Myths and fairy tales for the 20th century

I have been reading some excellent new books on Netgalley this month. Some have been new authors, others have been new avenues for old favorites. Like next month's release from Naomi Novik. While I have been eagerly awaiting the final novel in the Temeraire series, I must admit that I am not disappointed to have an in-between novel distraction. This way I do not have to let the amazing series go just yet. And let me just say, this standalone Polish fairy tale for modern storytelling, whew...

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose.
Visit Naomi's website for ways to pre-order your copy and check out some advance praise from leading authors. My full review will follow later in the month, but I'll hint that it will be 5 stars and highly recommended for pre-order.

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