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Jan 29, 2018ryner rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Every ten years in Agnieszka's village during The Taking, the most promising young girl is chosen by the local wizard and taken from her family to live with him alone in his tower. Though everyone assumes the worst, no one knows why he wants them or what happens to the girls during their stay, only that they emerge ten years later, changed, and they never again return to live in the village. This year, though unspoken, it will naturally be her talented and beautiful friend Kasia who is taken. When the unthinkable occurs and Agnieszka herself is selected, she realizes she's about to find out what really happens. This book had a few weaknesses, the primary being the sheer amount and intensity of verbal cruelty dumped on Agnieszka by Sarkan for a decent chunk of the story, enough that by the end I still hadn't forgiven him for it. If you can get past that, and also successfully track the changing alliances and manifestations of The Wood, it's a charming fantasy novel that can stand alone beautifully, though I believe sequel is on its way.