Uprooted in The Sword and Laser

Feb 21, 2016 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read2016, sword-and-laser, sci-fi-fantasy, ebooks, reading-envy-podcast, hugo-winners-or-nominees, nebula-winners-or-nominees

I read this book on impulse. I had ignored it when it was the monthly pick for the Sword and Laser book club, because I had read His Majesty's Dragon and felt like it wasn't for me. Then it was listed as a Nebula finalist, and my library had the eBook available for immediate download, so I just... started. The story pulled me in, although the writing itself is not spectacular. I liked the way the author came up with the idea, the character name coming from her own childhood's Polish fairy tales. I read this book on impulse. I had ignored it when it was the monthly pick for the Sword and Laser book club, because I had read His Majesty's Dragon and felt like it wasn't for me. Then it was listed as a Nebula finalist, and my library had the eBook available for immediate download, so I just... started. The story pulled me in, although the writing itself is not spectacular. I liked the way the author came up with the idea, the character name coming from her own childhood's Polish fairy tales. I liked the way the magic was handled, where the world had a certain method of teaching and learning it and still Agnieszka had to find her own way. I liked the early twist of the "dragon" considering what the author is known for otherwise. I liked the scary wood; since I grew up in the woods I always feel like they have their own living breathing characters.

At some point I watched a video interview with the author where she indicated she has worked with her grandmother to translate some of the Polish fairy tales she grew up with, and I would VERY much like to read those.

What I didn't like - well as with any fantasy novel, series or standalone, I don't like to read or watch fight scenes. Boring, who cares, etc. So I skimmed large portions of the novel. There were a few battles where magic was really important so I read those more carefully. Still, battles? Just not my thing. The other thing I didn't like was the simple language. The author claims that this is not intended for YA (and I suppose the two sex scenes prove that) but how many ways can you describe the color red in a magical world? Surely with a word better than red. Choices like that were throughout the novel. It's not that I prefer flowery language that slows me down, but I do think that a fantasy setting is an appropriate place to show your writing chops, and let go of them during the battles, since I won't read those anyway.

Still it was a quick read and I enjoyed it enough to discuss it on Episode 054 of the Reading Envy Podcast. ...more

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Apr 06, 2017 Eric rated it it was ok

Shelves: book-club, fantasy, unfinished

While this book had potential -- and my attention -- in the first third, it went off the rails shortly afterward, and I couldn't be bothered to finish it. Once the initial mystery was lost and the protagonists left the tower on their adventure, the story completely lost my interest. Also, the romance between the Dragon and Agnieszka, whom he had abducted, was icky. ...more

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Aug 28, 2015 Raq rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pleasure, fairy-tale

I'm sure I've read a short story version of this somewhere. In any case, I quite liked it, particularly the Dragon's voice and the contrast with Agniezhka's voice.

I do have a complaint, which is the resolution. SPOILERS FOLLOW.

I felt that the source of the evil in the Wood was unfulfilling, and the reveal about why the Wood was so bad came too late. It didn't make any difference, other than allowing for a pretty weak deus ex machina. With the foreshadowing from the Summoning and the tomb inscrip ...more

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Apr 24, 2016 Caitlin rated it it was amazing

This book was a delightful surprise. I'm not sure why I was expecting a quick, light read, but it was one of the best fantasy novels I've read in a while. The characters are complex and compelling, the tension keeps ratcheting up, and she often zigs where I expect her to zag. It also passes the Bechdel test with flying colors, and all relationships are well-developed. The Wood is creepy and threatening in a way it hasn't been since I was a child reading Hansel and Gretel -- Novik does a great jo ...more

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Sep 26, 2015 Deirdre rated it really liked it · review of another edition

satisfying

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Jul 25, 2015 Nat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: digital-owned

I really enjoyed this fantasy novel. It closed everything off at the end, didn't feel like a young adult novel, and had some interesting messages about love and education. ...more

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