This tale of magic and love is infused with an old-world fairy tale sensibility, and the entire experience is truly special. 
 Agnieszka is a simple village girl, but she's well aware of the danger of the Wood. When she is chosen by the Dragon to be the next girl to be kept in his tower, she's startled and resentful, and feels completely out of place. She's always messy, unable to get through an hour without ripping her dress, snarling her hair, and coming out stained and mussed. This irks the fastidious Dragon no end. But as she spends time with him, Agnieszka slowly comes to realize that she has magic of her own -- not the formal, "scientific" magic of the Dragon, but something uniquely hers, rooted in her beloved Valley and infused with the power of the earth, water, and sky around her, much like her inspiration, the legendary Baba Yaga. 
 Little by little, Agnieszka and the Dragon discover an ability to work together and combine their magic into something that's greater than either can do on their own. Before they can get too far with their discovery, though, disaster strikes as Kasia is taken by the Wood, and it's up to Agnieszka to find a way to reclaim her best friend before she's consumed by corruption. 
 The stakes build and build throughout the story, as the entire kingdom is plunged into strife and ultimately war as the Wood's influence extends to the capitol city and threatens the world beyond as well. Agnieszka and the Dragon have to lead the fight against the Wood, but more than that, they have to find a way to get to the source of the Wood's malignant power if their home and their people are to survive. 
 Uprooted is a captivating tale, start to finish. Agnieszka is an unusual main character -- strong willed, able to stand up for herself, and devoted to those she loves. It's thrilling to see her develop from a young, unskilled girl full of self-doubt into a talented, capable, strong woman. She thinks on her feet, defies authority when she knows she needs to, and devotes herself to figuring out what's right and what's wrong. 
 The evil of the Wood is terrifying. At times, all seems lost. The descriptions of the Wood's poisonous intent and seemingly undefeatable power are scary and haunting, creating a mood of despair and horror. 
 The story culminates with a battle between good and evil, but even there, there are nuances and shades of grey. There's a deeply affecting story beneath the Wood's awful terror, and Agnieszka has the wisdom to understand that finding out the past is the only way to see a path toward the future. 
 The language and imagery of the story is beautiful, especially Agnieszka's growing magical powers and the descriptions of her spell-weaving and enchantments. 
 And what's a good fantasy without a love story? The love story in Uprooted is mostly a quiet thread woven throughout the greater tale of good and evil, malice and redemption -- but when it comes to a boiling point, it's steamy and sexy in all the right ways. 
 Ultimately, reading (or listening to) Uprooted is a magical experience. The story itself is gorgeous, and the audiobook's rhythms add to the total effect. I loved the narrative, the characters, and the folktale feel of the book, and know that it's one I'll want to read again... and perhaps again after that.