Uprooted - Naomi Novik [Review]

Overview

In a small valley surrounded by an enchanted forest called the Wood lives a wizard called the Dragon in his tower. Every ten years, he comes to the villages to choose a girl to live with him. The story begins with such a choosing and we meet Agnieszka, who has to participate in this choosing, but everyone in her village thinks that the Dragon will take her beautiful friend Karsia. However, the Dragon picks her instead and she will soon discover the reason for it. 

I leave the summary of this book intentionally vague because it is better to know not so much when going into it. In general, I found it hard to get into the story, mainly because I did not like the Dragon's and most of the men's behaviour throughout the book at all. It gets really interesting and magical after the first 50 pages or so, but I was so disappointed with the way the story evolved and ended.

I enjoyed the parts involving the Wood and the magic system the most and even the friendship between Agienszka and Karsia that is a main plot point thoughout the book was really lovely.

Overall, I think the story has a lot of potential and some unnecessary elements. I did not like the way the story went in the second half and had a hard time finishing it.

Review 

  

The Characters

In the beginning, Agnieszka has a lot of self-doubt in her. She is described as plain in her appearance and she always tears and stains her clothes. I loved the way she discovers the path to yield her own magic and how she tries to explain it to the Dragon:

There isn't only one way to." I waved at his notes. "You're trying to find a road where there isn't one. It's like - it's gleaning in the woods," I said abruptly. "You have to pick your way through the thickets and the trees, and it's different every time."

The relationship between Agnieszka and Karsia is really lovely, too. After Karsia gets kidnapped by the Wood, Agnieszka tries everything to safe her. Even when it seems she cannot be safed and both girls see their true feelings for one another, they stick together.

A big problem for me was the Dragon himself. He is portrayed as grumpy and lover of beautiful things and seems to have a distaste for Agienszka. He constantly insults her, even later when she safes his life. Therefore, I really hated the romance between them and cannot understand how Agnieszka falls for him.

What I found really annoying is the fact that all male characters in this novel insult and disrespect Agnieszka. Not only the Dragon treats her that way, but Prince Malek and most of the people in the castle as well. The Prince even tries to force himself on her and later wants to marry her for political reasons.   

      

 The Setting

I think my favourite part of this book was the Wood. The concept of this dark and enchanted forest with these dark and twisted creatures living in it was really intriguing and I could not wait for the main characters to venture into it and explore the deeper parts. It is definitely not the typical enemy or antagonist and, in the beginning, we do not really know why it is so evil and what the roots of this darkness are. 

[...] we were in a war against the Wood [...]. He'd been expecting the Wood to attack not simply for revenge, but to defend itself.

That's why I was so disappointed when the whole setting changes in the middle of the book and Agnieszka and her companions travel to the capital and we revisit the valley and the Wood only in the very last part of the book.

The Plot

It was very hard for me to get into this book. The first 40 pages or so were really not gripping my attention and the Dragon's behaviour did not add to my enjoyment. It got interesting when Agnieszka discovers and uses her powers. Those passages were beautifully written and described.

"Vanastalem," I repeated with him, dully resigned, and watched a riotously beautiful wave of orange and yellow silk come sweeping up from the floor to surround me, like leaves blown down an autumn path.

I loved this passage!! It reminded me a lot of the scene in the Disney movie "Cinderella", when Cinderella receives her ball gown from the fairy godmother.

I was really excited when they decide to venture into the Wood to rescue the Queen together with Prince Malek and the Falcon, another wizard from the court. The fighting scene there did not spare anything, it was bloody and brutal, but that just reflects the dark and twisted setting of the Wood.

Sadly, the plot goes downhill from there on for me. Agnieszka has to join the party that brings the Queen and her friend Karsia back to court for trial because they were corrupted by the Wood and are not allowed to live. This part dragged a lot for me and I found the whole political intrigue / court parties Agnieszka has to endure rather boring and far away from the original storyline. The same goes for the whole battle scene at the tower when Agienszka finally gets back to the valley.

Even the revelation of the grant evil that controls the Wood was not really original for me, or maybe I was so disappointed by the second half of the book that I just did not care anymore. The concept of a race from the Wood is quite interesting, but too late for my liking.

Rating