Uprooted

by Naomi Novik

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

I’ll be honest Uprooted by Naomi Novik intimidated me. It’s an adult fairy tale and I was worried that it would be inaccessible to me. Some times adult fantasy books build complicated worlds and there is so much unknown I get lost in the woods and feel like I’m not smart enough to read the book (and I was an English Lit major so it makes me feel INCREDIBLY stupid when I don’t get a book).

I was mesmerized by Uprooted. Simply mesmerized. Certainly the world of Uprooted is a new world, but the elements of a kingdom, magic and creepy woods are familiar fairy tale mechanics and I quickly settled in Novik’s writing and storytelling style. So while this was a new fairy tale and culture for me, there were familiar elements marking the path from start to finish that made it feel familiar.

Plus one can’t help but admire and root for Agnieszka and her approach to her world, its politics and seemingly unshareable magic. I grew so attached to her, and her friend, Kasia, and the Dragon that I actually found ways to AVOID reading towards the end. Yes, my heart even warmed toward the Dragon, with his cold shoulder and stubbornness. As the pages in the book started to dwindle I thought for sure there was only one way the story would end and I didn’t want it to end like that.

I wish I could find more books like Uprooted. It resides in this perfect place in my reader heart—that place between the known and unknown where there is just enough of both to make you feel comfortable because as a reader you KNOW this but there is just enough of the unknown to keep you on your toes and delightfully surprised along the way.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews