Likewise, despite the magic that surrounds this book, and the supernatural threats that are forever encroaching on our heroes, this world feels relatively gritty and real. Agnieszka is a very real character - thoughtful, heroic, yet messy, prone to fits of temper, and unable to ignore the growing desires inside of her. Uprooted is slightly lighter in terms of tone - but this is certainly a book for adults, late teens at a push. Many in recent years have been taking the Fairy Tale back to its darker roots - Angela Carter wrote some marvellously dark versions, and Emily Carroll's Into the Woods is probably the best recent example - chilling, enchanting tales that unnerve and disturb. Never forget that in early versions Little Red Riding Hood unknowingly tucked into her dead grandmother, before climbing into bed with the wolf and being eaten, and in Cinderella a heavenly dove flies down and pecks out the stepsisters eyes. In toning the stories down and making them more suitable for children, the darkness of these stories has been rather lost. However, Agnieszka is not aware of the talents she holds that may attract the wizard - talents that the safety of the entire kingdom may come to depend on for their survival.įairy tales have been told to children for centuries - folk tales that have been elaborated, expanded and often, nowadays, neutered, in order to tell of morals and to make sure young children steer clear of big bad wolves, witches in gingerbread houses, and to long for princes to take them from their quiet and humble lives.
Aware that he is the one thing keeping them safe from the dangers of the wood, the villagers take part in a ritual called 'The Choosing' every ten years - when a young girl is sent to serve the wizard for a decade.Īgnieszka is of age for the choosing, but nobody fears that she will be picked - her best friend Kasia is pretty and graceful, and sure to catch the eye of the immortal Dragon. Many years ago, in a village deep in Eastern Europe, the locals live a life of relative peace and happiness - knowing to always avoid the wood that borders their land, and safe in the knowledge that they are guarded by a powerful wizard - the Dragon. Just make sure to steer clear of the Wood. An enchanting, spellbinding tale, prepare to be swept away into the world of Agnieszka, the Dragon, and Kasia. Summary: In Uprooted, Naomi Novik creates a dark fairy tale with strong characters, a plot that grips, and magic so real you could almost do the spells yourself.
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