Uprooted in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Apr 16, 2022 Becky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, challenge-reads-2022, read-in-2022

Chapter 4

It would have been so much easier for both of them if the Dragon just told her what was going on! If she knew she had magic in her, and that untrained magic was dangerous, she could have tried to learn. Instead, she feels like she's being tortured for no reason, and he's mad that she's so slow in picking it up.

Also, (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 09, 2020 Alicia rated it did not like it

Shelves: hp-challenge

I really wanted to like this book. I ever got 75% through before I realized I didn't care at all about the ending. Someone once reminded me that life is too short to read bad books, and while I don't think this is necessarily a bad book, it was not the book for me.

I had a lot of friends, authors and reviewers I generally agree with that absolutely loved this book. Maybe I came in with too high of expectations. However, the biggest thing for me is I didn't understand the point of the book. The d ...more

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May 18, 2017 Angie H rated it did not like it

I really wanted to like this book more, but sadly that was not the case. I know many people love it, but it was just not for me. Towards the end of the book it was such a chore to read. Reading should never be a chore. :p.
Oh well, off to read my next book!!

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Oct 22, 2019 Scott Shjefte rated it it was amazing

Not a fast read, the story has many mythical historical references to which most people will be unfamiliar, while most people know the story of 'Hansel and Gretel' how many know the story of 'Ludmila and the Enchanter'? or 'Old Baba Jaga with a house made out of butter'? Within this tale are hundreds of cantrip words that are phrased into songs of magic. The vine of this book grows with each attempt of life and with each failure. The river flows fast and slow and goes underground at times. But t ...more

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May 07, 2020 Irene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own-physical, read-in-2020, tedious-to-read, popsugar-2020, fave-fantasy, 5-stars, standalone, ugly-cover, worth-the-hype, not-what-i-expected

If you're looking for something easy-to-read, quick, and fun, then this book is not for you. Uprooted is challenging, heartbreaking, somber, deeply entrenched in folklore and fantasy, confusing and tedious, brilliantly imaginative, and ultimately a modern masterpiece of writing.

In other words, if you prefer books that lay out everything for you without enigmas, reading-between-the-lines, and forced imagination, then you will probably NOT enjoy this book very much. If, on the other hand, you enjo If you're looking for something easy-to-read, quick, and fun, then this book is not for you. Uprooted is challenging, heartbreaking, somber, deeply entrenched in folklore and fantasy, confusing and tedious, brilliantly imaginative, and ultimately a modern masterpiece of writing.

In other words, if you prefer books that lay out everything for you without enigmas, reading-between-the-lines, and forced imagination, then you will probably NOT enjoy this book very much. If, on the other hand, you enjoy unpacking literature and poetry, this fantasy book will definitely scratch a literary fiction itch. I haven't felt the exhilaration of unpacking the meaning of every line of a book since I was a literature major in college, studying Ulysses and the like. This book will make you work for it, and will require at least one reread to really understand everything that goes on within these pages.

Uprooted is a complete, fully-fleshed story that will start out feeling like one thing and end after what feels like a lifetime of growth and change with the characters. While I believe it takes place over just a year or two, it feels like you've started in the Shire and gone to Mordor and back, so some moments will pass slowly and seem unanchored and pointless. I think that's the beauty of books like this, compared to the almost economic-efficiency of so many authors today who attempt to appeal to our decreased attention spans by making sure every detail and action is as straightforward as possible. That's not how real journeys work, right?

I don't want to go into too much detail, but I will complain about the blurb/marketing of this book: This book is NOT a romance, YA, or any kind of fairy-tale retelling you've read before. The blurb of this book sounds like a fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast and that literally couldn't be farther from what it is. This book is equal parts sinister and grotesque, beautiful and creative - but zero parts fluff or unoriginal. I would recommend this most for adults who enjoy fantasy as a standalone genre (as opposed to fantasy as an afterthought that exists only for backdrop, atmosphere, and extra oompf) with large casts of characters, expansive lands, and magic that is complex and confusing. Yes, there are fairy tale elements, but it does it a disservice to call it any kind of retelling. Be ready for layers on layers of story.

The blurb of this book is as misleading as the following blurb would be for the first Harry Potter book: "An orphan boy is mistreated by his uncle, aunt, and cousin, until one day a mysterious stranger arrives bearing a letter." No mention of magic, no mention of what to expect of what's going to unfold, etc. So sure, the book begins with the MC being chosen by the Dragon, but that's not even the tip of the iceberg and tells you absolutely nothing about what the book will actually be about, who the MC will discover she really is, and none of the epic high fantasy that follows.

(Also, I loathe the standard U.S. book cover. I feel like it's uglier the more you look at it, so I really need to swap it for a different edition as soon as possible. Since this is clearly my biggest complaint, this book is an easy 5 stars for me.)

*2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge*
Prompt #29: A book with a bird on the cover
(previously: Prompt #33: A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads) ...more

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Sep 05, 2019 Kahlia rated it really liked it

Such a vivid read - I love the descriptions of Agniezka’s magic and the sense of foreboding invoked by the wood. I also love that Kasia and Agniezka’s friendship is held up as the central relationship that the story is founded upon. This one came highly recommended and did not disappoint.

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