Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9781447294139
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. This was a stunning read,
worthy of all the awards and nominations that it has been given
(Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel, 2016, Nebula Award for Best
Novel, 2015, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy
& Science Fiction, 2015). Agnieszka loves her quiet valley home
which is bordered by an evil Wood that can swallow people or turn
them mad. The village and valley is shielded by the Dragon, a
wizard, who in return for his protection takes a village girl every
ten years to serve him. When the girls return to the village they
are changed forever and no longer want to stay in the valley. The
time of choosing is fast approaching and everyone expects that
Agnieszka's beautiful friend Kasia will be selected, but no one can
really predict who the Dragon will take and it is not Kasia that he
finally chooses.
Novik has written a beautifully imaginative story loosely based on
European folklore. Agnieszka is a wonderful heroine who gradually
learns of her magical powers as a witch. Together with Sarkan, the
Dragon wizard, she faces the corrupted Tree woman who is determined
to take over their world. There are sorcerous battles, magic
summonings and frightening heart-trees that can absorb people into
their trunk and limbs that keep the reader breathless with suspense.
A touch of romance between the unlikely pair - the cranky Dragon and
untidy Agnieszka add tot the interest in the story and the enduring
friendship between Agnieszka and her friend Kasia that all make for
a very engrossing fantasy novel.
I loved this story from the author of the Temeraire series.
It is sure to please lovers of high fantasy and fans of Robin Hobb,
Trudi Cavavan and Juliet Marillier.
Pat Pledger