Uprooted

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

This dark fairy tale was a gripping read. Nieshka is a compelling and unique character, with many talents who is, by virtue of her nature & personality, simply unable to fit into the boxes that others would put her in. She grows up near the Wood, which is full of elemental forces & spirits that have become corrupted and sinister, but the Wood is also a source of essential food & water. When the time comes for the Dragon, the local wizard, to choose a new assistant from the town's young women, Nieshka is selected to be his assistant for the next decade. And he might have gotten more than he bargained for. 

In a world where magic is tidy, orderly and performed to strict guidelines, Nieshka literally shakes the foundations of the kingdom by breaking form and performing spells that are supposed to be long forgotten - and it's a good thing too, because together Nieshka & the Dragon end up facing an unforeseen enemy that is crafy & stronger than anything they anticipated. I would definitely recommend this for fans of Sarah Beth Durst's Queens of Renthia series, as well as those interested in nature-based magic or darker fairy tale fantasy.

Favorite quotes:

“What an unequaled gift for disaster you have.”

“He darted a look at the uncovered basket behind me, saw what I was eating, and glared at me. "That's appalling," he said.
"They're wonderful!" I said. "They're all coming ripe."
"All the better to turn you into a tree," he said.
"I don't want to be a tree yet," I said.” 

“His name tasted of fire and wings, of curling smoke, of subtlety and strength and the rasping whisper of scales.” 

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