Uprooted

Uprooted by Naomi Novik, 438 pages

Every 10 years, a reclusive wizard named the Dragon comes into the valley and chooses a 17-year-old girl to spirit away to his tower. When Agnieszka's year comes, she (and everyone else in the village) assumed her friend Kasia would be taken. But everyone was wrong: Agnieszka is chosen instead, much to the Dragon and Agnieszka's mutual consternation. As Agnieszka starts her years in the Dragon's home, she quickly learns that she has magical ability, though of a completely different sort than the Dragon's. Soon, Agnieszka finds herself putting her powers to the test in battles between herself and the Dragon, between the dark magic of the nearby forest and her hometown, and between countries that have fought intermittently for the last 20 years.

This is the second time I've read this captivating, fairy tale-esque novel, and I enjoyed it as much this time through as I did before. Novik sprinkles the story with references to the Eastern European fairy tales she grew up hearing, yet creates something completely new. I love the character growth of Agnieszka, particularly as she harnesses her stubbornness to assist in her magical skills. This is a wonderful book, highly recommended to those who enjoy fairy tales.