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Review, Book: Uprooted
Jan. 4th, 2019 07:33 pmNovik, Naomi. Uprooted. (New York: Del Ray, 2015). $25.00. 438 pp.
Uprooted follows Agnieszka who discovers she has magic. Every ten years, a magician called The Dragon takes a young woman from the village. This year, he chooses her. She cannot decide if this fate is better or worse than being stolen by the corrupted Wood that lies at the edge of her village. As she learns how to deal with him and her own power, Nieszka needs to protect everything that loves - even the Wood.
I cannot recommend this book enough to witches, but to do so requires some spoilers BELOW.
The major frustration for Agnieszka, especially in the beginning, is that her magic does not match the standardized version her mentor practices. The Dragon practices what we would call "high magic." She only blossoms once she finds Baba Jaga's spell-book, comprised of "low magic." Like Jaga, Agnieszka's magic is inextricable from the Wood. Drinking the water of its river, living under its shadows, has made her (and her neighbors) a creature of the Wood.
As someone who has a strong connection to her land, this book is a great look at how where we live imprints on us. Drinking the water of a place, foraging from its roots - these things change you, for better and worse. Ignoring that is to ignore how to perfect your magic.
The action is fast-paced, the characters complex, and the above implications for magic/cunning folk are intriguing.
Keep your eyes peeled for a more formal review on my WordPress!
Uprooted follows Agnieszka who discovers she has magic. Every ten years, a magician called The Dragon takes a young woman from the village. This year, he chooses her. She cannot decide if this fate is better or worse than being stolen by the corrupted Wood that lies at the edge of her village. As she learns how to deal with him and her own power, Nieszka needs to protect everything that loves - even the Wood.
I cannot recommend this book enough to witches, but to do so requires some spoilers BELOW.
The major frustration for Agnieszka, especially in the beginning, is that her magic does not match the standardized version her mentor practices. The Dragon practices what we would call "high magic." She only blossoms once she finds Baba Jaga's spell-book, comprised of "low magic." Like Jaga, Agnieszka's magic is inextricable from the Wood. Drinking the water of its river, living under its shadows, has made her (and her neighbors) a creature of the Wood.
As someone who has a strong connection to her land, this book is a great look at how where we live imprints on us. Drinking the water of a place, foraging from its roots - these things change you, for better and worse. Ignoring that is to ignore how to perfect your magic.
The action is fast-paced, the characters complex, and the above implications for magic/cunning folk are intriguing.
Keep your eyes peeled for a more formal review on my WordPress!
