Nettle did not fit in the human world. Wishing to save her sick grandmother she finds herself in the faery realm she heard stories of all her life. There, she is promised what she wishes if she completes three tasks. Along the way she meets Connor, a human who was stolen centuries ago and a mysterious shadow faery called Ellion. Not only has Nettle been tricked but she discovers she has a part to play in an age-old love story.

This lyrical tale presents a fairy tale aura that makes your inner child sing. And like all good fairy tales there is sadness that grasps the heart as to make the ending oh so sweeter. And there is danger and darkness. This world the author has created is of a wondrous imagination, touching all the senses, vibrant descriptions that paint it to perfection in our mind's eye. The details make it enchanting and somewhat frightening at the same time. The story flows at a timely pace, marching to the beat of a sweeping tune. I felt so aligned to that tune that it was unputdownable.

There are nods to faery standards though the author is creative in the building of her own mythology. Nettle plays with your 'I want the underdog to win' emotion and captures your heart from the beginning. The mystery that surrounds Nettle keeps the intrigue ablaze.

In my opinion, the underdeveloped triangle was not needed, you know who was more than enough. It just took away from the story. Also, the ending felt a bit rushed. I wish things could have come together more explicitly. But these are minor things amid how entertaining and delightful this was.

This book warns us that everything that shines is not gold. It is about hope, belonging and what it is to be free. But mainly it is about trying and not giving up, ever. Short in pages but long in charm, Nettle will steal your heart.

This story follows a young woman named Nettle raised by her grandma in the woods. In an attempt to save her grandma, Nettle finds herself in the faery realm she has grown up hearing stories of.

In this realm, Nettle makes a deal with the faery king where in exchange for completing three tasks, he will return her to the human world and save her grandma.

What follows is an enchanting and sometimes dark story inspired by myths and folklore. Hogan beautifully describes the faery realm and it really felt like you could step into the forests, masquerade balls and different buildings. Nettle was a fantastic character and I loved watching her navigate this new world she finds herself in.

Nettle meets many people whilst attempting to complete her tasks. She finds herself drawn to Conor and Ellion who we learn more about. Conor is a human stolen centuries ago and is also attempting to return to the human realm whilst Ellion is a shadow faery working for the king.

I would really recommend this book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc of Nettle.

I know I say this time and time again but I have loved every single book Bex Hogan has written and this was no different. Nettle is a truly beautiful and enchanting story that made me laugh and even made me cry. I loved everything about this story and I will shout about it from the rooftops until everyone has read it.

Nettle feels like a classic fairytale with magic and fae at its core. The world-building is phenomenal and I could instantly picture the land of the fae in which Nettle finds herself transported to. Nettle herself is an amazing character who I couldn't help but love. She may be a misfit but she's so caring and giving that I just wanted to pick her up and put her into my pocket to protect her.

My biggest regret is missing out on the special edition die to illness, I'm absolutely gutted and will be for the rest of my life.

I honestly loved every single second of reading this book and I really recommend picking this one up if you're a love of fairytales. I am always so excited to see what Bex writes next and I just know it's going to be brilliant!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

NETTLE - BEX HOGAN

One of the shorter books I've read recently, Nettle has left such a big impact on me. It reads like a new fairytale, and it's one that I wish I could've read when I was younger. Here's a synopsis:

A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He’ll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has already been tricked...

I have to start by saying that this book is full of heart - both in the way that it's written but also how the characters have been created. With no effort at all, I was sucked into this story and felt every bit as enchanted as Nettle does when she first encounters the faery realm.

Over the course of 304 pages, it feels like we're by Nettle's side as she attempts to complete the faery king's impossible magical tasks. The writing is vivid and beautiful, bringing the realm and its characters fully to life. If you love books that create vibes, then you'll love Nettle; whimsical, magical and lush with an otherworldly natural setting, this book reads like a cosy fantasy with a touch of romance.

