Nettle & Bone cover art

Nettle & Bone

 Preview
Free with 30-day trial
A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook free.
1 credit/month after trial—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.

Nettle & Bone

By: T. Kingfisher
Narrated by: Amara Jasper
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.99

Buy Now for $25.99

About this listen

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.

©2021 T Kingfisher (P)2021 Macmillan Audio Action & Adventure Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Royalty Feel-Good Scary
All stars
Most relevant  
The Narrator was great and the story was decent, I enjoyed listening but Its not my favourite Kingfisher book. I love the characters and the world building.

Enjoyable listen realistic characters (for fantasy)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very much enjoyed this. Kingfisher knows what she’s doing and this story does not disappoint. Wonderful narration too.

Fabulous story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A princess/nearly-nun, a dog made of cursed bones, a gravewitch, a fairy godmother, a former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon go on a quest to save a queen from a horrible fate… What more could you want in a story?

The aforementioned princess/nearly-nun, Marra, is a fully realised, relatively ordinary, relatable heroine that doesn't fall into any of the usual tropes. She's in her 30s, she's had life experiences, she has her flaws and anxieties, and doesn't have any particularly special abilities (apart from embroidery). What she does have, after spending half her life in a convent and discovering her sister is trapped in an abusive marriage, is the realisation that no one else is going to save her and the determination to do it herself. Marra must find the courage to face the outside world and the horrors that come with it. She finds help along the way in the most unlikely of companions and a sisterhood with unusual but powerful women develops to put right the terrible works of men.

I adored this book. It's beautifully written, the horror elements are superbly macabre, and there's never a dull moment. The story touches on some very dark themes (domestic abuse, cannibalism, murder, child death, and other horror elements) but throughout it all, the author's humour and wit is delightful and the friendships that develop between the ragtag band of somewhat morally grey characters shine through.

The narrator did a great job of giving voice to the different characters.

A macabre yet heartwarming adventure

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I read this because it won the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

It was pretty good, I guess, but honestly, I expected better for something with such a prestigious award under its belt. The story is slow and meandering, feeling like it places emphasis more on language than momentum. The 'fantasy' is inventive and creative, but not particularly gripping.

It's a decent listen that won the Hugo for originality but not, I think, for 'most fun, unputdownable or grippin' novel.

Ok, I guess

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
4.25 stars

I absolutely loved this story! Super unique and quirky adventure with even quirkier characters. I NEED a Studio Ghibli adaption of this book asap!!!

Unique, quirky and needs to be a Studio Ghibli film one day!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I enjoyed the story and narration. It didn’t blow my mind or change my life in anyway, and thank goodness for that. It is well written, decent story , with likeable characters and a dog …I would recommend for a cozy quiet afternoon with tea and snacks.

Lovely tale

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Richly textured book with beautiful narration. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

Beautiful from start to finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I liked the characters each unique. I think some parts could have been more drawn out- like the time with the dust witch. But overall a good story

Bone dog!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Can’t be;I’ve it took me this long to pick up a work by T. Kingfisher - now an ‘auto-buy’ author for me going forward. The story feels like a retelling of a nostalgic dark fairytale I never knew I loved, the found family, the subtle way the magic system is used as a side character or side element not making it overly fantastical in that sense made for such a cozy and fun listen. I finished this in one thunderstorm cursed day and the vibes were just magnificent.

It’s nothing like I’ve read before and I highly recommend to anybody who is a fan of: fantasy but needing. Break from overwhelming series with ultra detailed world building and character palette, romance readers who want a more cozy adventure focused story with a well paced romance tension in the background, historic/speculative fiction readers.

Cozy and magical! Such a good listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I absolutely loved this. It was Fun and witty. Unique little adventure. I'm so glad I gave this a chance.

I 100% recommend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.