Uprooted (2015) by Naomi Novik is a lush, standalone fantasy novel inspired by Slavic folklore. The story follows Agnieszka, a young woman from a rural village who is unexpectedly chosen by the enigmatic wizard known as the Dragon to serve him for ten years—a fate usually reserved for the most beautiful and talented girls. But Agnieszka, clumsy and ordinary, discovers her own raw, untamed magic, which defies the Dragon’s rigid spells and proves vital in battling the malevolent, sentient Wood that corrupts everything it touches.
Novik’s prose is lyrical and immersive, blending fairy-tale tropes with visceral action (the Wood’s horrors are genuinely chilling). Themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the clash between tradition and innovation pulse through the narrative, while Agnieszka’s evolving relationship with the Dragon crackles with tension.
A Nebula Award-winning gem, Uprooted reinvents folklore with feminist grit and atmospheric dread
Hugo Award Finalist
