Books.Paws
4–4.5 ⭐
I had such a good time reading Uprooted, even though it’s not my usual type of fantasy.
The writing is beautiful, atmospheric, and almost fairy-tale-like without feeling childish. The magic system was one of my favorite parts. spells, folklore, and the mysterious forest created a world that felt enchanting from the very beginning.
What really made this book special for me, though, were the characters. Agnieszka and the Dragon had such believable chemistry. Their relationship developed naturally, and every interaction between them felt genuine. I wasn’t looking for spice, I just wanted more of them. More conversations, more magic lessons, more quiet moments together. Their dynamic was easily my favorite part of the entire book.
My biggest issue was the pacing. Around the middle of the novel, the story slowed down considerably. There was a lot of atmospheric description, and while I appreciated Naomi Novik’s beautiful prose, I personally would have preferred fewer descriptions and more focus on the characters and their interactions.
The ending was satisfying, although fairly predictable. It wasn’t the kind of book that constantly surprised me with shocking plot twists, but it remained enjoyable throughout and left me with a warm feeling.
Overall, this isn’t an epic fantasy full of battles and political intrigue. It’s much more of a magical fairy tale inspired by folklore, with a gentle slow-burn romance at its heart. If that sounds like your kind of story, I would definitely recommend it.
4–4.5 ⭐
I had such a good time reading Uprooted, even though it’s not my usual type of fantasy.
The writing is beautiful, atmospheric, and almost fairy-tale-like without feeling childish. The magic system was one of my favorite parts. spells, folklore, and the mysterious forest created a world that felt enchanting from the very beginning.
What really made this book special for me, though, were the characters. Agnieszka and the Dragon had such believable chemistry. Their relationship developed naturally, and every interaction between them felt genuine. I wasn’t looking for spice, I just wanted more of them. More conversations, more magic lessons, more quiet moments together. Their dynamic was easily my favorite part of the entire book.
My biggest issue was the pacing. Around the middle of the novel, the story slowed down considerably. There was a lot of atmospheric description, and while I appreciated Naomi Novik’s beautiful prose, I personally would have preferred fewer descriptions and more focus on the characters and their interactions.
The ending was satisfying, although fairly predictable. It wasn’t the kind of book that constantly surprised me with shocking plot twists, but it remained enjoyable throughout and left me with a warm feeling.
Overall, this isn’t an epic fantasy full of battles and political intrigue. It’s much more of a magical fairy tale inspired by folklore, with a gentle slow-burn romance at its heart. If that sounds like your kind of story, I would definitely recommend it.
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
An Ember in the Ashes was one of the strangest reading experiences I’ve had in a while.
The best way I can describe it is this: I never wanted to DNF it, but I never fell in love with it either.
The writing is incredibly easy to read. In fact, this might be the fastest I’ve ever finished a 450-page fantasy. The pages flew by, not because I couldn’t put it down, but because Sabaa Tahir’s writing is smooth and accessible.
My biggest issue was the characters.
As someone who reads fantasy mainly for unforgettable characters, I struggled to connect with both main protagonists. Laia spent most of the first book reacting instead of acting, although I finally started seeing her potential near the end. Elias, on the other hand, never fully worked for me. His internal conflict often felt repetitive rather than compelling, and the romance never convinced me emotionally. Instead of growing naturally, it sometimes felt like the story was telling me these characters had feelings for each other before I actually believed it.
The plot itself isn’t bad at all. It becomes much stronger in the final third, where the action finally picks up and I started seeing the direction of the series. The ending left me with something I hadn’t felt for most of the book: potential.
That’s probably the word that defines my experience.
Potential.
I can see these characters becoming much more interesting in the next books. I can see the world opening up. I can imagine the stakes getting higher. But I wish I had felt that excitement much earlier instead of waiting until the last 150 pages.
This isn’t a bad book by any means. It simply wasn’t the emotional experience I was hoping for. I wanted characters I couldn’t stop thinking about, relationships that built themselves naturally, and a story that completely consumed me. Instead, I spent most of the book feeling like I was waiting for it to truly begin.
Will I continue the series?
Honestly… maybe.
The ending gave me just enough hope that I haven’t completely closed the door. Whether I pick up book two will probably depend on one simple question a few weeks from now:
Do I genuinely miss these characters, or do I just want to know what happens next?
⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
An Ember in the Ashes was one of the strangest reading experiences I’ve had in a while.
The best way I can describe it is this: I never wanted to DNF it, but I never fell in love with it either.
The writing is incredibly easy to read. In fact, this might be the fastest I’ve ever finished a 450-page fantasy. The pages flew by, not because I couldn’t put it down, but because Sabaa Tahir’s writing is smooth and accessible.
My biggest issue was the characters.
As someone who reads fantasy mainly for unforgettable characters, I struggled to connect with both main protagonists. Laia spent most of the first book reacting instead of acting, although I finally started seeing her potential near the end. Elias, on the other hand, never fully worked for me. His internal conflict often felt repetitive rather than compelling, and the romance never convinced me emotionally. Instead of growing naturally, it sometimes felt like the story was telling me these characters had feelings for each other before I actually believed it.
The plot itself isn’t bad at all. It becomes much stronger in the final third, where the action finally picks up and I started seeing the direction of the series. The ending left me with something I hadn’t felt for most of the book: potential.
That’s probably the word that defines my experience.
Potential.
I can see these characters becoming much more interesting in the next books. I can see the world opening up. I can imagine the stakes getting higher. But I wish I had felt that excitement much earlier instead of waiting until the last 150 pages.
This isn’t a bad book by any means. It simply wasn’t the emotional experience I was hoping for. I wanted characters I couldn’t stop thinking about, relationships that built themselves naturally, and a story that completely consumed me. Instead, I spent most of the book feeling like I was waiting for it to truly begin.
Will I continue the series?
Honestly… maybe.
The ending gave me just enough hope that I haven’t completely closed the door. Whether I pick up book two will probably depend on one simple question a few weeks from now:
Do I genuinely miss these characters, or do I just want to know what happens next?
Updated a reading goal:
Read 20 books by December 30, 2026
Progress so far: 11 / 20 55%