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Night and Nothing #3
Nettle King
The mesmerizing conclusion to the Night and Nothing series—part Buffy the Vampire Slayer and part Alice in Wonderland—finds Finn fighting against the land of the dead.
When her beloved Jack disappears, Finn vows to find him—even if it means a daring odyssey into the land of the dead. But saving Jack comes at a terrible price: a dangerous fissure has opened, giving the dead access to the true world.
The lines between worlds are more blurred than ever. Finn’s sister, Lily, recently returned from the Ghostlands, seems to bear no scars from her time there. But then their friend Moth returns from Sombrus, the magical house once owned by Seth Lot, bearing shocking news. Something evil—a fearsome creature bearing a striking resemblance to Jack—has escaped Sombrus and is now stalking Fair Hollow, killing everyone it encounters, transforming them into terrifying Jacks and Jills and recruiting the Unseelie.
It will not stop until it gets what it wants . . .
Finn.
When her beloved Jack disappears, Finn vows to find him—even if it means a daring odyssey into the land of the dead. But saving Jack comes at a terrible price: a dangerous fissure has opened, giving the dead access to the true world.
The lines between worlds are more blurred than ever. Finn’s sister, Lily, recently returned from the Ghostlands, seems to bear no scars from her time there. But then their friend Moth returns from Sombrus, the magical house once owned by Seth Lot, bearing shocking news. Something evil—a fearsome creature bearing a striking resemblance to Jack—has escaped Sombrus and is now stalking Fair Hollow, killing everyone it encounters, transforming them into terrifying Jacks and Jills and recruiting the Unseelie.
It will not stop until it gets what it wants . . .
Finn.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2016
15 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Harbour
13 books248 followersThe author of The Dark Fable, Thorn Jack, Briar Queen, and Nettle King. (The Children of Night and Nothing series) Pretty good Painter and terrible gardener. Loves Faery, the Gothic, Victorian writers, the female surrealists, botany, and myth & folklore. My aunt once dated a Beatle, my father loved to read Mark Twain, and, if I was brave enough, I'd explore all those haunted woods and houses.
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September 5, 2024oh man, that ending had me in tears. it was heartbreakingly beautiful. (but also a lot of ugly heartbreak hence the tears)
reading this always gave me a sense of otherworldliness with it's mythological and fae themes that honestly, I don't feel like I've read anything quite like it. the writing was just so ethereally captivating. all the characters were phenomenal and I feel like we could still get more of out their story. I think some characters had intriguing backstory that I wouldn't mind learning about.
anyway, I'm seriously obsessed with these books and I'm so sad it's over :(
reading this always gave me a sense of otherworldliness with it's mythological and fae themes that honestly, I don't feel like I've read anything quite like it. the writing was just so ethereally captivating. all the characters were phenomenal and I feel like we could still get more of out their story. I think some characters had intriguing backstory that I wouldn't mind learning about.
anyway, I'm seriously obsessed with these books and I'm so sad it's over :(
January 28, 2016
I won this book through a goodreads contest which was amazing since I was already in love with the first two books.
Like the first two books in the series, Nettle King has such delicious darkness weaved through out the tale. I love the feeling of suspense and fear of the things that exist in the shadows and spaces between or beyond reality that Harbour develops. It also appeals to my love of fae and changeling mythos.
At the beginning Finn, the braveheart, has her sister Lily back but Jack has sacrificed himself and taken Lily's place in the realm of death. Finn is attempting to rescue him without her friends knowing.
There were points in the book where I was surprised about the pacing or wasn't expecting what happened. Yet once I keep reading that made me enjoy the rest even more.
Beautiful story and beautifully well written ending to the series.
Like the first two books in the series, Nettle King has such delicious darkness weaved through out the tale. I love the feeling of suspense and fear of the things that exist in the shadows and spaces between or beyond reality that Harbour develops. It also appeals to my love of fae and changeling mythos.
At the beginning Finn, the braveheart, has her sister Lily back but Jack has sacrificed himself and taken Lily's place in the realm of death. Finn is attempting to rescue him without her friends knowing.
There were points in the book where I was surprised about the pacing or wasn't expecting what happened. Yet once I keep reading that made me enjoy the rest even more.
Beautiful story and beautifully well written ending to the series.
October 20, 2023
REREADING 2023
Well, I have taken a bit to write this review, because I really wanted to reread the entire trilogy, Thorn Jack, Briar Queen, and Nettle King, back to back, BECAUSE the three books are one big incredible story that I have loved dearly.
