Originally reviewed UPROOTED back in 2015 for two blogs I was associated with. I'm not seeing references to this review on Netgalley and I'm not sure where it went or how to retrieve that data.

Every ten years the dragon demands a girl… and so begins many a tale. But this dragon is a wizard, human-seeming, but ageless, abrupt, and icily cold. Agnieszka (and the whole village) knows he will choose Kasia, elegant and beautiful, but when the day comes, it’s Agnieszka who is chosen to serve. It's a fate almost as terrible as being drawn into the eerily malevolent wood, from which no one returns unchanged – if they return at all. Expecting to be a servant and a drudge (if not providing more intimate services) Agnieszka is surprised to find she has to learn magic. She struggles at first, but then finds her own style and gradually begins to learn. The threat from the wood is increasing as its corruption spreads and Kasia is caught up in it, driving Agnieszka to try to rescue her friend. Expect really scary trees, a touch of romance, some court intrigue, strong female friendship and LOTS of peril.

This is fairy tale-like, for certain values of dark fairy-tales, set in an alternate medieval Poland. I'm still getting used to hearing rather than reading a book. So far I find that I prefer listening to something I've read before, but this was a new book to me and the audio version kept me engaged. Katy Sobey's narration is easy on the ear.

Novik impressed me every bit as much as her first book. Exciting story, beautifully developed characters and relationship all delivered with sumptuous prose.

Loved this book which is a fantastic fairy tale style read. Was drawn into the story immediately and I loved the characters of Agnieszka and Sarkan and how their relationship developed. A great book and after reading it I cannot wait to read some more Naomi Novik.

This is my book of the year so far. Amazing!
https://instagram.com/p/BXqiqL1Auyd/

I have now tried reading Uprooted multiple times. I'm currently at 63 percent of the way through and I'm giving up. I was so happy when I got an email saying I was approved for the title and I immediately started reading it. I believe I read a few percent and put it down for another time. I picked it up again in December and I've been reading it for 5 months and I simply can't get through it. I love the idea and the story - I absolutely love retellings - but I'm not fond of the way the story is told or the fact that it feels neverending (in the worst way possible).

So thank you, but I just can't get through it.