A kingdom threatened,
no prince as heir,
daughters as pawns… or not.
Third daughter of a king with no sons, 15-year-old Marra is hidden away at a convent, remaining within its walls for years and years, as her older sisters are married in political alliances to save their tiny kingdom.
The weaving and healing skills she learns there will serve her well as now-grown Marra flees the security of Our Lady of Grackles, seeking ways to save her sister from the brutal prince of the Northern Kingdom.
She travels far and then farther to find the powerful dust-wife who communes with the dead and has the magic she needs. The spell requires Marra to make a cloak from nettles and cursed wool, to fashion a dog from bones, and bring moonlight in a jar – three impossible tasks (and she does them).
Away they go to kill the prince – Marra and Bone Dog, the dust-wife and her demon-possessed hen, through enchanted marketplaces and haunted lands, releasing from ensorcelment a man who unwisely slept in a fairy fort.
Secrets of the Northern Kingdom lie deeply buried in the crypts beneath its palace – danger and doom.
Its king lost in madness, the terrible prince rules with an iron fist and paranoia.
How to infiltrate the crypts? How to steer all blame from Marra’s sister? How to escape with their own lives?
A princess exists solely for the kingdom’s benefit, but not Marra…
Just published yesterday (4/26/22) – read the first two chapters on the publisher’s website here, free!
What non-traditional princess story is your favorite?
**kmm
Book info: Nettle & Bone / T. Kingfisher. Tor, 2022. [author info] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.
Sounds like an interesting story line! Congrats on almost finishing the challenge! You had an interesting theme and did great putting together your posts!
betty
https://benchsnotebook.blogspot.com/