'Uprooted' by Naomi Novik

Book details

Genre: YA Fiction

Publisher: PAN Macmillan

ISBN: 9781447298304

View on 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, ambitious wizard known only as the Dragon to keep the Wood’s powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman must be handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as being lost 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 no one can predict how or why the Dragon chooses a girl. And when he comes, it is not Kasia he will take with him.

Review:

I love fairy tales. I love the timeless magic that seems to flow through every word, right from the fateful ‘Once upon a time’. I love the originals, with their gruesome, tragic endings, and the way the old words sound when they’re read aloud. I love the Disney remakes, and the dumbed-down, less explicit versions for children that focus on the beauty of magic rather than the darkness behind it. But I suppose my greatest downfall is that, above all else, I am addicted to modern retellings of the classics.

I’m serious. I’ll see a new novel in the bookstore with anything resembling a tower or a dragon on it and I’ll probably buy it without even looking at the blurb. And more often than not, it turns out to be yet another Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or Snow White retelling that’s about as original and unique as a cheap souvenir from a gift shop in Disney World. (Cinder by Marissa Meyer is one of the few exceptions.)

But then there’s Uprooted.

Nothing I’ve ever read before could’ve prepared me for the magic that seemed to seep out of Uprooted every time I opened it. It would take no more than a couple of sentences to entirely sweep me out of my own world into Agnieszka’s small village – at times I could feel the threatening corruption of the Wood, or the cold grasp of the Dragon on my arms. Novik’s story in not merely about magic, it fashions a magic of its own that grows through your mind like climbing green vines.

I think what makes Agnieszka’s story so refreshing is that it isn’t based on any one of the typical (almost stereotypical) fairy tales. In fact, it isn’t based on a Western story at all. Novik weaves in characters and symbols from the Polish tales her mother told her as a child, but they never take center stage in the novel – Agnieszka’s story is entirely unique, which is startling because it seems so ancient and timeless in its dark, detailed magic and monsters.

 Then there are the characters. Gone are the heroic, spotless princes, the beautiful young maidens and the all-knowing wizards who typically steal the spotlight in all tales, both old and new. I think that’s awesome. I think it’s really, really wonderful that Novik’s protagonist is covered in dirt and dust half the time, and that her love interest isn’t typically handsome. I love that the princes shatter the stereotype of heroic valiance, and are rather portrayed as cruel, self-serving and ultimately quite stupid. Oh, and back to Agnieszka: I think it’s epic that she doesn’t rely on beauty or wit or grace to save herself. She manages to remain a smart village girl, in appearance and otherwise, throughout the novel, and she still kicks ass. That’s the type of message I like to see in fairy tales – it doesn’t always have to be the perfect, beautiful village girl that becomes the heroine of the story.

There’s still so much more I’d love to praise about Uprooted, but I think you get the picture. It’s a stunning novel, and wildly underrated at that. It’ll probably ruin your life for the few days you spend with your nose stuck in its pages, but it’s totally worth it.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Recommended to: Fans of Cinder, Mercy, Entwined, The Jewel, and even The Mortal Instruments and Harry Potter.

The Last Word

But even if you don’t like fairy tales look at this stunning cover! (It even matches my scarf #winning.)

'The Jewel' by Amy Ewing

Date finished: 1 December 2014

Rating: 4/5

Enchanting and enthralling, The Jewel is a perfect fit for fans of DeStephano’s Chemical Garden series. Ewing brings a fresh twist to the world of Young Adult fiction with elements of fantasy, scandal, love and glamorous politics. The Jewel holds a haunting story that will remain in the back of its readers’ minds for years, or at least until the sequel is published.

In the Jewel, the center of society reserved for the elite, royal bloodlines are preserved by chemical conception. Stripped of her identity and auctioned off as a surrogate to the Duchess of the Lake, Violet Lasting is destined to carry the child of a woman she despises. Increased exposure to the scandal and politics of the Jewel shows Violet that she’s simply a pawn in the Duchess’s scheme to secure the throne. But with her sanity threatening to evaporate completely, Violet finds salvation in another captive, who might also be her demise.

