Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

40 reviews

lizzie24601's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

For the vast majority of it, this book was a slog to get through. Until

Agnieshka flees the capital

, the book is written very episodically. Agnieshka is hanging out at the tower, learning magic, until someone arrives! And they do something. Then she goes back to her studies until... someone arrives! The plot doesn't progress evenly forward - it moves in fits and starts like this, and it's hard to tell what the story is supposed to be about. (Especially when the description on the back of the book only describes half of the first chapter.)

I did not find any of the characters to be particularly well-developed, and there isn't much character growth. Sure, Agnieshka's skills and power grow, but her personal character doesn't change much from the beginning to the end.

I was most upset by Kasia in this vein: she is hyped up at the beginning as being such a charming, brave, and wonderful person, but despite being by Agnieshka's side for the majority of the book, she is largely silent. In so many scenes she just serves as a tool to silently protect Agnieshka from some danger. The book emphasizes their friendship over and over again, but they never even really have a conversation.

The characters all felt so flat that the pace felt even slower, because there was no one I wanted to root for. And don't get me started on the romance... (The

teenager + centuries old magical being

romances either work or they don't, and this one just didn't for me.)

All that being said, the pace and excitement picks up immensely in the final third of the book, and the ending really is so good. I finally got what the author was going for, and what the book was about. Sure, there are other scenes that stand out (when

Kasia and Agnieshka have to deal with their unspoken animosity toward each other

and any scene with Alosha - loved her). I just wish the first 2/3 of the book had been as enjoyable!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, and Death

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Sexual content, War, Body horror, and Confinement

the_bees_books's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

If you like creepy forests, grumpy wizards, and female characters who are just a general hot mess, then you should totally read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Animal death

Minor: Death of parent, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

walkie_check's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, War, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Xenophobia, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Infidelity, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Alcohol, Cancer, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Rape

eule's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

It’s my comfort book. I’ve read it three times in the last years and it never gets old. It may be nothing special for others but for me it’s a five star read. I love the magic in this book and the descriptions of the forest. Furthermore, I adore the relationship Agnieszka has with the forest and, of course, the relationship to the dragon. She truly is one of the most badass witch of the forest (yet, she is not like other girls, at some time at least…). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Sexual content

hiddeninfantasy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, War, Blood, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Genocide, and Confinement

ingi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Body horror, Violence, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual violence, Classism, and Sexual content

amylynn44's review against another edition

adventurous 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Gore

Minor: Violence and Kidnapping

esme_may's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I adored this! It's written absolutely beautifully with gorgeous imagery, and the ending is maybe my favourite I've read this year. I'd read more by Naomi Novik in a heartbeat

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and War

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Medical content, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Genocide, Grief, Alcohol, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, and Vomit

orchidlilly's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Overall, subpar. The magic and world building are far more interesting than any of the characters could ever dream of being, which is a shame because we don't get to see much of it. The premise was interesting, the plot was an actual plot, but it could have been fleshed out so much better if it only had a bit more time. The ending was a semi-refreshing subversion of the expected romance ending, but it felt a bit rushed. The romance part itself was, in my opinion, wholly unnecessary and a bit unpleasant. The main romantic interest is an immortal while our mc is... 17-ish. Not to mention the attempted rape scene.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Bullying, Fatphobia, Gore, and War

Moderate: Mental illness, Death, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Animal death, and Confinement

maeverose's review against another edition

Dnfed at 6%

I’m just writing this for my own reference bc I know I can barely count this as a dnf if I only read a chapter and a half.

I found the main character to be incredibly naive (like there’s one part that says she only just learned how sex works and she’s 17???). I didn’t like how physically aggressive the Dragon was with her from the moment they met. He also just gave me gross vibes when he was picking the girls. Which like duh I know we’re not supposed to like him at first but if he’s the love interest I don’t want him to be aggressive or seem predatory at any point in the book. You can make him an ass without those things.

In the second chapter there was a misunderstanding that caused the Dragon to physically pin Agnieszka down and threaten her and it just made me uncomfortable. Plus I hate misunderstandings/ miscommunication.

I also heard that he does some kind of unforgivable things to her later and I can already tell this book just isn’t for me.

I had high hopes for spinning silver so hopefully that one’s better.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Vomit