Descriptions strike that balance of painting a clear picture without becoming overly long. Novik’s writing is engaging and easy to understand. With regards to the writing itself, it is masterful. We travel from small villages to a capital city to castles and the Wood – for a not-so-hefty novel, we travel around quite a bit. For a standalone novel of under 500 pages, it is able to create a fairly expansive world. While we are on the topic of places, I have to take a moment to note how impressed I am by the world building in this book. It is such an original concept, and it works. The Wood is the central villain in this story, and I, for one, love the idea of a place rather than a person being the focal point of evil. Perhaps the most interesting character of all, however, is not even a person but rather an entity: the Wood. This, in turn, is what allows for complexity and conflict within the story. From the renowned and powerful wizard, the Dragon, to Agnieszka’s loyal and fearless friend, Kasia, to misguided Prince Marek, they are all well developed and together, create a diverse mix of personalities and wills.

The secondary characters are equally laudable. She is also a force to be reckoned with, who charts her own destiny and bucks tradition along the way. The protagonist, Agnieszka, is relatable, funny, and grows over the course of the book. Then, there are the characters, who breathe life into the story. It even has a touch of romance, and the love story is quite sweet and endearing.

From magic to monsters to an evil forest, this book has all the necessary ingredients for a riveting fantasy. The story reels you in from the very first line and retains your interest throughout its entirety. To begin with, its plot is highly imaginative and engrossing. So, what makes Uprooted such an enjoyable read? Honestly, almost everything about it. I was so sad to be done with the book that for about a day, I could not bring myself to pick up another book. Upon finishing it, I went through what I like to call book mourning. If you have not read Uprooted, stop reading this review, and go get yourself a copy of it. TLDR: A standalone fantasy novel with a bewitching story that is sure to please all readers, even those not well versed with the fantasy genre.

Uprooted novik