A review by alphabetseeds
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

adventurous dark funny hopeful 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

4.0

A dark fairy tale brimming with mystery, magic, bone dogs, and practicality. Marra knows she's not a hero - she's barely a princess - but she is determined to save her sister from her vicious husband, the prince of a neighboring kingdom. Her and her gathered companions all have secrets, and they each have a role to play. Despite the grim premise, the narrative still felt oddly cozy, like finding an old, well-worn blanket in the bottom of an old chest.

I really would've liked to learn more about the blistered land - where is it? How far did Marra travel before returning to the dust-wife? Should we be concerned about the blistered land?

The slightly muddled opening, which alternates between introducing Marra in the blistered lands and her past as the third daughter in a small kingdom, hardly detracts from an otherwise well-plotted, tight-knit story that kept me turning the page.
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