NETTLE AND BONE
T. KINGFISHER
SERIES: Standalone
GENRES/ SUBJECTS: Fantasy
I’ve been a big fan of T. Kingfisher’s dark fairytale retellings (and dark fairytalesque originals) for a long time. With the delicious summary and two gorgeous covers, NETTLE AND BONE has been one of my most anticipated books of the year.
I’m very pleased to report that it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.
In this novel, Kingfisher combines the dark, slightly Gothic fairytale quality of her Bluebeard retelling THE SEVENTH BRIDE with the wry humour and adventure of THE WIZARDS GUIDE TO DEFENSIVE BAKING. Everything is wrapped up in lush, lyrical writing.
NETTLE AND BONE might very well be Kingfisher’s best novel yet. No mean feat!
As with all my most glowing reviews, there’s very little to say about this one – I’ve nothing at all to complain about!
All I can say is that if you want pollical intrigue, a ‘dustwife’ with the ability to raise the death, good and bad fairy godmothers, goblin markets, bone dogs, a sweet slow romance, and a demon chicken… well… You should definitely pick up NETTLE AND BONE!
After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra―the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter―has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself.
Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince―if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.
On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra’s family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.
A copy of this was provided free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Foxes and Fairy Tales 
Thank you for this review and the comparisons to her other books! I enjoyed both of the ones you mentioned, so I have hopes that I will enjoy this, too. I’d seen early reviews of it that focused on the “dark” part and so I was concerned that this veered closer to her horror novels. But I love her fantasy—dark or otherwise*—and I am now fully excited to read this one!
* Though side note, the books that she considers “fluffy” are the Saint of Steel ones, which deal with an awful lot of corpses for “fluffy” books… 😉
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I think if you can handle the horse in Baking, and the darker parts of Bride, you’ll be fine. For me, the ‘darkest’ part wasn’t the fantasy aspect but the abusive marriage her sister is in. It’s only described to the MC in vague terms, but something you might want to be aware of.
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Got it, thanks! I was fine with all of that, so I think this one should be okay, too. I appreciate it!
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