Nettle
Faery Realms series: The darkly enchanting YA fantasy
Published on 10. July 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-0359-0931-5 (ISBN)
Description
'Reads like an instant fairytale classic' - 5* Reader Review
'An elegant, dreamy tale steeped in folklore' - Irish Times
'Dark and enticing; an atmospheric, folklore-infused fantasy' - Kirkus Reviews
Inspired by faery myth and folklore, the haunting, heart wrenching tale of a girl called Nettle in a dark, foreboding faery kingdom, for fans of Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series and Twin Crowns.
Welcome to a world of glittering courts, dangerous bargains and dazzling trickery...
A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. She grows close to Conor, a human stolen centuries before, and she also falls under the spell of mysterious Ellion, a Shadow Faery. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He'll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has been tricked...
In this dangerous fantasy kingdom Nettle discovers, too late, her part in an age-old love story and the price she will pay.
'An elegant, dreamy tale steeped in folklore' - Irish Times
'Dark and enticing; an atmospheric, folklore-infused fantasy' - Kirkus Reviews
Inspired by faery myth and folklore, the haunting, heart wrenching tale of a girl called Nettle in a dark, foreboding faery kingdom, for fans of Holly Black's The Folk of the Air series and Twin Crowns.
Welcome to a world of glittering courts, dangerous bargains and dazzling trickery...
A wild misfit in the human world, Nettle is enthralled by the glamour of the faery realm, with its two moons and scarlet stars. She grows close to Conor, a human stolen centuries before, and she also falls under the spell of mysterious Ellion, a Shadow Faery. To try to help her beloved grandmother who is fading in her world, Nettle makes a pact with the faery king. He'll heal her grandmother in exchange for Nettle completing three tasks. She agrees, not realising that deception lurks in this enchanted place, and that she has been tricked...
In this dangerous fantasy kingdom Nettle discovers, too late, her part in an age-old love story and the price she will pay.
Reviews / Votes
An elegant, dreamy tale steeped in folklore references, featuring a resourceful protagonist doing her best to counter the dark, devious bargains of the faerie world * Irish Times * 'This adventure is brimming with romance, plot twists, and delightfully horrid creatures. The strong plot and quick pace are complemented by endearing characters, including prickly Nettle, gentle Conor, and protective Ellion... Dark and enticing; an atmospheric, folklore-infused fantasy.' * Kirkus Reviews * Nettle is full of wit, wisdom and charm, I was stung on the first page and fell head first into Bex Hogan's magical world. * Kat Dunn * Drenched in magic and beauty, Nettle will transport you into a dark yet gorgeous faery tale you won't ever want to leave * Anna Waterworth, author of the The Girl Who Grew Wings * It feels both freshly new and deeply old * Cambridge Independent * A beautiful, heart-wrenching tale, drenched in magic * Take a Break, Best Young Adult Books of 2024 * Bex Hogan's Nettle establishes itself with the perfect fairy-tale formula... once cast it is a spell that does not leave us until we have finished the final page. * Just Imagine * A story of hope and determination * Five Books, Best Books for Teens 2024 * I am still thinking about this book... [Hogan] created something special with this fantasy fairytale retelling * @bookslovereaders * I loved everything about this story, and I will shout about it from the rooftops until everyone has read it... I honestly loved every single second * @oncemorewithreading * Fantasy and folklore lovers, you'll wanna add this to your 'To Be Read' pile immediately. * @booksellerkiera * An engaging and atmospheric fae tale that did not disappoint... definitely one for Holly Black fans. * @ravenbooklover * 'Courage and kindness, trickery and deception, love, loyalty and timeless love - this beautiful book brims with magic and the hope of happy-ever-afters' * LoveReading, Books of the Month * A heroine unlike any other and one that readers will love... this is a great read for 12+. -- Jacqui Sydney * World's Smallest Library * Nettle is an intriguingly magical tale of faeries, power and identity. Readers are transported to a world of tricks and traps where a jealous king, changelings and shadow faeries prove anything is possible. * Scope for Imagination * Hogan has never been one to shy away from darkness in her writing and Nettle is no exception... A wonderful slice of faery magic, tempting and duplicitious. * A Short Book Lover * Readers LOVE Nettle:-'The perfect YA fantasy package... A magical, dark and dreamy faery world, filled with cunning courts, exceptional trickery, fascinating creatures (and scary ones too) and a perfect sprinkling of romance and friendship.' - 5* Goodreads Review
-'What a beautifully written, whimsical tale' - 5* Goodreads Review
-'An enchanting, timeless fairytale' - 5* Goodreads Review
-'Short, delightful and well-written... I absolutely adored this' - 5* Goodreads Review * Readers *
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 12 years
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
210 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0359-0931-5 (9781035909315)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Raised on a healthy diet of fantasy and fairy tales, Bex Hogan spends hours lost in daydreams. Writing her stories down was a natural progression and she enjoys sharing her time between the real world and escaping to her imagination. A Cornish girl at heart, Bex lives in Cambridgeshire with her family. She has previously published the Isles of Storm and Sorrow trilogy and Black Heat with Hachette. Nettle is her first novel for Zephyr.