Hardcover, 256 pages
English language
Published April 26, 2022 by Tor Publishing Group.
Marra — a shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter — is relieved not to be married off for the sake of her parents’ throne. Her older sister wasn’t so fortunate though, and her royal husband is as abusive as he is powerful. From the safety of the convent, Marra wonders who will come to her sister’s rescue and put a stop to this. But after years of watching their families and kingdoms pretend all is well, Marra realizes if any hero is coming, it will have to be Marra herself.
If Marra can complete three impossible tasks, a witch will grant her the tools she needs. But, as is the way in stories of princes and the impossible, these tasks are only the beginning of Marra’s strange and enchanting journey to save her sister and topple a throne.
I appreciate a high fantasy story that is unequivocal about how extremely bad monarchy sucks as a political system
Kania was hostage to the prince. Marra’s future children, if any, were hostage to Kania’s fertility.
Pretty sure this is the scariest book I've ever read by T. Kingfisher, and that has nothing to do with all the spooky parts of the worldbuilding. It's all about the situation at the heart of the plot. Marra's sister stuck in that awful abusive marriage; their mother impassively watching and letting it happen because politics; the implication that plenty of nobles, guards, and servants in the Northern Castle were quite aware of what was happening, were all right with it, and Kania's happy ending involves staying among them and working to be seen as someone as ruthless as her husband... I don't know. All of that just sent chills down my spine. Especially that happy ending. Because while the quest is successfully finished, Kania is saved, and the bad guy's gone, nothing …
Kania was hostage to the prince. Marra’s future children, if any, were hostage to Kania’s fertility.
At this point I know what I'm getting into every time I open up a T. Kingfisher book, whether it's horror, fantasy or romance - and most of her books have all three, mixed at different distillations. The writing will be breezy, the plot will both be interesting and turn in directions that you wouldn't expect, the characterizations will be unique and not standard cardboard cutouts (well, her male love interests tend to be big noble depressed guys, but they're all well written). "Nettle & Bone" hits all of these - a fun read that conceals depth and absolutely wrenching moments. My only complaint is that I wish it didn't move so fast - that there was a bit more room to breathe. But across the board I'm always so excited to read new stuff from her. Every book so far has been great, and I feel like she's closing …
At this point I know what I'm getting into every time I open up a T. Kingfisher book, whether it's horror, fantasy or romance - and most of her books have all three, mixed at different distillations. The writing will be breezy, the plot will both be interesting and turn in directions that you wouldn't expect, the characterizations will be unique and not standard cardboard cutouts (well, her male love interests tend to be big noble depressed guys, but they're all well written). "Nettle & Bone" hits all of these - a fun read that conceals depth and absolutely wrenching moments. My only complaint is that I wish it didn't move so fast - that there was a bit more room to breathe. But across the board I'm always so excited to read new stuff from her. Every book so far has been great, and I feel like she's closing in on masterpieces.
I absolutely love this story. Was the book perfect - that's a harder sell. It could have been longer, it could of explored more of the world, and it didn't that's why it got 4 stars. But the characters are all funny, and modern, and yet this is a wonderfully fantastical read.
I will forever want Bonedog to be mine. Illusion of skin or not he would be an excellent pet for me. I did feel that there is a love story that is starting (again why 4 stars) but it didn't happen even though I think it was earned.
All the characters are people I want to meet - be friends with I don't know. I mean who wants to be friends with a wise-cracking, demon possessed chicken? Well, maybe I do. Marra is indecisive but when she puts her mind to her well you get this story. The …
I absolutely love this story. Was the book perfect - that's a harder sell. It could have been longer, it could of explored more of the world, and it didn't that's why it got 4 stars. But the characters are all funny, and modern, and yet this is a wonderfully fantastical read.
I will forever want Bonedog to be mine. Illusion of skin or not he would be an excellent pet for me. I did feel that there is a love story that is starting (again why 4 stars) but it didn't happen even though I think it was earned.
All the characters are people I want to meet - be friends with I don't know. I mean who wants to be friends with a wise-cracking, demon possessed chicken? Well, maybe I do. Marra is indecisive but when she puts her mind to her well you get this story. The journey, though short, was very much a lot of fun and I would love to see another journey for these characters.
Do yourself a favor and pick up this book.
Wieder ein hervorragendes Begleit-Tier, nämlich ein Hund, der im ersten Kapitel aus Draht, abgenagten Knochen und Magie zusammengebaut wird. Der Rest war auch gut, winzige Schwächen im letzten Drittel (mein pet peeve Handlungs-Nacherzählung, aber hier wirklich auf wenige Absätze beschränkt), angenehm unglamouröse Heldinnen (zwei sind alt und die dritte ist meistens ratlos) und viel unterhaltsame Nebenhandlung.
I had no idea what to expect when I started this one, and I enjoyed the mystery. Nettle & Bone is a very well-done fairtytale-style fantasy with some gritty, creepy aspects. Compared to many weighty fantasy tomes, this is rather short, and rather than explaining its fantasy world in detail, it leaves a lot of mystery, focuses on character interaction and driving the plot - I really liked that approach.
In short, highly recommended! I'm keen on reading more by T. Kingfisher.
I had no idea what to expect when I started this one, and I enjoyed the mystery. Nettle & Bone is a very well-done fairtytale-style fantasy with some gritty, creepy aspects. Compared to many weighty fantasy tomes, this is rather short, and rather than explaining its fantasy world in detail, it leaves a lot of mystery, focuses on character interaction and driving the plot - I really liked that approach.
In short, highly recommended! I'm keen on reading more by T. Kingfisher.
Cozy without being juvenile.
The world isn't a nice place, but there are friends you can rely on.
Cozy without being juvenile.
The world isn't a nice place, but there are friends you can rely on.
3.5 stars