Nettle is a brilliant lead character. She's tenacious and brave, but still completely relatable as she tries to understand her place in both her old world and the new. The other characters are also lovely, but Nettle is the main focus, which felt right as, in the end, this is very much a story about finding oneself.

I loved it and I'd recommend it to anyone who needs a little bit of magic in their life right now. Thank you to Bex Hogan, NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this ARC.

Release date: 10 October 2024

Review score: 5/5

TWs: child abduction

A gorgeous fairy tale reminiscent of classic older tales. Nettle was a quick read for me, the story was fast paced and while there was not a great deal of world building I felt what was provided was more than enough as the story was very self contained. I felt the story did end quickly and I would have preferred it to have been more drawn out with more detail, I would have loved an epilogue with Conor in the human world. All in all though a lovely gentle read.

Nettle captures the twisted, atmospheric darkness of the original fairytales and imbues it with heart in its excellent characterisation.

Our titular character is a brilliant protagonist, wanting to do anything to protect the only family she has ever known. She has a great sense of loyalty and love, as well as plenty of wits and creativity. Hogan’s characterisation is strong, with Nettle leaping off the page and straight into my heart. Nettle has a keen sense of right and wrong & works to fight the injustices she comes across. As with all good fairytales, there is a layer of mystery too. I loved Hogan’s exploration of found family and creating a community around us that we love. Nettle has only ever had that with one person, meaning she will go to any lengths to protect it. The romance threaded in is a lovely addition as well, feeling like an extra layer rather than defining Nettle. Her fierce and cunning nature would never allow for that anyway. For me, she was defined by her longing for freedom to exist simply as herself.

Hogan has never been one to shy away from darkness in her writing and Nettle is no exception, delving into the tricksy side of the fae. It focuses on manipulation and pretence with impossible tasks and deals. There is a cruelness inherent to proceedings, with fae treating humans like playthings. They are either manipulating them for their own entertainment or treat them with a cool indifference, a superiority that removes their humanity. The writing pulls you into this duplicitous world that is filled with both beauty and danger in equal measure. Some of the side characters send shivers down your spine and others charm you in an instant. Plenty lurks beneath the perfect appearance. I also liked the focus on deals and the importance of exact wording, else something unexpected be taken.

Nettle is a wonderful slice of faery magic, tempting and duplicitious.

arc review | nettle
3.5 ⭐️
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A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He'll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has been tricked…
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Thank you so much to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for granting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review <3
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I just want to start off by saying that I really enjoyed this dark YA fairy-tale and found myself enchanted by the beautiful world Hogan is able to immerse us in. The atmosphere was so mystical and alluring, and I really felt like I was being bewitched by a faerie charm as I followed Nettle through this magical realm; I never wanted to leave. It was a bit slow to start, but once Nettle begins her first task and we get to meet Connor and Ellion — the former a fellow human trapped in the faerie realm and the latter a Shadow Faerie — I was really invested.
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The tasks all having a connection to ‘Nettles’ — just like our protagonist’s namesake — was really interesting and creative, and I enjoyed following Nettle’s process of trying to outsmart the King’s trickery. I loved the setting of the ball, the beauty, the enchantments, the hidden horrors concealed in the palace. I also really enjoyed the dark spider faerie and goblin she has to manipulate into helping her with successfully completing her tasks.
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One of the main reasons I could not give this book 4 or 5 stars, although I was CLOSE, is the love triangle. I just didn’t really feel any chemistry between Nettle and her two love interests. One of them felt more like a friend, while the attraction to the other seemed to come out of nowhere. I was just a little disappointed as I think there could have been more opportunities for tension and more bonding moments (mainly between Nettle and ONE of the love interests). I also felt like the ending was a bit abrupt. There was all this build up and then I think things get solved a little too easily after so much struggle. So that lowered my rating as well.
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Overall, though, I did really enjoy this book. I highly recommend it if you love fairy-tales, faeries, and magic. It releases October 10, so be sure to snatch yourself a copy!

