Nettle & Bone felt like a Frankenstein’s monster of a story, cobbled together from familiar fantasy tropes and bits of other books I’ve read before. While the premise initially intrigued me, I quickly found myself disengaged. The narrative relied heavily on clichés, and the plot lacked originality, making it difficult to stay invested.

The characters didn’t leave much of an impression either. I struggled to care about their journeys or outcomes, as they felt more like archetypes than fully fleshed-out individuals. Rather than offering a fresh take on fantasy, the book leaned into predictable elements, which gave me an overwhelming sense of déjà vu throughout.

Ultimately, it wasn’t gripping enough to hold my attention or offer anything new to the genre. While I can see how some readers might enjoy its familiarity, it just wasn’t for me.