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Nettle & Bone Hardcover – April 26, 2022

by T. Kingfisher (Author)

4.5 13,372 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

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Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel
An Instant USA Today & Indie Bestseller
An Oprah Daily Top 25 Fantasy Book of 2022
A Vulture Best Fantasy Novel of 2022
An NPR Best Sci Fi, Fantasy, & Speculative Fiction Book of 2022
A Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award Nominee

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

*The very special hardcover edition features a gold foil stamp on the casing and custom endpapers illustrated by the author.*

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

It's the one where she kills him.

Marra ― a shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter ― is relieved not to be married off for the sake of her parents’ throne. Her older sister wasn’t so fortunate though, and her royal husband is as abusive as he is powerful. From the safety of the convent, Marra wonders who will come to her sister’s rescue and put a stop to this. But after years of watching their families and kingdoms pretend all is well, Marra realizes if any hero is coming, it will have to be Marra herself.

If Marra can complete three impossible tasks, a witch will grant her the tools she needs. But, as is the way in stories of princes and the impossible, these tasks are only the beginning of Marra’s strange and enchanting journey to save her sister and topple a throne.

“Wholly entertaining."―Buzzfeed

“A modern classic.”―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart A Doorway

“Pure delight. T. Kingfisher uses the bones of fairy tale to create something entirely her own.”―Emily Tesh, award-winning author of Silver in the Wood

Also by T. Kingfisher
Thornhedge
A Sorceress Comes to Call
What Moves the Dead
What Feasts at Night
A House with Good Bones

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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

Then again, few humans were truly worth the love of a living dog. Some gifts you could never deserve.
Highlighted by 1,559 Kindle readers
She had not realized that a nun had more power than a princess, that she could close a door.
Highlighted by 951 Kindle readers
She had been born a princess, which should have been lucky, but the price for never going hungry was to be caught in a struggle between people too powerful to call to justice.
Highlighted by 736 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Deeply satisfying and darkly funny feminist fairytale. . . . At its heart a story of good people doing their best to make the unjust world a fairer place, this marvelous romp will delight Kingfisher’s fans and fairytale lovers alike.”―Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

“Blending fairy-tale familiarity and common-sense characters, Kingfisher’s prose balances grim circumstances with humor and heart. Readers of Alix E. Harrow’s A Spindle Splintered and Melissa Albert’s ‘The Hazel Wood’ series should pick this up immediately.”―Library Journal, STARRED review

"Kingfisher’s combination of comedy with feminist rage in a complex fairytale setting makes for a wholly entertaining read."―Buzzfeed

"Kingfisher is an inventive fantasy powerhouse, and Nettle & Bone represents the burgeoning 'hopepunk' ethos at its finest, with its winsome characters and focus on their fight to make the world a better place."―Bookpage, STARRED review

"Clever and bold-hearted . . . this rollicking feminist fairy tale is filled with redemption, community and courage, its dark passages the road to a satisfyingly uplifting endgame."―Shelf Awareness, STARRED review

“Nettle & Bone is full of delights and surprises―and proves that [Kingfisher] has more than a few tricks left up her sleeve.”―Locus

"Nettle & Bone leans into the macabre and evokes the Grimm-est of stories... Highly recommended for fans of fractured fables like Naomi Novik’s Uprooted (2015) and Helen Oyeyemi’s Gingerbread (2019)."―Booklist, STARRED review

“With Nettle & Bone, T. Kingfisher solidifies her place as natural and inevitable heir to the greats of her genre, while remaining clearly and unquestionably a unique voice in fantasy. This book is a modern classic and belongs alongside The Last Unicorn and Spinning Silver on your shelf.”―Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author of Every Heart a Doorway

“Nettle & Bone is what happens when all the overlooked bit players of classic fantasy somehow wind up on the main quest. It's funny, frightening, and full of heart; I loved it.”―Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

"Kingfisher is a master. Nettle & Bone is a wonderful entwining of darkness & whimsy―witty and brutal and hilarious and true in all the ways that matter. Also, I must immediately have my very own Bonedog."―Travis Baldree, New York Times bestselling author of Legends & Lattes

“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

“Nettle & Bone is pure delight. T. Kingfisher uses the bones of fairy tale to create something entirely her own, written in gloriously clear and transparent prose. I devoured this story of a princess-nun rescuing her sister from an abusive marriage, and every fresh turn delighted me.”―Emily Tesh, award-winning author of Silver in the Wood

“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

“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

“Charming and macabre―often both at the same time―Nettle & Bone has bite, proper jokes, effortlessly good storytelling and a really wonderful tomb labyrinth.”―A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name

