Our Take
Naomi Novik built her name on the Temeraire series, but Uprooted is where she stepped fully into her own voice, and it shows. The novel draws on Polish folklore in a way that feels lived in rather than borrowed, and the relationship between Agnieszka and the Dragon avoids the easy tropes you might expect, prickly, uneven, and genuinely earned rather than instantly romantic. What sets this apart from other fantasy of its era is the Wood itself: it's not a backdrop, it's a character, patient and malevolent in a way that recalls the creeping dread of Annihilation more than typical high fantasy villains. Readers who loved the fierce, magic-wielding heroines of The Bear and the Nightingale will find a kindred spirit in Agnieszka, messy and stubborn rather than chosen and perfect. There's also a satisfying throughline to Spinning Silver, Novik's spiritual sequel, which reworks similar fairy tale DNA into an entirely different shape. This is a standalone, which feels almost rare now, and it wraps its threads with real conviction rather than leaving them dangling for a sequel that isn't coming. If you want fantasy that trusts folklore over formula, this is a strong Friday pick.
