Uprooted: A Novel

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Can we talk about the forest and the trees? Because Novik has created some of the most horrifying evil trees I think I've ever read, and it's kind of delightful how vile and terrifying they are. The bark, the sap, the branches...the descriptions and details were terrifying (and delicious).

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows – everyone knows – that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia – all the things Agnieszka isn’t – and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. Through notes left behind by previous girls, Agnieszka gathers that her role mostly involves performing household domestic duties for the Dragon. However, the Dragon has chosen Agnieszka because she has magical abilities, and he starts teaching her simple spells. Agnieszka finds these acts of magic difficult and unnatural to do. Uprooted is a 2015 high fantasy novel by Naomi Novik, based on Polish folklore. The story tells of a village girl, Agnieszka, who is selected by the local wizard for her unseen magical powers. Together they battle the Wood, a nearby forest, as it seeks to take over the land. The book has been warmly welcomed by critics and other fantasy authors, who have praised the portrayals of both Agnieszka and the Wood. It won the 2015 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the 2016 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, and the 2016 Mythopoeic Award in the category Adult Literature. It was a finalist for the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Novel. Spinning Silver" in The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales, edited by Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe ( Saga Press, 2016) ISBN 978-1-4814-5612-8

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In Autumn, a White Dragon Looks Over the Wide River" in In His Majesty's Service: Three Novels of Temeraire (Del Rey, 2009) ISBN 978-0345513540 Lastly, the magic system is uber ridiculous. There were no limitations or repercussions to it; Agony could’ve conjured Geralt of Rivia, Gundam, Doraemon, or a massive spaceship, and it would still work. She’s a Mary Sue; there’s no proper explanation given to how her magic worked. She only needed to speak the words she has read, and she would be able to cast anything. I didn’t feel any intensity from the action and the battle scenes anymore because of this. I pity the tree used to create this novel.

Don’t even get me started on how many times I had to reread a paragraph because I lost count on how many times my mind wandered while I’m reading this book. This situation almost never happened before; even on books I disliked, I didn’t have much trouble finishing them. I legit thought about the process of turning a raw potato into French Fries out of nowhere while reading this, and hey, it’s more interesting than what the pacing and romance this book put me through. Agnieszka is a fantasy heroine for the ages. She's messy, kind, stubborn, bumbling yet brilliant when it comes to magic. I loved how devoted she is to her friend Kasia (and how loyal Kasia is to her). Her relationship with the Dragon could've felt like a revamped Beauty & the Beast, or Pygmalion, and maybe there are hints of all that here. But Novik twists all those tropes and stories and comes up with a relationship and storyline that feels fresh. At it's heart, this is a story of love (not only the romantic kind, although there is that too) and friendship.

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Let me preface this review by getting something off my chest straight away: I loved this book with the intensity of a thousand supernovas. Irankunda, Larissa (October 16, 2020). "Racism vs. Representation: The Missteps of Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education". The Mary Sue . Retrieved May 23, 2021. Books by Naomi Novik". Books on Tape. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012 . Retrieved December 2, 2011. I'll freely admit that I was immediately caught within its grasp, and remained spellbound from beginning to end. a b DJangi, Taraneh (March 5, 2019). "Congratulations to Our 2019 Audie Award Winners". Books on Tape . Retrieved May 22, 2021.