Actual rating 4.5.

This is just the most perfect whimsical, magical little book to read this season - it’s quite short, but totally swept me away for the time I spent with it, and felt ideal for autumn reading!

Inspired by faery myth and folklore, this is a story that balances darkness and light so well. Whilst there’s a lot of tragedy and heartache throughout the novel, Nettle is an absolute gem of a character and her kindness and unique heart shines through from the very first page - I love how unapologetically different she is, and her affinity with nature.

As well as great characters and a touch of magic and romance, there’s also a great bit of mystery to the story which will keep you hooked - why does Nettle manage to do all these impossible things in the faery kingdom? There’s clearly something going on, but I couldn’t guess what until all was revealed! I love that the author managed to create this compelling plot and to resolve the mystery for the reader in such a short read, whilst also giving so much in the way of character and setting - it was just a total joy to read!

One day I'll stop seeing the word "faerie" and thinking it will be the exception to my 100% track record of hating any book with fae I touch. This wasn't bad, in fairness, it just wasn't for me. The cover is gorgeous and I would love to listen to something else narrated by this narrator. I think those who love fairytale fantasy and fae will love this.

"Once there was a girl called Nettle"

I devoured this whimsical fairytale in one day. It pulled me into a warm hug, offering a dreamy atmosphere with a parallel world to flee to - wonderful and true escapism.

It was a rather short story, an easy read with likable characters, wrapping up nicely in the end. For a breath moment I was afraid of a love triangle sort of situation but all turned out satisfying and happily in the end - which is always good for a standalone.

You can expect trials, tricky faeries and other magical creatures, a deal with a faery king, wholesome companions and side characters and some sparkles of romance. The romance isn't flashed out though, the plot focuses more on the overall story.

I adored the writing style and the narrator, Anna Burnett. I'll definitely keep the Author on my radar.

If you are looking for a sweet, good-feel read in between, with a fairy-realm that feels like the old fairytales our parents read to us when we were kids, this is your story.

This was a lovely fairytale. Very different to the other books I've read by Bex Hogan, but I really enjoyed it. Nettle is such a sweet, caring character but so brave and strong too. The world was both terrifying and magical at the same time.
The narrator was good though the character seemed very young. I wasn't sure exactly how old Nettle was supposed to be but the voice sounded more like a child than a young adult.

This was such a great read. The narrator did a great job of bringing the story for life and keeping me hooked. I really enjoyed the story and the build up to the plot twists and revelations. The faeries in this book were manipulative and scheming trying to trick humans every chance they can into deals that keep the humans in service to them and I loved seeing these type of fae in the story.
The MC was smart & resilient, she refused to give up even when everything looked bleak. She kept on trying and used the little resources she has but she also had compassion & empathy for the others around her who were also suffering like her & I loved the friendships she built.

Anna Burnett absolutely CRUSHED the narration. Seriously, her voice brought the whole story to life in a way that made the hours just fly by.

This isn't one of those super dense fantasy novels that takes forever to get through. It's more like a quick, delicious snack of a story - easy to digest but totally satisfying. The pacing is smooth, the characters feel fresh, and you're not bogged down by endless world-building or complicated magical systems.

If you're someone who loves fantasy but doesn't want to commit to a massive tome, this is absolutely your jam. It's perfect for:

- Audiobook lovers who want something engaging
- Fantasy fans looking for a lighter read
- People who want a story they can breeze through in a weekend

Props to the narrator for making the characters pop and keeping the energy high. Definitely recommend grabbing this if you want a fantasy escape that won't feel like homework.

Rating: Solid 4/5 ⭐ - Quick, fun, and totally worth your time.

I adore Bex's writing, and a fairytale?? Yes please. So I went into this with very high hopes, and was not let down! I love the way that we get the portal into fairy, then the tricks and cleverness that can be employed in order to complete the tasks.

There were a lot of parts of this that lean into the typical elements of fairy we see in stories, and I think Bex navigated them really well. My favourite parts were how she made friends and what happened because of it, and the goblin market which was honestly fab.

My only real niggle was the ending felt quite bittersweet for me - I understand it, and it didn't affect my rating, but it felt like quite a harsh decision from the character.

