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.

CW: mentions of cannibalism, pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, mention of death by torture, domestic abuse

This is only my second book by the author but once I finished reading Paladin’s Grace, I decided not only that I needed to finish that series but also anything the author writes. This one just happened to be her latest and though the premise sounded a bit too creepy for my taste, I just had to give it a try. And wow what a ride this turned out to be.

This fantasy is definitely unlike anything I’ve ever read and I was definitely expecting something unique from the author, but this was way above my expectations. The author just throws us in the middle of a very creepy situation where we don’t know what’s happening and then goes back and forth to set the buildup for that creepy beginning. But the best part of the book is that the author manages to drastically change the tone of the narrative from creepy to sad to slice of life to happy to adventurous to high stakes, and it’s all done so brilliantly that we never find it difficult to navigate. The writing also has this way of being subtle but packing a punch and all the emotions come out at very unexpected times, so it’s a very unpredictable reading experience but that’s what makes this so much fun. The pacing is also perfect, taking its time at the smaller moments and moving faster at crucial sequences, making for a very immersive read and the mood as well as setting changes also work perfectly. Another most surprising part are the settings themselves - there is a blighted land, there are cannibals, saints, a goblin market, fair folk, magical godmothers, creepy catacombs - we never get the why of any of them; they all exist and are part of this world and we just get to go along with the author’s quirky imagination.

But I also think it’s the themes the author incorporates here that makes this such an impactful story. There’s a lot of indirect and direct commentary on the status of women in the society, how they are constrained by the roles they have been assigned, and how difficult it is to get out of them. The domestic abuse depicted isn’t shown in any graphic detail but the implication of it is very stark in the silences, the helplessness a wife can feel when her husband is an abusive man with lots of power is laid out for us in a way that scares us, and through our main character we realize that the only way out of that helplessness is for someone to decide enough is enough, and do something to help out the victim. Every single character here is in someway feeling constrained by what they think they are allowed to do, and only when they try to help out each other are they able to get out of the rut and find their freedom. Even when the story feels horrific and dark, it’s the hope and kindness that keeps us going.

And the embodiment of that kindness first and foremost is our main character Marra. She is the third princess of a small kingdom but politics and diplomacy is not her cup of tea. She finds more fulfillment when she is sent to a nunnery and spends many years there working on her weaving and embroidery, as well as helping women during pregnancy and childbirth. This also gives her a unique perspective on the kinds of issues women face in society, and motivates her to do something about saving her sister from her abusive marriage. I also liked how the religious order she is a part of was very practical about helping out and doing the required things, rather than just preaching faith.

Once she starts on her journey to save her sister, she collects people (and some not people) to help her out and they all become this very quirky found family which is amazing. First is the necromancer dust wife (and she doesn’t need another name) who gets exasperated with the conviction of Marra and can’t help but go along with her. Following them are a bone dog and a demon possessed chicken and just don’t ask me why they are there… you just get attached to them and it’s inevitable and there’s no need to know what their purpose is. Next we get a warrior called Fenris who is still guilty about his past actions and is happy to have a new purpose in his life. While the dust wife is more on the grumpy side, Fenris is a good man who is very considerate about Marra’s boundaries and concerns and they make for a good team. I really liked their low key friendship and it’s potential for more. And the final piece of this found family is Agnes, Marra’s godmother who always blesses every child with health but is hiding so much more. She is the perfect example of someone saying no to their destiny and choosing decency and I loved her. She definitely adds some cheer to the somber proceedings.

We also have many other side characters who make small appearances but everyone is quite memorable. Marra’s mother is a queen and she will do whatever is required to ensure the safety of her people, even if it makes her daughters unhappy and unsafe. Marra’s sister Kania has strength of her own, surviving with what means are available to her, waiting for the day she’ll get the opportunity to get out of her situation. We also have the Northern Kingdom’s very old godmother who has mysterious powers and I really liked the little glimpses we got of her story. All of them together make this story very very uniquely memorable.

In conclusion, this is a book I didn’t know I needed, but I’m so glad I picked it up. This is the kind of fantasy I’m excited to explore - subverts tropes and fairytale expectations, is very thematic but in a way that’s very organic to the story, a very unlikely cast of characters who will slowly grow on you, a perfect blend of dark and creepy and optimism, and overall a story that sucks you in and never lets you go. What I got from it was that we should all try to help someone out in anyway that we can and be kind, and maybe we’ll find our own happiness that way. I deeply enjoyed it and this cements my conviction to read more of the author’s works soon. And I already feel like I’m gonna have a very tough time coming up with my favorites list at the end of the year, but this will surely be one among them.