With an original worldbuilding and a peculiar magic use, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, is a standalone YA fantasy romance with a medieval setting backed by an interesting mythology. In a valley where several villages persist, an evil and corrupting dark forest keeps advancing towards domination. Although counterbalanced by the magic of a powerful wizard, the corruption affects the reign. The same wizard takes, every ten years, a girl from the villages to live with him in the castle. The purpose is unknown – every ten years each girl goes her way with a heavy purse to live freely in the cities. When, against all odds, Agniezska is chosen, no one could predict the witch she would become, with an amazing skill set, very different from the wizard’s abilities. The premise is simples, if not a cliché of YA romances but that didn’t prevent the story from becoming an addictive page turner. The use of magic is unconventional and the story has some great episodes of adventure. Unfortunately not everything is great – some episodes are just too long and too centered in Agniezska, and some of the other characters are just too flat.
