🎧 Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher @UrsulaV #AmaraJasper @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooks

Posted May 16, 2022 by Robin in Book Review / 10 Comments

🎧 Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher @UrsulaV #AmaraJasper @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooksNettle and Bone by T Kingfisher
Narrator: Amara Jasper
Published by MacMillan Audio on April 26, 2022
Genres: Fantasy
Length: 9 hours, 3 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
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One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

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.

Kingfisher has become one of my favorite authors. Her sense of humor is one I really enjoy, I have so much fun when I read her books. Nettle and Bone was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Kingfisher’s bools. Nettle and Bone is a standalone tale with interesting characters, on a journey they will most likely not survive, with some strange happenings along the way.

Marra is a princess, and almost nun, on a mission.  One sister was married off to a prince and died, the next sister married to the same prince is living a horrible abused life.  Marra has taken it on herself to find a way to save her sister and if she has to do three impossible tasks to get the dust-wife’s help to do it, so be it.

Marra is so easy to like.  When we first meet her, she is trying to accomplish one of the impossible tasks, building a dog out of bones.  It should be impossible, but Marra has found the right bones so why not do improbable things?  We learn she is on a mission to save her living sister and avenge the sister that died mysteriously.  Hard not to get on board with that.  Marra has lived as a nun, the sister in reserve just in case there is another tragedy and then she will be sent to live with the same awful prince who was the destruction of her sisters.  No thank you!

On the journey to the Northlands, she picks up a little help for her quest.  An old Dust-wife with a demon possessed chicken, a Knight fallen from favor and an interesting yet reluctant fairy godmother.  All will play an important role.  I will say I didn’t expect the chicken in this merry band.  They are off to break a curse and save the only sister Marra has left.

I love the worlds the T. Kingfisher builds.  The magic is never overdone and there is always something unexpected in it, like the puppet.  Her romances are pretty subtle as well and Fenrin, the disgraced Knight they found in a goblin market, because yes there was a trip to the goblin market, was a perfect love interest for our almost-a-nun princess.  The Dust-wife is always there with a fun observation or crazy statement and Marra’s fairy godmother, well let’s just say she was a surprise, who says all fairy godmothers have nice magic?

Overall, this is a fun story with a satisfying conclusion, fun moments and not quite enough kissing. But I loved it all the same.  As always T. Kingfisher has delivered a book I loved and will recommend and read again.

“Lots of people deserve to die,” said the dust-wife finally. “Not everybody deserves to be a killer.”

“How did you get a demon in your chicken?’
‘The usual way. Couldn’t put it in the rooster. That’s how you get basilisks.”

Narration:

Amara Jasper was a great find for this narration.  She performed the story well adding to the humor and sometimes the creepiness that was happening.  I really enjoyed what she brought to the story and her portrayal of all the voices.  This was first interaction with her and I had a great time with it.  I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip:  HERE

About T Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children’s books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, 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.

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

Rating Breakdown
Plot
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Writing
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Characters
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Dialogue
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration (Audio)
One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Overall: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Robin
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Posted May 16, 2022 by Robin in Book Review / 10 Comments


10 responses to “🎧 Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher

  1. I loved this book so much. Easily my favorite of 2022 so far. It is good to know that the narrator does a good job with the story since I may have to check the audio out when I am ready to read this one again.