Uprooted
by Naomi Novik
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Naomi Novik, author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Temeraire novels, introduces a bold new world rooted in folk stories and legends, as elemental as a Grimm fairy tale.
“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
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.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway ( I am so happy I got that lucky)
I really enjoyed this book. Its got the old school Grimm tale feel to it. There was pain, suffering, consequences,blood, battles, heartbreak and some dark magic. Along with loyalty to family and community, working together, love and sympathy. It also sparked my interest in Baba Yaga and I plan on reading more about this mythological well loved being.
Agnieszka grows from this ever dirty sweet girl who is expecting her best friend to be taken from her by The Dragon to a young woman who at first seems to pity herself and her predicament but we get to read how through many trials she grows up to be accepting and understanding of who she is and those who are around her, including the emotionally cold Dragon.
The Dragon, even for as mean and gruff as he was, he was great character. He has a dark past but he does what he has to to save the villages from the corrupt woods. Some of the mean things he says are actually funny and I think come out more towards his disbelief in the things Agnieszka does. She’s pretty much his opposite but the work together well.
Kasia was brave and even accepted what happened to her and consequences for the things that happened. She was completely loyal and always believed in Agnieszka. I’d love to read more about her character.
What I am trying to say is this story is one of those ones that you read and think WOW that was a wonderfully written book. The characters were well written and all had their trials to get over. There were points were it was dark and gloomy with lots of heartbreak but other points were it was silly and fun. There was great world building nothing was overdone or underdone. Its a story that at some point ,if not at every point, you’ll find yourself surprised by how things turn out and why things happened the way they did. It pointed out how the love for somethings can turn us dark when we are only trying to protect what we love so much. At the end it leaves you with hope for the world that they fight to protect.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes the darker type fairy tales, which everything may not be happily ever after for everyone. It has some sexual situations not detailed but definitely a older Young Adult book in my opinion.
A beautifully written, wonderful tale. I’m hoping it becomes a series because although the ending was in my opinion perfect I want more of these characters and this world.
This book grabbed a place in this booknerds heart.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
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.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
My Review:
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway ( I am so happy I got that lucky)
I really enjoyed this book. Its got the old school Grimm tale feel to it. There was pain, suffering, consequences,blood, battles, heartbreak and some dark magic. Along with loyalty to family and community, working together, love and sympathy. It also sparked my interest in Baba Yaga and I plan on reading more about this mythological well loved being.
Agnieszka grows from this ever dirty sweet girl who is expecting her best friend to be taken from her by The Dragon to a young woman who at first seems to pity herself and her predicament but we get to read how through many trials she grows up to be accepting and understanding of who she is and those who are around her, including the emotionally cold Dragon.
The Dragon, even for as mean and gruff as he was, he was great character. He has a dark past but he does what he has to to save the villages from the corrupt woods. Some of the mean things he says are actually funny and I think come out more towards his disbelief in the things Agnieszka does. She’s pretty much his opposite but the work together well.
Kasia was brave and even accepted what happened to her and consequences for the things that happened. She was completely loyal and always believed in Agnieszka. I’d love to read more about her character.
What I am trying to say is this story is one of those ones that you read and think WOW that was a wonderfully written book. The characters were well written and all had their trials to get over. There were points were it was dark and gloomy with lots of heartbreak but other points were it was silly and fun. There was great world building nothing was overdone or underdone. Its a story that at some point ,if not at every point, you’ll find yourself surprised by how things turn out and why things happened the way they did. It pointed out how the love for somethings can turn us dark when we are only trying to protect what we love so much. At the end it leaves you with hope for the world that they fight to protect.
I'd recommend this to anyone who likes the darker type fairy tales, which everything may not be happily ever after for everyone. It has some sexual situations not detailed but definitely a older Young Adult book in my opinion.
A beautifully written, wonderful tale. I’m hoping it becomes a series because although the ending was in my opinion perfect I want more of these characters and this world.
This book grabbed a place in this booknerds heart.
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