I loved this! The writing was so charming and atmospheric. It gave off proper fairy tale vibes. It was dark at times but not too dark, the right level of creepiness. I can't wait to start recommending this!

When Nettle’s Grandma is dying, she asks the faeries for help. But everyone knows that asking faeries for help, is always tricky! She forms a friendship with another human who she begins to suspect has been trapped for centuries, not months as he thinks. She is confused by the mysterious Ellion, who is a shadow faery that appears to help and discourage in equal measure. Exquisitely descriptive this modern fairytale is a triumph that gives you a feeling of reading a Grimm tale

Bex Hogan has done it again with Nettle! This is such a beautiful story. Nettle has always been a misfit, never accepted in society, always on the edges looking in but, much loved by her grandmother, who has brought her up on a diet of faery tales, myths and stories. And because of this. Nettle is aware of how society doesn’t think she meets their standards but, also aware of how she has grown to be strong and capable in the knowledge her grandmother has passed on to her, even if that doesn’t feel enough to get her fit in with the village folk.

When Nettle’s grandmother becomes very unwell, Nettle finds herself with no choices left, other than to ask the Faery King for his help and finds herself transported to the land of Faery, where she must complete three nights on impossible tasks, if she is to have any of hope of returning to her grandmother and finding a cure for her.

Bex Hogan creates such beautiful prose that really brings the Faery kingdom to life in all its beauty, deception and glamour! She creates characters that are multi-faceted, empathetic and interesting. Nettle is the perfect balance of determination, self-awareness and curiosity that it’s nigh impossible to dislike her, and Ellion and Marigold and Conor are given true depth akin to co-main characters that really brings them and the story to life.

I loved this book and the story that Higan created, not quite Faery tale, not quite adventure but, wholly captivating, heart warming and a joy to read.

Thank you Head of Zeus, Zephyr and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Such a delightfully whimsical faery story.
I loved Nettle, she was such a strong character, her relationship with her Grandmother was beautiful and her connection the Nettles was magical.
It felt like jumping into a new world similar to that of The Labyrinth a film I love. The glitz and the glamours of the fae world were wonderful.
Just perfect 👌

In a word? Enjoyable.

As someone who is into fae/fantasy books, I was excited to receive my copy of Nettle to read and review.

The story centres around Nettle, a human character with unusual gifts / abilities. She inadvertently ends up falling through a portal into a fae realm and the only way home is to complete three tasks, set by the King.

As a character, she’s likeable, as are the two friends that she makes along the way.

The story is well paced and moves along nicely, nothing is strung out or goes on too long, in my opinion.

I did find it slightly predictable at times, although the ending had some surprise elements woven in.

I did really enjoy it and wanted to get to the end to see what happened, which is always a good sign, right?

Thank you for allowing me to read and review this.

Nettle is a fantastic tale that combines readers' love of fairytales and folklore with a new and fresh FMC and plot.

Bex Hogan's world building is fantastical and draws you in from the start. Whilst reminiscent of well known tales, there are some lovely unique touches throughout the book.

A shorter books and with its addictive pace is it one that can easily be devoured in one sitting!

Nettle really does have the feel of a modern classic and I have no doubt it will be enjoyed by readers for many years to come.

This book is about Nettle, who is a wild misfit in the human world. She lives with her grandmother, and when she gets ill she finds herself transported into the fae world after begging someone to help save her grandmother. Nettle makes a pact with the faery king, who will cure her grandmother and send Nettle back to the human world if she completes 3 tasks.

This was such a lovely fae story, I absolutely love how magical it felt! I also really liked the characters, Nettle was just so likeable and I really wanted her to succeed. She ends up kind of in a love triangle but not really 😂 I always knew who she was going to pick. Anyway, I really liked the side characters as well, especially Ellion and Marigold and Conor.

