The Sword and Laser discussion

Our February book pick is: Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Let us know what you think about the selection.

I'm looking forward to this month's pick!

Are you spying on me?

Just read this in December and loved it! Excited to see everyone’s thoughts! 😊

This book sounds familiar. Was it up for vote in one of the March Madnesses? Or perhaps I perused it at the bookstore. Either way, I’m up for it.

Misti wrote: "This book sounds familiar. Was it up for vote in one of the March Madnesses?"

It was released after the last March Madness (Released April 26, 2022)

It is one of those books I'm seeing in a lot of lists for 2022 recommendations.

A very cozy book, good choice!

Silvana wrote: "A very cozy book, good choice!"

I think we may have different definitions of “cozy” … I just started listening to the audiobook yesterday and the opening chapters feature mentions of (view spoiler)[ starvation, animal cruelty, cannibalism and implied murder (hide spoiler)] . Plus there are bones. A lot of bones.
So this is definitely a book that touches on some dark subject matter !

Cozy grimdark.

Silvana wrote: "A very cozy book, good choice!"

Remind me to never attend a dinner party at your house. 😆

I've never read this author so I'm looking forward to reading this.

I very much enjoyed this book when I read it about 6 months ago (maybe less). I’m looking forward to the discussion. I am also slightly disturbed by Silvana’s description of this book as “cozy”!!

For me ‘cozy’ is not a matter of subject, but more of a vibe. Cozy mysteries are a thing, and by definition they have at least one dead body in them. Recently I read two of them where the victim had been starved/suffocated in a hidden room…
So yes, for me N&B is a cozy book – and the first hint had been right at the beginning when our heroine succesfullly crerated the bone dog (the bestest boy <3) and went to proceed with her third task mentioned in the blurb.

I just read this and it was beautifully written.

Joanna wrote: "For me ‘cozy’ is not a matter of subject, but more of a vibe. Cozy mysteries are a thing, and by definition they have at least one dead body in them."

Point of order, please: that’s not a mystery, that’s a murder mystery.

It’s true that murder mysteries are the most popular and well-known type of mystery, but that doesn’t change the fact they are a specific subset of the mystery genre. For instance, the stories of Encyclopedia Brown, the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and the Scooby gang are also mysteries, but none of them feature murder. For me, murder pretty much disqualifies something as “cozy”.

Non-murder mystery is not just for juveniles, either. Many of the Sherlock Holmes stories are this. The Darling Dahlias series (The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree) and the Mobile Library Mysteries (The Case of the Missing Books) are of this ilk, as well. And the best-seller The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a member of this club.

I didn't realise this is the same author as A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking.

I enjoyed that book. I would also describe that book as being on the cozy periphery.

Though it does have murder, young people in peril, battles etc

So I guess I get where Silvana is coming from if Nettle & Bone is a similar style. Cozy, but with a smidgeon of dark action.

I read this a few months ago and liked it but was not what I was expecting. It’s definitely a darker tone than I thought it would be and I was super confused at the opening chapters. But once I realized it basically starts in media res if you will then does a “now how did I get here” moment and jumps back to fill in a bit, I was able to get onboard. Just definitely don’t go in thinking sunshine and roses. In the end I thought it was a great read.

This is going to be the first pick I'll actually be reading in time with everyone even though I've been in this group for over a decade.

For what it's worth, NoveList, that library reading database we discussed last month says that Nettle & Bone's tone is "Darkly humorous ; Moving ; Off-beat"

So, yep, dark, like people say, but just off-kilter enough to also be endearing, I guess?

I am at 73% and it is dark. It’s not graphic but it is grim. It is also, at times, very funny.

Kingfisher does what other authors fail to do when trying to mix the two: she leaves enough space for each of those emotions to have their due before ramping up to the next one. There’s none of this “haha we’re laughing BOOM someone explodes” stuff other writers pull, which is cheap shock value.

Non-spoiler example, but just in case you don’t want to read anything about the book (as I wouldn’t): (view spoiler)[In the beginning Marra is building a dog out of bones, one of the three impossible tasks set to her by the witch. Later on, she’s asked what she named the dog. “Name?” “Yes, name. Every dog needs a name.” “Um… Bone Dog?” “You’re not gifted with imagination, are you?” 😆 (hide spoiler)]

This was the fastest I've listened through a book for a long time. And I enjoyed every minute. It's Dark and off-kilter for sure, but in a good way.

The month has begun..go forth and discuss!