#uprooted naomi novik

[lkblackham]

A while ago, I did a painting inspired by one of my favorite books, Uprooted (by Naomi Novik).

A few hours after I posted it, I decided I hated it.

So I started a new painting. And then put it aside and forgot about it. And then I found it again, and finally finished it, and here it is. I do not hate this painting, which is a major accomplishment for me! If you want a comparison, you can find the original painting a few posts back on my Instagram.

[xensilverquill]

"We're meant to go. We're not meant to stay forever."

Naomi Novik, Uprooted

[rosiethorns88]

Aaaaand (after a small delay) the fourth and final bonus Sketch-a-Wish from my 2nd Patreon anniversary - a frequently requested scene from Uprooted, featuring Sarkan (the Dragon) and Agnieszka! Phew, I'm art-pooped after this one. 🫠

[learnelle]

Currently reading Uprooted by Naomi Novik, the perfect successor to the five wonderful Lady Trent memoir books I devoured in just a few weeks 🐉☕️

[sydneysivashkovv]

favorite reads ☆ Uprooted by Naomi Novik

“But she hadn't been able to take root. She'd remembered the wrong things, and forgotten too much. She'd remembered how to kill and how to hate, and she'd forgotten how to grow.”

[sare11aa11eras]

So like. The Riverlands, or at least Harrenhal, have like a gravitational pull. Which is why Catelyn, Jaime, Brienne, and Arya can’t ever escape there. Even in death, Catelyn can’t leave. Her memory and her body are bound together and to her homeland once more. And Jaime and Brienne spend all their time in ASOS in the Riverlands, and you think they’ll escape back to civilization and King’s Landing, and they do, but a) they are changed irrevocably from the people who started out so like did they really leave? and b) King’s Landing turns out to be a brief respite only. They must return once more, and they may even die there. And then Arya spends like two whole books there, wandering and traveling and never getting to where she needs to go. And even when she leaves, even with the whole Narrow Sea between her and those forests and streams, her consciousness and her soul still reside there, and she returns there every night, renewing her connection. Okay? They are stuck. They’re trapped. It’s just endless forest and rivers and the occasional band of outlaws or travelers or abandoned castles. Which, none of them can leave, either. Gendry and the Brotherhood are still there, even when their original purpose is lost and their leader dies. Jeyne, the orphans at the inn, Ravella Smallwood, the Freys, the Brackens and Blackwoods, the Bloody Mummers, the bear from the Harrenhal Bear Pit— they are all trapped. Okay?

[siriuslyobsessedwithfiction]

How Shadow and Bone trilogy should've ended

The most popular solution in fantasy genre to an evil monarch seems to be replacing them with a less evil monarch and having trust that they will make things right. We accept this easily since the story is usually set in medieval times and the idea of forming a government seems unrealistic given the setting. But Leigh Bardugo lost the right to use that excuse when she decided to set Grishaverse in late nineteenth century/early twentieth century.

The setting

Leigh Bardugo was inspired by imperial Russia and decided to make it more edgy, giving it the nickname "tsarpunk" (God give me strength). The time period or the year is never mentioned in Grishaverse, but since it's closely based on the real world, I'll draw conclusions from the text. She might've specified in interviews, but most people never read all the declarations an author makes, so she should've made things more clear in the books. The world-building is frankly, rather flimsy, even for YA.

Most fans seem to think the story takes place in 17th/18th century. It does not. Even though the technological advancements can't be measured the same as in the real world since the Grisha are primary reason for it, cars and tanks already exist in Grishaverse. Even this doesn't make any sense because according to the text, Fjerdans invented tanks first, cars second and submarines third. In reality, the order of the events is the opposite: submarines (1620), cars (1886), tanks (1915).

The events in Shadow and Bone trilogy seem to be very loosely based on the death of Czar Alexander the third (1894), reign of Czar Nicholas the second (1896-1917), Rasputin's murder (1916) and the February revolution (1917) which ended monarchy in Russia.

2. The fictional world setting

Besides barely mentioned Wandering Isle and saints-know-whose Southern Colonies, we have Fjerda and Shu-Han with absolute monarchies, and then we have Kerch and Novyi Zem, which are framed as more "progressive" countries by the narrative. We don't know much about Novyi Zem, except that it's a newly established country with growing economy and doesn't have monarchy. Kerch is ruled by the merchant council (*cough* oligarchs *cough*) - also doesn't have monarchy. So why is it such an outlandish idea for Ravka to abolish absolute monarchy? It isn't.

3. The monarchy is only as good as the monarch

Monarchy had been causing more damage to Ravka than the Fold. Incompetent Kings waged and lost countless wars, emptied royal coffers and made a significant amount of soldiers desert the first army. Regular people lived in poverty, lack of education made them prejudiced and easily controlled, and no effort whatsoever had been made to integrate Grisha in regular people's lives. The Kings preferred them bunched up in one place in the Little Palace to better keep an eye on them (it's canon, the little palace was patrolled) or on the front lines.

"I’ve always cared about good work. Polnya’s had a line of good kings. They’ve served their people, built libraries and roads, raised up the University, and been good enough at war to keep their enemies from overrunning them and smashing everything. They’ve been worthy tools. I might leave, if they grew wicked and bad."

-Uprooted, Naomi Novik.

Ravkan Kings haven't been doing any of those things. But it's okay to keep the outdated tradition that does more harm than good because Nikolai is charming and better than his rapist father(who he gave a nice retirement and more servants to rape, btw)? What about his descendants?

Since it's always been that way, it should continue to be that way? Why is the change in status quo perceived as something bad?

