Ursula Vernon

Author of Nettle & Bone

91+ Works 20,967 Members 1,112 Reviews 49 Favorited

About the Author

Ursula Vernon is a freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She received an undergraduate degree in anthropology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She took several art classes in college. Her first children's book, Nurk: The Strange Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew, show more was published in 2008. Her other works include Black Dogs: The House of Diamond and the Dragonbreath series. She also writes and illustrates the webcomic Digger and the creator of The Biting Pear of Salamanca. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: Ursula Vernon, T. Kingfisher, T. Kingfisher, T.A. Kingfisher

Series

Temple of the White Rat

Works by Ursula Vernon

Popular Recent

Nettle & Bone (2022) 1,916 copies, 92 reviews

What Moves the Dead (2022) 1,646 copies, 71 reviews

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (2020) 1,180 copies, 78 reviews

The Hollow Places (2020) 1,119 copies, 69 reviews

The Twisted Ones (2019) 1,053 copies, 53 reviews

A House with Good Bones (2023) 876 copies, 46 reviews

Dragonbreath (2009) 847 copies, 29 reviews

Thornhedge (2023) 767 copies, 53 reviews

Paladin's Grace (2020) 675 copies, 35 reviews

Clockwork Boys (2017) 660 copies, 24 reviews

Swordheart (2018) 586 copies, 40 reviews

The Seventh Bride (2014) 579 copies, 38 reviews

Harriet the Invincible (Hamster Princess) (2015) 516 copies, 28 reviews

The Wonder Engine (2018) 458 copies, 20 reviews

Dragonbreath #2: Attack of the Ninja Frogs (2010) 446 copies, 16 reviews

What Feasts at Night (2024) 443 copies, 12 reviews

A Sorceress Comes to Call (2024) 401 copies, 21 reviews

Bryony and Roses (2015) 379 copies, 26 reviews

Dragonbreath #3: Curse of the Were-wiener (2010) 370 copies, 7 reviews

Paladin's Strength (2021) 365 copies, 16 reviews

The Raven and the Reindeer (2016) 364 copies, 22 reviews

Minor Mage (2019) 351 copies, 26 reviews

Castle Hangnail (2015) 347 copies, 29 reviews

Paladin's Hope (2021) 298 copies, 19 reviews

Dragonbreath #4: Lair of the Bat Monster (2011) 259 copies, 7 reviews

Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew (2008) 233 copies, 24 reviews

Summer in Orcus (2016) 221 copies, 15 reviews

Digger, Vol. 1 (2005) 208 copies, 8 reviews

Of Mice and Magic (Hamster Princess) (2016) 204 copies, 12 reviews

Dragonbreath #5: No Such Thing As Ghosts (2011) 202 copies, 5 reviews

Jackalope Wives and Other Stories (2017) 194 copies, 11 reviews

Dragonbreath #6: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies (2012) 180 copies, 7 reviews

Nine Goblins (2013) 168 copies, 11 reviews

Digger: The Complete Omnibus Edition (2013) 167 copies, 7 reviews

Illuminations (2022) 162 copies, 5 reviews

Paladin's Faith (2023) 161 copies, 6 reviews

Ratpunzel (Hamster Princess) (2016) 151 copies, 11 reviews

Toad Words and Other Stories (2014) 145 copies, 10 reviews

Dragonbreath #7: When Fairies Go Bad (2012) 135 copies, 4 reviews

Giant Trouble (Hamster Princess) (2017) 135 copies, 9 reviews

Dragonbreath #8: Nightmare of the Iguana (2013) 125 copies, 5 reviews

Dragonbreath #9: The Case of the Toxic Mutants (2013) 113 copies, 3 reviews

Whiskerella (2018) 105 copies, 8 reviews

Dragonbreath #10: Knight-napped! (2015) 101 copies, 4 reviews

The Halcyon Fairy Book (2017) 93 copies, 8 reviews

Digger, Vol. 2 (2006) 92 copies, 3 reviews

Dragonbreath #11: The Frozen Menace (2016) 86 copies, 4 reviews

Little Red Rodent Hood (Hamster Princess) (2018) 85 copies, 11 reviews

Digger, Vol. 3 (2007) 79 copies, 2 reviews

Black Dogs Part One: The House of Diamond (2011) 78 copies, 1 review

Digger Unearthed: The Complete Tenth Anniversary Collection (2022) 72 copies, 1 review

Digger, Vol. 4 (2009) 54 copies, 1 review

It Made Sense at the Time: Selected Sketches by Ursula Vernon (2004) 48 copies, 2 reviews

Digger, Vol. 5 (2010) 48 copies, 1 review

Digger, Vol. 6 (2011) 47 copies, 1 review

Black Dogs Part Two: The Mountain of Iron (2011) 44 copies, 1 review

The Tomato Thief (2016) 14 copies, 4 reviews

Sun, Moon, Dust {short story} (2017) 13 copies, 7 reviews

The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society {short story} (2018) 13 copies, 4 reviews

