I’m a seasoned fantasy reader, but recently I’ve grown a little bored and tired of the more mainstream route. As an example, I’ve always struggled with Sanderson’s style and the fact that it feels like he doesn’t have an editor. But I’ve been itching for something that’s still fantasy but feels fresh.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Wow. If a book was a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup on a frosty evening, this book is that for me. I don’t know a lot about Russian folklore or folk tales, but this book felt so *rooted* in countless old stories. I read her other folklore-ish book, Spinning Silver and didn’t quite love it as much. But Uprooted reinvigorated my love of fantasy.
The other novel that I feel like hasn’t gotten enough attention despite being an extraordinary work is the Black Tongued Thief. Much more “fantasy” feeling than Novik’s works. I went in with very little context. I was blown away. Rich, well-placed lore that doesn’t get too burdensome. And it’s as if it’s written by a linguist. There’s so many colorful language elements, accents, bi-lingual jokes, puns in invented fantasy languages, songs that made me laugh. I don’t know how a writer conveys an accent through only words, but I really felt like I could hear the characters speaking, and it was refreshing and terribly charming.
I’m just really happy to have found these two gems.
by baronjeric05