Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik



Author: Naomi Novik
22544764
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: May 19th, 2015
Source: ebook (bought)
Rate:



Summary:

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.

Review:
Agnieszka lives in a valley that has a border with the Wood, a mysterious evil entity that shows itself through trees, darkness and corruption. Each day the Wood tries to spread its borders and it does that by corrupting people or by simply making them disappear.
Every once in awhile there is a choosing ceremony in Agnieszka's village in which their protector, the Dragon, a very powerful wizard, chooses a girl to take with him to his tower. The girls always come back alive and healthy, with an education and money but it is scary nonetheless. The choosing ceremony approaches and Agnieszka will be presented to the Dragon but she knows, as everyone in the village knows, that he will take her friend Kasia. He always chooses the most virtuous and good-looking girls and Agnieszka is none of that.
They all wait and see what is going to happen, for they rely on the wizard to keep the Wood away.
This book is utterly amazing! It is not perfect and has some flaws but it still amazes you every step of the way. In the beginning, you know that it is a retelling of the "The Beauty and the Beast" story but it is still able to surprise you with its twists and turns.
Agniezska and the Dragon are two amazing characters with very different qualities and personalities. It may not be a very diverse book, which is a shame, but it still presents you with a somewhat diverse cast of characters that you will enjoy and learn to love - and mourn some too.
The love interest - not telling you who it is - was very good. I liked the fact that it wasn't an "instant love" kind of relationship, it took many pages to build and embellish. It also had its ups and downs, just like in everyone's real life.
Agniezska is very different from the "typical" Belle, she is always dirty, she is independent and self-reliant. She is also strong minded and does not mind putting herself in danger in order to help others.
Overall this is a very big book and it is at times slow paced, which can disturb your reading and could clarify some things (that it leaves unclarified). Either way, it still has an amazingly complex magic system and an awesome set of characters. If you want to have a good time definitely check out this book!

2 comments

  1. I loved this book when I read it awhile back. I'm glad you enjoyed it =)

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    Replies
    1. It was very goo! Very different from other adaptations of the story! Much love :)

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