Nettle is 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. The narration is lovely to listen to and one I will definitely listen to again and again. 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.

"Nettle" by Bex Hogan is an immersive, fairy-tale-inspired fantasy that brings together some of the most beloved elements of the genre—an eerie faery realm, a goblin market, and breathtaking yet unsettling imagery. The story follows Nettle, a changeling torn between two worlds: the human realm she doesn't fit into and the enchanting, dangerous faery world that both tempts and betrays her. Nettle’s journey, driven by her desire to save her grandmother, leads her into dark bargains and deeper mysteries. Her relationships, especially with the human Conor and the enigmatic faery Ellion, adds depth and complexity to the tale.

One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its world-building. Hogan paints a vivid picture of a dark faery kingdom with two moons and scarlet stars, evoking a sense of wonder mixed with foreboding. The goblin market, a classic fantasy trope, is especially well-executed, bringing a magical, yet creepy, atmosphere to life. The story’s imagery is both beautiful and haunting, which creates a compelling backdrop for the plot's darker twists.

While the atmosphere and plot were engaging, the pacing felt a little uneven at times. Some parts of the story seemed to drag while others, especially the ending, moved too quickly, pulling me out of the narrative flow. This may be intentional, the writing was not bad by any means.

That said, Anna Burnett's narration elevates the audiobook experience. Her voice brings Nettle’s world and emotions to life, making the story more immersive and engaging. Burnett's performance adds a layer of charm and intensity.

Overall, "Nettle" is a well-crafted fairy-tale fantasy with rich imagery and a darkly enchanting setting. The relationships feels realistic, and the dialogue is refreshingly natural. While it didn’t quite become an all-time favorite due to some pacing issues and writing that didn't fully captivate me, it’s still a solid recommendation for fans of folklore and atmospheric, slightly eerie fantasy tales.

Nettle falls into the Faery world and makes a deal with the King to help her dying Grandmother.

There she meets Conor (human) and Ellion (Shadow Faery) who helps Nettle with her 3 tasks.

But what Nettle finds is so much more!

It was dark, there was treachery at every corner and it read like an old time fairytale - loved it!

'Wild. Untamed. Feral. Prickly. Strong. Powerful. Beautiful. Mine.'

This had a lot of elements that I love in fantasy - a fairy-tale setting, a goblin market, beautiful and sometimes disturbing imagery. The relationships were quite realistic and the dialogue wasn't overdone or cringey.

It was darker than I expected at times, but I didn't mind it and it added to the creepy yet somehow homely atmosphere.

The only thing keeping it from being an all time favourite is the writing itself - it's not bad by any means, but it didn't grip me. I didn't feel the urge to pick it up and the ebook took me just under a week to finish. Also, the pacing felt a bit off to me - some things developed slowly and others quite quickly (such as the ending). I suppose this fits with the fairy-tale style, but it took me out of the flow.

Anna Burnett narrates the audiobook and she does this excellently. Listening to her tell Nettle's story has me more engaged and I'm enjoying it a lot more the second time around.

Overall, it's a pretty good fairy-tale and one that I'd recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC and Zeus audio for the ALC

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.

The narration was perfect, added perfectly to the magic of the story. I can't wait to start recommending this!

3.75⭐ rounded up.

Nettle was an well written YA fairytale meant mostly for teens, though older audiences will appreciate the story if you liked books like The Cruel Prince or A Feather So Black.

The cover was so stunning, I had to find out what it was about. I love stories where the Fae are a little cruel and weirdly beautiful.

Although I found this an easy listen, the story was a little lackluster at times, but I liked the ending.