Jackalope Wives {short story} (2014) 12 copies, 3 reviews

Metal Like Blood in the Dark (2020) 12 copies, 4 reviews

Hamster Princess Series 6 Books Set (2021) 11 copies

The Dryad's Shoe {story} (2014) 9 copies, 3 reviews

Irrational fears (2009) 8 copies, 1 review

An Unexpected Honor (2017) 3 copies, 1 review

Telling the Bees 3 copies, 1 review

Toad Words {short story} 3 copies

The Sea Witch Sets the Record Straight {short story} 2 copies

Origin Story [Audiorecording] 2 copies, 1 review

Hemlock & Silver 2 copies

Guia màgica d'autodefensa amb galetes (2023) 2 copies

Pocosin {short story} 2 copies, 1 review

Godmother 1 copy, 1 review

What Moves the Dead Sneak Peek 1 copy

Elegant and Fine 1 copy, 1 review

Bluebeard's Wife {Short Story} 1 copy, 1 review

Digger Unearthed Part 1 1 copy

Bluebeard's Wife {short story} 1 copy

Dragonbreath Books 1 - 6 (2021) 1 copy

Hamster Princess y las doce princesas ratonas bailongas (Hamster Princess 2) (2020) 1 copy

Weird Fruit, 2009 Calendar (2008) 1 copy

Digger Unearthed Part 3 1 copy

Digger Unearthed Part 2 1 copy

Tadpoles We Have Known, 2010 Calendar (2009) 1 copy

House of Red Fireflies (House of Red Fireflies, #1) 1 copy

Digger, Vol. 7 1 copy

Razorback 1 copy

The Dark Birds 1 copy, 1 review

Wooden Feathers (short story) (2015) 1 copy

Rodents We Have Known, 2007 Calendar (2006) 1 copy

The House With Good Bones 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

Comics Squad: Recess! (2014) — Contributor — 266 copies, 8 reviews

Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever. (2017) — Contributor — 196 copies, 7 reviews

The New Voices of Fantasy (2017) — Contributor — 181 copies, 12 reviews

The Mythic Dream (2019) — Contributor — 180 copies, 5 reviews

The Long List Anthology: More Stories From the Hugo Award Nomination List (2015) — Contributor — 111 copies, 4 reviews

Rocket Fuel: Some of the Best From Tor.com Non-Fiction (2018) — Contributor — 82 copies, 1 review

Escape Pod: The Science Fiction Anthology (2020) — Contributor — 69 copies, 3 reviews

Nebula Awards Showcase 2016 (2016) — Contributor — 69 copies, 3 reviews

The Long List Anthology Volume 2: More Stories from the Hugo Award Nomination List (2016) — Contributor — 60 copies, 1 review

The Best of Uncanny (2019) — Contributor — 57 copies, 1 review

The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume Thirteen (2019) — Contributor — 55 copies, 3 reviews

Best of Apex Magazine: Volume 1 (2016) — Contributor — 52 copies, 30 reviews

The Long List Anthology Volume 4: More Stories from the Hugo Award Nomination List (2018) — Contributor — 49 copies

The Long List Anthology Volume 3: More Stories from the Hugo Award Nomination List (2017) — Contributor — 49 copies

The Long List Anthology Volume 6: More Stories from the Hugo Award Nomination List (2020) — Contributor — 24 copies, 2 reviews

Never Too Old to Save the World: A Midlife Calling Anthology (2023) — Contributor — 23 copies, 2 reviews

Apex Magazine 80 (January 2016) (2016) — Author — 21 copies, 4 reviews

New Adventures in Space Opera (2024) — Contributor — 20 copies

Uncanny Magazine Issue 16: May/June 2017 (2017) — Contributor — 19 copies, 6 reviews

Uncanny Magazine Issue 25: November/December 2018 (2018) — Contributor — 18 copies, 7 reviews

Uncanny Magazine Issue 7: November/December 2015 (2015) — Contributor — 11 copies, 2 reviews

Uncanny Magazine Issue 17: July/August 2017 (2017) — Contributor — 10 copies, 1 review

Uncanny Magazine Issue 36: September/October 2020 (2020) — Contributor — 9 copies, 5 reviews

Apex Magazine 56 (January 2014) (2014) — Contributor — 8 copies, 3 reviews

Apex Magazine 68 (January 2015) (2015) — Contributor — 7 copies, 2 reviews

Come Join Us by the Fire Season 2 (2020) — Contributor — 6 copies, 1 review

Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals II — Introduction — 4 copies, 1 review

