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“The love of a bone dog, she thought, bending her head down over the paw again. All that I am worth these days. Then again, few humans were truly worth the love of a living dog. Some gifts you could never deserve.”

What is the Book about?

Marra is the youngest of three princesses. After her eldest sister passed away shortly after marrying a prince, the middle sister took her place. Marra was sent to a convent to prevent her from marrying and bearing a son before her sister. There, she leads a quiet life until, 15 years later, she learns that her sister is being abused and is in mortal danger. Marra decides to kill the prince. However, she needs help, which she receives from a very diverse group of people.

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Rating
Plot ★★★☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
Excitement ★★★☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★☆☆

Favourite Character
Marra

My thoughts while reading it

From the very first pages filled with pus metaphors, decay, and cannibalism, painting a profoundly grim world, my reader’s heart soared! It feels like a Brothers Grimm German fairy tale, but one that’s even more twisted, making it truly unique.

The concept behind this unconventional fantasy story is brilliant. The narrative draws inspiration from fairy tales, evident in its structure and elements borrowed from well-known tales. Three impossible tasks, the evil fairy at the christening, and the companions encountered by fairy tale heroes on their journey are typical narrative elements, but the author pairs them with cliché-breaking twists. Protagonist Marra is adamant about not wanting to marry a prince, and the fairies are not simply good or evil. The author takes her own path, crafting a plot that is fresh and exciting. Whether it’s the idea of the chosen tasks, including awakening a bone dog, or the entanglement of blessings and curses from godmothers, I was thoroughly impressed with the creativity and storytelling.

The characters are all fairy-tale-like yet refreshingly non-stereotypical. Marra is a rebellious girl, unassuming yet brave and clever. She doesn’t present herself as a typical heroine, acknowledging her averageness and seeking support for tasks she cannot handle alone. Accompanied by a slightly incompetent but incredibly charming, colourful group of travellers – her new “Found Family” – she embarks on this journey. One can feel the excitement and anticipation, flying through the book, driven by the burning desire to unravel the entirely unpredictable, twist-filled “Quest” and discover the fate of the beloved characters besides Marra, I particularly adored Agnes, the chick, and the bone dog and a former knight. Therefore, Nettle & Bone was, for me, an absolute feel-good novel, one to which I eagerly returned after a taxing day, eager to find out how it all unfolds for them in the end. It’s a colourful group of diverse characters, and their shared adventure is immensely enjoyable. The banter between characters is humorous, and the delicate romance between two characters is genuinely touching. Despite the book’s brevity, I got to know the characters well and was saddened to bid them farewell.

The seemingly doomed mission is periodically lightened by humorous passages, which brought a smile to my face on more than one occasion. From a feminist perspective, there is nothing to criticize here. The book introduces us to many strong, intelligent, and powerful women, addressing and criticizing challenging themes such as the oppression of women, their dependence on husbands, and violence against women. The gentle Marra (and other characters) continually shatters gender stereotypes, making it clear from the first pages that SHE does not want a prince (no, not her!), and demonstrating her lack of interest in newborn babies. I could easily identify with her, finding her views incredibly refreshing!

I found the ending to be fitting for the story and surprisingly clever. In typical fairy tales, we all know how they end. T. Kingfisher has opted for a completely new resolution that answered all my lingering questions. Moreover, the ending isn’t overly sentimental but has its edges and complexities. Nettle & Bone is an unconventional fantasy book in the “Something Different” category. I highly recommend this book, especially to (horror) fairy tale fans. If you find the beginning less convincing, be sure to continue reading; the book gets better with each page. Overall, despite the weak start, the book won me over because the story lingers, and I can’t bear to let go of the characters. Definitely give it a try!

Reading Recommendation? ✓
Favourite? ✘