Book Review: UPROOTED by Naomi Novik

Title: Uprooted, Author: Naomi Novik

UPROOTED by Naomi Novik is a stunning high fantasy novel that I enjoyed from page one.

Agnieszka is a teen in a small village outside a haunted and self-aware forest. The Dragon, a sorcerer, comes to her village and takes a girl every ten years. This year he will come again, and everyone knows he will come for her best friend, Kasia. Instead, it’s her hand he grasps at the choosing, and so she is torn from her family and thrust in to a new and terrifying life.

The Dragon, as it turns out, is not as half as scary as she thought. True, he lives in a lonely tower just outside the deadly forest, but he is quiet, grumpy, and skinny. He never touches her, and in fact begins to teach her magic. He nurtures the magic inherent within her, though he doesn’t like it, filling Agnieszka with pride and wonder for the first time in her life. In fact, Agnieszka starts to feel a heat between them, a spark of something she never thought she’d feel toward the sallow sorcerer. When her friend, Kasia, is taken by the woods, Agnieszka rushes to save her. What Agnieszka finds alters the face of her Kingdom, and her life, forever.

This is a phenomenal book. If you love fantasy like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, anything like that — this is the book for you. I absolutely loved Agnieszka’s feisty nature. I loved how she threw The Dragon’s attitude back in his face. I love that she fights for everything she believes in, her friends, her family, no matter what.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. The writing is wonderful. Novik is a true master of her craft (and no wonder, she’s written about a million other books). The settings are crystal clear, the wood is terrifying, the plot unfolds at just the right pace. Trust me, if you like fantasy, READ THIS BOOK. I am going online to look for the rest of her books. This one is THAT good.

Highly recommended.