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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Finishing [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480121122s/22544764.jpg|41876730] was an experience. I had this book in my bookcase for close to 6 months before I picked it up and started to read it. I was in between some series books and needed something that wasn't part of a long string of books, and this fit the bill. From page freaking one I was hooked. Now, I know that is a phrase that gets thrown around pretty often during book reviews, but I genuinely cannot think of a better one to use. [a:Naomi Novik|8730|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206646770p2/8730.jpg] has written something that will go down as one of my Top 10 Favorite Books of all time. Maybe not a huge milestone for her, but it definitely means something to me.
I keep looking for a word to describe this book and the one that keeps coming back to me in full swing is captivating. The world building was great, even considering how small the kingdom was, and Novik gave just enough information to create this place in my head. The magic system was simplistic and really fun to watch come alive, and the characters were believable and interesting.
Most things that Novik got right are staples of a fantasy novel: great setting, magic system, interesting characters. But what I believe to be her greatest creation was The Wood. Novik's description of The Wood in the novel is something out of a dream/nightmare. It's easy to boil something down to one specific description, but The Wood embodied so many things. It was creepy, yet beautiful. It was vast and open, but also enclosed and a place of entrapment.
I won't post any spoilers because I want people who haven't read this book to see this review, and hopefully, it will give them a reason to pick this book up. It's been a really long time since I read a fantasy novel that whisked me away like [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480121122s/22544764.jpg|41876730] did, and it leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth, as do all books that touch your heart. I will be picking up Novik's first book of a series [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376392909s/28876.jpg|726205] just to get back to her writing style. I highly recommend picking this book up and delving into some fantastic literature.
I keep looking for a word to describe this book and the one that keeps coming back to me in full swing is captivating. The world building was great, even considering how small the kingdom was, and Novik gave just enough information to create this place in my head. The magic system was simplistic and really fun to watch come alive, and the characters were believable and interesting.
Most things that Novik got right are staples of a fantasy novel: great setting, magic system, interesting characters. But what I believe to be her greatest creation was The Wood. Novik's description of The Wood in the novel is something out of a dream/nightmare. It's easy to boil something down to one specific description, but The Wood embodied so many things. It was creepy, yet beautiful. It was vast and open, but also enclosed and a place of entrapment.
I won't post any spoilers because I want people who haven't read this book to see this review, and hopefully, it will give them a reason to pick this book up. It's been a really long time since I read a fantasy novel that whisked me away like [b:Uprooted|22544764|Uprooted|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480121122s/22544764.jpg|41876730] did, and it leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth, as do all books that touch your heart. I will be picking up Novik's first book of a series [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1376392909s/28876.jpg|726205] just to get back to her writing style. I highly recommend picking this book up and delving into some fantastic literature.
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
4.5 Stars.
This is what I call a well developed fantasy. The magical world Agniezka lives in is intriguing from start to finish. This story grow. It starts off as a story of a captive but ends in the most satisfying of ways. I freaking love the romance. Sarkan is a pasty nerdy irritable perfectionist and I love him.
The one thing I would ask more of is the Wood. I wanted a less direct explanation for it. But still it was written really well.
I really like Naomi Novik. Dare I say new favorite author?
This is what I call a well developed fantasy. The magical world Agniezka lives in is intriguing from start to finish. This story grow. It starts off as a story of a captive but ends in the most satisfying of ways. I freaking love the romance. Sarkan is a pasty nerdy irritable perfectionist and I love him.
The one thing I would ask more of is the Wood. I wanted a less direct explanation for it. But still it was written really well.
I really like Naomi Novik. Dare I say new favorite author?
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Ugh I love a fairytale-esq story. This one felt like it had deep roots which I appreciate in a quick-hit world
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Finalllllllly finished it! It took me a while.
I'll start off by saying this book was refreshingly original. The writing was very well done, in my eyes, the story compelling from the first chapter, and feeding the reader a nice dose of fantasy in a folklore type of feel.