This perfectly walked the line between the whimsy of a fairytale and the sinister elements of fairy and I can't recommend it highly enough! I also listened to the audio and the narrator did a fantastic job.

5 stars, definitely pick this up if you've been considering it!

a thoroughly enjoyable faery tale that is full of heart and oddity. bex hogan explores a fae world that is whimsical and exciting in a way that feels fresh yet traditional.

nettle is a joy, and a well paced read to escape into.

**this is a duplicated review as i accidentally requested both ebook and audio!**

i flipped between the two & the audiobook is really well produced with a great narration.

Oh, this is great! It's 'Alice in Wonderland' meets 'The Labyrinth'!

It's sweet and - okay, predictable, but - there's something very deeply delightful about a story that is so formally note-perfect in terms of unity and cohesion. By which I mean that 'Nettle' is characterised by steady, consistent growth and forward momentum of its plot. Beth Hogan offers just the right amount of each element at just the right point in the story and for just the right duration.

Anyone could pick this up and read it and, I think, feel warm enjoyment and a sense of satisfaction, of everything coming full around.

And to top it off, Anna Burnett gives a remarkably sensitive and naturalistic performance as narrator. She imbues a word-perfect tale with trembling feeling, capturing Nettle's bold yet vulnerable emotional life.

My thanks to Bloomsbury and Head of Zeus audiobook's for the opportunity to listen to this wonderfully crafted book in exchange for review.

What a wonderful modern fairy tale! Nettle takes the darkness of original fairy stories and blends it with a charming beauty that's an ode to the genre. Get ready for manipulative fae, impossible tasks, complicated relationships, and long hidden secrets...

Nettle falls through a fairy portal one day and finds herself striking a deal to complete three tasks in order to return home and save her ill grandmother. Unfortunately, things don't turn out as simple as she originally thinks they'll be. Nettle must persevere and stay on her toes if she wants any chance of ever being free from the tyrannical fae king.

I love how straightforward the narrative is - it's very much in line with fairy tale tradition but isn't off-putting like some other series I've tried that attempt this. I still was able to connect with Nettle and her situation despite the very direct writing style.

The romance was simple but in a refreshing way as it wasn't the focus of the story at all. It was talked about almost as an afterthought which makes sense considering all the stress and trauma Nettle is dealing with.

Also, I loved the narrator - she does such an incredible job capturing Nettle's inner strength, fears, and confusion about the visions she has. The audiobook added so much depth and I loved listening to it!

I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this courtesy of Netgalley - thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this!

Nettle is a young woman who lives alone with her grandmother on the outskirts of society. When her grandother falls ill, Nettle goes out in search of something to help her - she accidentally falls into a portal leading a world of faeries and has to find a way out.

I've read quite a few similar books this year, so maybe I'm growing fantasy-fatigued, because although I did enjoy this and got through it quite quickly, I didn't find anything particularly new in this. I found myself wishing that I knew more about the secondary characters, Conor and Ellion especially; as secondary characters, they fulfilled their plot functions but I don't think I was invested in them as I should have been. I must say, though, that the narrator of this story did a great job, adopting a range of accents and bringing the characters much more to life.

Overall, I did enjoy this. It was, as mentioned, an easy and light-hearted read, and I did get a strange comfort from it. I just wish there was a little bit more world building and character development beyond Nettle.

I had previously read Bettle by Bex Hogan, but was intrigued to hear the audio book and Anna Burnett has the perfect voice to tell this 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.

The narrator takes Bex Hogan’s beautiful prose that really that on paper brings the Faery kingdom to life in all its beauty, deception and glamour and adds an extra dimension to immerse you in the story.

I loved the 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 Hogan created and Burnett told, bringing this not quite Faery tale, not quite adventure to make it a wholly captivating, heart warming joy to read.

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

This was a lovely book to listen to. The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing Bex Hogan's words to life and I was transported to the fairy realm. There is darkness at times which makes the story seem more like the fairy tales of old. There was a vagueness about quite what point in time Nettle is from, or even her age, which adds to the feel that you are reading a classic tale.

The reveal and the end of the love triangle were well signposted but it was still an enjoyable tale. The descriptions of the true nature of the faerie realm and its inhabitants were well written and did a good job of unsettling the reader.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

Nettle is a mesmerizing fantasy filled with faerie myths and folklore that captivated me from the first line.

