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A review by aksmith92
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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? No
5.0
I.loved.this.book!
I had such a blast. We follow Marra, a nun and a sister who doesn't really fit into her kingdom. We learn that as royalty, Marra's family has had to think strategically about their three daughters' marriages since a marriage with the neighboring Northern Kingdom can stop raids from happening in their harbor town.
Soon, we discover that Marra realizes that not all is well in the marriage between her sister and the Northern Kingdom's prince. Marra then sets out on a quest to kill the prince - yikes! Along the way, we see Marra's interactions with a Saint with one hand, something called a dust-wife who can speak and interact with the dead, an apparently possessed chicken, a dog made entirely of bone astutely named Bonedog, fairy godmothers, and other quirky fantastical elements.
I absolutely adored all the characters, from the dust-wife, Agnes, Fenris, and Marra. There is a truly found family element in this; it was so lovely. Kingfisher has some excellent writing and prose, and honestly, at times, I was chuckling throughout. While I don't know if I'd consider this cozy fantasy, it does warm your heart while keeping you at the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen with their intense quest!
I'm sure it has some imperfections, but if there are, I don't care. What fun!
PS. I will say if you LOVE spoon-feeding world-building and having the author fill you in on the why of the plot and world, this book likely won't be for you. I usually love those types of books and therefore was nervous about this one because Nettle & Bone is NOT that, but I still loved it anyway. It was such a nice treat not to have anything so complex thrown at me.
I had such a blast. We follow Marra, a nun and a sister who doesn't really fit into her kingdom. We learn that as royalty, Marra's family has had to think strategically about their three daughters' marriages since a marriage with the neighboring Northern Kingdom can stop raids from happening in their harbor town.
Soon, we discover that Marra realizes that not all is well in the marriage between her sister and the Northern Kingdom's prince. Marra then sets out on a quest to kill the prince - yikes! Along the way, we see Marra's interactions with a Saint with one hand, something called a dust-wife who can speak and interact with the dead, an apparently possessed chicken, a dog made entirely of bone astutely named Bonedog, fairy godmothers, and other quirky fantastical elements.
I absolutely adored all the characters, from the dust-wife, Agnes, Fenris, and Marra. There is a truly found family element in this; it was so lovely. Kingfisher has some excellent writing and prose, and honestly, at times, I was chuckling throughout. While I don't know if I'd consider this cozy fantasy, it does warm your heart while keeping you at the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen with their intense quest!
I'm sure it has some imperfections, but if there are, I don't care. What fun!
PS. I will say if you LOVE spoon-feeding world-building and having the author fill you in on the why of the plot and world, this book likely won't be for you. I usually love those types of books and therefore was nervous about this one because Nettle & Bone is NOT that, but I still loved it anyway. It was such a nice treat not to have anything so complex thrown at me.