Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Title: Uprooted
Classification: Young Adult (13+)
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Hardcover; 448 pages
Publisher: Del Rey; 1st edition (May 19, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0804179034
ISBN-13: 978-0804179034
Author's Website: http://www.naominovik.com/
Notes: I borrowed this one from the library.



Once upon a time there was an enchanted Kingdom. The Wood which existed there contained scary creatures who occasionally ventured out and would steal people away, never to be seen again. Those who escaped were never quite as they once were. They were corrupted in some sinister way by the evil magic of the forest and could not be trusted.

The land was protected from the Wood by the king's wizard who many refer to as the Dragon. Every ten years he demanded, as his due, the company of a girl 17 years of age born within the span of one year beginning in one October and ending in the next. Girls born during this time were referred to as "Dragon-born". Dragon-born girls were treated differently by their families for they knew they may be taken from them when they come of age. Rumors ran rampant as to what the Dragon did with the girls, but after their time with the Dragon was over, they never seem satisfied with returning to their old life or staying with their families. Some went to school while others opened businesses. Many choose not to marry while those who did tended to marry into the nobility.

This year Kasia was thought to be the Dragon's choice, for he tended to pick the most beautiful, kind, and special of the lot. Kasia was all those things, everything Agnieszka was not. For one reason or another, however, it was Agnieszka he chose. This is her tale.

This is the book I kept hoping someone would write--an original fairy-tale with the feel of those written long ago. Naomi Novik did so with such flair and craft that it made me sigh with relief as I read and realized an author had finally written a fairy-tale of their very own. I admit I am tired of reading stories which attempt to make the old new by rewriting an original beloved tale. The original author's got it right, and I'd much rather read something new. While Ms. Novik didn't rewrite something old, I like how she managed to give a friendly nod to a fairy-tale she loved hearing as a child by incorporating the character's name into the story. She also incorporated many of the elements found in classic fairy tales. Check out my post Monday Musings; The making of a classic fairy tale. It includes a list of things that classic fairy tales usually include. While reading, see how many you can identify as being used by Ms. Novik. You might be surprised.

I liked the use of the woods in the story.  Besides darkened alleys, the woods would have been one of the scariest places a person could travel. It has many hiding places, and is dark and spooky both day and night. It is also a place where many robberies and other nefarious crimes took place. I feel it is the perfect place for a fairy-tale to be centered around, especially when it is full of scary creatures who can steal you away. While the book isn't based off another fairy-tale, the author states during an interview with Meredith Schwartz in Library Journal, "I realized this story was set in the fairy-tale Poland of my childhood: a very specific place that even though it never really existed, [it] existed for me, because as a child my mother would read me these fairy-tales [to keep] me connected to her own roots." Two of the books which inspired the Wood are Agnieszka 'Piece of Sky' by Natalia Galczynska and 'Living Water'. Both are Polish fairy-tales. I can't help but wonder if the popularity of the Broadway musical 'Into the Woods' played a role in bringing this world to the forefront of Ms. Novik's imagination. If so, I'm glad it did. (To read the full interview in Library Journal, Click Here)

I confess, that I felt this book probably should have been labeled as New Adult, due to some of the content. I wish the main character was 18 instead of 17 years old. There is a relationship that develops between Agnieska and the Dragon that I felt was a tad inappropriate. The time period the story takes place in, however, had the feel of a more medieval time, so I wasn't as phased by the relationship as I would have been had it taken place in a more modern setting. That said, I liked how the teacher student relationship developed between them. At first he was annoyed by her. Then he thought she was a spy. Later he became impressed by her skill, and I loved seeing Agnieska grow as an individual and come into her own. Her confidence was given a huge boost, she didn't change who she was, and was someone who could, if the need arose, rescue herself.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. It was fast paced, imaginative, with a phenomenal magical world that made me yearn for more. I hope this will be made into a series (though the author stated it is a standalone) as it was a world I didn't want to leave. While there were no cliff-hangers, the ending seemed to leave an opening for the story to be expanded. Ms. Novik put so much into the world building that it would be a pity not to return to it. Am I starting to sound a little like Oliver Twist? Well in for a penny..."Please sir (or in this case Ms.Novik), I want some more." *Grin* I highly recommend this one.

Monday musings; The making of a classic Fairy Tale

Odds are that one of the first stories you were told or remember as a child was a fairy tale. The stories have been around for ages and many are thought to have originated from folktales--stories which were passed generation to generation by word-of-mouth. Remaking a classic fairy tale into something more modern is all the rage. The TV series Once Upon A Time, the Lunar Chronicles book series, and Beastly by Alex Flinn's (which was made into a movie by the same name) being just a few which have led the surge.

But what makes these little literary gems so popular? Why do they stand the test of time? Well, they seem to speak to a person's basic inner desires which don't really change over the years.Whether it be to better ones situation or that karma would enact vengeance on someone who has done someone else wrong or a 'be careful what you wish for' scenario, they are things the majority of people have wished for or felt at one time or another. 