Firstly, my love comes from the fact that this is really a complicated retelling of Tam Lin. It's about an ordinary girl, with no special powers, who meets that dark, brooding otherworldly boy. Yes, an old fashioned story, of two unlikely star-crossed lovers. The big element about these books IS the WORLD of the fairies, how Harbour chose to develop her mythology. The fairies are very beautiful but dark and dangerous for they are akin to the DEAD, and that is why this series is called A Night and Nothing series. Because these fairies are part of the dark and nothing.
However, their world is beautifully constructed, from the houses where the fairies live to some of the Gothic creatures, The Jack and Jills, the Grey sisters, Black Scissors, and so many other wonderful characters, like Moth and Jack Daw. Numerous characters, numerous details, places, people, mirrors, insects, gardens, flowers, leaves, trees, all these normal things turned into art, turned into gothic fairy related elements that are charged with both beauty and decay. It's really inspiring what the author has done over these three books, following a simple thread of two star-crossed lovers who are determined to be with each other no matter the cost. Because essentially this is not urban fantasy, it's not a genre romance, it's not big fantasy even though sometimes it was about saving the world. What it was about was love and death and how those two things work, because they are the two most powerful things. (along with power).
In the first book, Finn meets Jack, who lures her into his darkness. She never wants to be part of that world, never wants any power, only love and with love she wins Jack's heart for him. But in the end he's lost to her like her sister. In the second book, Finn goes looking for Jack and her sister, to bring them back to LIFE, willing to die for that love. She does bring her sister back but at a high cost. In the third book, Finn is trying to save that young man she loves, the one she gave a heart to, and it's one dangerous journey, with with surprises.
These are busy books, with big casts, lots of descriptions, the story never lingers as Harbour speeds along in third person, writing vignette style scenes (similar to those in The Night Circus) where a big cast plays out a huge story about humans coming in contact with the fairy world aka Tam Lin. Some find love. Some find magic. Some find only death and even death is sometimes not the end.
I recommend these books, but read all three and read them in order.
Lastly, I want to say this. I think this trilogy could have been a much larger series. And that's a great loss to its world. Because this is an incredible fairy world. Just the fairy houses are worth a read, the clothes, the spells, the many characters with all their own inner lives and details. It would make a great TV series or a great role playing game. I'm going to do some fan art myself. Because there are some lovely images I want to keep around me.
These are stories I am going to read again and again.
There is a cost for love......
Well, I have taken a bit to write this review, because I really wanted to reread the entire trilogy, Thorn Jack, Briar Queen, and Nettle King, back to back, BECAUSE the three books are one big incredible story that I have loved dearly.
Firstly, my love comes from the fact that this is really a complicated retelling of Tam Lin. It's about an ordinary girl, with no special powers, who meets that dark, brooding otherworldly boy. Yes, an old fashioned story, of two unlikely star-crossed lovers. The big element about these books IS the WORLD of the fairies, how Harbour chose to develop her mythology. The fairies are very beautiful but dark and dangerous for they are akin to the DEAD, and that is why this series is called A Night and Nothing series. Because these fairies are part of the dark and nothing.
However, their world is beautifully constructed, from the houses where the fairies live to some of the Gothic creatures, The Jack and Jills, the Grey sisters, Black Scissors, and so many other wonderful characters, like Moth and Jack Daw. Numerous characters, numerous details, places, people, mirrors, insects, gardens, flowers, leaves, trees, all these normal things turned into art, turned into gothic fairy related elements that are charged with both beauty and decay. It's really inspiring what the author has done over these three books, following a simple thread of two star-crossed lovers who are determined to be with each other no matter the cost. Because essentially this is not urban fantasy, it's not a genre romance, it's not big fantasy even though sometimes it was about saving the world. What it was about was love and death and how those two things work, because they are the two most powerful things. (along with power).
In the first book, Finn meets Jack, who lures her into his darkness. She never wants to be part of that world, never wants any power, only love and with love she wins Jack's heart for him. But in the end he's lost to her like her sister. In the second book, Finn goes looking for Jack and her sister, to bring them back to LIFE, willing to die for that love. She does bring her sister back but at a high cost. In the third book, Finn is trying to save that young man she loves, the one she gave a heart to, and it's one dangerous journey, with with surprises.
These are busy books, with big casts, lots of descriptions, the story never lingers as Harbour speeds along in third person, writing vignette style scenes (similar to those in The Night Circus) where a big cast plays out a huge story about humans coming in contact with the fairy world aka Tam Lin. Some find love. Some find magic. Some find only death and even death is sometimes not the end.
I recommend these books, but read all three and read them in order.
Lastly, I want to say this. I think this trilogy could have been a much larger series. And that's a great loss to its world. Because this is an incredible fairy world. Just the fairy houses are worth a read, the clothes, the spells, the many characters with all their own inner lives and details. It would make a great TV series or a great role playing game. I'm going to do some fan art myself. Because there are some lovely images I want to keep around me.