Uncanny Magazine: The Best of 2018 — Contributor, some editions — 2 copies

BSFA Awards 2022 (2023) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

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Common Knowledge

Canonical name: Vernon, Ursula
Other names: Kingfisher, T.
Kingfisher, T. A.
Birthdate: 1977-05-28
Gender: female
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: Japan
Places of residence: North Carolina, USA
Minnesota, USA
Arizona, USA
Education: Macalester College
Occupations: artist
writer
illustrator
Awards and honors: Web Cartoonists' Choice Award (2005)
Hugo Award (2012, 2017, 2021, 2023)
Nebula Award (2015, 2021)
Mythopoeic Award (2012, 2017, 2021)
WSFA Small Press Award (2015, 2017, 2021)
Dragon Award (2020, 2021) (show all 9)
Locus Award (2023)
Lodestar Award (2021)
Ursa Major Award (2003)
Agent: Helen Breitwieser

Members

Discussions

The Deep Ones: "Origin Story" by T. Kingfisher in The Weird Tradition (October 2021)

Cinderella retelling in Name that Book (May 2016)

Reviews

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

This dark fantasy is part twisted fairytale, part Regency house party. Fourteen year old Cordelia’s mother is a dangerous sorceress capable of controlling others, as Cordelia knows from frequent personal experience. When her mother sets her sights on marrying a country squire, she takes Cordelia to stay at his house.

The story alternates between Cordelia and Hester, the squire’s middle-aged spinster sister. I love how Hester’s response to a threat is to keep her head and to summon friends she trusts. I also love that it is Hester, with her non-nonsense attitude and her aching knees, and not the youthful Cordelia, who gets a romance subplot.

Although the fairytale aspect was darker and more twisted than I’d definitely prefer, it was more or less what I was expecting from Kingfisher, so I wasn’t unduly bothered. I like how Kingfisher balances horror with humour, hope, friendship and found-family.

Imogene’s suggestion was rather more practical. “Let’s just kill her,” she had suggested, “and dump the body somewhere, and never tell anyone about it.”
“Can we actually do that?” Cordelia had asked.
“No,” said Richard.
“I don't see why not,” said Imogene.
“No one is killing anyone, ” Hester said firmly.
“Thank you,” said Richard.
“… At least not until we’ve figured out how to keep her from doing something horrible and magical that takes us all with her.”
Richard, who was fundamentally an honourable man, folded his arms and tried not to look completely appalled. “I was not expecting this house party to involve quite so much premeditated murder,” he muttered.

… (more)

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Herenya | 20 other reviews | Sep 30, 2024 |

Paladin's Hope (The Saint of Steel) by T Kingfisher

Crazy murderers! Deathly traps! Danger! Banter! Awesome gnoles! Adorable romance!

I think this might be my favourite book in this series so far. I am happy that Galen got a book. (I am keeping my fingers crossed for each paladin to get a book.) I love Galen, and it was about time he got paired off.

Piper is a doctor. He is a lich-doctor, to be exact. That means that he is a forensic pathologist in a fantasy universe, and deals with terrible things on a daily basis. I want to give Piper a hug.

“He didn’t mind living people, he was perfectly happy to meet them and talk to them and even work with them, but corpses never, ever asked stupid questions.”

The city guard finds a body in the river. And another. And another. Due to various circumstances, Piper, Galen, and Earstripe the gnole go off to investigate. Earstripe is awesome and cool, and I hope to see more of him in later books. (Please, dear author?)

The three go through many scary things together. The book gets pretty dark. But it wouldn’t be T. Kingfisher if there weren’t lots of chuckle-worthy dialogues and situations. I had so much fun. Galen and Piper are adorable and I loved them together. Naturally, according to the ancient tradition of romance novels, it takes them forever to figure each other out. (“He cannot possibly like me” and “I might put people in danger, so I’d better not get close to anyone” go on and on and on.) Things do get steamy.

While we go through the romance process, there are many fun quotes to enjoy:

“Generally it takes longer for me to make a fool of myself in front of good-looking men. I’m getting more efficient.”

“No, no, I love it when handsome men hug me for not being dead.”

Are you in any doubt about the destination? Well, the ending is very nice, with a cliffhanger in the epilogue :)))… (more)

Flagged

Alexandra_book_life | 18 other reviews | Sep 30, 2024 |

The Hollow Places: A Novel by T. Kingfisher

Holy shit. I mean, Holy SHIT.
Creepy. Check.
Scary. Check.
Funny. Check.
Will I have nightmares? Double check.

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rannaluv | 68 other reviews | Sep 25, 2024 |

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Reading this book was like savoring a good stew.
There are so many good chunks in it that make up a delicious dish, and once you’re finished you feel satisfied and full. I am content. This book is a marvel, and I am happy. ❤️

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rannaluv | 91 other reviews | Sep 25, 2024 |

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