BOOKS | Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Name: Uprooted

Author: Naomi Novik

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Date published: November 2020

Genre: Fiction, young adult, fantasy, romance, fairy tales, retellings

Rating: 4/5

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.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.

- From Goodreads.

While Uprooted was not quite what I expected, it was definitely an excellent book. I was always curious to know what happened next and was unable to predict the plot, which was certainly thrilling and filled with action.

I loved the ideas and the worldbuilding in the story, the atmosphere of the Tower and the Wood were both created well and were fascinating to read about. The creatures in the Wood were so sinister and awful but also creative and impressive. The magic too was very interesting to read about, especially how magic could work differently for different people, and how Naomi Novik described that.

I enjoyed the relationship between the Dragon and Agnieszka. They were both such interesting characters, very different, which made for a very enjoyable to read dynamic and development of their characters. I really liked that Agnieszka was messy and learnt a lot through trial and error, it made her very relatable and loveable, and I enjoyed how the Dragon grudgingly began to accept that the way that she did things could work too. I would have liked to read a few more moments between them, a few more deeper conversations, to really feel that the arch of their relationship had been completely fulfilled throughout the story, but overall I really loved their parts of the book.

Overall, this was such a wonderful dark fairy tale style story with a brilliant hint of romance and  surprisingly fast-paced plot with plenty of action, but I would have liked to see a little more of the Dragon, and of the development of his relationship with Agnieszka.

UNBOXING | Illumicrate Collections: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Ever since I read and loved Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer, I have wanted to read her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, and Illumicrate's tenth anniversary edition seemed the perfect way to start collecting the series and reading! It was a wonderful box to open up and I was delighted by every item.

Foiled print, artwork by Merwild.

Angel and devil book ends, designed by Noverantale.

A door between worlds book tin, artwork by Rosie Thorns.

Fluttering dreams mug, artwork by Rosie Thorns.

Soul thurible, designed by Illumicrate.

Wishbone enamel pin, designed by Stacey McEvoy-Caunt.

Smoke and bone book sleeve, artwork by Monolime, quote design by Chatty Nora.

Exclusive tenth anniversary signed hardback edition of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, with illustration on the cover by Peter Strain, and artwork on the reverse of the dust jacket by Jim Di Bartolo.

I was really happy with the quality and inventiveness of each item in this box, Illumicrate always impresses me with their special edition boxes, as every time they have quite creative and beautiful items. The book in this box was especially beautiful and I am very glad to have it on my shelf. 

Did you get this box? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! If you would like to find out more about Illumicrate, you can find their website here.