these books. I hope Kontis gets the financial help she needs to continue on with these wonderful stories *fingers crossed*
December 4, 2023
I CAN’T BELIEVE WE’RE FINALLY GONNA GET THURSDAY’S STORY!!! I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE WITHOUT READING MORE OF ARILLAND, AND ALL I COULD DO WAS LIVE WITH THE LITTLE WE ALREADY HAD!!!! BUT NO!!! THE MAGNIFICENT PRINCESS ALETHEA WILL BRING US BACK TO ARILLAND AGAIN!!!! REJOICE!!!
June 17, 2026
Another enjoyable read by one of my favorite authors
I thoroughly enjoyed this book in spite of a wonky brain after babies, and possibly in perimenopause. But even with that, I enjoyed it. I love all the nods to other fairy tales that I caught. I was definitely picturing OUAT's hook as Hawk. And I was super excited to send the series to my 9 year old's tablet. I will share her reviews later. Overall, another wonderful addition to the Woodcutter series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book in spite of a wonky brain after babies, and possibly in perimenopause. But even with that, I enjoyed it. I love all the nods to other fairy tales that I caught. I was definitely picturing OUAT's hook as Hawk. And I was super excited to send the series to my 9 year old's tablet. I will share her reviews later. Overall, another wonderful addition to the Woodcutter series.
June 25, 2026
"Far off places. Daring swordfights. Magic spells. A prince in disguise!"
Like a warm hug from an old friend you weren't sure you'd ever see again. And that is not an understatement.
When I first heard that the original publisher of the series had chosen to not go forward with additional books in the series while maintaining the rights, I was devastated and feared we would never get to read the rest of the sisters' exploits. (Truly, this was my Winds of Winter. I made Tumblr edits).
Thank GOD I have faithfully followed Alethea (who is a gem) since first picking up "Enchanted" back in 2012, or who knows if I would ever have known that she had gotten the rights back and was finishing the series.
Thursday's story was my most highly anticipated, and I was not let down. A very cozy adveture that still manages to have some moments of bloody danger anchored around another compelling and strong female lead. Thursday Woodcutter is as daring as she is diminutive, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent with her and her zany crew. I also loved the exploration of the sibling dynamics of the siblings---getting more time with Jack and getting to hear more about Tuesday was bittersweet. Alethea has a way of making her supporting cast as entertaining and endearing as her leads. I was frankly sad to say goodbye, and while I know that the next book should focus on Wednesday (my other fave), I find myself wishing it would be a Thursday pt 2. The ending she set up so perfectly teased another story I'd love to read.
All the respect to Alethea for keeping these sisters' alive in her heart until they could come back home to her. I'll read as many of these as she writes--novellas, prequels, sequels, lore drops, what have you.
If you are a fan of stories like the Spellshop, Ella Enchanted, Stardust, Once Upon a Time, the Princess Bride or Tress & the Emerald Sea, or authors like Tamora Pierce and T Kingfisher, you might like this sweet cozy funny series. Just make sure you start back at the beginning!!!
Like a warm hug from an old friend you weren't sure you'd ever see again. And that is not an understatement.
When I first heard that the original publisher of the series had chosen to not go forward with additional books in the series while maintaining the rights, I was devastated and feared we would never get to read the rest of the sisters' exploits. (Truly, this was my Winds of Winter. I made Tumblr edits).
Thank GOD I have faithfully followed Alethea (who is a gem) since first picking up "Enchanted" back in 2012, or who knows if I would ever have known that she had gotten the rights back and was finishing the series.
Thursday's story was my most highly anticipated, and I was not let down. A very cozy adveture that still manages to have some moments of bloody danger anchored around another compelling and strong female lead. Thursday Woodcutter is as daring as she is diminutive, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent with her and her zany crew. I also loved the exploration of the sibling dynamics of the siblings---getting more time with Jack and getting to hear more about Tuesday was bittersweet. Alethea has a way of making her supporting cast as entertaining and endearing as her leads. I was frankly sad to say goodbye, and while I know that the next book should focus on Wednesday (my other fave), I find myself wishing it would be a Thursday pt 2. The ending she set up so perfectly teased another story I'd love to read.
All the respect to Alethea for keeping these sisters' alive in her heart until they could come back home to her. I'll read as many of these as she writes--novellas, prequels, sequels, lore drops, what have you.
If you are a fan of stories like the Spellshop, Ella Enchanted, Stardust, Once Upon a Time, the Princess Bride or Tress & the Emerald Sea, or authors like Tamora Pierce and T Kingfisher, you might like this sweet cozy funny series. Just make sure you start back at the beginning!!!
June 14, 2026
3.5 stars.
I enjoy the Woodcutter Sisters books and I'm so glad Alethea Kontis is able to write them again after getting the rights to the series back from her publisher. I liked the second half of the book a lot once I figured out what was going on but I found the first half very disjointed and confusing with too many characters to keep track of. The pacing was also a bit slow. The second half was much better, so stick with it. Thursday and Hawk make a great couple. Looking forward to Wednesday's book.
