Uprooted

Magical tale based in large part on Polish fairy tales about Baba Yaga and her hut on chicken foot, about Poland and Russia and their never ending-conflicts about. Agnieszka (polish name) is a young girl with no skills other then being a total, grimy and clumsy mess. When it is discovered she has magic of her own it is as undisciplined and chaotic as the girl herself, however it is quite potent. When mixed with her masters magic it produces miraculous results. At the heart of the story is loyalty, friendships, love, greed, power and vengeance. Not everyone escapes unscathed but those who do have to find their own way to happiness. I loved it and found it breathtakingly beautiful.

[3.5/5]

Spoilers ahead.

This is now the second book Ive read recently that Ive considered overhyped. From what Ive heard its another retelling of Eastern Europe folklore, similar to The Bear and the Nightingale, so I guess I cant really say anything about how the story unfolds as a standard unexpected chosen one tale.

What I will freely bash instead is Sarkan, as in hes an irritable prick throughout the story and doesnt get much better by the end. Ive seen people say in reviews that they ended up liking him, but even as a fellow misanthrope, I just couldnt relate. At one point, the MC makes contact with him from a great distance away, something that was unheard of in the book world, and his response was to be annoyed. Lovely.

I dont even mind the rather graphic sex scene towards the end section, a refreshing take on fantasy sexuality (instead of the typical fade to black, or full on lack of it Sanderson style). But I just dont understand what the MC sees in him. Hes even close to irritable during that, FFS.

The relationship is almost creepy in a Stockholm syndrome way. I genuinely feel like the book would have been better without him at all, similar to how it ended with the MC tending to the sick heart trees; that section was good, and then Sarkan shows up at the end to dispense more boring irritability.

All in all, Ive decided to start doing more research into what well-reviewed books are based on, because apparently retold Eastern European tales arent my cup of tea. Or maybe Ive missed the point entirely, who knows. Onward to a new book.

I feel like I dont have words to adequately describe this book. Beautiful and terrible come to mind. Beautiful in the descriptions of the spells, the creation of the world, and the language. Terrible because of the horrific battle scenes and the graphic descriptions those include. I will say this; this book captivated me. I was fascinated by Nieshkas wandering magic, and how it complimented the Dragons. The Wood, and its sentience was also fascinating, if morbid. It was very much like an extended fairytale, but like the old kind, the more gritty kind.

On a side note. Ive read a few reviews that go on about the horrible way Sarkan treats Nieshka, and how its SUCH a bad model for relationships. While I agree he isnt the nicest guy sometimes, he just seems more like the isolated, grumpy cat kind of person whos seen too much in his life, not the horribly abusive older man taking advantage, as he was made out to be by some reviewers. Sure he shouldnt call her an idiot, but he showed his true character through deed more than word, and more than once demonstrated his willingness to put her before himself.

All in all, a book that kept me hooked throughout, and rarely slowed down. If you arent too sensitive to some violence, Id recommend it.

I really enjoyed getting lost in this book. It draws you in to The Wood. I reached the end and felt a bit confused, I had to blink and look around and realize I was no longer in The Wood, but sitting in my living room…

I could really relate to the main character. I understood the way she felt, her frustration and the way she coped and succeeded. Doing things her way, the way that was comfortable, not the “correct, spelled out way”. It took me back to my old Polish neighbors that I would visit as a child. The comfortable life, herbs hanging from the rafters, hot sweet tea..

I wish there was another one to read…

I loved “Uprooted!” This really is a book that has everything. Agnieszka is such a charming, likeable main character. She loves her family, her friends, and her life – all before the Dragon chooses her to serve him. The interactions between these two are often hilarious. He’s a total brat – grumpy, rough around the edges, argumentative. And Agnieszka is his stubborn, sassy counterpart. The descriptions of magic in this are one of the best parts. And the plot!! You’ll be on the edge of your seat for most of the book. The most beautiful aspect, to me, is how deeply she and Kasia love each other. Realistic female friendships are hard to come across in literature, but it never felt as if their love was put on the back burner for anything else. A wonderful, imaginative read.

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