Uprooted in Bookworms Anonymous

Mar 19, 2015 Dianne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dark-fantasy, arc-read, netgalley, great-dialogue, own, epic-fantasy

There is only one power that stands between Agnieszka’s village and the evil of The Wood, and he is called the Dragon. Ancient wizard full of powerful magic, the Dragon rarely visits the village he protects. Once every ten years he requires a young maiden to serve him. She stays until the next choosing, but returning to her village is almost impossible, because each young woman is changed.

It is time for the choosing and Agnieszka knows her best friend Kasia will be chosen, beautiful, brave and k There is only one power that stands between Agnieszka’s village and the evil of The Wood, and he is called the Dragon. Ancient wizard full of powerful magic, the Dragon rarely visits the village he protects. Once every ten years he requires a young maiden to serve him. She stays until the next choosing, but returning to her village is almost impossible, because each young woman is changed.

It is time for the choosing and Agnieszka knows her best friend Kasia will be chosen, beautiful, brave and kind, but the quiet and scowling man doesn’t do the expected. He chooses the village’s most clumsy and tomboyish girl, Agnieszka. And the life she is brought into starts as a nightmare of epic proportions as the Dragon belittles her, mocks her and forces her to try magic, of which, she is certain, she has none.
When danger raises its ugly head, only the bravery and the strength of one young woman who stumbles over her incantations, making a mockery of many of them and one mysterious wizard can stand against the hordes. In every heart lies a hero, but it can be awakened only when it hears its own call.

Since I first read and re-read Temeraire’s tales, I have been a dyed in the wool Naomi Novik fan; hanging on every bit of news I would hear about “the next book.” Now I have another reason to await the words of a master of fantasy! Uprooted is like reading a childhood fairytale all grown up. A mysterious, stuffed shirt wizard and a free –spirited young woman , as unlikely of allies as ever could be play their parts beautifully, with touches of humor, a little defiant attitude and a whole lot of heart! Don’t be afraid to pick up this fairytale, it rings with passion, danger, bravery, dark myths and mysteries and the ultimate battle between good and evil. Now go, put it on your must read list…you'll be glad you did!

I received an ARC edition from Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey Spectra in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: Del Rey
ISBN: 9780804179034
Genre: Fantasy
Print Length: 449 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

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Jan 15, 2016 Brex (Bookosaurus_Rex) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi

3.8 stars!

Preview:

This book is hard to review because it’s complex, unique and magical, but emotionally heavy. The writing style is as dense and unusual as the evil Wood in the story, which can be good and bad. The thing that made this book lose points for me is that there was literally no levity or humour in it at all. In my opinion, the best-crafted stories can maintain literary weight while also being peppered with levity.

Characters:

Agniezka – She’s strong, clumsy and fiercely loyal; and I l 3.8 stars!

Preview:

This book is hard to review because it’s complex, unique and magical, but emotionally heavy. The writing style is as dense and unusual as the evil Wood in the story, which can be good and bad. The thing that made this book lose points for me is that there was literally no levity or humour in it at all. In my opinion, the best-crafted stories can maintain literary weight while also being peppered with levity.

Characters:

Agniezka – She’s strong, clumsy and fiercely loyal; and I like how she’s not a tight ass. Though she may have been a bit shortsighted at times, she’s stubborn about the right things, and I love how she never gave up on trying to save her best friend, Kasia. Agniezka doesn’t do well with systems and particulars, but she knows what to do when she needs to do it, and uses her practical wits to figure things out. You know how some people are book smart but useless in real life? Well, she’s the opposite of that, and that’s my jam.

The Dragon – He grew on me but he’s pretty much an irascible uncle-type throughout the whole thing, which is why it kind of grossed me out when he and Agniezka did the hankypank. He’s inflexible and grouchy, but with Agniezka’s help, he learns where and when to bend a little.

Marek – He scared me. All testosterone with a soft spot for his mum, which is a plus, I guess.

Kasia – A perfect sidekick. Strong and warrior af when kicking the Wood’s ass, but soft and tender to little children. Love that combo.

The Wood – I think the Wood was the most complex “character” in this book. I’ve read a lot about enchanted woods, but Novik was able to make it come alive and seem like a real person. That being said, the Wood also depressed the crap out of me, which is another thing that brought the rating down for me.

Action:

There are a few super intense, suspenseful scenes in the book, but it was pretty much the slowest book I’ve read in a while. It was as slow as that really boring book by Samuel Butler called The Way of All Flesh, so yeah. I don’t have a problem with slow reads, but for some reason this one frustrated me. For example, The Raven Cycle was slow, but it was captivating and it still made you want to keep reading. In contrast, Uprooted made me want to put it down after every 5 to 10 pages until maybe the last quarter of the book, and even then, the last 10% dragged like a lead-filled rag doll strung to a plastic wagon.

In conclusion:

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys getting deeply lost in a magical fairy tale. However, be prepared to devote time to it, and don’t attempt reading it when you’re tired. I also strongly suggest that you read Uprooted in fall or winter because it’s just not suited for summer reading. ...more

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Nov 06, 2015 Becky ♡The Bookworm♡ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: beckys-all-time-favs, paranormal, suspense, ch-witches, young-adult, theme-fairy-tale-retellings, war, peerage-women, peerage-men, fantasy-magic

This was a fantastic book! Our heroine was smart, with plenty of backbone and magical talent to make things even more interesting. The Dragon was also a wonderful lead character. I love brooding guys that turn from their grumpy ways in the end. His sarcasm was pretty funny after I learned more about him, too.

There was so much..."story"...in this book that it doesn't feel like it's nearly five-hundred pages. The action starts from Chapter 1 and doesn't end until the last page. I loved the relati ...more

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Nov 12, 2016 Elli *Fanatical.Fantasy* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars

I was super excited for this book, ever since the first time I saw the cover in the bookstore, and it didn't disappoint. To be fair, I can understand how this book isn't everyones cup of tea, but to me, it was just so bloody glorious. Firstly, there was *hardly* any boy-meets-girl-they-have-sexual-tension-they-bang-now-they-are-in-love nonsense! It was just awesome storyline and plot advances after awesome storyline and plot advances. I mean - it almost lost me when the storyline separated Drago ...more

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Mar 05, 2022 Sara Jesus rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, retelings

Está é uma obra que deixou-me um pouco dividida, pois por um lado gostei do ambiente da história em que o Bosque é uma das personagens. Sou fascinada por todos os livros que tenham na narrativa um bosque ou floresta negra.
Por outro lado, a história da rainha do Bosque torna-se um pouco confusa e a relação da protagonista com o Dragão perde o sentido para mim.

"Coração negro" representa a história de uma rapariga de aldeia, sempre dita como incompetente, na transformação de uma feiticeira e na ún ...more

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