Whilst captivating and heartbreaking, Violet’s story also explores several important issues emerging in today’s society. A wonderful read.

This review was also posted on The Bluestocking Review.

(So I've done three reviews - with three more to come - for The Bluestocking Review now, and I just realised that I completely forgot to post them here! That's why they're all dated half a year ago... Totally moronic move, I know. But I have at least three more reviews on hold that I'll be posting in the next few weeks, so stay posted.)

'Trigger Warning' by Neil Gaiman

Date finished: 19 April 2015

Rating: 5/5

It cannot be disputed that Neil Gaiman is among the finest fantasy writers of this generation. His latest compilation of short stories is evidence enough of his skill in weaving wonderfully weird and disturbing fairy-tales for adults that will remain embedded in the back of his readers’ minds forever.

Trigger Warning is not for the lighthearted. Its strange and often wildly unnerving contents are intended to provoke feelings in the reader that trigger strong emotional responses. We are continuously confronted with stories that contain death, tears, pain and helplessness – even the occasional happy ending. We are invited to explore the deepest contents of our imaginations, awaken the monsters of the past and face them courageously.

The craft of writing short stories is not an easy one. To write short stories that leave such a lasting impact on readers, and then to succeed in selling them despite this, should be close to impossible. Trigger Warning exceeds all expectations, and provides an intriguing and terrifying glimpse into the mind of a fantasy genius. I highly recommend reading Gaiman’s works.

This review was also posted on The Bluestocking Review.

'The Last Leaves Falling' by Sarah Benwell

Date finished: 19 April 2015

Rating: 1/5

The Last Leaves Falling is a striking novel that demands careful consideration of serious issues by its reader. Sora, a Japanese teenager with huge dreams, struggles to find friendship and courage in his struggle with ALS. Unfortunately, there are elements that did not sit well with me, and I constantly found myself questioning what exactly the author was trying to convey to her readers.

Although Benwell’s writing style and simplistic plot are far more suited to readers in their early teens, Sora’s opinions on death, suicide and his struggle against ALS are not entirely appropriate for younger readers. Overall, there is a dark underlying tone of helplessness and tragedy that, instead of challenging its readers, seems to advertise suicide as a courageous and noble death. Teenagers would be safer reading novels with darker content that present a more stable view on life, especially when suicide and self-harm are becoming increasingly prominent among adolescents.

This incompatibility of the storyline, teenage characters and main themes resulted in a confusing and overwhelming story that left me feeling ill at ease. This book is not worth the wasted time or emotional energy it demands.

This review was also posted on The Bluestocking Review.

How reading can help you escape awkward social situations

Shoutout to all my fellow anti-social teenage ninjas. Never again will you have to face the scary outside world unarmed – I’ve finally come up with the solutions to all your social struggles. (Pfft, from research… totally not from my own experiences.)

Yes, this is yet another blog about why books are awesome.

And yes, to all the other sociable people reading this blog, this is a ruse to get you to take up reading. Please. For the sake of all the readers who have to listen to you use the same fifteen words over and over again (just a suggestion – there are about 900 better words to use than “cool” and “jol”, all of which can be discovered through the magical world of *insert rainbows* literature). 

Note: The obvious solution to all of these problems is just to stay at home and read... but my therapist tells me that staying at home for my entire life and avoiding socialisation at all costs will result in me never getting a "proper job" to pay for my expensive reading habits.

Social Struggle #1: The “how-much-longer-do-I-have-to-sit-here-and-look-like-a-total-loner-before-she-shows-up” Restaurant Endeavor

We’ve all been there. You agreed to meet your friend at Tasha’s at 19:30. She’s fifteen minutes late, and you have to sit at a table alone with nothing to do because you’re all out of data on your cellphone, so you can’t scroll aimlessly through social media and pretend you have a life. People are casting suspicious glances your way, perhaps wondering if you’re some sort of terrorist waiting for the perfect moment to blow yourself up, or even a homicidal maniac, eating dinner as a recluse whilst you carefully select your next victim. The waiter thinks you’ve been stood up – what a loser. You can practically feel the cold judgment pricking at your skin.

