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Why it matters
Novik reworks Eastern European fairy-tale patterns into a story about untidy power, friendship, and the roots of violence.
Opening the archive

2015 selection · Science fiction & fantasy
Agnieszka expects the local wizard known as the Dragon to choose her accomplished friend as the young woman who must serve him for ten years. When he chooses Agnieszka instead, her unruly magic becomes central to resisting the corrupted Wood threatening their valley.
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Novik reworks Eastern European fairy-tale patterns into a story about untidy power, friendship, and the roots of violence.
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You enjoy immersive folklore, prickly mentorships, and nature-infused magic.
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