Uprooted - Naomi Novik

Uprooted is a stand-alone fantasy with magic and monsters.

Agnieszka of Dvernik was to be part of the Dragon's choosing. Only 17 year old girls were eligible, and every ten years. There were only eleven girls to choose from the year that Agnieszka was eligible. There was little chance she'd be chosen though. Her best friend Kasia was the one everyone expected to go to the tower for the next ten years. But everyone was wrong. An adventure out of a fairy tale awaited Agnieszka. And like all fairy tales, there were monsters waiting. This is an amazing story. Very highly recommended.