Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Nettle & Bone

Marra was a wonderful main character but as with many T. Kingfisher books, the side characters make it something special. The dust-wife, Fenris, and Agnes (along with their various animal companions) made the adventure much more fun.

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cardaisy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I'm a bit too in my feelings to properly review this but I loved it.

I cried when bone dog died and I cried when they brought him back, what a good boy

Amara Jasper did such a fantastic job narrating this, I specifically decided to listen to the audiobook instead of getting the ebook because of the sample, and it was an excellent decision

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allie_oop's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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rosyapple's review

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adventurous dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nice imagery. starts out more fairytale horror but does get funnier in that cozy fantasy way

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cosell's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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smalltowncreepy's review

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dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I LOVED this book. I adore it. I fully intend to purchase it probably via pre-order this weekend and put it in a place of honor on my book shelves. It is one of the best books I’ve ever read and I’m calling it now that its likely the best book I’m going to read this year.

First of all, there’s the main character. Marra is a princess turned kind-of-a-nun turned reluctant heroine. In the main activity in the book he is a 30 year old woman who is short and stout and loves fiber art (specifically embroidery and knitting but with a fondness of other forms as well) and this love does indeed help her multiple times on her adventure. Yall…as a short, stout, 33yo woman who spends half my time reading and crocheting or stitching or weaving…I never NEVER would have expected to see myself in a fairy tale princess at this point in my life. EVER. And yet…here we are. Oh and she has a protective pet dog…like me…but not…we’ll get to that.

Marra isn’t the only one in the story that doesn’t fall in line with the usual fairy tale character tropes. The dark witch at the end of the wasteland isn’t evil. The wicked godmothers aren’t at all what you expect them to be…and yea, there’s more than one. The hero? Well I think he gets saved more than he does the saving and that’s really ok. The sweet animal companion? Something straight out of Tim Burton. Oh and the prince? Fuck him.

Then we get to the setting and scenes themselves. When I opened this book, I had no idea what I was getting into. After a page, I fully expected this to be dark and terrible and zero happy ending. I’m ok with that, btw. I read A LOT of horror. Marra is in a bone pit in a land that is cursed by spirits because starving people did what they had to do. Spirits, as we learn, don’t much care one way or another about doing what you have to do to survive. Some of the descriptions are gruesome in this book but…there’s a poetry to them that makes bones, blood, infection, bruises, and childbirth all beautiful in a strange way. These descriptions grabbed my heard in the first chapter and held on so hard I couldn’t put the book down and engulfed it almost in one sitting (yes my back was sore in the end).

This next section contains a couple spoilers but I think its pertinent to my readers. As a witch, animist, and Polytheist- this story made me so happy.
Dust-wife and Agnes, the world that was built here about how magic works, and the interaction with fae and the spirits of the dead – so spot on regarding folklore and magic.
Theres a scene where the nonmagical humans are watching a chicken peck at a mask…thats all they see. Something very mundane sounding and yet…that chicken is a demon and its doing battle with a malevolent spirit and in the end the spirit worker herself that is holding this all together collapses even as she’s victorious.
Other mundane looking spells also completely drain the spirit workers.
Nothing is how it seems…to the non magical persons in this book and yet to the magical…if you turn your gaze just so you can see the magic clear as day. The magic has a signature that the trained or gifted can read clearly.
Then there are the liminal spaces where magic resides and the impossible can be accomplished…though its painful and hopeless and hard as fuck.
This…was so real that I had to step back and go “Damn…is this author a spirit worker?” I don’t know the answer to that question but they at least know their folklore and I have mad respect for them on that part.

I have 2 more T. Kingfisher books on my TBR and have moved them to the top with hopes that Nettle & Bone isn’t a one-off masterpiece.
I have also pestered all of my friends to BUY THE BOOK because it really is that good. I cannot wait to discuss it with fellow readers (especially the grumpy/sunshine couple and their future chicken filled homestead).

Recommendations

If you are a fan of Orphan’s Tales by Catherynne M. Valente and Spindles End by Robin McKinley, you are going to LOVE this subversive fairy tale by T. Kingfisher.

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kraytheili's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Really liked it! I’m biased tho, I’m loving all of T. Kingfisher’s work and I cannot be trusted to give a fair review half the time. Enjoyed the ambiance and that two old ladies who are total opposites are the true heroes 🙌🏻

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