Book Review: OUT OF OZ by Gregory Maguire

An avid fan of the first book of The Wicked Years series, Wicked : The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, I had pressed through the second and third installments with a mix of pleasure and tedium. Son of a Witch was intriguing if a little slow and A Lion Among Men was slow and a little intriguing. This book, the conclusion of the series explores the unfolding war between Loyal Oz (primarily the Emerald City) and the outlying provinces (primarily Munchkinland). At its heart is Rain, a little-girl-lost who’s unsure of her past, uninterested in her present and blissfully ignorant of her future.

The story is captivating and, for fear of giving away crucial plot points, I will simply say it is a must for anyone who has already completed its triplet siblings.

I can say that you, fairly quickly, discover who Rain is and what significance she holds to the future of Oz. And her family, blood and makeshift, are critical to her safety and growth. Old friends return: Brr (the Cowardly Lion); Glinda; Liir; and Dorothy (who Maguire has crafted into a perfect literary embodiment of the character as played famously by Judy Garland).

Along the way there are moments that fans of the series, the original Baum books and the Broadway musical will appreciate… Maguire’s wink to those who are “in the know”.

Are there problems? Minor, maybe. It depends on what you want to get out of the story. Maguire is notorious for leaving some details to the reader to infer. I think it is a boon to have the chance to interpret certain outcomes on my own. The world in which the story lives is a magical one after all and what better way to impress that illusion upon us than to let us draft some conclusions on our own.

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About the author

I’m Tommy, a writer and storyteller who works in marketing for the arts and cultural communities. I’m the author of Mabel Stanley and the Town That Was Built All Wrong, a fun and heartfelt book, and I’m currently working on a novel about self-discovery and the complexities of memory. Writing is a big part of my life, but I also enjoy creating experiences that bring people together, which is why my husband, Matt, and I co-run the online store Have Fun Spread Joy. It’s all about embracing the playful side of life and giving back along the way. I’m married to Matt, and we share our home with our two pets, Zoey (the cat) and Dixie (the dog). When I’m not writing, working on our store, or doing marketing for the arts, I like to dive into theater, something I want to get more involved with over time. I was diagnosed with ADHD, and while it comes with its own set of challenges, it also gives me a unique perspective that I try to channel into everything I do. Whether it’s writing, working on creative projects, or finding ways to spread joy, I’m all about making a lasting impact in whatever I do.

Tommy Karr