Nettle

by Bex Hogan

ISBN: 978-1035-909322

First published: 2024

260 pages

Publisher: Zephyr / www.HeadofZeus.com

Cover image: Laura El

5 / 5 Stars

A really great book in the tradition of fairy tales, with a great plot and great characters. It reminded me of a grown up version of The Faraway Tree. What makes it great is its simplicity. No overblown characterisation, no moralising, no great expositions, but simple story telling, with surprises and chances and options that keeps the reader interested.

Story telling should revert to this model.

Grounded in fairy lore from old English, Morgan supplies a list of plants with their connection to fairies, and we can, for a moment at least, suspend our disbelief.