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arialovegreen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Nettle & Bone is the story of a shy nun who decides to kill a prince with absolutely no plan, and the family she finds along the way. It is funny, cute, macabre, intriguing, and mysterious all at once. A great singular read that weaves a tale of perfectly reasonable people doing some pretty insane things in some very silly ways for just causes.
The main cast of characters are endearing, contrary, and have so much human nuance to them that I absolutely adore. T. Kingfisher has a very unique writing style that strikes a balance between elaborative story telling and simplicity. I love their ability to explain just what needs to be explained, while keeping little mysteries alive.
I had a blast reading this book, and I look forward to reading some of T. Kingfisher's other works!
The main cast of characters are endearing, contrary, and have so much human nuance to them that I absolutely adore. T. Kingfisher has a very unique writing style that strikes a balance between elaborative story telling and simplicity. I love their ability to explain just what needs to be explained, while keeping little mysteries alive.
I had a blast reading this book, and I look forward to reading some of T. Kingfisher's other works!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Child death, Pregnancy, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Violence and War
kimberlynann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Animal death, Pregnancy, Body horror, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Murder, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Domestic abuse, and War
manaledi's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is remarkably cute and lightheaded for a necromancer fantasy. The world building is thin, but it gets away with it because the details of court politics are tangential. It's a story about family and unlikely misfits and never gets all that deep
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Sexism
laynerinke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Child death, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death
Minor: Child death, Torture, Confinement, Slavery, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail
wayward_flowers's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Leave it to our Queen T.kingfisher to write an absurdly twisted book in the most beautiful, humorous and cozy way possible.
The story was wonderful overall! Though there is one thing that keeps on bothering me. I found that there were so many little trinkets scattered around the story that had potential to weave together to form a more dramatic and interesting plot-line. Don't get me wrong, I loved reading about a darkly cozy story, but I cant help but feel atleast something could've been done with those pieces aswell
Such as
- The cursed-child puppet and the woman
- The Goblin Market
- Fenris's backstory be included more
- More insight on the Dust-wife's power
- The Saint that came to Marra in the market and than mysteriously in the catacombs
- More political intrigue
Nonetheless, I had an enjoyable time with it and adored it~
The story was wonderful overall! Though there is one thing that keeps on bothering me. I found that there were so many little trinkets scattered around the story that had potential to weave together to form a more dramatic and interesting plot-line. Don't get me wrong, I loved reading about a darkly cozy story, but I cant help but feel atleast something could've been done with those pieces aswell
Such as
- The cursed-child puppet and the woman
- The Goblin Market
- Fenris's backstory be included more
- More insight on the Dust-wife's power
- The Saint that came to Marra in the market and than mysteriously in the catacombs
- More political intrigue
Nonetheless, I had an enjoyable time with it and adored it~
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Physical abuse
Minor: Cannibalism
amberreadsgood's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A really interesting spin on fairytales! I enjoyed the dark but whimsical horror vibe, and the writing was lovely and atmospheric.
These characters were really fun, a real hodgepodge group of unlikely friends and hooligans that were just so fun to read about. I wasn't super attached to our main character Marra, but it was funny watching the "normal" person in the group realise they are the normal one when the rest react to various upsetting/wild events as if they're just having tea 😆 I also appreciate the lengths she will go to to save her sister from her abusive tyrannical husband, full respect for turning to murder as a solution in this case 😎
The dust-wife and Agnes are easily the book's show stealers, the sugar and spice magical women of the book that have entertaining and funny banter and antics. I would read a sequel book about them.
Fenris is a man with muscles to chop wood and great googly-moogly at, if you ask the dust-wife and Agnes. He is nice, and I like him well enough.
There wasn't a whole lot of development for any of these characters throughout the book, they more or less stay the same throughout, but they're fun as they are so I'll go easy for that 😆
These characters were really fun, a real hodgepodge group of unlikely friends and hooligans that were just so fun to read about. I wasn't super attached to our main character Marra, but it was funny watching the "normal" person in the group realise they are the normal one when the rest react to various upsetting/wild events as if they're just having tea 😆 I also appreciate the lengths she will go to to save her sister from her abusive tyrannical husband, full respect for turning to murder as a solution in this case 😎
The dust-wife and Agnes are easily the book's show stealers, the sugar and spice magical women of the book that have entertaining and funny banter and antics. I would read a sequel book about them.
Fenris is a man with muscles to chop wood and great googly-moogly at, if you ask the dust-wife and Agnes. He is nice, and I like him well enough.
There wasn't a whole lot of development for any of these characters throughout the book, they more or less stay the same throughout, but they're fun as they are so I'll go easy for that 😆
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, and Miscarriage
h_s_bloom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Personal Rating Scale Metrics
- Characters: ✬✬✬✬✬
- Plot: ✬✬✬✬✬
- Pacing: ✬✬✬✬
- Writing Style: ✬✬✬✬✬
- Diversity: ✬✬✬
This was my first book of 2024 and it was such a great way to kick off the year!
Summary: Marra is the third daughter to a royal family within a comparatively small kingdom which controls a major harbor/trade route. When Marra's eldest sister, Damia, dies shortly after being married off to the prince in a powerful neighboring kingdom, the middle sister, Kania, is sent off to replace her thereby ensuring the safety of the smaller kingdom. Fearing the possibility of Kania failing to produce a male heir, Marra is sent to a nunnery for safe-keeping. Marra is content with life as a nun, busying herself with embroidery and other tasks perhaps not suited to a princess. Upon the birth of Kania's first child, a daughter, Marra learns the truth of Kania's predicament and vows to save her.
Marra is such a lovable and engaging character with such a fun voice and I appreciate that she is a bit older than your typical MC at 30 years old. She really is such a joy to follow along with throughout her adventures giving her honest and bemused commentary along the way. The author does a great job with balancing humor throughout the story despite the serious nature of Marra's quest (Spoiler :
This book is very much what it promises itself to be in that it is ripe with fairy tale vibes but in the brothers grimm kind of way. There are occasions in which the pacing just seems a little off in that some storylines read as side-quests for lack of a better term. There also it a bit of time-jumping in the beginning of the book which I don't really agree needed to be there. I think Kingfisher may have been trying to grab the readers with a dark and spooky intro where Marra is creating Bone Dog, but I honestly think I would have preferred this book be a bit more chronological. That being said, I was never bored! The writing style is incredibly atmospheric and engaging, I wanted to keep reading all the way up until the end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
raptorq's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief, Physical abuse, and Child death
Minor: Miscarriage, Medical content, Body horror, Abortion, War, Animal death, and Blood
mrsfishreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This book was a dark and brooding fairytale that starts with cannibalism and ends with demon possessed hens, loveable evil godmothers, a dog with three lives, and a princess who carries out a plot that changes a kingdom. I'm not hooked on T. KINGFISHER!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Grief, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
aus1an's review against another edition
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. All the characters were so likeable, reading it was like being on an adventure with friends.
It was a nice change that despite the main character being a princess, the stakes of the story were more personal than anything.
It was a nice change that despite the main character being a princess, the stakes of the story were more personal than anything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy