Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

If you've been aware of my reviews for a while, you'll know I am a sucker for fairy tales and their retellings. Even if they're nothing new, I still love devouring their quests and riddles - Nettle & Bone is no exception, but sadly wasn't on the highest peaks of the pile.

My main challenge with this book was that there were no stakes, and thus not much momentum. Everything happens rather easily, and Marra (out protagonist) often doesn't have much to do with the resolutions. Even the darker themes of systemic domestic abuse and individual exposition - something that felt like it had the opportunity to nuance the plot - sadly didn't really turn up in the story itself. The whole thing felt rather TV, which was a bit of a shame given the 30-year-old protagonist.

I enjoyed the old-fashioned fairy tale world with its bone dancers, fairy forts, and angry ghosts. The best part was the first few chapters, where we are thrown right into the middle of Marra pursuing the impossible tasks she has been given. It felt creative and atmospheric, but unfortunately once we walked out of the mist (with Marra only completing two of the three tasks, no less), everything became quite straightforward.

Nettle & Bone was a pleasant enough read, but does it offer anything new to the fairy tale retelling craze? Not really.

I need to start this review with a disclaimer. For some reason, I went into this read already biased against liking it. I have no idea where this came from since I had requested it but the bias was there.

So it should be encouraging when I go on to say I lovedddddd this book. I loved the characters, the plot, the writing. Pretty much everything from a few chapters in.

Kingfisher is definitely an autobuy author for me now because I really enjoyed the writing style.

10/10 I would recommend.

Guys this book - my word. One of my favourite reads last year I couldn't wait to reread it again this year and my love for it didn't change!

Witty, quietly funny and eerily dark this was an intelligent and gripping take on the classic fairytale quest story.

I adore ensemble casts and this ragtag team was so brilliantly written. A bone witch, a nun, a knight and a fairy godmother with a bone dog and demon chicken - they were very much the characters I didn't know I needed! This tale was unexpected and filled with such dry wit, sarcasm and heart warming moments I genuinely cannot recommend this book enough. The chaos that ensues had me laughing out loud as well as getting teary. All the feels!

The world building was vast and I feel like there was so much more to share so my only complaint would be this book was over too quickly!

As quick a read as it may be it certainly packs a punch!A feminist, chaotic, revenge fairytale based adventure this was a 5 star read for me and you guys simply must read it!!

I was quite fascinated by this book.

The writing exuded a morbid, almost gothic atmosphere, yet it was infused with plenty of humor.

The characters were portrayed as both powerful and fragile, adding depth to the narrative.

The unfolding story and the vivid scenery painted a compelling picture with each turn of the page. It felt like delving into a blend of fairytales infused with feminist undertones.

Needless to say, I eagerly anticipate exploring more of this author’s works in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

I'm annoyed it's taken me so long to finally cross Nettle & Bone off my TBR, because this is definitely a new favourite. Interestingly I didn't think it would be initially as there was a small section near the beginning which dragged a little for me, but to be honest I think that was more down to my mood at the time that I was reading it because when I picked this novel back up I had the best time with it.

I've enjoyed T. Kingfisher's fairy tale leaning work before; both The Raven and the Reindeer and Bryony and Roses are charming, but the content of Nettle & Bone is ever so slightly darker. It's not a grim or unpleasant book, though - if anything its darker elements make the moments when the protagonists succeed all the sweeter.

Marra is the youngest of three princesses of a harbour kingdom with an intimidating neighbour. When her beloved older sister Damia is married off to the neighbouring prince only to return in a box, her next sister, Kania, is sent off to be a bride in her place while Marra is sent to a convent. Marra is quite happy with this arrangement; she has no desire to get married and doesn't like court life, so is perfectly happy brushing out stables, embroidering, and training as a midwife. When she's invited to the christening of her new niece, however, Marra discovers the grim truth about her sisters' marriages: their husband is abusive, Damia's death was no accident, and now Kania is stuck in a living nightmare to protect their kingdom's people from war. Angry at the unfairness of it all, Marra sets out to find help and kill the prince.

There's so much to love about Nettle & Bone. It's full of T. Kingfisher's staple whimsy and sense of humour, and the characters and world-building are an absolute delight. It feels as though Kingfisher was able to fill an entire series of adventure and character development into one book, and she manages it without the novel ever feeling like it should have been longer. (I would have loved it to have been longer, but only so I could spend more time with these characters. As it is, it's a perfect little book already.)