So what exactly is a fairy tale? Well, lets break it down by looking at some definitions:

Definition of a Fairy Tale

Merriam-Webster dictionary:

1 a) a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (as fairies, wizards, and goblins) —called also fairy story
   b) a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending
2     a made-up story usually designed to mislead

Oxford Dictionary:

1   a story about magic or fairies, usually for children
2   a story that somebody tells that is not true; a lie

J.R.R. Tolkien:

- a “fairy-story” is one which touches on or uses Faerie, whatever its own main
purpose may be: satire, adventure, morality, fantasy. Faerie itself may perhaps most nearly be
translated by Magic—but it is magic of a peculiar mood and power, at the furthest pole from the
vulgar devices of the laborious, scientific, magician. There is one proviso : if there is any satire
present in the tale, one thing must not be made fun of, the magic itself. That must in that story be
taken seriously, neither laughed at nor explained away.

While those definitions are true, I think maybe we can break things down a little further. Here's a list of some of the elements incorporated into a classic style fairy tale:

- May start with 'Once Upon A Time' although it doesn't have to

- Takes place in an imaginary world, place, or kingdom 'far, far away' and/or 'long, long ago' usually in a medieval time

- The main character is inherently good; possibly even altruistic, but most likely doesn't know that

- There is a villainous/corrupt character--the 'bad' guy/enemy

- There is a magical element that doesn't need to have anything to do with an actual fairy

- They usually start with a wish or desire

- The main character must complete a journey, task, or quest--basically an obstacle of some sort must be overcome--requiring them to be brave/courageous

- Usually includes the number three (three wishes), seven (seven dwarfs), or twelve (Twelve Dancing Princesses)

- A lesson is learned and may be considered a cautionary tale

- Good triumphs over evil

- The underdog prevails

- May include royalty (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Princess and the Pea, etc.)

- May include talking animals (Cinderella, Puss in Boots, The Goose Girl, etc.)

- Many of the original (not Disney remakes) include a touch of violence (Cinderella's step-sister cuts off her toe so it will fit into the slipper, kids are cooked and eaten by the witch in Hansel and Gretel, the horses head is cut off in the Goose Girl, etc.)

- Has a happy ending even if not stated directly as 'and they lived happily ever after'

Have you seen any of these elements used in works other than fairy tales? Say....Star Wars, 'The Wizard of Oz', or the Harry Potter? Interesting, no? I love how some things change while others remain the same over time. While reading your next book, see how many of the above elements you can identify.

So, my next question is: Can a fairy tale, by definition, be created today? Are there folktales out there that exist, but haven't yet been written down which could and/or should become fairy tales? Could one be created from scratch? What do you think? My question was inspired by the book 'Uprooted' by Naomi Novik. If I had to list a book that I felt could be called a new fairy tale, I'd nominate 'Uprooted'. It's got so many of the elements that a classic fairy tale encompasses that I'd say its the closest thing around. If you've read it, let me know if you agree. If you haven't but are going to, keep the list in mind. See how many of the elements she used whether she realized it or not.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Monday Musings. I started doing this a couple of years ago, but due to illness and other random events, I haven't posted as consistently as I first planned. Remember, a book a day keeps the boredom at bay.

Happy reading everyone,
Lisarenee

Merriam-Webster definition from:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairy%20tale
Oxford Dictionary definition from:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/learner/fairy-tale
J.R.R. Tolkien Quote referenced from: http://www.rivendellcommunity.org/Formation/Tolkien_On_Fairy_Stories.pdf
Note: There are lists of elements of fairy tales listed all over the internet, I can not attribute my list to any one source. If I had to give credit to one general source, however, I'd say it was to teachers and their students. There were many lists, pictures, etc out on the internet. Hopefully this means that we'll be seeing more original fairy stories coming from these authors-in-the-making in the future. I'm crossing my fingers.  

Most Anticipated New Releases for January 2016

The following list is comprised of books, short stories, and novellas my friends, family, and I are most looking forward to reading in January. It also consists of books by popular authors and other authors or books I've heard a lot of hype about. I am not flawless in my endeavors and sometimes I'll accidentally leave one or more books off the list that I shouldn't. Let me know if one of your favorites is missing. Sometimes my search techniques just don't work as well as I wish they did.

The list is divided into weekly releases. If you'd like to read a book's description, just click on the cover photo and you'll be magically transferred to Goodreads. Remember, a book a day keeps the boredom at bay! Happy reading.


