Nettle and Bone is an EXCELLENT dark fairytale. Kingfisher expertly blends horror and fantasy in this novel. I was both entranced and horrified throughout the entire book. However, I do think some elements of this book were a bit silly (iykyk). 4.5 stars. Would recommend this to fans of Ava Reid and Hannah Whitten

I wanted to love this but couldn’t finish it. I’ve enjoyed some of T. Kingfisher’s other books and absolutely love this cover but I am not in the right space for dark and creepy right now, which is now this started. Maybe I’ll give this a try at a different point in time, but right now this isn’t the book for me.

This is the kind of fairy-tale-ish fantasy that UV/T. Kingfisher excels at--a rich world full of beautiful details and good people trying hard in the face of a difficult world. There is so much emotional complexity behind the simplicity of the characters' motivations. Marra is very bad at politics and interpersonal complexity, but she knows her sister needs help and so she picks up heads off, not knowing how she'll help but knowing she has to try.

The cast of characters here is so delightful--the dust wife, cranky, mysterious and full of magic; the godmother, with limited magic but cheerfully eager to please; the disgraced warrior in need of rescue; two very different chickens. Our team has their eyes on the prize, but there is a lot of subtlety in the peripheral characters--the sister Marra never got along with; the mother who is holding a small kingdom together at the cost of her own loved ones.

I loved the convent and the goblin market and the burned lands, and how some problems don't need you to barge in with a sword, but to untangle the complicated threads of tradition and habit and ill will.

An absolute joy to read.

Content warnings: domestic/spousal abuse, both mental and physical; necromancy, the undead, and desecration of graves and bones; miscarriage and child loss; violence, injury and death; forcible tooth removal.

I’ve been such a fan of T Kingfisher for so long, and of her fairy tale work in particular, so Nettle and Bone, which subverts a lot of fairy tale tropes, has been one of my most anticipated books since I first heard about it – and it more than lived up to my excitement for it!

Gosh, I loved this book. I mean, I knew I was going to, because as I say I’m a really big fan of the author, but this is one of my favourites yet. Nettle and Bone perfectly captures everything I love about T Kingfisher’s writing: it’s smart, witty, and full of the kinds of well-rounded, capable characters I love, and somehow it manages to be cynical and hopeful at the same time. I love how she manages to mix darkness and warmth – please pay attention to the content warnings here, as the themes of spousal abuse and child loss in particular are quite strong, but don’t think this is a bleak or hopeless tale, because it still manages to be incredibly human and kind.

Nettle and Bone isn’t so much a fairy tale as an original story that pulls strands and themes from fairy tales in general and weaves them into something new. You have the fairy godmothers, the three impossible tasks, the animal companions and so on, but everything is a half-twist to the left. For me, who’s been completely obsessed with the bones of fairy tales for years, this was like catnip, spotting all the different threads in the cloth, but I think it would absolutely work if you didn’t have that background knowledge, because it’s a very classic quest (in some ways) and a very inventive world. It’s familiar and not at the same time. There’s so much here that’s delightful, creepy, or both at once!

This story is about the power of people who are determined to make the world better; they’re flawed, but they’re trying. There’s some fantastic examination of privilege, and how it isn’t always black and white that the people with privilege are the ones with power – it’s tricky to explain without getting into too much detail, but I loved how Marra’s role as princess is treated as being simultaneously a protection and a burden, without ever getting into that cliched fantasy princess ‘woe is me’ thing. Marra is thirty, and feels it. She’s naive in some ways and mature in others, and while she very much has the bones of a Kingfisher heroine (practical, smart, sarcastic) she feels really fresh and interesting because of her unique situation. The other characters I want to keep secret from you, because you should really meet them on-page first, but there wasn’t a single one who wasn’t fascinating. There’s a smidgen of romance, and a lot of character growth for everyone; it almost sneaks up on you how much you’ve fallen in love with all of them!

I feel like I’m being irritatingly cagey, but that’s because this is a short book (only 330 pages in hardback!) and each part of it builds on what comes before in beautiful ways that it would be a shame to talk about out of context. At the start of the book, you might be confused by the hopping around in the timelines, but just persevere because everything becomes clear very quickly, and the slightly odd structure ends up lending a real richness and depth to Marra’s character. So don’t spoil yourself before you go in – just let the magic of the story sweep you along.

If you’re a fan of T Kingfisher, you absolutely need this book, and if you aren’t yet, this would be a great place to start (or with one of my other two favourites, Bryony and Roses or Swordheart). Five out of five cats!

