Nettle and Bone is a novel by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon).
Finished on: 12.5.2023

Content Note: domestic violence, sexualized violence

Plot:
Princess Marra is the third-in-line of a small kingdom. Her two older sisters were both married to the same prince – after the first died, the second took her place. Marra is rather happy that she was able to escape the marriage fate by being placed in a convent and out of politics. But when she realizes that the prince has been mistreating her sister, she is determined to put an end to it, or rather: to him. But how could she kill a prince? Obviously not without help, so she seeks the help of a powerful dust-wife.

Nettle and Bone is a beautiful, feminist fantasy story that will appeal to anyone who loves fairy tales. It is creative and emotional. I just really adored it.

I picked up Nettle and Bone on a whim at the bookstore. I had never read anything by Vernon/Kingfisher before, though I was aware of her twitter account and rather enjoyed it anytime she was tweeted into my timeline. But a good twitter presence doesn’t necessarily translate to a good back. But in this case, oh, it absolutely did.

It feels like quite a while ago that I read a stand-alone fantasy novel, and while I like series, there is something to be said for the quick and finished read that Nettle and Bone offers. Although there is certainly some regret from me that I don’t get to spend more time with the characters. Because I loved them, all of them.

The book starts with Marra, and already I loved that we got an adult woman and not a teenager as the lead of the novel. She knows who she is. She has her faults. She is determined and out of her depth. She is still a bit young, or better naive, at times, but only because she knows very little of the world. And her mission is about to change that. The companions she gets along the way are equally amazing, albeit entirely different from her. I loved being able to join all of them. Plus, the romance is supersweet in a very unobtrusive way that doesn’t take away from the story at the heart of the book.

Because that story is something else, too! Utterly feminist, it takes a critical look at power structures and the possibilities and even obligations of individuals in a precarious position to do something about power imbalances. It talks about domestic violence. It is generally filled with very different women who take matters into their own hands when they can. They don’t always get along, but there is a sense of solidarity there that underscores how important it is to stick together.

And all of that in a book that is immensely readable, unputdownable really, filled with humor and fast-paced. But it also knows when to slow down and it had me shedding a few tears along the way, too. Plus, it has the most adorable dog, and as dog person, I can really appreciate that. The book would have been wonderful without the dog, but it is so much better for it.

Summarizing: an instant favorite.