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4 days and 07:40:37
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Woodcutter Sisters #4
Thieftess
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
4 days and 07:40:37
100 copies available
U.S. only
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!
406 pages, Hardcover
Published June 3, 2026
About the author
Alethea Kontis
142 books1,499 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. 🥀
*
"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
*
"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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 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!
Want to Read
June 25, 2026REJOICE!!!!!!!!!! I haven't bought a book in ages but I am BUYING THIS ONE!!!!!!
August 6, 2026
The Troll King has kidnapped Thursday Woodcutter, The Pirate Queen's husband, which as far as she's concerned is the last evil deed he will ever commit. Both herself and her crew are desperate to find him and will use any means necessary to do so. Just as they get their first solid lead though Thursday is forced to skuttle her own ship. Unsure of a way forward but knowing that time may running out for her husband (if it hasn't already) her first mate arrives just in the nick of time with a ship. Not just any ship though one her famous family made and one that will make all the difference in making it to him in time!
Omg this was so much fun!! It's like if you plopped Lina Inverse down in the middle of Mercedes Lackey's the Five Hundred Kingdom series except Lina is a Pirate Queen and her family members also just happen to play a staring roll in some beloved fairy tales.
Thursday is a great character, like absolutely wonderful, and while yes, I made the Lina Inverse comparison in that last paragraph I do feel like she probably isn't as reckless as Lina normally, she just had a really important thing to be done so caution went over the railing. She simply cares about the people around her too much (that is not to say Lina doesn't sheesh) to put them in danger very often. Plus, she just seems very even headed most of the time, like yeah, she made some rash decisions, but I feel like she did think them through before she went ahead of them. Her love for her crew is really amazing though, especially after we learn their back stories. Thursday is just one of those people that makes people feel safe around her. I think the only thing that kind of confused me is like the way she treated her brother, but like I feel like I probably need to read the previous books to understand their relationship better.
Hawk is really amazing as well, I mean omigoodness did this man go through it, like his whole life. I felt so freaking bad for him because throughout the whole book he just comes across as this very down to earth maybe even a little introverted person. Just really one of those people that seems to be extremely kind and deserves just the absolute very best in life but seems to be handed the worst.
Now, there are a ton of side characters in this one, so I am not going to go too deeply into them. There's enough interaction with them in terms of dialogue that like you get a sense of their personality and what not, but I didn't get to attached to any of them. Not even Silk really. That's not a complaint either there's a lot going on here just between Thursday and Hawk's story, anymore about the side characters than what was in this and it would have started feeling bogged down.
I loved how this story was told though! It opens with this flashback scene that immediately hooks you! The story that alternates between these flashbacks and the current story as well. What I think I enjoyed the most about this though is sometimes I'd read one of the flashbacks and it didn't really seem to fit with the larger story but then the next chapter or even a few chapters on it becomes absolutely vital information to understand why one character did or did not do something. It was just a really clever way to sneak some world building in terms of what came before that led to this situation.
Normally, I'd focus on the world building here but I really want to mention the pacing more than anything. There is a lot going on here, like a lot a lot. When I realized how many characters and their back stories were going to be necessary knowledge to understand what was happening, I was seriously concerned the pacing would falter at some point. Like my biggest concern was that the story was just going to get moving way to fast and trip over itself, but that never happens. The flashbacks help with a lot of this but like honestly, I feel like Alethea simply recognized that her world was big and there was a lot going on in it and didn't try to force it. I know that such a weird thing to say since of course she does she wrote it, but I feel like we've all read books where at some point everything starts feeling rushed and not in a good way.
What I really freaking loved, what would have given this at least four stars if everything else had not been amazing is the fact that this is a series and at no point to I feel lost. Like sure yeah there's definitely things that like are discussed by the characters that I probably need to go back and read the other books, but I never felt like it was necessary to understand Thieftess. Not only that the things that are said that are clearly referencing previous volumes made me want to go read them, not because I needed to but because they sounded amazing! I want to know more about this huge family of what I am pretty sure are magical wood workers and their fairy godmother aunties who cast spells on their nieces and nephews far too often. Now, I get to read them from Thursday's perspective too which I am looking forward too.
Thieftess was just simply a wonderful adventure with pirates and dragons and troll kings and sleeping princesses and Lost Boys and any other wonderful, fantastic fairy tale creature you can think of. I really can't recommend it enough if you are a reader of fairy tales but if you've read the Five Hundred Kingdoms or Jim C. Hines amazing Princess Series this is most definitely a series you need to read!
As always thanks to Book Sirens and Alethea Kontis for the eArc!
Omg this was so much fun!! It's like if you plopped Lina Inverse down in the middle of Mercedes Lackey's the Five Hundred Kingdom series except Lina is a Pirate Queen and her family members also just happen to play a staring roll in some beloved fairy tales.
Thursday is a great character, like absolutely wonderful, and while yes, I made the Lina Inverse comparison in that last paragraph I do feel like she probably isn't as reckless as Lina normally, she just had a really important thing to be done so caution went over the railing. She simply cares about the people around her too much (that is not to say Lina doesn't sheesh) to put them in danger very often. Plus, she just seems very even headed most of the time, like yeah, she made some rash decisions, but I feel like she did think them through before she went ahead of them. Her love for her crew is really amazing though, especially after we learn their back stories. Thursday is just one of those people that makes people feel safe around her. I think the only thing that kind of confused me is like the way she treated her brother, but like I feel like I probably need to read the previous books to understand their relationship better.