I didn’t love this book and that’s partly on me because I’ve been slumping pretty hard but sometimes a really amazing story will pull me out of a slump and this unfortunately wasn’t it.
I struggled to connect with the main character although I admired a lot of her traits including her determination and stubbornness. I liked a few of the secondary characters quite a bit and felt that they all had their own unique personalities.
It’s very slow burn overall which ratchets up the creepiness factor but made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
I did really enjoy certain parts like the goblin market and I loved the found family/unlikely crew vibes.
The pace quickens toward the end and I definitely felt more invested in the last third of the book.
If you’re looking for a unique, stand-alone fantasy that’s a mix of eldritch horror, offbeat humor with surprising touch of warmth this is definitely a book to pick up!

If there's one thing T Kingfisher is great at, it's writing completely bizarre novels that are a blast to read. Always a huge fan of the found-family trope, so I adored the dynamic of our cast of misfits, especially bonedog and "the chicken that has a demon in it". An incredibly engaging and fun read!

4.5
I am just going to have to accept that I am a standing T. Kingfisher fan. I have enjoyed everything I've read by them. I'll admit that this isn't my favorite of their books that I've read—I thought it a little slow at times and sometimes I wanted a deeper conversation about things than we were given—but I sure did enjoy the heck out of it.

So much about Marra—who I am convinced is neuron-divergent—is relatable. She's practical as all get-out and is getting the job done, but she's an angsty, insecure mess the whole time she's doing it. Yeah, I felt that in my very bones.

The romance is super subtle and I adored it. All of the side characters are marvelous and there is just so enough absurdity that happens. (I laughed often.) I am sad to be finished and look forward to my next T. Kingfisher book.

A little late with the review for my ARC, but I knew I'd get to it eventually.
And I am glad I did.
Goblin markets, evil princes, and dogs made of bones, oh my! It's a dark fairytale with a touch of humor (thanks to an ornery gravewitch and her demon-possessed chicken). The characters are strange yet loveable, the story is unique and entertaining, and there's just a smidge of romance that even had me yelling "just kiss already!" My only critique is that the very beginning was a little disjointed as it jumped around in time from Marra completing the second impossible task to her childhood and back again and then back again. This felt a bit distracting and was partly why it took me so long to get into the book. But the story progresses in a linear fashion after those couple quick jumps and from there its much smoother sailing.

Special thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Marra is the youngest of three princess'. When the Oldest dies under mysterious circumstances and she finds the next oldest sister in danger she must act to protect her family. With the help of a witch who speaks to the dead, a fairy godmother, a knight and a dog made of bones she quests for vengeance and to save her remaining family.
I am a new fan of T kingfisher and every book I have read so far I have absolutely loved. This story is no exception. An endearing cast of strong female characters makes this book very readable. This book has the perfect balance of classic and fairy-tale like fantasy along with genre busting themes and a women driven plot. I would highly recommend this book.

so this is one of those authors who in book groups get named alot and so when i saw this book on netgalley i thought i would give it a good and see what its all about.

this book was a fun read and but i found parts of it slow but i am glad to say that they didnt stop me reading it or did it make me feel like putting the book down and leaving it a while. the story line was okay and that up and down flow which is why it keeps you locked in but the characters are where it was all at. their growth and sass was just what i wanted in the book and so i am glad i stayed for them.

have been told this is a series and so i am hoping i will see more of what i want in this book in book 2

This was a very entertaining read. The author's descriptions and writing style are enjoyable and the pace is fast. Marra's internal thoughts made me laugh and I loved the dust-wife & fairy godmother interactions and they made for a great road trip. I did appreciate the chicken with a demon as well, as the dust-wife was dead serious about it, but everyone always assumed she was joking. I can't wait to get others to read this.

5 stars
T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. Nettle & Bone is an excellent book for fans of A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking who want a somewhat darker tale for an older age group, though I think even younger readers would benefit greatly from reading this if they are interested.
The cast of characters is delightful, and the plot rolls along quite nicely, though I can honestly say I could never guess what would happen next after each scene.
The story features the impression, which I find very honest, that everyone is muddling along as best they can with the tools and circumstances given to them. Heroes, villains, and side characters alike are all doing what they can in a difficult world. Amidst truly entertaining adventures with magic, fairies, and distant kingdoms, the characters find the time to consider profounder truths.
A fairy tale for the soul, Nettle & Bone is a book I think all story lovers should read.

Kingfisher is an author who consistently does not disappoint, her prose and wit will always remain top tier and I will pick up every book she writes. That being said, I loved this novel! It's different from her horror novels yet still maintains the dark atmosphere prevalent in all her novels.

Marra and her gang of friends were a delight to read about and I loved their banter throughout the book. Although the plot seemed relatively simple, I found that Kingfisher made it work. Common tropes, such as fairy godmothers and defeating an evil king were subverted and Kingfisher put her own spin on it - it was great.

