Nettle & Bone

Nettle & Bone uses the foundation of fairy tales to show the power of stories. Marra begins the novel as a naive third daughter but convinces herself that she can be a hero by telling herself repeatedly that she can accomplish the impossible. Kingfisher thus argues that each individual action begins with the story one tells oneself about the world, their circumstances, and themselves.

Marra’s childhood consists of watching her two older sisters and mother interact with a royal court that has no use for her as a third daughter. One of Marra’s childhood memories centers on Kania telling Marra she hates her. This moment builds a narrative in Marra’s mind that she carries with her, “snugged up under her ribs. It did not touch her heart, but it seemed to fill her lungs, and sometimes when she tried to take a deep breath, it caught on her sister’s words and left her breathless” (9). Marra tells herself that she does not deserve affection, attention, or mental stimulation. The gender norms and fairy tales reinforce the story she tells herself and contribute to her staying ignorant of the precarious situation of the Harbor Kingdom and Damia’s predicament.