"- Who invented this vehicle? The Frenchman asked between laughs, pointing to the postcart on which the sleepy "yamshtchik" was stupidly nodding. - The Russians, I answered. - I imagine nobody is likely to dispute the honour with them. I pity you to be forced to addle your brain and shake up your stomach on a thing like that.

- What's to be done? If the whole of Russia travels in this manner, why should I complain?

-That's why Russia doesn't advance more rapidly. God give you a safe journey. As for me, I tell you frankly I would not risk my life by getting into it."

-Ilia Chavchavadze, Notes of a Journey from Vladikavkaz to Tiflis.

4. Abolishing the monarchy would actually solve problems

If Nikolai really wanted what's best for Ravka, instead of putting himself and then an impulsive living nuke with anger issues on the throne, he would create a parliament, a council of sorts, where he would still be the head figure as the King, since the nation wouldn't immediately take the change well , and the members would be the Triumvirate and the nobles he trusted, like Count Karigan. Over the years, the flow of power would pass more to the council, and eventually the monarchy would be abolished and Nikolai's children wouldn't take the throne. Regular people would be given an opportunity to have an education and later, the otkazatsya part of council wouldn't consist of just nobleborns. A part of the council would always have to consist of Grisha, which would bridge the division between them and otkazatsya.

But no, who wants progress and democracy when we can have a cool slay queen dragon (an emotionally unstable vessel for an ancient being).

[stromuprisahat]

Uprooted is Shadow and Bone done right:

Both have Slavic inspiration.

A girl with unique magic thrown into the world she never believed herself a part of, but was vaguely aware of.

Not much of a MC. Clumsy, sort of an outsider, naïve, doesn't think much of herself, but speaks her mind, when provoked.

Wise older mentor keeping secrets from MC, pragmatic to the point of using forbidden kind of magic. Catches feelings for her even though he doesn't want to and vice versa.

An asshole mentor, who humiliates and treats MC like something inferior.

Childhood friend MC clings to the point of recklessness.

Bestie turned into a weapon and protector, later official guard of politically important person.

Idealistic, brave but foolish second prince, who wants the Throne, but not over his brother's dead body. Proposes to MC to form an alliance. Doesn't shy from slaughtering his own people once he has the excuse of them standing on the opposing side, somehow "tainted".

Dangerous lightning magic.

Longevity discussed as a reason to lose sight of the smaller picture and individuals.

Malevolent place spreading, endangering whole country.

Oppressed villain arousing sympathy, their people slaughtered.

Hunted and on a run passage.

Beauty and peace of ordinary life.

Except Uprooted offers:

Detailed descriptions of process of learning and depicts spells and magic in vivid way. Visible damage on those, who use uncontrollable magic.

A glance of believable Court politics.

MC, who genuinely cares about others instead of saying it when opposing her antagonist.

Heroine, who learns to consider impact of her actions. Realize selfishness of her motives. Her friend trains to qualify for the job she got due to her strength and personality.

Growth and character development for everyone!

You might not love the characters, but they're very realistic humans with good and bad and all in between.

Slavic inspiration, not appropriation. It's not just a few foreign words scattered through the text.

Actually wholesome childhood friends (with romantic undertones) who find out one of them is "weird".

Careful work with themes, no loose threads left. Mercy and kindness in actions, not a few words that lose meaning.

The heroine doesn't have to undergo lobotomy to settle down.

Where violence fails, understanding prevails. The whole book is a celebration of love and life. Oh, and roots...

[queenofheartsdeservedbetter]

I need more books like Uprooted guys...

[alegriavida]

Uprooted || Naomi Novik

There was a song in this forest, too, but it was a savage song, whispering of madness and tearing and rage.

[anolis3]

"Uprooted", by Naomi Novik.

"There was a song in this forest, too, but it was a savage song, whispering of madness and tearing and rage.", from Uprooted.

"She'd remembered the wrong thing, and forgotten too much. She'd remembered how to kill and how to hate, and she'd forgotten how to grow.", from Uprooted.

[goldgust]

That one mirror scene from Uprooted

[silkpages]

i started listening to 'uprooted' by naomi novik and i already feel like it's going to be one of my faves

[thewiddershinsme]

Finished Uprooted by Naomi Novak. I first picked this book up around when it came out because of the great reviews. All I remember is I didn't like it at all.

Fast forward to now, when I hear some great things about Spinning Silver. Specifically, that people tend to love either Uprooted or Spinning Silver, and not really the other. So I'm about to get Spinning Silver, when the cover of Uprooted catches my eye. I know these are both technically standalones, but look at those covers, they scream companion books to me. And because I am someone that CAN'T read books out of order, I found myself unable to start Spinning Silver without grabbing Uprooted again.

Cause the thing was, I couldn't remember anything that happened in that book other than the main premise of wizard takes girl into tower every decade. And as I was reading I realized I must've DNF'd it, cause there came a point I had absolutely no clue what was gonna happen next and nothing felt familiar. And you know what? I overall really enjoyed it. It's continuing a trend where I am retracing some previous books I didn't necessarily like the first time around, but due to so much change and personal growth over the past few years, am finding new appreciation for (such as The Bear and the Nightingale, was meh the first time I read it, but re-read it recently and adored the entire series).

Anyway, the Wood. Absolutely fantastic element. Seriously freaked me out. Can't wait to start Spinning Silver next.

[darkles--sparkles]

“What an unequaled gift for disaster you have.” remains one of the best literary insults ever written

[girl-intrigued]

Currently reading Uprooted by Naomi Novik and only now I find out that she is a co-founder of AO3!! Wtf !!!!!!!!!!!