“Somehow, Kingfisher writes stories that put you at your ease and make you want to crawl out of your skin at the same time. I loved the way this horrified me―and, in the end, gave me hope.”―Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of the Iron Druid Chronicles

About the Author

T. KINGFISHER (she/her)writes fantasy, horror, and occasional oddities, including Nettle & Bone, What Moves the Dead, and A House with Good Bones. Under a pen name, she also writes bestselling children's books. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, dogs, and chickens who may or may not be possessed.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Books; 1st edition (April 26, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250244048
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250244048
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.8 x 0.85 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #36,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #588 in Folklore (Books)
- #733 in Coming of Age Fantasy (Books)
- #1,996 in Fantasy Action & Adventure

Customer Reviews:
4.5 13,372 ratings

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T Kingfisher

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T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon, an author from North Carolina. In another life, she writes children's books and weird comics. She has been nominated for the World Fantasy and the Eisner, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, Nebula, Alfie, WSFA, Coyotl and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.

This is the name she uses when writing things for grown-ups. Her work includes multiple fairy-tale retellings and odd little stories about elves and goblins.

When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.

www.redwombatstudio.com

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Terra Caldwell

Absolutely beautiful

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024

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I recently found Kingfisher and have been reading my way through her works. When I picked this one up, I wasn't sure at first because the first couple of pages are a little weird. But around page 5 the weirdness eases off and it turns into a more conventionally-told story, and then the weirdness becomes completely understandable. That said, the elements of the story are hardly conventional at all.

Marra is not a typical "strong female character." Or, rather, she is EXACTLY what a strong female character should be. She doesn't physically kick ass and she has no "useful" skills. Although she's a princess and was sent to a convent, she isn't really either. She can't *princess* very well and she hasn't taken orders to be a nun. All she can really do is embroider. But she has tremendous inner strength, wit, drive, willpower, and she has a special kind of courage. These things make her one of the strongest female characters I've ever read because she succeeds despite only being able to embroider, and her success is extremely satisfying and makes utter sense.

Also satisfying are the cast of characters who get roped into helping Marra along her way. They include a "dust-wife," who is a person who can talk with the dead; Marra's fairy godmother, who's not very good at her job; a foreign man they rescued from a Goblin market; a possessed chicken; a baby chick; and a dog made out of bones (the "bone" part of the title). The book is light on world-building in that you only get enough world-building to make sense of what's happening, but it is heavy on character voice, development, and interpersonal stuff so you get to know the characters quite well.

Themes include self-sacrifice, courage, justice, and (mostly familial) love. None of it's cloying or moralizing. There's a strong streak of woman-centric horror in this novel. Men will be able to relate, but as a woman I found the horror elements quite affecting. CN: domestic violence, sibling issues, teeth. No "on-screen" rape, though it's implied that a secondary character has had that happen to her.

After reading something like 10 of Kingfisher's books, I've finally been able to pinpoint what is so awesome about Kingfisher. First, she writes very, very well. Second, she's basically a cross between Terry Pratchett (especially his Vimes and Weatherwax books) and Lois McMaster Bujold. If you like them, you should love Kingfisher.

Note: unlike most of the rest of Kingfisher's books, this isn't a romance in a fantasy setting. While there is a romantic subplot, it's a minor subplot.

4 people found this helpful

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Adrienne Ray

Quirky

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2023

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This was definitely an interesting story! Lots of good humor and quirky, unique characters. The plot and story course were creative and sprinkled throughout the book are philosophical and moral wisdoms. It was touching, wise, and whimsical. I would recommend it for it’s originality alone.

7 people found this helpful

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JReads

Quirky, fun, and great storytelling

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024

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A great read, fun, found family, revenge, and super quirky characters. I cannot wait to read more of her work!

One person found this helpful

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Buffalocolt27

Unexpected, quirky, fun!

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024

Verified Purchase

Not a lot of world building, so don't expect to understand how anything works, but regardless, surprising elements, good writing and fun!
I started reading and for at least 5 or 6 chapters I just wasn't sure I was going to like it, and I didn't have much of a clue what was going on. However, I stuck with it and ended up getting really sucked in, putting aside my "expectations" and really having fun with the characters. This is something different, do not expect it to be what you expect, just enjoy!

6 people found this helpful

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Amanda K-E

excellent bittersweet fairytale

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2024

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Nettle & Bone is an excellent little fairy tale full of perfectly imperfect, commonplace characters that do heroic things.

For readers used to rushing headlong at top speed, the pace may feel “plodding” but this is by intent — it is that frustrating pace the self-deprecating main character Marra pushes against as she journeys against the clock to save her loved ones.

Dry humor, magical realism, humble friendships, and raw determination made Nettle & Bone a winner in my book.

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

As Always, Unputdownable

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

I stumbled across Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher – not literally, that would be awkward, but metaphorically, as all the best meetings really are – about six months ago. In that time frame, I have read almost everything she has ever published under either name, in most cases twice, and never been disappointed by any of it. She is quite probably my favorite living author, and the only other people I can think to put up to the same level would be the greatly missed Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett. She writes cleverly involved plots and creates memorable, distinct characters all of whom are immensely enjoyable (I do so especially love her gnolls). But I think in many ways, the moments that really capture my heart are spent on those quiet, little absurdities that typically go neglected in every other book I read. Maybe it’s just that I can deeply relate to a woman, on a life-or-death mission to save her sister, spending dear cognitive power on the complexities of sharing a bed and the associated physical functions such entails – Can I move my arm? Are they asleep enough for me to move my arm? Surely they cannot be comfortable with my arm there, but then, if I do move my arm and wake them up, I will feel guilty. You agonize over this, and whether or not you are breathing too loudly, wondering if the other person is anywhere near as concerned about you as you are about them, for many needless minutes and then the offending appendage falls asleep and it all just gets so much worse…

This book is in line with her previous works in that there are touches of the absurd and biting wit and, of course, nuns (she has a bit of an obsession with them by and large). For close readers, you will see echoes of her other novels sprinkled throughout the pages – white rats, clockwork creations, mobile skeletons, antelope women, and Pygmalion revisited – which made my lips quirk at the edges every time one cropped up.

There are also the other moments that I don’t know if other people catch out quite as readily as I do. The new archimandrite being referred to with the pronoun “they” – they aren’t even in the book; it’s just a reference made in passing by one of the sisters, but I think I will examine it more closely in the reread nonetheless. This nonchalant inclusivity that has absolutely nothing to do with the plot is significantly more meaningful than many books I have read that have such things the poorly focused centers to their stories. In this vein, Steven Erikson comes to mind – his books are almost breathtakingly cosmopolitan if long-winded and a bit overly pedantic – but hers are always significantly more true-to-life (despite the werebears and talking swords).

TLDR: She’s fantastic. If you’ve read her before, you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t, this is a hell of an introduction.

Looking forward to her next novel! I already have it pre-ordered (she’s the only person I do that for).

82 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Dan Lacroix

A true delight to read.

Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2024

Verified Purchase

One the best fantasy stories I have read in a while. Great plot, well crafted characters and excellent mix of dread, action, tenderness and humour.

One person found this helpful

Jonas Allen

Anders ... gut!

Reviewed in Germany on February 18, 2024

Verified Purchase

Eine Prinzessin, die fast eine Nonne ist, eine Hexe, die mit den Toten spricht, eine gute Fee, die eigentlich nur gut im verfluchen ist, ein Krieger der Unrecht gerächt und dabei selber Recht gebrochen hat, ein Hund, der aus Knochen besteht und ein Huhn, das von einem Dämon besessen ist, machen sich auf um die Schwester der Prinzessin zu retten.

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Manuel Rodriguez Funieles

ERA PARA UN REGALO

Reviewed in Spain on January 28, 2024

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TODO OK

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mashiro

Good

Reviewed in Italy on December 24, 2023

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Well written, featuring a nice female ensemble, speaking of women empowerment in a fresh wayand overall quite enjoyable. Plus there's a dog. Highly recommended

Ilona

Nettle & Bone

Reviewed in France on September 26, 2023

Verified Purchase

Oh, this was amazing!

-

I have tons of T. Kingfisher's on my TBR list, and I'm just so glad the first I read was ‘Nettle & Bone’!

I absolutely loved Kingfisher's style of writing—she is so hilarious, and her characters are truly lovely and loveable. The book had some really fun passages and some very touching ones, both well-balanced.

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I also completely fell in love with all of the characters.

Marra, the main one, is a princess who's not very good at politics; she was sent to a convent, so she's also a nun but not really, as she herself states. And she's got an absurdly adorable skeleton dog.
She wants to save her sister Kania from her husband, the king of the Northern Kingdom, who is beating her—and to do so she'll need the help of a few folks who'll accompany her along her quest.

So, our little team of heroes is composed of a dust-wife with a possessed hen, a warrior who tried to die, and a godmother who's quite bad at gifting babies but ends up with a cursed chick.
And have I mentioned Marra's dog made of bones? Oh, yes.

This was such a surprising and hilarious team of heroes, they had so many memorable and unique dialogue, and I just loved each of them so, so much!

-

If you tend to like reading twisted fairy tales, cosy fantasy, and books with absolutely gorgeous female characters, then you may definitely enjoy this one!

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