Review Detail

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.