One thing I see repeated in the 1 star reviews is that Nieshka is a mary sue type of character, and I could not disagree more with that statement. Maybe at the beginning it feels that way a little, because things are happening TO HER and she's not very active in deciding her fate for about the first 100 pages, but that doesn't make her Mary Sue. If she is, then Harry is a Mary Sue character till the fifth book. Honestly. She is being introduced to a bunch of new shit, including major revelations about herself, of course she's going to be kind of passive and confused. But throughout the story, she has stuck to her simple village girl mentality, which I loved, because that's what made the story so down to earth and interesting rather than far-away-high-fantasy. She does make her own decisions and makes her own fate, her passion and heart serve as her compass and lead her back to the people of the valley CONSTANTLY, which makes for a nice contrast to the Dragon's approach to things. I loved her, and even though I usually hate first person POV, I didn't mind it one bit while reading Uprooted.
The one big thing I think the book lacked was in the character of Sarkan. Till the end of the story, I felt like I didn't quite know him. We get a line or two of his backstory (in a kind of forced dialogue, might I add), and therefore his relationship with Nieshka feels underdeveloped and a bit... Well, I don't quite get it. I liked the direction in which the relationship went, no argument there, but I would've liked to know him past his bickering and constant sarcastic and mean remarks.
I like that this is a standalone, which makes it a rare commodity in the fantasy landscape, but in a way I wished it was a trilogy. I think there was so much more to tell in that universe, and the story with the Wood could've span a whole series, frankly. It needn't be a series-- It could even be just a duology. But I think one book, that's not even 500 pages long, isn't enough for the world she created, and I think the story and more importantly - the characters - could've benefited a great deal from making the story broader and longer.
That said, it was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who's into fantasy and wants something a little different than the usual jig. Great writing, great story, great protagonist! Loved it.
I'll start off by saying this book was refreshingly original. The writing was very well done, in my eyes, the story compelling from the first chapter, and feeding the reader a nice dose of fantasy in a folklore type of feel.
One thing I see repeated in the 1 star reviews is that Nieshka is a mary sue type of character, and I could not disagree more with that statement. Maybe at the beginning it feels that way a little, because things are happening TO HER and she's not very active in deciding her fate for about the first 100 pages, but that doesn't make her Mary Sue. If she is, then Harry is a Mary Sue character till the fifth book. Honestly. She is being introduced to a bunch of new shit, including major revelations about herself, of course she's going to be kind of passive and confused. But throughout the story, she has stuck to her simple village girl mentality, which I loved, because that's what made the story so down to earth and interesting rather than far-away-high-fantasy. She does make her own decisions and makes her own fate, her passion and heart serve as her compass and lead her back to the people of the valley CONSTANTLY, which makes for a nice contrast to the Dragon's approach to things. I loved her, and even though I usually hate first person POV, I didn't mind it one bit while reading Uprooted.
The one big thing I think the book lacked was in the character of Sarkan. Till the end of the story, I felt like I didn't quite know him. We get a line or two of his backstory (in a kind of forced dialogue, might I add), and therefore his relationship with Nieshka feels underdeveloped and a bit... Well, I don't quite get it. I liked the direction in which the relationship went, no argument there, but I would've liked to know him past his bickering and constant sarcastic and mean remarks.
Spoiler
For example, the first time they make out was okay because there was also a rush of magic between them, and everything was high on passion on hormones and it made sense, it also made sense for him to pull away etc. But it felt like every scene he wasn't there the relationship thread was sort of on hold, and then their interactions felt awkward without addressing what happened. And then they have sex? This whole thing, which seemed to be at the heart of the story since these are the two main characters, felt a little out of place. It made more sense for Nieshka and Kasia to be together rather than her and Sarkan, if I'm honest.I like that this is a standalone, which makes it a rare commodity in the fantasy landscape, but in a way I wished it was a trilogy. I think there was so much more to tell in that universe, and the story with the Wood could've span a whole series, frankly. It needn't be a series-- It could even be just a duology. But I think one book, that's not even 500 pages long, isn't enough for the world she created, and I think the story and more importantly - the characters - could've benefited a great deal from making the story broader and longer.
That said, it was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who's into fantasy and wants something a little different than the usual jig. Great writing, great story, great protagonist! Loved it.