Marra starts the story constantly doubting herself, and always worrying if she's in someone's way or making things more difficult for others than they should be. Throughout the novel we see her begin to grow in confidence, supported by the found family she collects along the way who all ultimately agree to help her because she's stubborn and, most importantly, because she's kind. There's the dust-wife, a grave witch who can speak to the dead and initially gives Marra three impossible tasks to do, including making a dog out of bone whom Marra names Bonedog. He is a very good boy. The grave-witch also has a demon-possessed chicken who sits at the top of her staff - she never speaks, but throughout the entire book I couldn't help picturing Billina from Return to Oz.

We also meet one of my favourite character tropes in fantasy: the disgraced knight who remains noble. It would have been so easy for Fenris to slide into the brooding male archetype, but instead he's a wry, gentle giant, and the sprinkling of a slow-burn romance between him and Marra is so well done.

Last but certainly not least is fairy godmother Agnes, whose power is not at all what it initially appears to be. Like Marra, she's someone whose kindness has often led to people underestimating her strength and I loved what Kingfisher had to say about fairy godmothers and power in this story.

Nettle & Bone made me nostalgic, despite the fact that I'd never read it before. It's fresh but will also feel familiar in that warm, welcome home way to any reader who loves fairy tales and quest narratives. I can't wait to get a copy for my bookshelves and read it all over again.

Loved how atmospheric this was!

It didn’t resonate with me quite the way the other T. Kingfisher books I’ve read did, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

It was classic T. Kingfisher in a way that takes fairy tale vibes and turns it into something beautifully devastating and uncanny. So descriptive and enchanting.

Another amazing fantasy title from T Kingfisher. THis is an author that all fantasy fans need to have on their bookshelves.

Nettle and Bone tells the story of Marra and her two sisters who are abused by a Prince. Marra realises she is the only one who can save them all. She visits a witch who gives her something to kill the Prince, but first she must complete a three tasks that are practically impossible. But she is not alone, She collects a group of unlikely characters to help along the way including the witch, a knight a fairy godmother and a chicken possessed by a demon.
It's a typical fairytale story with a twist, It was an enjoyable easy read filled with likeable characters and your rooting for all of them to succeed. T. Kingfisher is a talented writer and I couldn't put it down, I would highly recommend- this and all of their books.

“Bone dog, stone dog . . . black dog, white dog . . . live dog, dead dog . . . yellow dog, run!”

My thanks to Titan Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Nettle & Bone’ by T. Kingfisher. My apologies for the late feedback.

Having recently read ‘Thornhedge’, I decided to read one of Kingfisher’s earlier titles that has been on my TBR for ages. I was immediately captivated by this dark fantasy.

Princess Marra is the third-born daughter of a minor king, who rules a small city-state that houses the only deep harbor along the coast of two rival kingdoms. Her elder sister, Damia, enters into an arranged marriage with Prince Vorling of the Northern Kingdom. However, five months later her body is returned home. Then her other sister, Kania, becomes his second wife. When she turns fifteen Marra enters a convent.

Marra enjoys her life there as she has more power and freedom as a nun than as a princess of the realm. Years pass. When accompanying her family on a visit to the Northern Kingdom, Kania says to her: “Listen! If I die, don’t let her marry you off to the prince. Run away. Ruin yourself. Whatever it takes. Don’t let her drag you into this hell along with us.” Frightening words.

Marra realises that Prince Vorling is abusing Kania and decides to find a way to rescue her - by killing him. In order to obtain the tools to accomplish this she seeks help from a powerful dust-wife (a gravewitch). Elspeth agrees to help if Marra can complete three impossible tasks.

This is just the beginning of Marra’s quest. She is joined by Elspeth, Bonedog, a magically reanimated dog made of bones, Agnes, a reluctant fairy godmother, Fenris, a former knight, and Finder, a chicken possessed by a demon. This unlikely team plan to somehow take out the prince and free Marra's family and their kingdom from his tyrannous rule.

Kingfisher manages to incorporate some quite gruesome segments alongside lighter, sweet scenes. I feel that it take considerable skill to negotiate that line between the light and dark successfully. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the Goblin Market.