These are stories I am going to read again and again.
There is a cost for love......
February 7, 2017
After finishing the third and final Night and Nothing novel, I really think I'm in love with these books. I'm glad I listened to the first two and read the final book because listening to the names of different fae and the pronunciation made reading the final book easier and seeing the pages in the final book made me appreciate the thought that was put into the layout of the text, the play of different fonts, and the artwork. Finn and Jack are the couple that everyone looking for a good romance swoons over. Their love isn't saccharine sweet, but built on struggle and disagreement, and attraction. The author did an excellent job of showing the growth of their affection and mutual attraction and keeping the YA series pretty PG. While they do eventually have sex in the last novel, it isn't graphic and is referred to pretty poetically, such as "they reminded each other they were alive" and similar lines, which keeps my less knowledgeable students pretty much in the dark. All of the main characters are well drawn and grow over the course of the trilogy, and I'll readily admit that I took my time reading the last 40 pages of this final novel because I hated to see these characters go. I will miss them terribly but will most likely revisit them in the future, a thing I rarely do. All of the Night and Nothing series are violent, with epic battles between all the things that go bump in the dark. They are dangerous, edgy, and full of adventure. Finn is a heroine that readers will not soon forget. And the ending? Oh, the ending is perfection. Happy reading!
October 6, 2018
Katherine Harbour is amazing, she has written a series that will suck you into a dark and frightening lovely world that just might keep you up at night.
I love the fae, they are my favorite types of supernaturals. There is just something about them. They come in all different types, with different personalities, all could be quite deadly and they are gothic and macabre in a way that is just so lovely. They can be beautiful, are frighteningly strong, have magical powers and are very unpredictable. All these things mean that the story can turn out in unexpected ways and I love that, the unpredictability.
The Night and Nothing series had that unpredictability quality to it. I never knew which way the story was going to go and out of all the books I will say the Nettle King had the most surprises in it.
The Nettle King has broken me. The combination of characters that I love and couldn't help but be invested in and an amazing story that kept me riveted and guessing about what was going to happen next. How could I not love this book. Finn, oh Finn, I loved her so much. We say that characters are brave all the time when talking about a book but I think that it is so much truer when I say it about Sarafina Sullivan (aka Finn). Finn has faced a lot in this series, death of love ones, dangers to friends and herself, a love that might be destined for heartbreak and deadly games and adventure. Finn has faced some truly horrible stuff and while yes she has been scared, she has also faced everything with dignity, care and compassion and that is what makes her one of the braves characters I know and one of my favorites.
This series is one of my favorites and Katherine has written a wondrous tale that is fantastically descriptive, full of mythology and lore, very macabre and dark while being interesting and creative. I love the fact that this is a whole new take on fae to me and that she continued the same style throughout the series.
The Nettle King was everything I expected it to be and so much more. The story was dark, lush, gothic and exciting. I have been on adventures with these characters and my heart is now with them. The Nettle King has made me nervous, scared, cry, laugh and most of all happy. I am very glad that I have read this series and while the ending was something that I never saw coming I will say that the ending is something that was true to the series and could quite be a lovely ending. However I am not ready to say goodbye, I have questions that need to be answered. I would love a spin-off series with the reappearance of old characters. I can only hope but either way I loved this series and if you love the fae, dark and gothic books then this series would be perfect for you.
I love the fae, they are my favorite types of supernaturals. There is just something about them. They come in all different types, with different personalities, all could be quite deadly and they are gothic and macabre in a way that is just so lovely. They can be beautiful, are frighteningly strong, have magical powers and are very unpredictable. All these things mean that the story can turn out in unexpected ways and I love that, the unpredictability.
The Night and Nothing series had that unpredictability quality to it. I never knew which way the story was going to go and out of all the books I will say the Nettle King had the most surprises in it.
The Nettle King has broken me. The combination of characters that I love and couldn't help but be invested in and an amazing story that kept me riveted and guessing about what was going to happen next. How could I not love this book. Finn, oh Finn, I loved her so much. We say that characters are brave all the time when talking about a book but I think that it is so much truer when I say it about Sarafina Sullivan (aka Finn). Finn has faced a lot in this series, death of love ones, dangers to friends and herself, a love that might be destined for heartbreak and deadly games and adventure. Finn has faced some truly horrible stuff and while yes she has been scared, she has also faced everything with dignity, care and compassion and that is what makes her one of the braves characters I know and one of my favorites.
This series is one of my favorites and Katherine has written a wondrous tale that is fantastically descriptive, full of mythology and lore, very macabre and dark while being interesting and creative. I love the fact that this is a whole new take on fae to me and that she continued the same style throughout the series.