This was a story that wrapped up everything very nicely at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything about the story but it felt like a classic fairytale. Because it was like a fairytale I found it a little bit predictable, in the sense that you knew that the danger would never be too bad because you knew she would succeed (although there WAS danger). But I didn’t mind this, when I was reading this I didn’t want it to be unpredictable.

I really liked the ending but I can’t talk much about it without spoiling the whole story 😅 overall, I think this was an easy read and tbh I wish it was longer! I absolutely loved the fae world and the magical vibes and just everything. I definitely rate my 5 stars based on vibes and feelings and this one just made me happy to read.

NETTLE (ARC Review)
Release Date: 10 Oct 2024
Rating: 4 stars
Spice: N/A (YA)

Nettle is a fantastic MFC, she’s bright, witty and doesn’t give up. An outsider in the human world and tending to her fading grandmother, she accidentally stumbles into the Faery Realm where she must partake in trials of a trickster Fae King who (when only on completion of her tasks) will aid her grandmother… however the tasks are more challenging than they seem.

Nettle has a real “Alice in Wonderland” vibe with curious magical world and creatures but still manages to keep the plot fresh and original. The faery realm that I imagined, is like a dreamscape that shifts and changes and has zero continuity which just adds to the overall enchantment of the story. I really enjoyed this read.

- magical systems and creatures
- trials
- world building
- self discovery
- found family
- a little bit of tension and intrigue
- friendships
- riddles and adventure

Thank you to Bex Hogan and netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Nettle is a gorgeous book, inside and out. The protagonist is very loveable and has a strong and distinct personality. The story gives a modern feeling to the old faery tales of deception and danger, with the protagonist making a deal and undergoing trials. Underneath the magic and glamour of the faery kingdom we feel a delicious sense of horror and the unsettling nature of its inhabitants.
I personally didn't feel much for the love triangle, but it has plenty of popular tropes, particularly for those who like a bad boy.
The pacing is snappy, although the ending felt a little rushed, and the book is both wholly immersive and easy to read.
At the end of the book is a cute guide to faery plants!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Oh my days this was beautiful! enchanting and magical fairytale, perfect for fans of Holly Black's Modern Faerie Tales. Beautifully written and atmospheric with loveable characters! definitely recommend! Can't wait for a special edition for my bookshelf! 5 stars.

Not just for kids

Thank you Head of Zeus, Zephyr and Netgalley for the ARC of Bex Hogan’s 'Nettle'.

Nettle, the protagonist, is a lovable and relatable from page one.
The worldbuilding in this novel is mesmerising: nature and magical creatures. Dialogue and interactions are beautiful and believable
This is an enchanting, timeless fairy-tale, a modern Grimm Brothers story. It is dark, at times, there is a quest, deception, trickery and friendship.

'Nettle', the novel and the protagonist, made me think of the colours and smells of autumn. So, if you’re looking for a shortening days novel for your teen or young adult, 'Nettle' is perfect. Then, read it yourself; after all, fairy-tales are not just for kids.

Short and sweet - a phrase that really encapsulates this story. I think this will interest readers of Holly Blacks 'Modern Tale of Faerie' who are looking for an engaging story with a dash of romance. I loved the darker aspects of Viper by this author so really enjoyed the elements scattered through this as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

This book follows a very traditional fairy tale format and it works. We have a main character who makes a bargain with a fairy king and has to complete three tasks as a result. There’s clearly a lot of love and affection for the traditional fairy tale from the author in this story.

While a lot of what’s in this book will be familiar for fans of fantasy and fairy tales, there were some nice touches that were more unique to this book. Things like the theming around nettles and how these pop up at different points throughout the book, a narrative point that requires communication to be in a very specific way, there’s a few moments like these that make the book memorable.

This book is very short and I did feel it needed to be longer. There’s a bit of a love triangle in the book and it was just way too sudden. It didn’t feel believable that the two characters fell in love with the main character so fast because there was too little development on either of these relationships. It was a bit jarring. However that aside, I did enjoy the fantasy and fairy tale elements of this book.