T. Kingfisher

Author

T. Kingfisher is the pen name of Ursula Vernon, an American author and illustrator who writes fantasy, horror, and science fiction for adults under the Kingfisher name while continuing to publish children's fiction and comics under her own name. Her work is beloved for its warmth, wit, and ability to blend genuine menace with humour and... heart. Vernon/Kingfisher has won numerous awards across multiple genres and age groups, including the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Mythopoeic Award. She is also the creator of the Hamster Princess and Dragonbreath children's series, and the webcomic Digger, which won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story. A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (2020) is a standalone fantasy about a fourteen-year-old baker whose magical abilities extend only to bread and pastries — until she finds herself the city's unlikely last line of defence. The novel won the Nebula Award. The Paladin series — Paladin's Grace, Paladin's Strength, Paladin's Hope, and Paladin's Faith — combines romance, adventure, and a wry sense of humour in a richly imagined fantasy world. The Sworn Soldier duology and Saint of Steel series continue in the same world. Nettle & Bone (2022), a dark fairy tale, won the Hugo Award. The Twisted Ones, The Hollow Places, and What Moves the Dead are atmospheric horror novels that reimagine classic stories. Kingfisher writes with a distinctive voice — warm, funny, self-aware, and capable of shifting from laugh-out-loud comedy to genuine terror. Her heroes are often practical, middle-aged, anxious, or otherwise unlikely, and they are all the more loveable for it. The audiobook editions of Kingfisher's novels are wonderful, with narrators capturing her unique blend of humour and menace. Her books and audiobooks are essential for fantasy and horror readers who want their magic served with warmth, wit, and a deeply human touch. Read more Show less