Overall, this was a great fairytale-like story to sink your teeth into and I promise you will not regret it.

3.5 stars. Short and wholesome, but this honestly started off so much stronger than it ended. I loved the dark and creepy vibes I was getting initially and then it just turned into pretty standard medieval questy fare.

“Nothing is fair, except that we try to make it so. That's the point of humans, maybe, to fix things the gods haven't managed."

Nettle & Bone is a classic fantasy romp full of heart—but not before showing you it’s sharp teeth. It’s a dark fairytale rooted in feminism and the helping of those in need, surrounding a ragtag cast of characters that are unforgettable. This is everything I was craving in a story and it delivered.

I knew I was in for a good time as soon as I read this opening line: ”The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen. The pit was full of bones and her hands were full of wires.”

The story begins with the main character, Marra, attempting to complete the second of three impossible tasks set by a graveyard witch. Marra must complete these tasks before she can get the help she needs to murder a prince who has gotten away with the death of her eldest sister and ongoing abuse of her last remaining sister. Marra will do whatever it takes to complete her mission and save her sister from his grasp before it’s too late.

And so a 30-year-old (finally a protagonist over the age of 20!) third-in-line princess-turned-nun, a fallen knight, a witch who can summon the dead, a quirky fairy godmother, a dog made of bones, and a chicken possessed by a demon join together to help Marra commit regicide. Incredible, right? And oh wow, the journey is equal parts hilarious, horrifying, and completely endearing.

Kingfisher makes sure to showcase her fury at the disregard for women’s bodily autonomy, the obsession with production of male heirs at the expense of women’s lives, domestic abuse at the hands of men, here especially men in positions of power, and the hardships of women’s roles in male-dominated politics as well as societal pressure to fit into a certain mold. These subjects made me furious alongside the other characters in the book, and now that America is currently inflicting a war on women’s bodies (to be fair, it’s always been ongoing, and feels like it will never end), it fuels the fire in me. This aspect of the book was cathartic and painful and extremely important.

"If we were men… She stared at her fingers curled in the dirt. It did not matter. They were not and the history of the world was written in women’s wombs and women’s blood and she would never be allowed to change it."

Each character is constrained in some way and they work to help each other out in finding their freedom. It’s ultimately uplifting and hopeful. Each character is fleshed out and believable with their own distinct voices which displays Kingfisher’s incredible writing abilities.

The plot itself is very fun and fast-moving—it essentially turns into a road trip adventure where the characters are forced to get to know one another and become a kind of found family through some macabre situations that are filled with humorous and quick-witted dialogue. There is also buildup of a sweet romance throughout the story that I really enjoyed. All in all, I don’t think I have a single complaint. I loved it, plain and simple.

I think I need to start working on reading everything T. Kingfisher has put out. I haven’t read much by Diana Wynne Jones but this really does have the same whimsical feel as Howl’s Moving Castle. It has zany, dependable characters you grow to care and root for in a fairy-tale land that subverts tropes while engaging some nostalgia. I lived happily inside of this book for a few hours and I highly recommend the experience! Nettle & Bone is a 5 star read for me and will absolutely be one of my favorites of the year.

*thank you to Tor Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions*

TW: child death, miscarriage, domestic abuse, mentions of cannibalism, torture, pregnancy and childbirth

I’m not sure there’s anyone out there who is as consistently good at dreaming up dark fairy tales with not-so-dark endings as T. Kingfisher, and Nettle and Bone is another success of the same sort.

I always need a side of humor with my Fantasy novels, and Kingfisher gives us hints of that here, leaning on the buddy comedy trope that always feels like a must for the genre in my opinion.

I enjoyed following the adventures of this merry band of misfits as they embarked on a seemingly impossible journey to save Marra’s sister, her family’s legacy, and the kingdom itself.

Marta is a delight, a courageous but reluctant heroine who never sought to change the world but couldn’t stand to sit by and watch it burn.

Nettle & Bone starts right in the middle of our protagonist, Marra, attempting to complete her second impossible task, and then back tracks to before the task. It was a bit disorienting. The lack of linear storytelling had the beginning feeling a bit disjointed and the pacing off. By the halfway mark, the novel does find its legs, and the plot proceeds chronologically. The opening also set the tone of this novel as being a very dark, fairy tale, but this turned out to be a bit misleading. The novel did have terrifying elements, but it also had a sense of humor with plenty of moments of levity.

The highlight of this little novel was its delightful ensemble of characters. Marra as our unassuming heroine was fine. She was pretty unremarkable in comparison to the others. However, the Grave-witch and fairy godmother were standouts. The Grave-witch with her demon possessed chicken familiar was always a source of laughs, and the fairy godmother as her sidekick was perfection. Bonedog and Fenris were also great additions to this motley crew.