January 1st - The Herald of Hell: A Brother Athelstan novel of Medieval London (A Brother Athelstan Medieval Mystery) by Paul Doherty
January 5th - Balto of the Blue Dawn (Magic Tree House #54) by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca
January 5th - Big Rock: (A Sexy Standalone Contemporary Romance) by Lauren Blakely
January 5th - Blackout by David Rosenfelt
January 5th - The Cakes of Monte Cristo: A Piece of Cake Mystery by Jacklyn Brady
January 5th - Copy Cap Murder: A Hat Shop Mystery by Jenn McKinlay
January 5th - Cruel Crown (Red Queen Novella) by Victoria Aveyard
January 5th - Daisies For Innocence: An Enchanted Garden Mystery by Bailey Cattrell
January 5th - Dead Man's Float by Jim Harrison
January 5th - Dragon Knight's Shield (Order of the Dragon Knights Book 4) by Mary Morgan
January 5th - The First Order (The Sam Capra series) by Jeff Abbott
January 5th - The Force Awakens (Star Wars) by Alan Dean Foster
January 5th - Foreign Éclairs: A White House Chef Mystery by Julie Hyzy
January 5th - Forty Thieves by Thomas Perry
January 5th - Game Over (The MindWar Trilogy) by Andrew Klavan
January 5th - The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley by Eric Weiner
January 5th - A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder: A Ghost Hunter Mystery by Victoria Laurie
January 5th - Gone Black by Linda Ladd
January 5th - The Guest Room: A Novel by Chris Bohjalian
January 5th - To Helvetica and Back: A Dangerous Type Mystery by Paige Shelton
January 5th - The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine
January 5th - New Leaf: A Mystic Creek Novel by Catherine Anderson
January 5th - One Foot in the Grove: An Olive Oil Grove Mystery (An Olive Grove Mystery) by Kelly Lane
January 5th - Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
January 5th - Seduction in Session: The Perfect Gentlemen by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake
January 5th - Sweet Pepper Hero: A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade by J. J. Cook
January 5th - This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
January 5th - Truthwitch: A Witchlands Novel by Susan Dennard
January 5th - A Wee Dose of Death: A ScotShop Mystery by Fran Stewart
January 5th - What You Need: The Need You Series by Lorelei James
January 5th - What Was Mine: A Novel by Helen Klein Ross


January 12th - The Bitter Season (Kovac / Liska) by Tami Hoag
January 12th - The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson Book 9) by Darynda Jones
January 12th - The Girls She Left Behind: A Novel (Lizzie Snow) by Sarah Graves
January 12th - The Good Goodbye: A Novel by Carla Buckley
January 12th - I Am Your Judge: a novel (Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein) by Nele Neuhaus and Steven T. Murray
January 12th - Mermaid Moon (A Sunset Cove Novel Book 2) by Colleen Coble
January 12th - The Only Pirate at the Party by Lindsey Stirling and Brooke S. Passey
January 12th - Scandalous Behavior (A Stone Barrington Novel) by Stuart Woods
January 12th - Sebring (Unfinished Heroes) (Volume 5) by Kristen Ashley
January 12th - The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu and Ken Liu


January 19th - Appealed by Emma Chase
January 19th - Feverborn: A Fever Novel by Karen Marie Moning
January 19th - The Forgotten Room: A Novel by Karen White and Beatriz Williams
January 19th - The Healer's Rune by Lauricia Matuska
January 19th - Known (A Bone Secrets Novel) by Kendra Elliot
January 19th - Medusa's Web: A Novel by Tim Powers
January 19th - Orphan X: A Novel (Evan Smoak) by Gregg Hurwitz
January 19th - River Road: A Novel by Carol Goodman
January 19th - The Rule of Three: Will to Survive by Eric Walters
January 19th - Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan


January 26th - The Bands of Mourning: A Mistborn Novel by Brandon Sanderson
January 26th - City of Blades (The Divine Cities) by Robert Jackson Bennett
January 26th - Coconut Cowboy: A Novel (Serge Storms Series Book 19) by Tim Dorsey
January 26th - The Dark Days Club (A Lady Helen Novel) by Alison Goodman
January 26th - Devoted in Death by J. D. Robb
January 26th - Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
January 26th - Into the Fury (BOSS, Inc. Book 1) by Kat Martin
January 26th - The Knave of Hearts: Rhymes With Love by Elizabeth Boyle
January 26th - The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry
January 26th - My American Duchess by Eloisa James
January 26th - NYPD Red 4 by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
January 26th - Night Study (Study Series) by Maria V. Snyder
January 26th - Rustler's Moon (Ransom Canyon) by Jodi Thomas
January 26th - Spider Game: Ghostwalker Series (Ghostwalker Novel Book 12) by Christine Feehan
January 26th - The Spring at Moss Hill (Swift River Valley Novels Book 7) by Carla Neggers
January 26th - Staked: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book Eight by Kevin Hearne
January 26th - The Zodiac Legacy: The Dragon's Return by Stan Lee and Stuart Moore
January 31, 2016 - Beautiful Burn: A Novel (The Maddox Brothers Book 4) by Jamie McGuire