Title: Uprooted

Author: Naomi Novik

First Published: 19 May 2015

What is it about?

A terrifying enchanted forest looms over a nearby village and the villagers depend on the Dragon for protection. In return for his help, the wizard takes one young woman to serve him for ten years, and the maidens never return the same. Young Agniezka dreads the day that her friend Kasia, beautiful and brave, will be chosen, and everyone is startled when Agniezka is picked instead.

In the wizard’s tower, Agniezka learns that she’s more than meets the eye. Magic courses in her veins and the Dragon himself struggles to understand her powerful magic, but he teaches her what he knows. And it turns out the Dragon is more than an unfeeling wizard. Everything the villagers have whispered about him are woven from the fear and prejudice that he let them nurture.

Meanwhile, the Wood’s menace is threatening the kingdom. Before she knew it, Agniezka is thrust into a life of battles and kingdom politics. In the end, only she knows how to keep the Wood from swallowing her kingdom whole. With the help of the Dragon, her now-inhumanely-strong friend Kasia and a witch she allies with along the way, Agniezka fights against the Wood’s unearthly danger in order to save the village she’s rooted in.

What did I enjoy about it?

To be fair, many. What stands out the most for me is Novik’s writing style. It’s descriptive, though not overly so, and paints the story in just the right pace, not too quick yet not too slow.

I also love the magic system! It’s been some time since I’ve read books about spell magic. It’s fascinating how magic here is treated as something alive in its own, how boundaries can’t simply be set to define it and that a person’s magic is unique to him or herself. Doing a spell with somebody is more than chanting a bunch of foreign words together, it requires trust and willingness to share, almost like establishing an intimate connection.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed the simplicity in this fairytale-esque story. It’s a classic tale of wizards and enchanted forests, princesses and kings, and yet so much more than that. The romance progresses naturally and it takes up no more of the book than it would’ve been distracting to the actual plot.

The ending is also perfect. The final chapter ties up all loose ends as the characters completes their individual transformation arcs. I liked how Sarkan, aka the Dragon, is not mentioned until the very last pages, showing Agniezka is not dependent of him. You know, unlike other books where the girls seem to be clinging on the guys 24/7…

Finally, there are some thoughtful quotes that I find enchanting and somewhat relatable. Especially the horrific aftermath of battle that Novik takes the time to describe, and every image that she conjectures sends me shivering.

“I tried not to think about it: yesterday six thousand men had marched over this road; today they were all gone. They lay dead in the trenches, they lay dead in the hall, in the cellars, on the long winding stairs going down.”

And also, Agniezka is a lovely character. Some readers may even label her Mary-Sue, but I think she truly cares about others as an emotional individual. That is something many authors often overlook.

“But once you’re old enough, they’re like flowers: you know the bloom will fade even as you put them in the glass.”

-Alosha about loving men as an immortal

What did I not like about it?

Of course, like other books (*cough* Passenger *cough*), “Uprooted” too has its flaws, although to be fair there aren’t many. One of them is actually the Dragon’s character. It’s not that I hate his snide or rudeness -in fact, I think those are part of his charm. It’s not even his stubbornness or easily resigned mentality when it comes to opposing the Wood. What I dislike is his lack of transformation. Until the last moments, I felt like his character hadn’t progressed at all. Even Agniezka noticed.

“So now he was going to run away as quick as he could, and find himself some new stone walls to hide behind.”

Sure, in the end he visited the village and flirted with Agniezka, but that was disappointing. It fell short of satisfying.

Who do I recommend it for?

Anyone who loves fantasy, especially those who are just getting into the genre and don’t want to get into high fantasy yet. If you like fairytale, old myths and legends, this would also be the perfect read for you.

If you enjoyed Uprooted, what should you read next?

For another mythical story and fairytale, try Wintersong with its lyrical writing and a mysterious goblin king (not unlike the Dragon). For a nostalgic read that might remind you of childhood, read Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. And if you’re new to fantasy, looking for an equally cryptic and obscure adventure, I suggest you one of my personal favorites, The Night Circus.

Happy reading!