Challenge Corner discussion

Our poll has ended and our book of the month is Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Please use this thread to discuss the book as you read, using spoiler tags where needed.

I've been meaning to read this book since I got a copy almost a year ago!

This is the perfect chance to do so! :D

I'm really excited about this! I'm hoping to get a library copy soon~

Hope you are able to get one, Erin!

Who's reading this?

Jackie wrote: "Who's reading this?"

I plan on starting it on the 25th.

I might read this as it fits another challenge I'm doing.

Starting today. :)

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[Is a dragon born girl just a girl born in that specific village? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4: (view spoiler)[I'm not sure how I feel about this event. I mean she doesn't want or like her magic and then she's off to save her village? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8: I have to say, this has really hooked me. (view spoiler)[Once she's set on doing something, she will stop at nothing. I really like her determination and how much she cares and will do for the people she loves. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11: (view spoiler)[I'm so torn on the romance! Part of me really likes the slow burn, but another part just wants a book without the romance. I'm glad they saved Kasia, but what will happen to her now? What's in store for the two of them? And is it just me, or did they get to the "Let's have sex" part really quickly? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[I don't trust the falcon as far as I can throw him! Love how this is picking up pace. (hide spoiler)]

I'll post my finishing thoughts later.

I'm about 30% (view spoiler)[
and it is so good! I like the writing and the characters. The magic is great too. (hide spoiler)]

Jackie wrote: "Chapter 4: [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
I know. Kind of weird. (hide spoiler)]

Jackie wrote: "Chapter 11: [spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[
Yeah, I did not like that. I wish there either wouldn't have been romance or that it would have escalated more slowly. Way too intense too quickly. (hide spoiler)]

I finished

(view spoiler)[Sadly, this wasn't for me. I got confused with the story at times and really, once she left the dragon's place, I got bored with the story. Don't know why. O.o (hide spoiler)]

To be honest, (view spoiler)[I did not understand the ending one bit. What was all that about the people and trees and dreaming? (hide spoiler)] If you got any of this, please explain.

*************Restarting February 4, 2018**********************

I didn't get to start yet but I will tomorrow! So excited!

I"m going to start this tonight!

I started it this morning and finished it this afternoon. Loved it!! I will post more thoughts tomorrow.

is anyone else reading it?
.

******************RESTARTING NOVEMBER 17TH 2020***********

Starting this now-ish!

Ch 10: (view spoiler)[Yeah, I definitely shipping her and the dragon guy together.. not even going to hide it. I'm also getting some beauty and the beast vibes.. could just be me though (hide spoiler)]

Ch 20: (view spoiler)[Honestly that fight was pretty eye opening and I love that nothing came super easy to anyone. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 30: (view spoiler)[Uh, wow, all of that sounded rather painful and I would never want to go through that. Ever. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Okay so this had some cute moments and I was definitely shipping two people together but that ending was kind of a let down? At least to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that they ended up healing the Queen but other than that.. it was okay. (hide spoiler)]

Ah so behind!

Lol the story of our lives. Always behind.

I'm listening now!

Alaina wrote: "Ch 10: [spoilers removed]"

Haha! I agree about Beauty and the Beast

ch 10 (view spoiler)[ I wonder why he keeps the girls for 10 years and why do none of them ever go back home after? I like that she argues with him and keeps him on his toes (hide spoiler)]

ch 20 (view spoiler)[ I feel bad that the prince has wanted all this time to save his mother and now the king wants to kill her so he can remarry. What a dick (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 20: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I agree. They have to work for it!

Okay question (view spoiler)[ is the prince Marek? He's the one that almost raped her right? And does he have a wife and kids or is the princess his sister? I am confused (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 30: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, wow

ch 30 (view spoiler)[ It sucks that the prince was killed by his own mom, though she was possessed by the wood queen. But he was also a would be rapist and probably did rape other girls before trying with Agnieszka so I don't feel too bad (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ Well it's good that she's helping the people either heal or fully turn into trees so they aren't suffering. I wish we had a more concrete ending for Agnieszka and Sarkin though (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Finished: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah I agree

(view spoiler)[...Q: I discovered a whole pot of rabbit and buckwheat and small peas all together. (c) Gosh, this would be a disgusting mess. Uneatable. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[So very Beauty and the Beast on feminist steroids. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Poor Dragon. That's a priceless scene in the kitchen! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Ok, I'm cringing a lot. Polnya, Rosya, Solya, Alosha...
While it's a great idea that the author is not writing Poland per se (thank God for the smaller miracles!) it's still very discernible in all the Agnieszka, Baba Jaga, Kasia, Marek stuff. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[From what I'm seeing, NN is really good at making places into MCs. In this one, the Wood is an extra MC! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Ugh, the nasty and deranged prince Marek... (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Gosh, it's the end of the book and he's still uptighty:
Q: “That’s appalling,” he said.
“They’re wonderful!” I said. “They’re all coming ripe.”
“All the better to turn you into a tree,” he said.
“I don’t want to be a tree yet,” I said (c) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[The overall felt like a cross of too many fairy tales. Or is it just me? (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING APRIL 10TH, 2022


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Starting this now!

Ch 6
(view spoiler)[I'm liking this so far! Only I don't like the Dragon. He's so crabby. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[It would have been so much easier for both of them if the Dragon just told her what was going on! If she knew she had magic in her, and that untrained magic was dangerous, she could have tried to learn. Instead, she feels like she's being tortured for no reason, and he's mad that she's so slow in picking it up. (hide spoiler)]

Also, (view spoiler)[I heard complaints years ago that the hero raped the heroine, which is what made me drag me feet on reading this. I guess this is what they were talking about? Except it was an attempted rape, by a guy who is the hero of the kingdom, but not the hero of the book. That's a pretty big difference. Although I can understand why that scene could be triggering for some people. (hide spoiler)]

Becky wrote: "Chapter 4

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I have no idea what he thought he was doing there, or why he wanted to be such a jerk. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 12 - does this book ever slow down, or do I have to decide to read this in one sitting? Seriously...

Ch 14
(view spoiler)[I really want to hear the Dragon's explanation for why he takes a girl every ten years. Apparently he didn't have to, if he can just decide to stop. (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Ch 14
[spoilers removed]"

We find out later, and now (view spoiler)[him saying he's stopping (hide spoiler)] doesn't make sense...