Thursday the Pirate Queen is preparing to set out to find her missing husband, who has been kidnapped by trolls and is being held in the far, frozen north of the world. With her annoyingly perfect oldest brother Jack and her loyal crew they know they'll have to overcome some unusual challenges to make it there, let alone achieve their goal of rescuing the Pirate King and killing the leader of the trolls.
I enjoy the Woodcutter Sisters books and I'm so glad Alethea Kontis is able to write them again after getting the rights to the series back from her publisher. I liked the second half of the book a lot once I figured out what was going on but I found the first half very disjointed and confusing with too many characters to keep track of. The pacing was also a bit slow. The second half was much better, so stick with it. Thursday and Hawk make a great couple. Looking forward to Wednesday's book.
Thursday the Pirate Queen is preparing to set out to find her missing husband, who has been kidnapped by trolls and is being held in the far, frozen north of the world. With her annoyingly perfect oldest brother Jack and her loyal crew they know they'll have to overcome some unusual challenges to make it there, let alone achieve their goal of rescuing the Pirate King and killing the leader of the trolls.
June 8, 2026
I have waited for this book a long, long time.
I have read the first three in this series ten years ago and always hoped for Thursday's story.
Finally, I got it and my expectations were so high that I felt a bit nervous starting this book.
I shouldn't have worried - the story drew me right in and threw me in a whirlwind of emotions.
It made me cry before anything really happened, because the foreboding was just so intense.
It made me cry when it happened, ugly cry, which was okay because I was in a hotel room on vacation (and I should have read on but I couldn't, I was so devastated).
And then I cried again and this time I was on the plane home which was... not that great but absolutely worth it.
I finished the book at home and when I cried for the last time, it was all happy tears.
And it made me laugh out loud more often than I could count!
Found Family is my favorite genre and this book ... oh this book! The end was perfectly perfect and I loved it so much, especially after everything that happened in between.
The story had everything, laughter and tears, fighting and romance, sibling energy and deep friendship and frenemy banter.
It's chock full of nerdy, whimsy, beautiful people of all sorts and kinds, some you just have to love and some you love to hate.
And it's even got ... may I say this? I will! There be DRAGONS.
It's everything I wished for and more. And hopefully it won't be the last book in this world I came to love so much.
Arilland is just fantastic and I don't want to leave!
I have read the first three in this series ten years ago and always hoped for Thursday's story.
Finally, I got it and my expectations were so high that I felt a bit nervous starting this book.
I shouldn't have worried - the story drew me right in and threw me in a whirlwind of emotions.
It made me cry before anything really happened, because the foreboding was just so intense.
It made me cry when it happened, ugly cry, which was okay because I was in a hotel room on vacation (and I should have read on but I couldn't, I was so devastated).
And then I cried again and this time I was on the plane home which was... not that great but absolutely worth it.
I finished the book at home and when I cried for the last time, it was all happy tears.
And it made me laugh out loud more often than I could count!
Found Family is my favorite genre and this book ... oh this book! The end was perfectly perfect and I loved it so much, especially after everything that happened in between.
The story had everything, laughter and tears, fighting and romance, sibling energy and deep friendship and frenemy banter.
It's chock full of nerdy, whimsy, beautiful people of all sorts and kinds, some you just have to love and some you love to hate.
And it's even got ... may I say this? I will! There be DRAGONS.
It's everything I wished for and more. And hopefully it won't be the last book in this world I came to love so much.
Arilland is just fantastic and I don't want to leave!
June 7, 2026
A Happy Ending!
After so very many adventures, Thursday Woodcutter is happy at the end of this book. I won't divulge much except that you'll read about a flying ship, trolls, icemen of the north, dragons and dwarves and Dr Death! Birds that fly and talk and turn into men. Siblings and nieces and a crew of amazing folk! Kontis continues to amaze me at weaving so many fairy tales together, but creating new and wonderful stories out of stormy weather! She is a truly amazing writer and I can't wait to see what new Woodcutter story pops out of her brain!
After so very many adventures, Thursday Woodcutter is happy at the end of this book. I won't divulge much except that you'll read about a flying ship, trolls, icemen of the north, dragons and dwarves and Dr Death! Birds that fly and talk and turn into men. Siblings and nieces and a crew of amazing folk! Kontis continues to amaze me at weaving so many fairy tales together, but creating new and wonderful stories out of stormy weather! She is a truly amazing writer and I can't wait to see what new Woodcutter story pops out of her brain!
July 19, 2026
I love this author! I'm so happy to continue with this series. This story is everything I could have hoped it would be - adventure, love, empowerment. Recommend!
I received this story as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this story as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Kontis blends lush metaphors of piratical adventure, familial complexity, and the power of names, revisiting and redefining faerie tales like no other!
June 17, 2026
I'm so excited to read this book. You have no idea. I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self it's not over. I'll come back with a real review when it's time.
Want to Read
June 25, 2026REJOICE!!!!!!!!!! I haven't bought a book in ages but I am BUYING THIS ONE!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews