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A review by shanaqui
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? No
5.0
I really, really loved Nettle & Bone, and found myself repeatedly picking it up and reading more than I intended. It's a fairytale of a sort, but one that admits its own darkness, and one which comments on itself and the genre as it goes along. Marra is a fun character: not always very aware of how others are feeling and thinking, not always even particularly quick to understand it herself -- but kind, and committed to the course of action she's chosen.
The supporting characters are great, too -- the dust-wife and her chicken in particular, of course, and all the humour that her dialogue brings out -- and the world around them. The little details like the saints, and the curse child, and the details of the goblin market.
I wasn't kidding though about the bits of darkness: check for content warnings, if you think there's something you might be sensitive about. I'll keep it to the most obvious one, there's spousal abuse, miscarriage and the death of a child.
The supporting characters are great, too -- the dust-wife and her chicken in particular, of course, and all the humour that her dialogue brings out -- and the world around them. The little details like the saints, and the curse child, and the details of the goblin market.
I wasn't kidding though about the bits of darkness: check for content warnings, if you think there's something you might be sensitive about. I'll keep it to the most obvious one, there's spousal abuse, miscarriage and the death of a child.