Nettle & Bone is completely outside my wheelhouse. It is a standalone fantasy novel about a princess, the third daughter, living as a nun who realizes she must go on a supremely dangerous quest to save the life and potential children of her only surviving sister. 

The found family trope is great in this book; Marra, the almost nun/princess, befriends a dust wife and then finds and makes several more important friends along the way who will help her on this perilous journey. It took me a while to settle into this book and the writing style, but once I did I found it charming, thoughtful, and at times hilarious. The banter between this group of five unlikely beings is just wonderful. 

I loved that this book is short and approachable for a reader who is intimidated by fantasy. It plays on familiar fairy tales in a fresh way, and the characters defy many of the tropes you would expect. Read this just for the fairy godmothers, curses, and blessings! The characters are refreshingly older and the emphasis is not on their beauty or societal appeal. If you are looking to mix up your usual reading or you are more familiar with fantasy and want the rare standalone, this book delivers adventure, a bit of romance, and lots of insight into humanity. I am so glad I stuck with this book, it is a treasure in a small package!