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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Unputdownable.
Read as due diligence for 2015 Hugo voting. I didn't read it during the nomination phase because it was clear to me that it was a fantasy book, and I'm a snob about only nominating sci-fi for Hugos. But on the strength of so many good reviews I knew I would read it soon either way.
Expanding further... likeable main character, interesting world (Poland and Russia in the Baba Yaga days), and a fun magic system. I liked that each magician had their own style of magic, and they might accomplish the same objectives in different ways. The plot moved along quickly. The main character was funny in her stubborn bull-headed way. And the Wood was a fascinating setting.
The only complaint I had was that the concept of being "Uprooted" didn't have a stronger presence in the story. It was mentioned once or twice toward the ending with reference to the girls who lived in the valley, but it wasn't a strong plot or even theme driver. Which was disappointing to me since it's the title of the book. Also: Book club discussion centered around the question "Why does the Dragon only take girls?" for a while, and none of us could come up with a valid answer.
Read as due diligence for 2015 Hugo voting. I didn't read it during the nomination phase because it was clear to me that it was a fantasy book, and I'm a snob about only nominating sci-fi for Hugos. But on the strength of so many good reviews I knew I would read it soon either way.
Expanding further... likeable main character, interesting world (Poland and Russia in the Baba Yaga days), and a fun magic system. I liked that each magician had their own style of magic, and they might accomplish the same objectives in different ways. The plot moved along quickly. The main character was funny in her stubborn bull-headed way. And the Wood was a fascinating setting.
The only complaint I had was that the concept of being "Uprooted" didn't have a stronger presence in the story. It was mentioned once or twice toward the ending with reference to the girls who lived in the valley, but it wasn't a strong plot or even theme driver. Which was disappointing to me since it's the title of the book. Also: Book club discussion centered around the question "Why does the Dragon only take girls?" for a while, and none of us could come up with a valid answer.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Naomi Novik I am obsessed with you and the way you write stories about power that end up being stories about love
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
It’s rare to read a fantasy so immersive that isn’t part of a series. What a unique and fantastic book! The world and magic are built carefully and quickly, dropping you into this action of the story fast. I loved these characters and the way they change throughout the book.
5 stars again on the re-reading. An unusual opponent, and a romance with some surprising elements.
UPROOTED reads, especially at first, as a fairy tale. I love the idea of newly imagined fairy tales, especially since retellings seem to be so popular. I almost instantly loved the concept, too: the helplessness of a fearsome, encroaching dark Wood; a lonely wizard juxtaposed with a young apprentice; and magic that is powerful yet unknown and with the chance to be dangerous at the same time. While I started the book with high hopes, especially given all the rave reviews I've read of it, I was left a bit disappointed. I think that while the story and the concept are there, the execution of it was lacking.
In terms of character development, we know absolutely nothing about the Dragon. You're thrust into a "Beauty and the Beast" type situation, where there's a rude, angry, and powerful man essentially holding a young girl captive for unknown reasons. Yet we don't learn more about him as the story progresses; we don't learn anything about him by the end of the book at ALL. Yes, he's a strong wizard, supposedly the most powerful wizard in the country. But he's just sour, rude, and mean, and has zero other personality traits or backstory besides.
In terms of the main character, we don't get any semblance of personality from her until halfway through the book. For the first half, she's a blank slate: just a poor peasant girl ready to be impressed upon by the story. She becomes brave, willful, and intelligent, but not until later, and I found her lack of personality at the beginning to be annoying.
There are a lot of reviews complaining about her being a Mary Sue, or having Special Snowflake Syndrome. I think her friend, Kasia, has this much worse than she has. Kasia is beautiful, strong, brave, intelligent, and becomes nearly invincible. Kasia has no faults or weaknesses, and despite there being some sort of magic connection binding everyone in the Valley to the Wood, Kasia does not feel this and is able to separate herself from the Valley... somehow. In a way that is no explained. I found Kasia to be a device that lead to an easy way out for the main character whenever things got tough.
I liked the prose of this novel. I thought the descriptions of the Wood and of the magic were particularly beautiful, and those moments that were vivid and magical were the strongest parts of the book. With that said, sometimes the story got a bit confusing and convoluted because of the writing style. Novik leaves out details or rushes through things in the action scenes so that I'm left bewildered about what actually just happened in many instances. I feel like these times are something a good editor should have caught and told her to clarify.
Overall I really did like the story. I wish that we got to know the characters more, but I liked the premise, the world, and Novik's intricate use of language. I liked that the story went in a direction that I didn't expect it to. I liked that there wasn't romance in this novel; there were a few scenes of raw, realistic lust, and I much prefer that to a contrived love story any day. I liked that the ending was bittersweet in many ways. This was a good book, but because of the lack of character development I really can't call it a great one. Solid three stars for me.
In terms of character development, we know absolutely nothing about the Dragon. You're thrust into a "Beauty and the Beast" type situation, where there's a rude, angry, and powerful man essentially holding a young girl captive for unknown reasons. Yet we don't learn more about him as the story progresses; we don't learn anything about him by the end of the book at ALL. Yes, he's a strong wizard, supposedly the most powerful wizard in the country. But he's just sour, rude, and mean, and has zero other personality traits or backstory besides.
In terms of the main character, we don't get any semblance of personality from her until halfway through the book. For the first half, she's a blank slate: just a poor peasant girl ready to be impressed upon by the story. She becomes brave, willful, and intelligent, but not until later, and I found her lack of personality at the beginning to be annoying.
There are a lot of reviews complaining about her being a Mary Sue, or having Special Snowflake Syndrome. I think her friend, Kasia, has this much worse than she has. Kasia is beautiful, strong, brave, intelligent, and becomes nearly invincible. Kasia has no faults or weaknesses, and despite there being some sort of magic connection binding everyone in the Valley to the Wood, Kasia does not feel this and is able to separate herself from the Valley... somehow. In a way that is no explained. I found Kasia to be a device that lead to an easy way out for the main character whenever things got tough.
I liked the prose of this novel. I thought the descriptions of the Wood and of the magic were particularly beautiful, and those moments that were vivid and magical were the strongest parts of the book. With that said, sometimes the story got a bit confusing and convoluted because of the writing style. Novik leaves out details or rushes through things in the action scenes so that I'm left bewildered about what actually just happened in many instances. I feel like these times are something a good editor should have caught and told her to clarify.
Overall I really did like the story. I wish that we got to know the characters more, but I liked the premise, the world, and Novik's intricate use of language. I liked that the story went in a direction that I didn't expect it to. I liked that there wasn't romance in this novel; there were a few scenes of raw, realistic lust, and I much prefer that to a contrived love story any day. I liked that the ending was bittersweet in many ways. This was a good book, but because of the lack of character development I really can't call it a great one. Solid three stars for me.
Reread 2018! I listened to the audiobook this time and still really enjoyed the story. I cannot wait to read Spinning Sliver.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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:
No