Nettle

NETTLE is a gorgeous faery tale, drawing from a wide range of stories.

The book has all the seductive charm and dangerous of faeries. They are capricious and beautiful and cruel here, treating humans as playthings and hating the sight of them. The faeries are both more than and less than human all at once.

The atmosphere of the book mirrors this, bringing the world of faery to life and threaded danger through all the beautiful parts. It has the lilt of a tale told generation to generation, spoken around fires and over flickering candles.

NETTLE a very addictive tale, hard to put down (and it's quite a short tale so you can put aside the time to devour it in one should you want.) It's gripping not in the way of a high action thrillers, breathless and heart racing terror, but in the way of mist drawing you deeper into the woods than you thought you were. You want Nettle to outsmart these tricky tests and get free. You want her to get justice for other trapped humans.

The tasks at the heart of the book echo the task in The Wild Swans, though with a new twist as to the importance of the nettles. Luckily, Nettle is also allowed to talk so she can make friends more easily. The feud between the king and queen of faery feels very reminiscent of that in Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream. There are also hints of other faery stories in the Grizler and Beattie and many more characters and tales told within the pages, letting the book sit neatly alongside this old tradition of telling tales about the beautiful and dangerous lurking just beyond touch.

This is such a beautiful fairy-tale story filled with all the good stuff you expect from a YA faery land - faery bargains that are riddled with deception, glamours, trickery and distraction, magical creatures and mysterious happenings.

The world building is stunningly descriptive, Bex Hogan has a very lyrical sort of style that complements the essence of this genre and the folklore/fairytale-ish vibe.

Our FMC, Nettle, is a really likeable character who doesn’t seem to fit in in her own world but that is part of her draw to me as a reader, and she’s very determined, intelligent and capable despite her naivete. Considering her limited experience with other people, her interactions and experiences in the faery realm make a lot of sense so it doesn’t feel overly frustrating or out of place.

The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall the pacing of the book was great. I think this is a perfect introduction for young teens and adults to the enchanting world and lore of faekind and fantasy novels.

WOW Bex Hogan has written another incredible book ❤️
I loved Nettle so much
I could picture so clearly this fantastic faery world that Bex has created with such beautiful writing and brilliant characters
I was gripped from the beginning and never wanted to put the book down
You won’t want to miss this when it comes out on October 10th ❤️💙🧡💚💜

Wow wow wow!!

I always knew I was going to love Nettle; it’s written by Bex Hogan and she is absolutely one of my autobuy authors. However, I didn’t expect to get out of my reading slump and devour a book so readily!

Nettle is beautifully written and I adored the world building and the characters. It was a really interesting take on the faery realm and I loved how Bex really made it her own. I was also pleasantly surprised not to have my heart destroyed for a change!!

I would highly recommend Nettle as a wonderful introduction to fantasy and faery tales - it was the perfect length to keep the reader engaged whilst still being full of detail.

*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.

Nettle reads like an instant fairytale classic. I absolutely adored her character, she’s a misfit and has the most wholesome life. This is then turned upside down as we go into the land of fae, which is full of the usual trickery and interesting characters. The lore and myths are drawn from and expertly crafted. For a short book it certainly gives a bit of everything, some trials, fairy dances, potential romance and power plays. I loved the world-building, the characters and the magical feeling this book provides. Highly recommend and I cannot wait to see the art produced after people read this. The cover is definitely as beautiful as the words inside. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.