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kaitrates's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
There's something about the way Naomi Novik writes tension that just gets me. 🥵
Uprooted is spooky, atmospheric, tension-filled fairytale involving a creepy sentient wood, a mysterious lord (and wizard) called The Dragon, and a heroine who was never supposed to be picked.
The less you know going in, the more fun this one is IMO.
The battle scenes had my heart pounding, the romantic subplot was paced and executed to perfection (in other words: i was giggling and fanning myself and kicking my feeties in delight), the writing was immersive AF, and I never knew what was coming 'round the bend.
The weakest part of the book is after a location change. Novik's settings always feel so real but when she changes them (*coughGoldenEnclavescough*), it never feels like it actually serves the story. Add in a dose of court politics and this section dragged. Thankfully, its quite short.
I devoured this one and couldn't put it down. It felt like the very pages were imbued with magic luring me in and urging me on until the end.
One note about the content warnings: there is an attempted SA but it is brief and not completed.
Uprooted is spooky, atmospheric, tension-filled fairytale involving a creepy sentient wood, a mysterious lord (and wizard) called The Dragon, and a heroine who was never supposed to be picked.
The less you know going in, the more fun this one is IMO.
The battle scenes had my heart pounding, the romantic subplot was paced and executed to perfection (in other words: i was giggling and fanning myself and kicking my feeties in delight), the writing was immersive AF, and I never knew what was coming 'round the bend.
The weakest part of the book is after a location change. Novik's settings always feel so real but when she changes them (*coughGoldenEnclavescough*), it never feels like it actually serves the story. Add in a dose of court politics and this section dragged. Thankfully, its quite short.
I devoured this one and couldn't put it down. It felt like the very pages were imbued with magic luring me in and urging me on until the end.
One note about the content warnings: there is an attempted SA but it is brief and not completed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Adult/minor relationship, and War
Minor: Sexual assault
SA is attempted and brief.k_fry's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, War, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
Moderate: Miscarriage
taliesinrex's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Another great read from Naomi Novik. I just love the way she writes women and the way she writes about women - Agnieszka's inner world feels so fully fleshed-out from the start and Novik throws you right into it in all Agnieszka's insecurity, fear, and anger. Her portrayal of female characters and how they navigate their world never feels trite or preachy or flat to me, and the worlds in question are immersive with a real sense of both beauty and danger.
While I did love this book and don't feel quite right comparing it to Spinning Silver, I can't help but note that I think I did enjoy Spinning Silver just a little more, as sometimes the pacing of Uprooted had me a little perplexed. I felt myself flagging towards the end through the siege of the Dragon's tower - while it was a well-written segment it did run a little long and I felt a bit overwhelmed. While I also loved Kasia I would have loved even more if we got more development or insight into her character; her relationship with Agnieszka was a real highlight of the book and I think the story would have been made all the better by having her be slightly more active in some of the scenes she was in, though I also acknowledge the potential difficulty in portraying that without straying from the story truly belonging to Agnieszka.
Lastly, the romance - just like in Spinning Silver, you maybe wouldn't anticipate it working due to the bitter distaste Agnieszka and the Dragon have for one another but Novik expertly sets them up to challenge one another intellectually and emotionally. It pays off so well in the end. The tension is palpable between them and the open-ended but undeniably tender ending had me grinning like an idiot and reading the encounter three times over.
While I did love this book and don't feel quite right comparing it to Spinning Silver, I can't help but note that I think I did enjoy Spinning Silver just a little more, as sometimes the pacing of Uprooted had me a little perplexed. I felt myself flagging towards the end through the siege of the Dragon's tower - while it was a well-written segment it did run a little long and I felt a bit overwhelmed. While I also loved Kasia I would have loved even more if we got more development or insight into her character; her relationship with Agnieszka was a real highlight of the book and I think the story would have been made all the better by having her be slightly more active in some of the scenes she was in, though I also acknowledge the potential difficulty in portraying that without straying from the story truly belonging to Agnieszka.
Lastly, the romance - just like in Spinning Silver, you maybe wouldn't anticipate it working due to the bitter distaste Agnieszka and the Dragon have for one another but Novik expertly sets them up to challenge one another intellectually and emotionally. It pays off so well in the end. The tension is palpable between them and the open-ended but undeniably tender ending had me grinning like an idiot and reading the encounter three times over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Animal death
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault
the sexual assault is attempted but does not escalate before the offending party is knocked outdoahdancer'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
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
aidareads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
3.0
such a weird read, almost got into a reading slump. it probably wasn’t what my brain needed at the moment. i’m just glad i finally got through it and finished it because by the end i just didn’t feel like reading at all and it definitely was not solely because of how i’ve been doing these past few days
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, and Death
strixy16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
I don’t think this book is bad, I just don’t think it was for me!
The magic system was a little wishy-washy to me and I felt like I was just along for the ride as things progressed. There wasn’t a ton of motivations for moving from place to place and I really never figured out what was going to happen next, but not in a good way.
The second half also felt like it dragged to me. The ending redeemed it a bit though.
The magic system was a little wishy-washy to me and I felt like I was just along for the ride as things progressed. There wasn’t a ton of motivations for moving from place to place and I really never figured out what was going to happen next, but not in a good way.
The second half also felt like it dragged to me. The ending redeemed it a bit though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
cgwynne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
Wonderful world building and prose. I felt very connected to the characters and the land. If I wasn’t working, probably could’ve finished in a couple sittings because it was so gripping. Was mainly fantasy with a romantic subplot that I honestly felt was unnecessary in the grand scheme of things (probably biased because I would’ve preferred it not to happen given the age difference). There was a plot hole that I was surprised to not be addressed, but overall very very good. Will certainly be reading more of Naomi’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Sexual assault
dcdc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Murder
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Rape
asahome's review against another edition
4.25
A woman befriends the woman who will be taken by the wizard, only he takes her instead. She's mad at him for taking her and also mad at him for not taking the other girl.
I like how they handled theconflict resolution at the end. It was a very realistic approach to what happens in my opinion after war if you want their to be peace and not just a pause in the physical conflict .
I like how they handled the
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, Blood, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, Confinement, Gore, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical trauma, Rape, Genocide, Death of parent, Grief, and Pregnancy
Possession: the Woods possesses people, the book calls it corrupting them