The Nettle King was everything I expected it to be and so much more. The story was dark, lush, gothic and exciting. I have been on adventures with these characters and my heart is now with them. The Nettle King has made me nervous, scared, cry, laugh and most of all happy. I am very glad that I have read this series and while the ending was something that I never saw coming I will say that the ending is something that was true to the series and could quite be a lovely ending. However I am not ready to say goodbye, I have questions that need to be answered. I would love a spin-off series with the reappearance of old characters. I can only hope but either way I loved this series and if you love the fae, dark and gothic books then this series would be perfect for you.
September 5, 2016
I don't honestly know how to start this review, or even what to say. This series is easily one of my all time favorites. I honestly think it might be my favorite, favorite. And that is saying something. I am a huge reader, always have been. I have read a lot, and loved a lot, of books. But this series, there is something special about it. I loved every last page.
I am not going into details with this book. There are so many nuances, so many ins and outs, and they are all important. They are all special. Knowing anything in advance would take something away from it. I will just tell you that I loved it. The characters, the worlds, the relationships, the beautiful writing. There is not one negative thing about this entire series.
Katherine Harbour has such an incredible imagination, and the way that she puts that imagination to paper blows me away. She has a way of drawing you into the story and keeping you there. Even when I wasn't reading, my mind was in the pages of this book. Her writing is smooth and dark, and utterly intoxicating.
The relationships that are formed throughout the story, and the ones that already existed, make this series what it is. Friendships and romances, familial relationships, and in-between relationships are the basis for this story of magic and maliciousness.
The worlds and settings of this story are endlessly fascinating. The houses are characters of their own, and the worlds breathe and tell their own stories. There is something interesting to be found in each and every setting of the story, and I found myself looking for things that I might miss, reading slowly to make sure that I took in everything.
The plot and pacing are perfect, slow and sensuous or fast and breathtaking. I was never bored, never hoping for the scene to end. I wanted this story to continue forever. This is the end of a series that I utterly adore, and while the ending was as perfect as I could have hoped, it is still bittersweet. I am in no way ready to let this series go. And I don't plan to. I will reread this again and again, because it is just that wonderful of a story.
I know I say this a lot, but I mean it in a whole new way this time. I CANNOT wait to see what Katherine Harbour comes up with next. I will be the first in line!
I am not going into details with this book. There are so many nuances, so many ins and outs, and they are all important. They are all special. Knowing anything in advance would take something away from it. I will just tell you that I loved it. The characters, the worlds, the relationships, the beautiful writing. There is not one negative thing about this entire series.
Katherine Harbour has such an incredible imagination, and the way that she puts that imagination to paper blows me away. She has a way of drawing you into the story and keeping you there. Even when I wasn't reading, my mind was in the pages of this book. Her writing is smooth and dark, and utterly intoxicating.
The relationships that are formed throughout the story, and the ones that already existed, make this series what it is. Friendships and romances, familial relationships, and in-between relationships are the basis for this story of magic and maliciousness.
The worlds and settings of this story are endlessly fascinating. The houses are characters of their own, and the worlds breathe and tell their own stories. There is something interesting to be found in each and every setting of the story, and I found myself looking for things that I might miss, reading slowly to make sure that I took in everything.
The plot and pacing are perfect, slow and sensuous or fast and breathtaking. I was never bored, never hoping for the scene to end. I wanted this story to continue forever. This is the end of a series that I utterly adore, and while the ending was as perfect as I could have hoped, it is still bittersweet. I am in no way ready to let this series go. And I don't plan to. I will reread this again and again, because it is just that wonderful of a story.
I know I say this a lot, but I mean it in a whole new way this time. I CANNOT wait to see what Katherine Harbour comes up with next. I will be the first in line!
May 4, 2016
I really, really wanted to adore this book (and the second book) as much as I adored the first one, but I just couldn't. We are in desperate need of a stronger editor here! I love the main characters and the premise, but there are way too many extraneous characters and plot lines. I was confused by the constant name dropping and the "visions" the characters kept having.
The imagery in these books is so, so beautiful. I love the world of Fair Hollow and truly hope that Miss Harbour could come back to this world with something neater and more focused. I would love to experience more, I would just require something more pulled-together!
The imagery in these books is so, so beautiful. I love the world of Fair Hollow and truly hope that Miss Harbour could come back to this world with something neater and more focused. I would love to experience more, I would just require something more pulled-together!
October 9, 2018
Absolutely fantastic. Perfectly wraps up the trilogy. Like the two books prior to this, Nettle King is this stunning masterpiece of a YA gothic novel. From prancing around abandoned and glamoured buildings - and the underworld - in everything from evening gowns with Renaissance daggers, to sporting corsets and bracelets of iron, the setting and atmosphere of this novel is probably the best thing I've ever read. This series as a whole has been everything 16 year old me ever wanted in a book--I'm just getting to it 8 years late. Highly, highly recommend. So good.
