The book does have a dark gothic feel to it, but the relationships made it a lighter book to read. The story opens on a dark scene as Marra must undertake some grisly tasks if she is to gain the aid of the Dust-Wife. Characters such as the Dirt-Wife and borderline useless Godmother offer a great back and forth, giving the book life.
This pseudo-family becomes the heart of the book and gives Marra more to live for than being a Princess or a Nun. Over the novel Marra picks up various companions to help in her quest. She sets out on an adventure knowing little about the wider world, but somehow manages to survive.
Marra is such a sympathetic character because her reasons are so pure. It is also a book about companionship and women taking control of their own destiny. All the type of thing you would expect from the Brothers Grimm, but the book also has a modern feel. The book has witches, curses, magic, and murder. Nettle is a fantasy novel, but it has the essence of a fable, the fantasy of their time. Marra is packed off to a convent for safety, but when she realises that her second sister is in danger, she sets off on a quest to save her that will have her seeking out witches and visiting the Goblin Market. When this Princess dies, the second oldest is sent. The King and Queen decide to marry off their oldest daughter to a Prince in the North. This harbour is enough to put the Kingdom under threat from stronger forces. Princess Marra is the third daughter of an unimportant Kingdom, its only asset the deep harbour it sits on. Princess Marra questions if she is in a fairy tale, if she is, then it is a tale of weaving bones to make dogs and Godmothers who can only hand out curses.
T Kingfisher captures the tone perfectly in Nettle and Bone, the story of a Princess turned Nun, who wants to be an assassin. The dark gothic fairy tale is having a moment in the sun as I have recently read some excellent stories that hark back to a feel of past fables but are their own modern take. I have read many genre books and I see trends in what is currently popular or going through a period of high quality.
0 kommentar(er)
