Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas the Rhymer | 1990 | Ellen Kushner | Buy |
| 2 | St. Nicholas and the Valley Beyond | 1994 | Ellen Kushner | Buy |
| 3 | The Golden Dreydl | 2007 | Ellen Kushner | Buy |
Ellen Kushner’s standalone novels show a different side of her writing from the Riverside books. Thomas the Rhymer (1990) retells the Scottish ballad of True Thomas, a young man who follows the Queen of Elfland into her realm and returns forever changed. Told from four different perspectives, the novel weaves folklore with grounded human emotion. It won both the World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Award in 1991.
St. Nicholas and the Valley Beyond (1994) is a children’s book that reimagines the story of Saint Nicholas. The Golden Dreydl (2007) is a Hanukkah story for young readers that draws on Jewish folklore. Both books show Kushner’s interest in drawing on traditional stories and giving them new life for modern audiences.
These three works stand apart from her Riverside fiction and can be read in any order. Thomas the Rhymer is the most widely known and is often recommended to readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings with literary depth.