Ideal outcome: You don’t look like a total hermit staring at the wallpaper or scrolling though your camera roll until she arrives.

Solution: Download the Kindle app on your phone before you go out, and then buy an e-book. This way, when you’re sitting all alone at the table, you can pretend to be doing something socially acceptable like scrolling through Twitter, but you’re actually reading a damn good book without facing judgment for being “antisocial”.

Social Struggle #2: The “why-do-I-always-forget-to-bring-a-rape-whistle-to-these-things” Party Expedition

Your friends have dragged you out to some ridiculous social gathering and some weirdo has approached you to “chat”. Let’s be honest, after about three hours at somebody’s house party, the only people actually having fun are those who are either passed out or hopelessly intoxicated. It’s cold outside, but inside smells like sweat and weed and booze, and your legs are aching because there’s not a single place to sit that hasn’t been baptized in vodka. The last thing you want to do is engage in a conversation with somebody who starts off on the predictable, red-alert note of: “Aw, you don’t look like you’re having too much fun, babe.” Forced, polite conversation only makes it worse.

Ideal outcome: 1. He leaves. 2. You get to go home without offending anybody.

Solution: Start quoting some random, verbose, intellectual novel in short bursts of prose. (Try go for the least clichéd quotes, and avoid declarations of love at all costs. Societal commentaries are a safe bet – they use big, confusing words.) Giggle at random intervals, but otherwise keep a deadpan tone and a straight face. If he still hasn’t left when you run out of quotes, stumble away quickly, as if you’re just as drunk as the girl hanging over the speaker. Call a cab. Leave.

Ulysses is full of confusing, intellectual... stuff. Perfect for all
your anti-social escape-route needs.

(This method is so much more fun than just yelling, “OH MY GOD, LEAVE.” And so much more humane.)

Social Struggle #3: The “if-one-more-person-tells-me-how-much-I’ve-grown-I’m-going-to-start-throwing-things” Family Reunion

Family reunions are unbearable, especially because everybody there feels as though they have the right to comment on your lifestyle choices because of a combination of excess “family spirit” and too much red wine. For example, almost every time we have extended-family gatherings, somebody feels that it’s necessary to somehow comment on how my choice of university for next year has what they refer to as a “bad rep”: “Better make sure your liver’s ready, love! Ha-ha!” or, “Oh… that’s nice… Aren’t your parents worried you’ll turn into a hippie?” or even, “You know what pot is? Just don’t smoke anything anyone gives you. I heard there’s a drug gang in that area.” Um. Thanks. So, just because I’m going to university automatically makes me a drug addict, a hippie and an alcoholic. Glad to know my family's so well-educated on stereotyping and generalisations.

Ideal outcomes: 1. Shut everybody up for just a few minutes. 2. Give them something to talk about at the next reunion – to which you will not be invited if it all goes according to plan.

Solution: There’s always at least one other person in the family who’s vaguely similar to you – that is, they also wish they were in bed with a book, and it shows. I have three: father, sister, and uncle. If you don’t have a significant other to talk to, just talk to yourself. This solution involves roleplaying, which under any other circumstances I am completely and utterly opposed to, so don’t @ me about it. Prepare a scene beforehand in which you and your partner-in-crime pretend to be two characters from a book you’ve both read. (Preferably something extremely weird and wonderful, like The Hobbit or even Twilight – we’re going for a shock-and-awe kind of response.) Include actual dialogue, but feel free to be creative. Recite your lines loudly and dramatically, responding aggressively when your mom tries to laugh it off and tells you to “stop playing around”. Hopefully, you’ll eventually be escorted off the property by an extremely annoyed (but secretly relieved) parent.

Alternatively, buy a bunch of clichéd T-shirts and wear them out in public. This way, you can simultaneously warn people against talking to you, and apologise for your anti-social-ness without even having to open your mouth!

This blog went places I never expected it to go. Nonetheless, I hope you have been thoroughly entertained.