I’m conflicted about my own thoughts. I like the book, but it isn’t a good book(?)... and yet, I’ll probably read the next one?

The world: It was exactly what I wanted. The fae in Nettle are traditional; they are devious, childish, and dangerous. They use magic to beautify the world and lure humans into their darkness. Perhaps I like it so much because it offers such a contrast to the fae found in modern "Romantasy"?

The plot: I enjoyed reading about Nettle trying to complete the quests the king assigned her and navigating the fae realm. What ruined it for me was the love interest. It felt flat and unmotivated. The book would have been much better without it. The characters are also rather dull. Nettle has an air of mystery about her... but she also fails to grasp things that were very obvious. Characterization and the romance aspect were not Hogan’s strong suits.

The writing: Simple; the dialogue felt a bit silly at times, but it worked.

Other: Illustrator Laura El did a fantastic job. The cover is incredibly beautiful.