Uprooted

Naomi Novik

In a valley bordered by a sinister, sentient forest called the Wood, village girl Agnieszka is unexpectedly chosen by the reclusive wizard known as the Dragon to serve him for ten years. Trapped in his tower, she discovers she has her own untrained magical gift and must learn to wield it as the corruption of the Wood spreads and threatens everyone she loves. The story blends Polish-folklore-inspired fantasy with an uneasy, slow-building romance between Agnieszka and her prickly mentor, set against a growing political and magical war. It is a standalone tale of self-discovery, found courage, and fighting an ancient evil that twists everything it touches.