Nettle & Bone was a weird little book, but the story kept me within its grasp until the very end. It was refreshing. I really enjoyed this one.

3.5 stars

This is a very creative and unique tale with a morbid twist, which is something I’m not used to

Marra comes across some colorful and lovable character to join her on her journey to kill a prince

There wasn’t as much romance as I prefer, especially since Marra is 30 and Fenris nearly 40 I was expecting a bit more

The characters are all likable but I didn’t feel like I really got close to them

*thank you to T. Kingfisher and Tor Books for giving me a copy of the book for an honest review*

As with any book by Kingfisher, I was immediately drawn into this story. I love the way the author weaves tales with darkness and light, the way the characters are never quite good or evil and just the all around uniqueness the stories

The characters are so fun, morally grey, but with just a bit more light in them. There is something so hopeful in their hearts as they quest.

This one was a little different than the authors other works as far as being more fantasy/fairytale than the normal horror. It's perfect for a more YA audience, yet still fun for those of us that are older. It puts a spin on what a fairytale should look like and I loved it.

Kingfisher continues to be an auto buy author for me.

5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2022/05/09/nettle-bone-by-t-kingfisher-wyrdandwonder-book-review/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Fantastic, I absolutely loved it

Fairytale style stories are absolutely one of my favourite reads and I’m always on the lookout for more. This is an author that I haven’t read before but have wanted to do so for quite some time and now, with the benefit of Nettle and Bone under my belt, I can genuinely say that I will be visiting all her previous books. I loved this book so much. It’s full of everything that I enjoy, it’s got elements of old fairy tales but as the same time feels unique. It takes us on a wild ride to a far away kingdom. There are princesses in distress, people who can talk to the dead, a dog that came back to life, amazing characters and the beginnings of a sweet romance.

As the story begins we meet Marra as she strives to complete an impossible task, we then backtrack to discover how she found herself on this quest and find ourselves in a small kingdom, far, far away, where the Queen, striving for the safety of her people, arranges a political alliance with a much larger neighbouring kingdom in the North. The first Princess is given in marriage to the Prince but unfortunately meets with an untimely death. Hoping to remain allied the second Princess is wedded to the Northern prince and the third Princess is sent to a convent (basically being kept in reserve in case the fate of the second Princess follows that of the first). Marra is the third Princess in the tale and far from being unhappy at being sent to the convent she thrives in this world where she is permitted to complete regular tasks and use her intelligence to help others. I won’t elaborate too much here other than to say that Marra becomes aware of the cruelty of her brother-in-law and strives for a way to save her sister.

To cut to the chase the characters here are a strange but lovable bunch. Marra is a great character to read. She’s warm and loving, intelligent and quite forward thinking. She is determined to help her sister at any cost and although her mission is basically a recipe for disaster for all concerned she makes herself press on. She is aided on this quest by a dust-wife and her demon-possessed chicken. A crotchety old woman who can converse with the dead and whose pockets are filled with an odd collection of potions, string and other strange items. I loved this character. What a fantastic creation she is, I would definitely read more about her adventures. We also have a Fairy Godmother who is in denial about her true magic – but I won’t say more about that here. Agnes was the Princesses’ Fairy Godmother, granting the three ‘good health’. She joins this eclectic crew and finds friendship where she least expected. The two final members are both given a second chance in life. Fenris is a disgraced warrior who is rescued from the Goblin Market and becomes loyal to Marra and determined to help. The two have a lovely chemistry and a slow burn romance that is both naive and captivatingly charming. Finally, the bone dog, a quirky, fun, crazy, reanimated dog skeleton that has forgotten that he ever died and likes to lick his nether regions – even though he doesn’t have nether regions! Or a tongue for that matter.

The plot is really good and the pacing just excellent. There’s always something new and intriguing which prevents this becoming too much of a simple A to B quest style story. I mean, fundamentally, it is a quest story and the characters do spend time going here and there but there are so many new encounters that the story feels fresh and exciting.

On top of this, although you may be thinking that a fairytale type story might lack depth, this is a wonderfully layered story. It draws on well known tales and yet manages to give things a new twist. The author manages to create interesting backstories for the places and also comes up with plenty of new and imaginative creations. The Palace in the North, for example, is a fascinating place with a huge haunted catacomb full of former kings, their wives and children and a few other hideous surprises.

In terms of criticisms. I haven’t got any, it’s that simple. I loved this book from beginning to end and whilst, technically speaking, this is a quest with a deadly motive the characters are so warm and lovable that the dark endeavour they pursue feels less dark than it otherwise might.

Overall, a fantastic read and one that I can’t recommend enough. Plus that ending. Tears and laughter.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.