'Exciting deeply wise sad brutal and compassionate all at once. And beautifully written
with a plot as cunning as fine embroidery' Catriona Ward From two-time Hugo Award-winning
author T. Kingfisher comes a darkly cosy queer fantasy romance with a thrilling murder mystery
set in the same world as Paladin's Grace and Swordheart . Piper is a lich-doctor a physician
who works among the dead determining causes of death for the city guard's investigations. It's
a peaceful if solitary profession...until the day when he's called to the river to examine the
latest in a series of mysterious bodies mangled by some unknown force. Galen is a paladin of
a dead god lost to holiness and no longer entirely sane. He has long since given up on any
hope of love. But when the two men and a brave gnole constable are drawn into the maze of the
mysterious killer it's Galen's job to protect Piper from the traps that await them. He's just
not sure if he can protect Piper from the most dangerous threat of all... Praise for T.
Kingfisher: 'T. Kingfisher solidifies her place as natural and inevitable heir to the greats
of her genre while remaining clearly and unquestionably a unique voice in fantasy' Seanan
McGuire 'Creepy funny heartfelt and full of fantastic characters I absolutely loved'
Melissa Caruso author of The Tethered Mage " Nettle & Bone brings Kingfisher's signature
honesty and authenticity to a fairy tale setting: the result is refreshing earnest but not
naive and deeply satisfying. I devoured it. This is one that's going to stay with me for a
long time' Sarah Gailey author of Magic for Liars 'A delight throughout' Louisa Morgan
author of A Secret History of Witches 'T. Kingfisher uses the bones of fairy tale to create
something entirely her own written in gloriously clear and transparent prose' Emily Tesh
author of Some Desperate Glory 'Funny frightening and full of heart I loved it' Alix E.
Harrow author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January 'Charming and macabre often both at the
same time' A. K. Larkwood author of The Unspoken Name 'Absolutely delightful and full of
charm and truth' Naomi Novik on Thornhedge
