A fantasy novel for which the author received the prestigious Nebula Award
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests, and the sparkling river. But on the edge of her homeland lies the sinister Wood, a place full of malevolent power, casting a heavy shadow over her life.
To keep the evil forces contained within the Wood, the people of the valley rely on a cold and unpredictable wizard known only as the Dragon. However, he demands a terrible price for his help: every ten years, a young woman must go to serve him, and after her service, she can never return to the valley, forever uprooted from her home.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. Everyone knows that this time, the Dragon will take her dearest friend, Kasia—beautiful, kind, brave Kasia, who is everything Agnieszka is not. And there is no way to save her. But when the Dragon finally arrives, he makes a surprising choice.
