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libcolleen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual violence
wildflower_magic's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
This book was so intriguing. It had twists and mysteries that I did not predict. I loved the characters and the second half of the book had me on the edge of my seat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Moderate: Grief and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
enarys's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
charlottehe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Finally finished this after wanting to read it for years!
Ok here are my thoughts. It’s unique and beautiful. As far as the prose, it could be a little weird at times around the beginning when she’s first in the tower figuring things out, but I was easily able to visualize the story and action, which has been difficult for some other fantasy novels I’ve read recently.
I was looking at other ppl’s thoughts, and I noticed they had a problem with the romance? The novel was not focused on the romance of it, and I don’t mind the grumpy dark-haired love interest because Agnieska can stand her ground and voice her desires. That’s what was important about her character and arc.
To be honest, I was a little iffy about a third way into the story. It slowed a bit for my liking, and I get the world-building. It paid off, I must admit. The magic system still is a little confusing to me, and sometimes the magic Sarkan and Agnieska were performing felt a little bit too silly, for a book that gets really serious lol. Idk otherwise I thought the magic was fine.
Overall, my favorite parts were the battle and fight scenes OMG they are one of the best I have ever read! The third act of the book had me wanting to know what happens next. But yeah loved the book it exceeded my expectations.
Ok here are my thoughts. It’s unique and beautiful. As far as the prose, it could be a little weird at times around the beginning when she’s first in the tower figuring things out, but I was easily able to visualize the story and action, which has been difficult for some other fantasy novels I’ve read recently.
I was looking at other ppl’s thoughts, and I noticed they had a problem with the romance? The novel was not focused on the romance of it, and I don’t mind the grumpy dark-haired love interest because Agnieska can stand her ground and voice her desires. That’s what was important about her character and arc.
To be honest, I was a little iffy about a third way into the story. It slowed a bit for my liking, and I get the world-building. It paid off, I must admit. The magic system still is a little confusing to me, and sometimes the magic Sarkan and Agnieska were performing felt a little bit too silly, for a book that gets really serious lol. Idk otherwise I thought the magic was fine.
Overall, my favorite parts were the battle and fight scenes OMG they are one of the best I have ever read! The third act of the book had me wanting to know what happens next. But yeah loved the book it exceeded my expectations.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Violence
doahdancer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I don't understand why the romance subplot between the MMC and the FMC existed. It seemed more wholesome as a mentor/mentee relationship, considering that neither seemed all that attracted to each other overall.
I love romance books and read this on a recommendation for a fairy tale style fantasy with romance, but I would say the lack of focus on the romance left it underdeveloped and made the age gap feel shallow and about relieving stress through a one night stand rather than them forming a connection that transcended their ages.
I also didn't love the ending, it felt a little cliche and the story was very Grimm tales up until that point, I wish the ending was darker and more twisted.
Overall, the fairy tale aspect of this book was well done and I love the Scholomance series by this author, so definitely try it anyway if you like romantic relationships being downplayed. It's a well written book.
I love romance books and read this on a recommendation for a fairy tale style fantasy with romance, but I would say the lack of focus on the romance left it underdeveloped and made the age gap feel shallow and about relieving stress through a one night stand rather than them forming a connection that transcended their ages.
I also didn't love the ending, it felt a little cliche and the story was very Grimm tales up until that point, I wish the ending was darker and more twisted.
Overall, the fairy tale aspect of this book was well done and I love the Scholomance series by this author, so definitely try it anyway if you like romantic relationships being downplayed. It's a well written book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Violence
rlider's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
laynerinke's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, War, Blood, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
bearism's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
biggest flaw in the book was that the author made the ONLY black character have a background of being enslaved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and War
Moderate: Sexual content and Vomit
Minor: Slavery and Sexual assault
samanthafrati's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Uprooted is a standalone, single POV, high fantasy novel with a romance subplot loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. I love Naomi Novik’s writing style and her ability to create unique, high fantasy worlds within a single novel. I really loved Novik’s Spinning Silver- also high fantasy and standalone- so I had high expectations for Uprooted. For the first 150 pages, I was totally captivated by the Wood, the magic, and the banter between Agnieszka and the Dragon. Novik is really good at not just building fantasy worlds but answering all the questions I have and tying up all the loose ends, something I can’t say about all fantasy authors. But this all came crumbling down with the first sexual scene (kissing and graphic touching, p. 158-159).
Sexual Content
I didn’t even think to check this book for sexual content because Spinning Silver barely had any. I kept reading thinking that was the end of it until the full blown sex scene on pages 353-355. Not to mention, she’s 17 and he’s approximately 150 years old. This didn’t bother me at first because I can excuse an age gap in a fantasy world. He doesn’t age normally so I assumed it’s not weird in this world, but that assumption was shattered when he, the Dragon, says “I’m a century and more older than you-” and protests Agnieszka’s advances (p. 353). That tells me it is in fact taboo, even in Novik’s fantasy world, ew. After I finished that specific chapter, I closed the book in frustration and almost dnf.
There is a sexual assault scene on pages 43-44 that I would not consider graphic.
Romance
Personally, I don’t like sexual content (kisses only, please). It completely ruins the fairytale vibe for me, but putting that aside, it just didn’t make any sense. There was no slow burn- barely any build up. The romance between Agnieszka and the Dragon was flat and didn’t feel believable. It felt like Novik only put it in there to fit the Beauty and The Beast trope and I found myself having to insert my own imaginings of emotions and dialogue to make it believable. Again, it was so different from Spinning Silver where the romance was subtle, yet beautifully done, and made me want to cry tears of joy in the end. I expected more! So. Much. More.
Plot and World
I did enjoy the magic system in this book and I loved the clash between the Dragon’s magic and Agnieszka’s- one methodical and one driven by pure instinct. Being methodical and logical myself, I could feel the Dragon’s frustration as he tried to teach her. And I could easily imagine how the two of them working together would create something truly, well, magical.
I got bored around page 250 and didn’t get back into it until about 50 pages from the end, but I really appreciated that I wasn’t able to guess the plot.
Character Development
Character development was really lacking. [ Spoiler: The only time I noticed any real growth in characters was when the Dragon apologized to Kasia and said he would never take another girl.] Speaking of Kasia, her character was so flat. We only really got a glimpse of her during the Summoning, yet she had a pretty large role in the story. She just felt like a pawn, only useful for the plot, not a meaningful character at all, but maybe that’s because she became more wood than human?
I really enjoyed the Dragon as a character and wished we could have learned more about him! Agnieszka, however, was just meh. I honestly don’t really have any thoughts about her.
Final Thoughts
Putting aside my high expectations for a moment, I really did enjoy the plot and the magic in this novel. I loved learning about the mysterious Wood and its connection to the people in the valley. However, this was ruined by the flat and awkward romance and completely unnecessary, and out of place, sex scene. I was also bored in the middle and as another reviewer suggested, this would have been better if it stayed in the tower and the valley.
Overall, not a terrible book, but it left me frustrated and disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Sexual assault