micaelamariem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Physical abuse, Animal death, Child death, Death, Murder, Classism, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Violence
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Classism, Cannibalism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
tallulahlucy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Misogyny
Moderate: Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Child death, Grief, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Classism, Physical abuse, Animal death, Rape, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Violence
purplepenning's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen.
Given that perfect opening line, I wasn't quite prepared for how much chickens would factor into the story — but I'm not mad about it!
Nettle & Bone is a bizarre and brilliant, dark and funny fairytale in the hero's quest tradition. A tradition that it gleefully follows and subverts. It features a simple but stalwart 30-year-old almost-nun/princess, a sharp but secretive dust wife/grave witch, an honorable but disgraced warrior/diplomat, at least one evil but kind fairy godmother, a loving but impulsive dog of bones, and a grumpy demon-possessed chicken. Their quest leads us from a beleaguered middle kingdom by the sea to a haunted stronghold in the north — and through unspeakable lands, markets, and boarding houses in between. Driven, always, by familial love, loyalty, and justice, even in the face of ancient power, its corruption and abuses. Especially in the face of its abuses.
Nothing is fair, except that we try to make it so. That's the point of humans, maybe, to fix things the gods haven't managed.
I sometimes want a little more lushness and emotion in my fairytales, but only sometimes. I also love this matter-of-fact, face-the-fears, roll-with-the-bizarre, do-the-hard things approach. It gives me Granny Weatherwax and Tiffany Aching vibes — and anything approaching the genius of Terry Pratchett's witches is okay by me. Fans of Nicola Griffith's Spear and Emily Lloyd-Jones's The Drowned Woods should also enjoy this one.
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Murder, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Torture, Blood, Classism, Cannibalism, and Excrement
ashfae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Classism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
lisa_m's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, Abortion, Body horror, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Slavery, and War
maregred's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Classism, Child death, Pregnancy, Death, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
affabletoaster's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Death, Animal death, Murder, Pregnancy, and Child death
Moderate: Cannibalism, Confinement, Misogyny, Animal death, and Body horror
Minor: Alcohol, Dementia, Death of parent, Classism, Bullying, Torture, Suicide attempt, and Slavery