September 29, 2019
Well damn.
Was Nettle King how I wanted the Night and Nothing Series to end? Not really. Was I hoping for a happy ending? Yeah, kind of. Does this track though? Yeah, absolutely.
We couldn't just get a simple and happy ending. It had to have a catch. Of course it fucking did.
Initially when reading Nettle King the writing felt different; it wasn't a gothic or descriptive and it kind felt like Harbour was just going through the motions. BUT, I assume it was actually a deliberate (and smart) technique to show Finn just going through the motions after the loss of Jack. There are moments where it feels like the exciting and complex writing of the first two novels and this is when Finn is doing something dangerous (and usually dumb). And with a sudden appearance of someone else, the words just start flowing and it begins to feel alive again. It is this writing that I enjoyed the most. Additionally, I must say I have continue to love Harbour's style - the larger than average book that just creates a physical sense of otherness. And the journal/quote/poem/etc at the start of each chapter is enticing; and when Finn's journal is how we start Nettle King was magically perfect; it felt like we were coming full cycle.
With all that being said, I definitely had issues with the plot. The plot should have been simple: Finn was going to do everything possible and impossible to get Jack back from the Ghostlands. It got slightly more complex when something escaped Sombrus and was hell bent on wreaking havoc. It then got even more complex with the inclusion of various new characters with little introduction or explanation. It then got even more complex with the additional bad guys, and obvious betrayal/reveal. The point is: Nettle King was messy and made overly complex for little impact. There were times where I just wanted to put it down and walk away because I was getting a headache after new issues arose.
But, it is the characters that absolutely make Nettle King and the entire Series. Finn is brave and I loved that she was our protagonist - I want her to have a long and happy life with no Fatas. And Jack deserves all the best from now until forever. I love Jack and will never not be a fan. Slyvie is a fucking boss; and I love everything about. As for Christie, it's not that I don't like him...it's just that nearly everything he did annoyed me. Then there are support characters, the professors, the Fata's, the Black Scissor, the bad guys and anyone else that was just thrown in for whatever reason. Some characters died, some did not, but for the most part I didn't care because I couldn't remember their significance on the fact there was so many of them. Also, the sudden importance of Micha, Aubrey, and Kevin really annoyed me (and I honestly can't explain why). Now I must say: Absalom and Anna are my OTP. I don't even care about all the issues - Anna better get the blessed life she deserves and Absalom better protect her and do absolutely nothing to ever hurt her. I just want all the happiness for Anna.
So obviously there were feels; I couldn't possibly get to the final instalment in a Series without being emotionally invested in the characters. Unfortunately, I think it was only this loyalty to the characters that kept me reading at times - I need to make sure that the ones I cared about all got out alive (with some sort of happy future prospects). Nettle King felt like it was on the precipitous of something great, but it didn't quite get there.
There were times when Nettle King felt like a chore to push through, despite the great characters and the great writing. It might have been the unnecessarily complex and messy plot, but it could have also been the lack of emotional connection. And I don't know which is the root problem: did I not care because it was overly complex, or was it because it was overly complex that I stopped caring? I doubt there will ever be an answer.
Lastly, I have one major fucking issue that really made me mad (and could easily make me give a 1 star rating) and that is: the fucking unfairness of Finn and Jack.
It just hurts too much. I am done.
Now give me a Absalom and Anna story already. Or a Slyvie one with the happiest of happy endings. Coz I can't take anymore.
Was Nettle King how I wanted the Night and Nothing Series to end? Not really. Was I hoping for a happy ending? Yeah, kind of. Does this track though? Yeah, absolutely.
We couldn't just get a simple and happy ending. It had to have a catch. Of course it fucking did.
Initially when reading Nettle King the writing felt different; it wasn't a gothic or descriptive and it kind felt like Harbour was just going through the motions. BUT, I assume it was actually a deliberate (and smart) technique to show Finn just going through the motions after the loss of Jack. There are moments where it feels like the exciting and complex writing of the first two novels and this is when Finn is doing something dangerous (and usually dumb). And with a sudden appearance of someone else, the words just start flowing and it begins to feel alive again. It is this writing that I enjoyed the most. Additionally, I must say I have continue to love Harbour's style - the larger than average book that just creates a physical sense of otherness. And the journal/quote/poem/etc at the start of each chapter is enticing; and when Finn's journal is how we start Nettle King was magically perfect; it felt like we were coming full cycle.
