Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Format: HC
Rating: 4 stars
Published: May 19th 2015
Goodreads Synopsis:
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
A lovely, enthralling Rapunzel-esque tale. I've heard so many good things about Uprooted, and I'm really happy that it lived up to my expectations!
Uprooted begins in the village of Dvernik, one of the many villages in the valley. At the edge of the valley is the Wood, which is deadly for anyone who dares enter. However, the Dragon, a powerful wizard, guards the valley from the Wood in his Tower. All that he asks is for a young woman to serve him for ten years. Once the ten years are up, the women are no longer interested in returning to the valley, and leave. Agnieszka believes that her best friend Kasia will be chosen, for she has been groomed to be the perfect choice. Instead, Agnieszka is chosen, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and a journey into the Wood, in order to save the valley and everyone she loves.
