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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a great book, one with the potential of having been an amazing five star book, if not for some harmful tropes that were central to the story. I am torn between giving it 3 or 4 stars: 3.5 is probably more appropriate (but I'm not in the habit of handing out halves).
I really enjoyed how the medieval concept of the dark, evil forest was adopted and built upon. I loved its mystery; it gave off real Old Forest (from Tolkien's Middle-earth) vibes. At several points, I got flashbacks of exploring the Old Forest while playing the game The Lord of the Rings Online, and the plot near the end reminded me of some early old instances in that game. I'm a fan.
The characters
I loved the true friendship between the main character, Agnieszka, and her friend Kasia. Kasia is definitely the most wholesome character of the book, and she shows amazing strength of character during everything that happens to her.
Agnieszka is not your average main character, either. She is clumsy and she sucksat magic at first, because she connects with it in another way than is usual, more intuitively. I wonder whether she was written with an ADHD or gifted person in mind, because several of her character traits fit those labels. I enjoy that she actually becomes very powerful once she finds out how magic work for her. The times that she finds creative ways to use magic are fun to read. It is very disheartening, though, that nobody in power ever takes her seriously, apart from Sarkan... eventually.
Writing & setting
The story was full of suspension, and there were a lot of DRAMA moments that would fit a Young Adult book well (although the book is not categorized as such, probably because of the rather extreme dark parts). The setting is a sort of The Witcher like medieval inspired world, quite dark with a lot of misogyny and classicism. There were some hefty parts in this and you should take the content warnings seriously. Sometimes, it does get a bit too gritty or stereotypical. For instance, the people at court are over the top self absorbed, in a back-stabbing way that is almost sith-like. It's hard to imagine that a country would survive for centuries when their rulers are this incompetent. On the topic of being over the top, the main character suffered so much abuse throughout the whole book that it felt like this was added for the sake of it.
The writing was solid for the most part, although there was the recurring thing that Agnieszka froze like a deer in headlights and then needed to be saved, preferably by Sarkan. Or she didn't know what to do and then had to run to him to save her. This was a bit annoying, because it pushed her into a passive role. It takes up until the very end until she finds her own confidence and she finds true agency. And this is mostly because she is removed from all the harmful people in court and a certain someone in the tower.I loved that when Agnieszka does find her true self in the end, she goes all forest witch, with a cottage in the wood and all. I was half disappointed when Sarkan eventually returned to her (although it was good that it was on her terms; he had to find out for himself that that was really what he wanted).
Problematic things
I really enjoyed how the medieval concept of the dark, evil forest was adopted and built upon. I loved its mystery; it gave off real Old Forest (from Tolkien's Middle-earth) vibes. At several points, I got flashbacks of exploring the Old Forest while playing the game The Lord of the Rings Online, and the plot near the end reminded me of some early old instances in that game. I'm a fan.
The characters
I loved the true friendship between the main character, Agnieszka, and her friend Kasia. Kasia is definitely the most wholesome character of the book, and she shows amazing strength of character during everything that happens to her.
Agnieszka is not your average main character, either. She is clumsy and she sucks
Writing & setting
The story was full of suspension, and there were a lot of DRAMA moments that would fit a Young Adult book well (although the book is not categorized as such, probably because of the rather extreme dark parts). The setting is a sort of The Witcher like medieval inspired world, quite dark with a lot of misogyny and classicism. There were some hefty parts in this and you should take the content warnings seriously. Sometimes, it does get a bit too gritty or stereotypical. For instance, the people at court are over the top self absorbed, in a back-stabbing way that is almost sith-like. It's hard to imagine that a country would survive for centuries when their rulers are this incompetent. On the topic of being over the top, the main character suffered so much abuse throughout the whole book that it felt like this was added for the sake of it.
The writing was solid for the most part, although there was the recurring thing that Agnieszka froze like a deer in headlights and then needed to be saved, preferably by Sarkan. Or she didn't know what to do and then had to run to him to save her. This was a bit annoying, because it pushed her into a passive role. It takes up until the very end until she finds her own confidence and she finds true agency. And this is mostly because she is removed from all the harmful people in court and a certain someone in the tower.
Problematic things
Finally, I would have loved Uprooted so much if not for some problematic tropes and stereotypes that are central to the story. I think this is such a shame! I'll list some here as trigger warnings (and since they're central in the story, they are spoilers in a sense):
- Stockholm syndrome
- beauty and the beast trope
- toxic relationship
- teacher - student relationship
- love interest being a man-child but this being okay somehow
- young girl has a relationship with a much older guy
- relationship with a minor (age difference of ca. 130 years)
Because the story is well written, it's easy to miss these tropes or to consciously ignore them and still enjoy the story despite the misogyny. However, they left a sour taste. Incorporating such tropes without critique means also reinforcing their existence. Also, I grew to care for the main character and she deserves a better love interest than this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Classism
Moderate: Violence, Murder, War
Minor: Alcohol
Level of spice: contains two explicit (straight) sex scenes .
I've looked at this book for many years, reluctant to read. I'm so glad I picked it up. What a story! An original YA fantasy story with a strong main character. It took a bit for me to be hooked but then Novik kept inserting problems and mysteries that were really interesting and engaging.
Just not into the FMC and the MMC seems like a jerk. Not interested in continuing the story.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm not sure i enjoyed the fast pacing of the book. I would have loved a two-book series to give more information to the reader about corruption and how everything was developing. I felt lost at times and had no choice but to keep reading since it wasn't something that had been explained but something that would be explained later.
I liked it! It's fast though
Glad that bitch ass prince died. I was going to throw hands if he made it out scot free
I liked it! It's fast though
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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:
No
the back cover synopsis is like the first 14 pages of the book and it only gets zanier.