Nettle & Bone

By: T. Kingfisher

Narrated by: Amara Jasper

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's Summary

From Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes an original and subversive fantasy adventure.

This isn't the kind of fairytale where the princess marries a prince.

It's the one where she kills him.

Marra never wanted to be a hero. 

As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, she escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate—and after years of silence, Marra is done watching her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince.

Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks:

—build a dog of bones

—sew a cloak of nettles

—capture moonlight in a jar

But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning.

Hero or not—now joined by a disgraced ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother, an enigmatic gravewitch and her fowl familiar—Marra might finally have the courage to save her sister, and topple a throne.

"Nettle & Bone is the kind of book that immediately feels like an old friend. Fairytale mythic resonance meets homey pragmatism in this utterly delightful story. It's creepy, funny, heartfelt, and full of fantastic characters I absolutely loved!”—Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage

©2021 T. Kingfisher (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

“This book is so exciting, deeply wise, sad, brutal and compassionate all at once. And beautifully written, with a plot as cunning as fine embroidery.... When I finished I could hardly bear to tear myself away from this eerie, vivid world, with its struggling, flawed, wonderful characters.” (Catriona Ward, author of Last House on Needless Street)

“Nettle & Bone brings Kingfisher's signature honesty and authenticity to a fairy tale setting—the result is refreshing, earnest but not naive, and deeply satisfying. I devoured it. This is one that's going to stay with me for a long time.” (Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars) 

“Witty, sparkling tale of a heroine’s quest, full of matter-of-fact magic, impossible tasks, and a group of fantastic and charming companions. A delight throughout.” (Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches) 

Delightful and touching

Ursula does it again. This is a lovely and wonderful story with shades of her horror genre talent mixed in. The characters are fully fleshed out and enjoyable. highly reccommend.

Fabulous!

Wonderful, inventive, inspiring , this is a story for the ages. A heroine who is almost a nun almost a hero but in fact more than a hero because she creates a team of mismatched but perfectly matched partners to save her sister, a sister who says she hates her. The sheer inventiveness of the plot, the world created by the author is alone worth the price and the narration is top notch.

It's a T. Kingfisher Story

If you're a fan of Kingfisher's other works, you will probably like this one too!

Awesome Book

Very good book with a bunch of really creepy bits. Would love to have more in the same world.

slow start but worth it

my first kingfisher book. slow start initially (almost reurned it!), but well worth the credit.
amazing voice range by narrator Amara Jasper. Will certainly be exploring more Kingfisher books if this is the caliber of work produced

If Only I Could Cut Out Half the Story

The character Fenris ruined this story for me. He is a tired old trope and unnecessary to the story. I probably would have enjoyed Marra far better without him. She began the story as a courageous, determined defender who wilted into an insecure, emotionally-fragile damsel who could lean on him for support. All her tedious inner monologues diluted the potency of the story — and it’s a great story sans this forced pandering outdated “romance.” I love a good romance woven into a story. This was not one.

As for the narrator, please never attempt an English accent again. Stick to what you know. You’re great. You don’t need dialects. This one was very very bad.

One of Kingfisher's best fairy tales yet

One of Kingfishers best fairy tales yet, this one not a retelling but a new thing, a quilt of familiar fairytale tropes that keeps you guessing and cheering on the hero. Beautiful, haunting tale.