Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka loves her village, set deep in a peaceful valley. But the nearby enchanted forest casts a shadow over her home. Many have been lost to the Wood and none return unchanged. The villagers depend on an ageless wizard, the Dragon, to protect them from the forest’s dark magic. However, his help comes at a terrible price. A young village woman must serve him for ten years, leaving all she values behind. Agnieszka fears her dearest friend Kasia will be picked at the next choosing, for she’s everything Agnieszka is not - beautiful, graceful and brave. Yet when the Dragon comes, it’s not Kasia he takes.
This was a nice read. I picked it up on a whim at my local library, knowing nothing of Novik’s other work, but who doesn’t love wizards and evil forests?
The story was well paced, and not too high fantasy to overcomplicate matters. I was hooked within the first chapter and the flow kept my engaged enough that I finished it in only a few sittings.
I would recommend this if you want a decent, standalone fantasy novel and not much time to read it.