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Nettle & Bone
352 pages
A darkly pragmatic fairy tale where a reluctant heroine and her misfit companions dismantle a happily-ever-after gone wrong.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like stepping into a Grimm fairy tale armed with a sensible pair of boots and a wry sense of humor. The narrative balances on a knife-edge between genuine, bone-chilling horror and profound, cozy warmth, anchored by a deeply pragmatic protagonist who simply does what must be done. The prose is sharp and conversational, undercutting classic fantasy tropes with dry wit and a deep well of empathy for the overlooked and the discarded. It moves at a brisk, engaging pace as a delightfully eccentric found family—including a demon-possessed chicken—comes together. This is a story for anyone who loves their magic dark, their heroines ordinary but unyielding, and their happily-ever-afters hard-won and fiercely protected.
- Mood
- eerie
- cozy-macabre
- atmospheric
- resolute
- Tone
- wry
- pragmatic
- darkly comedic
- empathetic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- found family of misfits · the reality behind fairy tales · ordinary courage · sisterhood and survival · dismantling abuse
- The writing
- Grounded and conversational, balancing sharp, witty observations with moments of chilling, folkloric beauty.
- The arc
- Moves from a place of quiet, isolated desperation to a fierce, collective determination and hard-won liberation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave fractured fairy tales featuring practical heroines, eccentric companions, and a perfect blend of cozy warmth and genuine dread.
Content notes
- domestic abuse
- infanticide (mentioned)
- body horror
- violence
About the book
After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra—the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter—has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself.
Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince—if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.
On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra's family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.
Description from Open Library.
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