An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O'Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Shadow of Undrentide. Over the course of a brief winter sojourn spent working on the game in Edmonton, Canada (accompanied by a truly alarming coat that now lives brooding in the depths of her closet), she realized she preferred writing to programming, and on returning to New York, decided to try her hand at novels. Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers. Her website is NaomiNovik.com.
Agnieszka loves her valley home in a quiet village. 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 the Wood's dark forces at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his assistance: Every ten years, one young woman must be handed over to serve him without question. The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka 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 when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
What drew me into the story was the way it felt like a classic fairytale. Novik's writing draws you in, and the book reads like a detailed, elaborate bedtime story you might have been told growing up. The beginning of the story is a bit slow pacing-wise, but trust me in that it picks up quickly, and then after a certain point you will have an incredibly difficult time putting it down. This is due in part to how the adventure just keeps on coming, but also because you start to get really invested in Agnieszka's quest and ability to survive in this world she's thrown into. The prose throughout can be dense (especially during battle sequences, where I admit I lost focus entirely), but it all works to create a magical and fairytale-esque reading experience.
My favorite part about this book is the magic system and Novik's worldbuilding. This is a standalone, so we don't have chapters upon chapters of worldbuilding and descriptions of the political landscape. What you get instead is thrown into this world in an accessible way. All Agnieszka understands about her world is what she knows from the small village, so when she is thrust into the Dragon's world, we are learning right alongside her. The magic system also isn't centered around rules or history, but instead on feeling and instinct, which makes scenes with magic that much more interesting. I definitely felt like I could have spent more books in this world, just because I wanted to know more, but I was never left confused by what was going on. For a standalone fantasy, that is definitely a win.
The character development maybe isn't where we'd expect it to be, but this was published in 2015 when female characters didn't really need to develop in order to be considered strong female heroines. When put in that context, I think Agnieszka can still be considered a strong lead who develops over the course of the novel. She's thrust into situations she never expected and somehow raises up on top without compromising who she is or forgetting where she came from. I like how her relationship with Kasia is complicated over the course of the book, and how her understanding of her world is complicated by her relationship with the Dragon. Overall, I thought the relationships Agnieszka has with the other characters helped push her development, and while modern-day readers might hope for more, in the context of when this is written, I consider it strong enough not to hinder any type of enjoyment while reading.
Novik's writing is addicting, and I loved the world she created in Uprooted—I might just be looking into her other novels. You can find her online at NaomiNovik.com.
*This review can also be found on my Goodreads page*
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