Hawk is really amazing as well, I mean omigoodness did this man go through it, like his whole life. I felt so freaking bad for him because throughout the whole book he just comes across as this very down to earth maybe even a little introverted person. Just really one of those people that seems to be extremely kind and deserves just the absolute very best in life but seems to be handed the worst.
Now, there are a ton of side characters in this one, so I am not going to go too deeply into them. There's enough interaction with them in terms of dialogue that like you get a sense of their personality and what not, but I didn't get to attached to any of them. Not even Silk really. That's not a complaint either there's a lot going on here just between Thursday and Hawk's story, anymore about the side characters than what was in this and it would have started feeling bogged down.
I loved how this story was told though! It opens with this flashback scene that immediately hooks you! The story that alternates between these flashbacks and the current story as well. What I think I enjoyed the most about this though is sometimes I'd read one of the flashbacks and it didn't really seem to fit with the larger story but then the next chapter or even a few chapters on it becomes absolutely vital information to understand why one character did or did not do something. It was just a really clever way to sneak some world building in terms of what came before that led to this situation.
Normally, I'd focus on the world building here but I really want to mention the pacing more than anything. There is a lot going on here, like a lot a lot. When I realized how many characters and their back stories were going to be necessary knowledge to understand what was happening, I was seriously concerned the pacing would falter at some point. Like my biggest concern was that the story was just going to get moving way to fast and trip over itself, but that never happens. The flashbacks help with a lot of this but like honestly, I feel like Alethea simply recognized that her world was big and there was a lot going on in it and didn't try to force it. I know that such a weird thing to say since of course she does she wrote it, but I feel like we've all read books where at some point everything starts feeling rushed and not in a good way.
What I really freaking loved, what would have given this at least four stars if everything else had not been amazing is the fact that this is a series and at no point to I feel lost. Like sure yeah there's definitely things that like are discussed by the characters that I probably need to go back and read the other books, but I never felt like it was necessary to understand Thieftess. Not only that the things that are said that are clearly referencing previous volumes made me want to go read them, not because I needed to but because they sounded amazing! I want to know more about this huge family of what I am pretty sure are magical wood workers and their fairy godmother aunties who cast spells on their nieces and nephews far too often. Now, I get to read them from Thursday's perspective too which I am looking forward too.
Thieftess was just simply a wonderful adventure with pirates and dragons and troll kings and sleeping princesses and Lost Boys and any other wonderful, fantastic fairy tale creature you can think of. I really can't recommend it enough if you are a reader of fairy tales but if you've read the Five Hundred Kingdoms or Jim C. Hines amazing Princess Series this is most definitely a series you need to read!
As always thanks to Book Sirens and Alethea Kontis for the eArc!
August 8, 2026
As a fellow fairy tale author, I have a great respect for the way Alethea Kontis so elegantly weaves fairy tales together (the Snow White moments in this alone are brilliant).
There are so many fairy tale retellings these days and I wish I could hand every single one of those authors a copy of Thieftess (or any of the Woodcutter stories) and say *this* is how it's done. This is how you have adventure that is organic and authentic and never loses sight of the characters. This is how love drives a story full of romance and friendship and found family. This is a story you can sink into instead of skating over the surface.
I've loved the Woodcutter series since Enchanted. I'm grateful we finally have Thursday's story. And I can't wait, now, For Wednesday.
There are so many fairy tale retellings these days and I wish I could hand every single one of those authors a copy of Thieftess (or any of the Woodcutter stories) and say *this* is how it's done. This is how you have adventure that is organic and authentic and never loses sight of the characters. This is how love drives a story full of romance and friendship and found family. This is a story you can sink into instead of skating over the surface.
I've loved the Woodcutter series since Enchanted. I'm grateful we finally have Thursday's story. And I can't wait, now, For Wednesday.
August 8, 2026
I've waited so long for this book and am so glad it's wonderful. Thursday in the earlier novels was always a bit mysterious and a bit ahead of the game. It was interesting to get to see her adventures first hand, to journey with her as she chased love.
Mostly, though, I wish I'd written this review because it captures what I think so well (though I abridged it slightly):
“Alethea Kontis understands something most fairy tale writers have forgotten. She writes like someone who has lived inside these stories so long she's become one with the language. Her words are funny, lush, and occasionally devastating. This is a world of enchantment that welcomes you in and doesn’t let you leave. And you will love her for every bit of it.”
—Maurice Broaddus, author of Buffalo Soldier
Mostly, though, I wish I'd written this review because it captures what I think so well (though I abridged it slightly):
“Alethea Kontis understands something most fairy tale writers have forgotten. She writes like someone who has lived inside these stories so long she's become one with the language. Her words are funny, lush, and occasionally devastating. This is a world of enchantment that welcomes you in and doesn’t let you leave. And you will love her for every bit of it.”
—Maurice Broaddus, author of Buffalo Soldier
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 20, 2026
A light and entertaining fantasy filled with clever fairy-tale references that kids will enjoy. There's a body count, given these are pirates, but the violence is cartoony and brief, so the novel is safe for all ages. Alethea Kontis's world is so vast, and there are so many intriguing destinations, one can't help anticipating what other adventures these characters will have.
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.
July 29, 2026
It's The ODYSSEY but with a woman and PIRATES!!!!! SAY WHAT!?!?
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews