Hello strangers! It’s been awhile and I’m back. Fresh perspective and a new commitment to try to get more consistent. But enough of that. I’m a little rusty, but let’s get to the book review!

Nettle and Bone is a standalone novel about a young woman who has a score to settle. There are tinges of fairy tale, horror and fantasy that are woven into a very close story. This is not a quest to save the world, to avert the apocalypse or prevent the evil from triumphing. Its about a woman who wants to save her sister and punish the man who abused her. As a huge epic and big fantasy fan, this was a refreshing break. The story stayed small and intimate, which made the stakes feel even more intense and personal.

Our protagonist, Mara, is not a super hero. She is not a chosen one who is set to fulfill a prophecy. She is introduced as the youngest daughter in a family, that we only later come to realize is an important family (trying to be little vague for spoilers). As we move through her life, we come to realize that something isn’t right with her sisters. So, Mara embarks on a journey to stop the cycle of abuse that has been happening. Along the way, we get more fairy tale and fantasy character tropes- the fairy godmother, the witch and the valiant knight. Together, they form a small but mighty band of warriors to help Mara on her quest.

Overall, the story was well paced and was sparing on the long descriptions of scenery, and there was just enough exposition to give us just what we need to understand character motivations and to support the decisions the characters make. There’s magic and creatures and a dog made of bones! It’s low on action, but there’s plenty of adventure as the group travels to a far northern kingdom to save its queen.

As a standalone novel, this story has the right amount of set up, character development and a proper beginning, middle and end. I find that sometimes a standalone fantasy novel can either feel incomplete, or feel rushed and shallow. This one definitely feels like a complete story with all the depth that you want in an epic fantasy tale.

Lilypad Rating: 1/2