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_forestofpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death and Cannibalism
Minor: Torture
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen.
Given that perfect opening line, I wasn't quite prepared for how much chickens would factor into the story — but I'm not mad about it!
Nettle & Bone is a bizarre and brilliant, dark and funny fairytale in the hero's quest tradition. A tradition that it gleefully follows and subverts. It features a simple but stalwart 30-year-old almost-nun/princess, a sharp but secretive dust wife/grave witch, an honorable but disgraced warrior/diplomat, at least one evil but kind fairy godmother, a loving but impulsive dog of bones, and a grumpy demon-possessed chicken. Their quest leads us from a beleaguered middle kingdom by the sea to a haunted stronghold in the north — and through unspeakable lands, markets, and boarding houses in between. Driven, always, by familial love, loyalty, and justice, even in the face of ancient power, its corruption and abuses. Especially in the face of its abuses.
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.
I sometimes want a little more lushness and emotion in my fairytales, but only sometimes. I also love this matter-of-fact, face-the-fears, roll-with-the-bizarre, do-the-hard things approach. It gives me Granny Weatherwax and Tiffany Aching vibes — and anything approaching the genius of Terry Pratchett's witches is okay by me. Fans of Nicola Griffith's Spear and Emily Lloyd-Jones's The Drowned Woods should also enjoy this one.
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Murder, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Torture, Blood, Classism, Cannibalism, and Excrement
oliverreeds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Violence, Abortion, Animal death, Child death, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, Death, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Confinement
eviethebookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Torture and Suicide attempt
thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, Child death, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Torture, Slavery, Abortion, and Miscarriage
wilybooklover's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Violence, Animal death, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Confinement, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Child death, Murder, and Dementia
Minor: Rape, Abortion, Cannibalism, Torture, and Slavery
bittennailbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Well, you'd have a whole lot of fun.
Nettle & Bone was my first delve into the world of Kingfisher and I am never coming out. This dark fairytale re-telling has you rooting for the bad guys and cheering on murder. The characters were super engaging and funny as were all the side thoughts. A lesson in dark meets camp brought to you by T. Kingfisher. Would recommend to anyone who wants something less on the cozy fantasy side with a wagon full of charm.
Graphic: Cannibalism, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
ellenigrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Confinement, Miscarriage, Death, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
30something_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is such a little gem!
A dark and twisty fairytale filled with dry humor and a sprinkle of romance that scratched an itch I didn't know I had.
A third-born princess sets out on an impossible quest to kill the evil prince and save her sister. Along the way she gathers a dog of bone, an old woman who can speak with the dead, a knight entrapped by the fair folk, and a peculiar fairy godmother. Together, they set off on this "fool's errand in which they will probably die."
Moderate: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Torture, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Animal death, and Miscarriage
vasha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Blood, Medical content, War, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Torture