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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook, and the battle scenes were riveting. I hadn't read a fantasy book in 20 years - but this one has pulled me back into that genre.
I enjoyed this book.
The magic system was easy to understand. I liked the main female character and the way she stood up for what she believed in and also to the Wizard. She was very family orientated and wanted what was best for not just her family but her village as well.
I know that some people have issues with this book with regards the way the wizard was in terms of how he treated people - no it wasn't good but I just read the story for the story and enjoyed it for that.
The magic system was easy to understand. I liked the main female character and the way she stood up for what she believed in and also to the Wizard. She was very family orientated and wanted what was best for not just her family but her village as well.
I know that some people have issues with this book with regards the way the wizard was in terms of how he treated people - no it wasn't good but I just read the story for the story and enjoyed it for that.
This is a very good book, it feels like a familiar tale, even if it isn't, deeply steeped in Slavic tradition as it is, but spun completely from the mind of its author, who got her inspiration from a series of fables.
This won't be a review, but more a list of impressions. There are reviews enough of Uprooted floating around.
Why should you read it?
Well, the premise is compelling, the characters interesting. I feel we don't know them enough, and I would have liked to pass a little more time with them, given che choice. The first person POV and the style of the tale denies us any kind of insight on anybody who isn't the protagonist (which is a point sometimes circumvented by magic), and the MC makes for a believable 17 year old. It has gripping pace for most of it, a nice slow-burn start - which is not overlong - and the right kind of conflict to let you wonder about the nature of the plot.
Main gripes people had with this book are about how old-fashioned it is, or isn't. Is the MC mary-sueish? Well, I think this is complicated. She is, but so would be every other "peer" of her. Is the Dragon a jerk? Yes, he is. I suppose you can have characters who aren't really perfect people, right? Is this book sexist? ...have you read any kind of fable that is NOT? But this sexism is subtly and repeatedly addressed (note: not magically resolved) by the author in non-invasive ways. It is a book chock-full of interesting female characters who pass any kind of Bechdel test you could throw at them, and whoever deny that is a bit silly.
Yes, Uprooted has some less bright moments. The book slumps around the middle, and picks up speed again in the last 100 or 80 pages or so. The secondary characters tend to vanish in the sidelines when not directly useful. Poor Kasia, in particular, which starts off as a wonderful ally, seems to be used more like a plot-resolving crowbar than a character for most of the book, once she and the MC resolve their big "together" issue.
All this is only relevant to be a laser-focused critic. Uprooted is written in such a bright, captivating way I can forgive every problem. It hooks you, if you like modern retelling of a fable as a genre, or if you like fantasy as a genre. This is not a book about magical system, or very special kinds of problems, or Naruto-esque powers, it's about understanding fairy tales and seeing humanity hidden behind the fancy colors and illustrations and "happy ever afters".
This won't be a review, but more a list of impressions. There are reviews enough of Uprooted floating around.
Why should you read it?
Well, the premise is compelling, the characters interesting. I feel we don't know them enough, and I would have liked to pass a little more time with them, given che choice. The first person POV and the style of the tale denies us any kind of insight on anybody who isn't the protagonist (which is a point sometimes circumvented by magic), and the MC makes for a believable 17 year old. It has gripping pace for most of it, a nice slow-burn start - which is not overlong - and the right kind of conflict to let you wonder about the nature of the plot.
Main gripes people had with this book are about how old-fashioned it is, or isn't. Is the MC mary-sueish? Well, I think this is complicated. She is, but so would be every other "peer" of her. Is the Dragon a jerk? Yes, he is. I suppose you can have characters who aren't really perfect people, right? Is this book sexist? ...have you read any kind of fable that is NOT? But this sexism is subtly and repeatedly addressed (note: not magically resolved) by the author in non-invasive ways. It is a book chock-full of interesting female characters who pass any kind of Bechdel test you could throw at them, and whoever deny that is a bit silly.
Yes, Uprooted has some less bright moments. The book slumps around the middle, and picks up speed again in the last 100 or 80 pages or so. The secondary characters tend to vanish in the sidelines when not directly useful. Poor Kasia, in particular, which starts off as a wonderful ally, seems to be used more like a plot-resolving crowbar than a character for most of the book, once she and the MC resolve their big "together" issue.
All this is only relevant to be a laser-focused critic. Uprooted is written in such a bright, captivating way I can forgive every problem. It hooks you, if you like modern retelling of a fable as a genre, or if you like fantasy as a genre. This is not a book about magical system, or very special kinds of problems, or Naruto-esque powers, it's about understanding fairy tales and seeing humanity hidden behind the fancy colors and illustrations and "happy ever afters".