With all that being said, I definitely had issues with the plot. The plot should have been simple: Finn was going to do everything possible and impossible to get Jack back from the Ghostlands. It got slightly more complex when something escaped Sombrus and was hell bent on wreaking havoc. It then got even more complex with the inclusion of various new characters with little introduction or explanation. It then got even more complex with the additional bad guys, and obvious betrayal/reveal. The point is: Nettle King was messy and made overly complex for little impact. There were times where I just wanted to put it down and walk away because I was getting a headache after new issues arose.
But, it is the characters that absolutely make Nettle King and the entire Series. Finn is brave and I loved that she was our protagonist - I want her to have a long and happy life with no Fatas. And Jack deserves all the best from now until forever. I love Jack and will never not be a fan. Slyvie is a fucking boss; and I love everything about. As for Christie, it's not that I don't like him...it's just that nearly everything he did annoyed me. Then there are support characters, the professors, the Fata's, the Black Scissor, the bad guys and anyone else that was just thrown in for whatever reason. Some characters died, some did not, but for the most part I didn't care because I couldn't remember their significance on the fact there was so many of them. Also, the sudden importance of Micha, Aubrey, and Kevin really annoyed me (and I honestly can't explain why). Now I must say: Absalom and Anna are my OTP. I don't even care about all the issues - Anna better get the blessed life she deserves and Absalom better protect her and do absolutely nothing to ever hurt her. I just want all the happiness for Anna.
So obviously there were feels; I couldn't possibly get to the final instalment in a Series without being emotionally invested in the characters. Unfortunately, I think it was only this loyalty to the characters that kept me reading at times - I need to make sure that the ones I cared about all got out alive (with some sort of happy future prospects). Nettle King felt like it was on the precipitous of something great, but it didn't quite get there.
There were times when Nettle King felt like a chore to push through, despite the great characters and the great writing. It might have been the unnecessarily complex and messy plot, but it could have also been the lack of emotional connection. And I don't know which is the root problem: did I not care because it was overly complex, or was it because it was overly complex that I stopped caring? I doubt there will ever be an answer.
Lastly, I have one major fucking issue that really made me mad (and could easily make me give a 1 star rating) and that is: the fucking unfairness of Finn and Jack.
It just hurts too much. I am done.
Now give me a Absalom and Anna story already. Or a Slyvie one with the happiest of happy endings. Coz I can't take anymore.
December 14, 2018
Reading this series was like watching a high-octane mythpunk through-the-looking-glass mash-up of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Vampire Diaries and True Blood - which I consider to be strengths. My main points of concern are that Finn became hyper-confident and clever in a way which was not earned by the narrative in Thorn Jack or early in Briar Queen where she was frequently outclassed and out-maneuvered. The level of worship that some attained for her and the way the narrative gave her certain wins and let her make certain correct assumptions recalled the worst of Sookie Stackhouse.
I also feel like the series could have been improved by one more book in order to spend an adequate amount of time with the many, many characters and plethora of plotlines in need of conclusion. It also felt like there was much left undone in the end, with more than enough room for a sequel series. (Or a prequel series...) And I really don't buy that Finn withheld certain pieces of information from certain folks for the rest of her days. Nor do I buy the decisions of Christie and Sylvie.
I also feel like the series could have been improved by one more book in order to spend an adequate amount of time with the many, many characters and plethora of plotlines in need of conclusion. It also felt like there was much left undone in the end, with more than enough room for a sequel series. (Or a prequel series...) And I really don't buy that Finn withheld certain pieces of information from certain folks for the rest of her days. Nor do I buy the decisions of Christie and Sylvie.
August 28, 2024
The final book. The perfect ending.
It's crazy to me how much was stuffed into this final book of the series. Questions were answered, more things revealed that I didn't even out together and amazing things were implied at the end.
I'll never get tired of re-reading this trilogy. It's so incredibly well written. I see entire movies when reading these stories and I would KILL for a show or movie based on these books.
I truly wish they were more popular like they deserve.
10/10 for not only this final book, but the entire series. Bravo.
It's crazy to me how much was stuffed into this final book of the series. Questions were answered, more things revealed that I didn't even out together and amazing things were implied at the end.
I'll never get tired of re-reading this trilogy. It's so incredibly well written. I see entire movies when reading these stories and I would KILL for a show or movie based on these books.
I truly wish they were more popular like they deserve.
10/10 for not only this final book, but the entire series. Bravo.
