Nettle & Bone: A Spoiler-Free Review of T. Kingfisher’s Dark Fairytale

Introduction to Nettle & Bone

Released in 2022, T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone has quickly captured the imagination of fantasy readers who crave clever twists on classic folklore. Part quest novel, part gothic fairytale, the story follows a determined princess who sets out to save her sister from an abusive prince. What feels like a familiar rescue narrative soon blooms into something darker, funnier, and ultimately more profound, proving once again why Kingfisher (the adult-fiction pen name of Ursula Vernon) remains a powerhouse of modern speculative fiction.

Plot Overview

The novel opens with Marra, the third princess of a small kingdom, living in a quiet convent after witnessing her sisters be used as bargaining chips by neighboring royalty. When her second sister’s marriage turns violently tragic, Marra rejects passive court etiquette and vows to put an end to the cruelty. The catch? Ending a royal marriage means ending the royal husband—an act that will plunge kingdoms into war if handled carelessly.

To succeed, Marra must complete three seemingly impossible quests: build a dog of bones, sew a cloak of nettles, and capture moonlight in a jar. Along the way she befriends an elderly grave-witch, a disgraced knight, a reluctant fairy-godmother, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together they journey through goblin markets, cursed forests, and besieged catacombs, assembling the magic and nerve required to challenge a sadistic prince in his own fortified court.

Main Characters

Marra

Unlike the sword-wielding heroines that dominate much of modern fantasy, Marra uses determination, empathy, and an unwavering moral code as her weapons of choice. Her quiet resilience stands out, making her feel refreshingly human—and deeply relatable.

The Dust-Witch

Equal parts sardonic grandmother and unlicensed surgeon, the dust-witch provides most of the story’s dry humor. Armed with bone magic and brutal honesty, she complicates every scene she enters in the best possible way.

Fenris the Knight

Haunted by failure, Fenris offers a softer portrait of heroism. His gentle demeanor masks a fierce loyalty to justice, turning him into Marra’s staunchest ally despite his own lingering guilt.

Major Themes

Agency and Autonomy: Nettle & Bone interrogates how women in patriarchal systems negotiate power. Marra’s decision to fight for her sister’s freedom serves as a rallying cry for anyone who has been told to stay silent.

The Cost of Violence: The novel never glorifies its darker elements. Every act of harm, whether physical or psychological, leaves bruises on the soul, reminding readers that true heroism may look more like quiet endurance than flashy battle.

Found Family: Though royalty and lineage drive the external stakes, the emotional core lies in the ragtag family Marra builds on the road. Bonds formed by choice, not blood, become the strongest magic of all.

Writing Style and Tone

Kingfisher’s trademark blend of macabre imagery and laugh-out-loud banter keeps the narrative brisk even when it grapples with abuse and trauma. The prose flows with fairy-tale simplicity, yet each sentence is peppered with sly modern asides that invite grins and winces in equal measure. Fans of Neil Gaiman or Naomi Novik will appreciate the effortless swing between whimsy and dread.

Who Will Love This Book?

If you enjoy morally complicated quests, awkward heroines, or stories where kindness becomes a revolutionary act, Nettle & Bone deserves a spot on your shelf. Its compact length (under 300 pages) makes it perfect for readers who want an emotionally rich tale without committing to a hefty series. Book clubs looking for discussion fuel about abuse, consent, and systemic power will also find ample material.

Comparable Titles

• Uprooted by Naomi Novik — for its dark forest lore and sharp female agency.
• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente — for whimsical language layered over serious stakes.
• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden — for folklore-rich worldbuilding set against oppressive social structures.

Final Thoughts

Nettle & Bone excels because it honors the bones of classic fairytales while refusing to be bound by them. T. Kingfisher crafts a world where courage looks like mending a cloak with blistered fingers or speaking aloud the unspeakable. By the final page, readers are left with the comforting ache that only the best stories evoke: a desire to stay longer, even as the book gently tells them to go live boldly in their own skin.