Nettle reminded me of everything I love in a fairytale. It was dark, twisty, romantic, and full of myth and magic. The plot was entertaining. The characters were well-developed and intriguing. The world and world-building were amazing, and I would love to spend days exploring the different places in the faerie world. The incorporation of faerie folklore was great, and the pacing was lovely. I highly recommend Nettle faerie fantasy fans or anyone looking for a short, immersive tale!

Anna Burnett’s performance of Nettle was excellent. Her voice fit Nettle (the main character), the story, and the world well. I loved the accents and depth she brought to the story. She made this read even more atmospheric and immersive. I highly recommend the audiobook of Nettle.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

This book is completely magical. I'm so glad I decided to listen to the audiobook. The reader really bought this story to life and I really connected with the characters, the conflict and the romance. Nettle is such a special character and is so strong. This book was so lovely and I listened to it all in one go, I loved it!

Thanks NetGalley for the audio arc!

Nettle lives with her grandmother, who is the only person she knows accepting all her quirks. Nettle is drawn to nature and fairytales, never wears shoes and dresses very different from the other kids her age. When Nettles grandmother becomes sick, Nettle gets desperate and pleads to the fairies she'd always believed in to save her. Upon waking up the next day she finds herself in a different world, being dragged in the fairy kings throne room. The fairy king hates humans, but can never pass on a good deal: if Nettle is able to complete three tasks, he will heal her grandmother. Whilst trying so she befriends another human boy trapped in this world and starts helping him to maybe complete his task along her own.


Review:
That was actually pretty awesome! I've read a lot of retellings and honestly can't stand fairies at this point anymore, but this one was just so enjoyable that I did not mind at all. Nettle is a very peculiar character, but in a really nice way. She is resourceful and seems like a fast thinker whilst also reading like a somewhat young teenager who sometimes does not see the obvious. The pacing was really great. The greater plot did in my opinion not really live up to my expectations, but it was fine and I see why choices were made. The audiobook was very well narrated and it was a really great, quick listen.

I really enjoyed this sweet, enchanting fairytale! The narrator was great and easy to listen to! The story was fast paced and an easy, quick listen! The hints of romance are sweet. I really liked the characters as well! I look forward to reading more of the author's books in the future!

NetGalley Audiobook Review

Nettle by Bex Hogan
Zephyr/Head of Zeus Audiobooks, 10th October 2024
Narrated by Anna Burnett

The absolutely breathtaking cover of this YA fantasy holds a uniquely magical tale inside. Nettle is the name of our main character, and she will work her way under your skin and into your heart. Having grown up with her grandmother, Nettle was given her nickname due to her strange affinity with the plants that sting everyone but her. Wild at heart and barefoot, Nettle loves her grandmother's stories of the faery world but never dreamt that she'd end up arriving there.

The environment is so vividly captured by the author that you can almost feel the springy moss and the scratchy straw, stroke the horses and smell the manure, see the people, and soak up the atmosphere.
I adored the writing and the characters in this book so much. Nettle is the fantastic untamed rebel, Conor and Ellion are both delightfully distracting in their own way, not to mention the wonderful hobgoblin and goblin! Narrator Anna Burnett breathes life into Bex Hogan's truly wondrous characters, sending Nettle into my top reads of the year. Having finished listening to this book, I immediately want to buy it so I can read it at leisure and look at that gorgeous cover!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bex Hogan and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for providing an ALC; this is my honest review.

#Nettle #BexHogan #AnnaBurnett #Zephyr #HeadOfZeus #NetGalley #Fantasy #YaFantasy #AudiobookReview #ALCReview #BookReview

I listened to audiobooks on 1.75 speed so I devoured this in an afternoon. You are absorbed into the story and the world from the first sentence. This author is now on my radar as this was a 5 star book for me. It is my first 5 star book this month so I'm happy to be ending October on such a high note!

It was like do many other books I've enjoyed but so different too. The main character tells the story but she is told in such a way, that she is magical and mysterious too.

If you want a quick book that pulls you into a fairytale then I recommend this book!!

This was really enjoyable, I loved the fairytale feel of it. Bex Hogan is a great writer. The narrator was also perfect in my opinion and really added to the story.