March 12, 2025
Nettle King book Night and Nothing series
A very good Ang climatic ending to the series. Finn goes to the Underworld to save Jack which she does. She enjoys time with her sister Lily and the evil which has harassing Fair Hollow is unmasked as Moth who is the son of Death. Finn is changed into a Jill in the final battle between her allies and Moth they are successful. Finn is changed back into a human along with jack and she pledges that she will become queen of the fairies at the end of life to save Anna
A very good Ang climatic ending to the series. Finn goes to the Underworld to save Jack which she does. She enjoys time with her sister Lily and the evil which has harassing Fair Hollow is unmasked as Moth who is the son of Death. Finn is changed into a Jill in the final battle between her allies and Moth they are successful. Finn is changed back into a human along with jack and she pledges that she will become queen of the fairies at the end of life to save Anna
December 23, 2019
I may be easy to scare, but I would classify this book as including elements of horror too. if you have an active imagination, you’ve been warned!! Every bump in the night or shadow is forever suspect.
I thought the ending was torture, UGH! So close to a happy ending. I do think I’ll need to re read some passages, because the pace was fast towards the end. Overall great series, powerful imagination on the authors end. Very impressive to build such a complex world/characters.
I thought the ending was torture, UGH! So close to a happy ending. I do think I’ll need to re read some passages, because the pace was fast towards the end. Overall great series, powerful imagination on the authors end. Very impressive to build such a complex world/characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2019
Amazing trilogy.
This was a very exciting ending to one of the best trilogies I have read so far. The author writes in such descriptive detail that I truly felt immersed in the story.
This was a very exciting ending to one of the best trilogies I have read so far. The author writes in such descriptive detail that I truly felt immersed in the story.
December 15, 2020
This kinda felt like a hot mess because there's so much going on all the time (so many characters and places and rituals and fights!) But this world is also so atmospheric and absolutely dripping in detail, and I love stuff like that, so it gets a middle-of-the-road 3 stars from me.
September 3, 2024
Must Read the Night and Nothing Novels
This is the last of 3 books in this series. Sometimes it was a little difficult to follow who was who. The storyline is very entertaining. Well developed characters.
I suggest reading the books in order or you will be very confused.
This is the last of 3 books in this series. Sometimes it was a little difficult to follow who was who. The storyline is very entertaining. Well developed characters.
I suggest reading the books in order or you will be very confused.
December 26, 2024
This book is a myriad of twists and turns that makes the fever dream of the first book and the cunning of the second look amateur. While the door on this tale closes, I hope there's a window for something to come.
March 26, 2025
This book was a Did Not Finish. I only mark books as DNF if they, in my opinion, fail to meet basic competitive qualitative standards. In order to be marked DNF I also have to pick up and then put down (with prejudice) the work 3 separate times.
January 4, 2022
I want more!
March 4, 2017
This novel is phenomenal. The characters are amazing and the plot is definitely new and unique. Full of suspense, love, emotions, action, and surprises galore, it's a must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy romance style novels!!
January 13, 2016
I was truly lucky to win this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. A luscious blend of fairy tale, fantasy, myth, legend, and every other paranormal genre you can imagine, this book captivated me from page one. And that's saying a lot as this is the end of a complex trilogy with countless characters and plot lines I was trying to catch up with, not having read the first two books (an oversight which I intend to remedy as soon as possible).
The narrative revolved around a group of young people in the town of Fair Hollow, a place where fairies gather and the borders between the land of the living and the Ghostlands are permeable. A great evil has escaped into the town and is recruiting forces to take down any and everyone that stands between it and Finn, who in turn is doing whatever necessary to rescue her love from the land of the Dead.
The characters are beautiful and complex, each following their own path to protect the town and those they love. They ally themselves with fairies, elementals, hunters, and every sort of magical being to learn to defend themselves, often working at odds with each other. Rogue fairies, the Unseelie, and humans robbed of their hearts to become assassins for the dark forces known as Jacks and Jills team up to wreak havoc on the town where only the young people can see them.
I haven't enjoyed a fantasy novel this much in years. Harbour knows how to craft a story, building up relentlessly to the ultimate showdown. The ending was both surprising and touching, adjectives that describe this book as a whole.
Do yourself a favor and pick up all three books, then read them in order until you're sated.
The narrative revolved around a group of young people in the town of Fair Hollow, a place where fairies gather and the borders between the land of the living and the Ghostlands are permeable. A great evil has escaped into the town and is recruiting forces to take down any and everyone that stands between it and Finn, who in turn is doing whatever necessary to rescue her love from the land of the Dead.
The characters are beautiful and complex, each following their own path to protect the town and those they love. They ally themselves with fairies, elementals, hunters, and every sort of magical being to learn to defend themselves, often working at odds with each other. Rogue fairies, the Unseelie, and humans robbed of their hearts to become assassins for the dark forces known as Jacks and Jills team up to wreak havoc on the town where only the young people can see them.
I haven't enjoyed a fantasy novel this much in years. Harbour knows how to craft a story, building up relentlessly to the ultimate showdown. The ending was both surprising and touching, adjectives that describe this book as a whole.
