Take a photo of a barcode or cover
olive_mei 's review for:
Nettle & Bone
by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
When Marra, a princess currently attempting to become a nun, discovers that her sister, married to the king, is being abused and that the king is also responsible for her older sister’s death, she embarks on a journey to kill him. Along the way, she encounters a diverse cast of interesting characters, including Dust-wife (a grave witch), Fenris (a former soldier who has found himself in a dire situation), Agnes (a godmother who specializes in curses rather than blessings, but still possesses a compassionate heart), Bonedog (a dog made from bones), a chicken with a demon residing within her, and Finder (the chick tasked with finding the safest place for Agnes to be).
However, the world-building feels somewhat incomplete, and the overall story lacks the depth and excitement that would make it truly memorable. The themes were briefly touched upon but never fully fleshed out. Nevertheless, I appreciated the idea of deconstructing the princess trope into a political transaction, as if they were nothing more than just a baby-making machine to maintain the royal line, which was usually the case in reality.
While the characters are individually captivating, their interactions and self-discovery are not particularly noteworthy. The story leans more towards the chosen-family trope, but their dynamics and personal growth are not particularly profound. Notably, despite Marra being in her 30s and Fenris in his 40s, their actions throughout the story feel more like those of teenagers.
However, the world-building feels somewhat incomplete, and the overall story lacks the depth and excitement that would make it truly memorable. The themes were briefly touched upon but never fully fleshed out. Nevertheless, I appreciated the idea of deconstructing the princess trope into a political transaction, as if they were nothing more than just a baby-making machine to maintain the royal line, which was usually the case in reality.
While the characters are individually captivating, their interactions and self-discovery are not particularly noteworthy. The story leans more towards the chosen-family trope, but their dynamics and personal growth are not particularly profound. Notably, despite Marra being in her 30s and Fenris in his 40s, their actions throughout the story feel more like those of teenagers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Pregnancy
Moderate: Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Grief
Minor: Animal death, Torture, Cannibalism