Nettle & Bone

“The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen. The pit was full of bones and her hands were full of wires.”

In this quote, Kingfisher establishes the mood for the novel. Marra struggles with magic and death, but death becomes her ally. This opening image builds the foundation for Marra’s struggle against evil.

“It was the dogs she wanted. Perhaps she might have built a man out of bones, but she had no love of men any longer. Dogs, though…dogs were always true.”

This quotation draws on the use of bones as a symbol. Kingfisher argues that we carry our nature in our bones. This passage also foreshadows Marra’s conflict with Vorling, as he is the man who causes her to turn away from men.

“Besides, when the great hero Mordecai slew the poisoned worm, did he complain about his fingers hurting? No, of course not. At least, not where anyone could hear him and write it down.”

Marra repeatedly draws on the stories she knows about heroes for courage. Kingfisher argues that these stories encourage Marra to act in the face of grave personal danger. This passage also shows Marra’s reliance on humor to manage despair.