Nettle

This book feels like stepping into a fae story that absolutely does not want you to feel safe, and I mean that in the best way.
Nettle is dark, eerie, and dripping in that old-school folklore energy where the fair folk are not your friends, they’re manipulative, beautiful, and one bad decision away from ruining your entire life. And guess what? Our girl Nettle makes that bad decision.
And I ate it up.
Nettle is such a vibe of a main character, lonely, prickly (literally), and so desperate to save her grandmother that she walks straight into a bargain with the fae king. Three tasks. Sounds manageable. It is not. Because this is a fae court, and nothing is ever what it seems.
What I loved most is how this book leans HARD into that classic folklore warning: don’t trust the fae. don’t make deals. Don’t go into the woods. And then Nettle does all three.
The atmosphere? Immaculate. Two moons, scarlet stars, shadowy courts—it’s giving dreamy but cursed. You can feel the danger under every interaction, especially with Ellion (shadow fae = immediate red flag but also… intriguing. Conor adds that soft, tragic edge that keeps things grounded.
But let’s talk about the emotional core because this isn’t just vibes and trickery. It’s grief, desperation, and the kind of love that makes you do something reckless. Nettle isn’t trying to be brave or heroic; she’s just trying to save the only person who’s ever truly loved her. And that makes every mistake hit harder.
Also: the deception?? The slow realization that she’s been played? Yeah. That hurt.
If I had one critique, it’s that the pacing can feel a little floaty at times, like you’re drifting through the story rather than being yanked through it. But honestly, it works with the dreamlike, slightly unsettling tone.

Oh my fairy loving heart!

Nettle by Bex Hogan is a YA fantasy novel that mixes faery folklore and myth with an eerie plot that entices the reader to read until the very last page. A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. She grows close to Conor, a human stolen centuries before, and she also falls under the spell of mysterious Ellion, a Shadow Faery. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He'll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realizing that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has been tricked… In this dangerous fantasy kingdom Nettle discovers, too late, her part in an age-old love story and the price she will pay.

What I loved the most about this book, is the sheer spooky yet inviting atmosphere that Hogan creates. The kingdom in which Nettle inhabits is both eerie and cozy, all at the same time. Which leads me to the simple fact that I LOVED Nettle as a protagonist. In that, she views the world with childlike wonder, which is absolutely perfect for the world she wanders through.

One thing that I didn't quite like about Nettle, the book not the character, is that the plot was quite predictable. In that, I saw that twist coming from miles away. Which was slightly annoying, but more tolerable then other twists I've read in the past.

Regardless, Nettle by Bex Hogan is a perfect read for anyone looking for something to read after binging ALL of Holly Black. Not to mention if you're looking for a short fantastical read.

Wow, this took me right back to the early 2000's fairy stories, before the explosion of YA fantasy. There's tricksy bargains, strange paths through the woods, lost souls held in thrall in another realm, and of course beautiful fairies, who know more than they let on and certainly do not have Nettle's best interests at heart. It's a quick read, saying only what needs to be said to keep things moving, and I enjoyed the flashes of danger, magical artifacts, and sweet romance. I think it's soon pretty clear to fans of the genre where Nettle's story is going, but I was still rooting for her the entire way. In the end, a lot of the resolution seems to come together with a shrugged oh, the caprice of fairies, but I enjoyed the understated, candid style and I'm very much looking forward to the next book, which takes place in the same world.

If you know someone who wants to read ACOTAR but isn't old enough just yet, this is a great alternative.