Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher

(Titan Books, 2022)

Reviewed by Anne F. Wilson

“Three tasks the dust-wife had given her. Sew a cloak of owlcloth and nettles, build a dog of cursed bones, and catch moonlight in a jar of clay. Three tasks, and then the dust-wife would give her the tools to kill a prince.”

Marra is the third daughter of a King and Queen whose kingdom stands between two much bigger rival kingdoms. Through years of diplomacy Marra’s mother has managed to balance the competing claims of their neighbours and stave off war. Now Marra’s eldest sister Damia is of age, she can marry the son of the Northern Kingdom and bring peace and stability. Unfortunately, a few months after the wedding, Damia dies, and her second sister Kania is lined up to marry the prince. Marra is safely tucked away in a convent in case of need. Then on a visit to the Northern Kingdom she discovers that the prince is a sadist, he murdered Damia, and Kania is suffering though repeated pregnancies and stillbirths to avoid the same fate.

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Review from BSFA Review 18 - Download your copy here.