Do yourself a favor and pick up all three books, then read them in order until you're sated.
March 6, 2016
I received an ARC of this through Goodreads' First Reads program. After reading the second book, I felt that it was going to be a long shot for Finn to reclaim Jack from the Wild Hunt. Sure enough, reading through that first part made it seem like a lot of things were conveniently too easy. This would have really annoyed me if it didn't become clear that someone else was pulling the strings to set up a far bigger plot. Once things really got moving there, the story became far more appealing to me. I enjoyed seeing a little bit more of Sylvie and Christie as they were exploring and growing in their own powers. The mythology and dark world are still as alluring as ever, and the plot filled in some more details about the mysterious Fata characters we met in the first two books. However, I feel like maybe I missed clues building up to these things in the prior books. I'm also still not entirely sure what Absalom is. As a result, I'll likely be going back to re-read the entire trilogy. For me, that is the mark of a good fantasy series- if even after I've read the entire thing, I want to go back and re-read/re-live it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2016
I loved the dark and gothic themes of this book and was really excited to start reading it. However, because this was book 2 or 3 in the series, I found it very difficult to follow along. This is partly my fault for not reading the other books in the series, but I personally think each book in a series should be able to stand alone. In addition to my plot confusion, there seemed to be way too many characters introduced and I simply could not keep up. I'm sure those who actually read the other books would have a completely different opinion since the book seemed like it would be super interesting if I had in fact been able to know what exactly had been going on. I also loved the creative use of quotes to start each chapter. I would recommend anybody who is interested in this book, to start with the first book in the series.
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you.
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you.
June 11, 2016
I'm just glad we got Harbour made a serious miscalculation by not providing any recap at all in this installment. I've read the entire book and still don't remember some of the characters from previous books and I'm not sure that if I did it would enhance my understanding of the chaos that passed as plot. The saddest part of that is I don't really care! I found out what happened to Finn and Jack and Lily (still really don't know what happened with Sylvie and Christie) and I can stick a fork in it and never go back!
January 26, 2016
I won this book for free from a Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed the entire series, and Nettle King was no exception. This novel carries through the darkness pervading the other novels, making a spooky take on the world of the faeries. The characters are easy to develop a feeling for (be it positive or negative) and I quickly became engrossed in the entire town and the characters within. The resolution to this book is not necessarily what I saw coming, but it tied it all together pretty well. I would definitely recommend the series and look forward to Katherine Harbour's future pursuits!
I really enjoyed the entire series, and Nettle King was no exception. This novel carries through the darkness pervading the other novels, making a spooky take on the world of the faeries. The characters are easy to develop a feeling for (be it positive or negative) and I quickly became engrossed in the entire town and the characters within. The resolution to this book is not necessarily what I saw coming, but it tied it all together pretty well. I would definitely recommend the series and look forward to Katherine Harbour's future pursuits!
April 14, 2016
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads Giveaway and I am so glad I did. I have loved this series and this one doesn't disappoint. Katherine Harbour does a great job with the conclusion of this series. I have loved Finn and Jack from the very beginning. This story appealed to my love of everything dark and fae. The "Nettle King" has everything in it and it will have you feeling it all. It is a beautifully written story that will appeal to anyone that loves a dark suspenseful story. I recommend this series, you won't be disappointed.
July 16, 2016
Love this series!!
I think I have said this with every review of this series......Katherine weaves dark, sexy magic into these pages. This is a world I would love to live in. Finn is powerful, independent, and smart. Jack is all things dark and sexy, brave and beautiful. They are unstoppable together. Christy and Sylvie aren't just sidekicks, they are the best friends and comrades in arms anybody could ask for. Great story! Amazing world! If this is the last of night and nothing I can only look forward to Katherine's next tale.
I think I have said this with every review of this series......Katherine weaves dark, sexy magic into these pages. This is a world I would love to live in. Finn is powerful, independent, and smart. Jack is all things dark and sexy, brave and beautiful. They are unstoppable together. Christy and Sylvie aren't just sidekicks, they are the best friends and comrades in arms anybody could ask for. Great story! Amazing world! If this is the last of night and nothing I can only look forward to Katherine's next tale.
May 6, 2017
That was so disappointing. I love the first book & the second was interesting--the Ghostlands setting is fascinating--but this book was a lot of sound and fury and rushing around with no emotional depth. It needed to be about four times as long to do proper service to all the events that were taking place. And the mood--some of Thorn Jack's biggest strengths--was never really set.
April 27, 2016
Beautiful conclusion to this darkly thrilling, addictive trilogy. Katherine Harbour weaves enchantment throughout every word, creating a world that stays with you long after you've turned the final page.
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