Overall, I loved ‘Nettle & Bone’ and found it a satisfying fantasy with excellent world building. I enjoyed this very much and felt that Marra was a wonderful lead with a quirky supporting cast.

DNF at 30%, this strange fairytale should have ticked all my boxes, but I couldn't get on board with it. None of it seemed to make much sense, and I have had this problem with T. Kingfisher's writing style in the past. Sadly this one wasn't gelling and life's too short, so we move.

I've read a few books by T. Kingfisher now and this is definitely my favourite so far. She has a knack for making her stories feel cosy and comforting with her (mostly) likeable sarcastic characters, but there's always a bit of dark edginess to balance it with. Can't wait to read the next on my to read list 'Thornhedge' out August 2023.

(ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley)

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book. I have wanted to try a T. Kingfisher book for a while and this one sounded very interesting from the synopses. I loved it!

After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra―the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter―has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself. Marra manages to get a group of people together to help/rescue her sister. The group is not your normal typical adventure group, eg. a chicken with a demon inside. The plot is great and the characters are wonderfully crafted.

I also loved the world building, I would definitely read more in this world. The fantastical aspects were explained enough and it was great to discover more from this world together with Marra and her group.

I highly recommend this book and I really want to read more by T. Kingfisher!

Nettle & Bone is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out Nettle & Bone today.

"Nettle & Bone" by T. Kingfisher is a captivating and darkly enchanting novella that will leave readers spellbound. The book is rooted in fairy tales and folklore, but with a modern and feminist twist that adds a fresh and compelling layer to the storytelling.

Kingfisher's writing is both lyrical and visceral, with descriptions that evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere. The characters are relatable and complex, with their struggles and triumphs feeling both universal and unique.

The book is also notable for its strong and diverse female characters, who subvert traditional fairy tale tropes and reclaim agency and power.

Overall, "Nettle & Bone" is a must-read for fans of fairy tales and fantasy. Kingfisher's writing is imaginative and captivating, with a depth and nuance that elevates the stories beyond mere retellings. The novella is a testament to Kingfisher's skill as a storyteller and her ability to craft tales that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. I highly recommend "Nettle & Bone" to anyone looking for a fresh and feminist take on fairy tales and folklore.

Nettle & Bone is an absolutely delightful read that I'd class as a 'modern fairytale'. The characters are unique and lovable, and I appreciated that they were older than you usually see in fantasy, with different priorities and life experiences to teens and younger adults. Marra was such a relatable protagonist; she embodies the quiet heroism of the everyday person who pushes themselves outside of their comfort in order to help a loved one. The tone was whimsical and humorous but with the undercurrent of darkness that was a staple of traditional fairytales before they were sanitized.

Overall it was a fun and fast read with enough imagination and emotion to leave a lasting impression despite the relatively short length. This was my first book from T. Kingfisher, but I really enjoyed their writing style and am looking forward to delving into their back catalogue.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC provided via Netgalley.

3.5 rounded up.

This was quite a charming read that had fairytale vibes but more of the old -style fairytales where bad things often happened.

I whizzed through the story and enjoyed it for the most part although I did occasionally question what the rules were? I prefer when I can follow the internal logic of a world to when everything has random vibes of a more Alice-esque nonsense world.

Pleasantly diverting, while perhaps not entirely memorable this was my first sampling of T. Kingfisher's writing and won't be my last.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

T. Kingfisher creates a magical world quite unlike anything I've ever read. I really hope there are more books in this series!!!
Thank you to Net Galley for an early copy of this book for review

Aah why is this book not any longer? I loved the story, I loved how Marra was a pampered princess, but didn't become conceited. And can we please get more MCs that don't have magic powers or something? Definitely going to be a good reread!

This was a fantasy with a difference, like a much darker version of a fairy tale. This is my first book by this author and I loved the writing style and plot line. It was quite unique and I will definitely be looking for more from this author

This is a dark fairy-tale-like fantasy. The main character, Mara, loses her oldest sister to a Prince in another land. Her other sister has to marry that tyrannical man, and Mara does everything she can to free Kania, her sister from the Prince with the help of other characters. They're fun and loveable, but serious in their job. I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters. The romance wasn't too overwhelming. I proved the writing style, like I knew I would as I've read 2 other books, horror, by T Kingfisher. The story was interesting to follow with some creepy and weird moments.