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Dorothy Must Die #0.3
The Wizard Returns
The Wizard left Oz in a hot air balloon—or did he? This digital original novella is the third installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and exciting New York Times bestseller Dorothy Must Die.
Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she's not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She's power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But she wasn't always in charge. There used to be a different ruler of Oz. Someone who also came from the Other Place, and who stole power for himself. They called him the Wizard.
The story goes that when a young Dorothy revealed the Wizard as a fraud, the man behind the curtain fled Oz in his hot air balloon. But in The Wizard Returns, he wakes in a field of poppies to find out that not only had he never left, but that he has no memory of who—or where—he is. As he undergoes a series of tests to uncover his memories, he finds that the very girl who threw him from the Emerald Palace is in control. And that Oz may be his destiny after all.
The Wizard Returns by Danielle Paige is a dark and compelling reimagining of a beloved classic and is perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.
Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she's not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She's power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But she wasn't always in charge. There used to be a different ruler of Oz. Someone who also came from the Other Place, and who stole power for himself. They called him the Wizard.
The story goes that when a young Dorothy revealed the Wizard as a fraud, the man behind the curtain fled Oz in his hot air balloon. But in The Wizard Returns, he wakes in a field of poppies to find out that not only had he never left, but that he has no memory of who—or where—he is. As he undergoes a series of tests to uncover his memories, he finds that the very girl who threw him from the Emerald Palace is in control. And that Oz may be his destiny after all.
The Wizard Returns by Danielle Paige is a dark and compelling reimagining of a beloved classic and is perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.
90 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
103 people are currently reading
8678 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Paige
34 books5,602 followersDanielle lives in NY. Before turning to YA, she worked in television & was nominated for several Daytime Emmy's. Dorothy Must Die is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
never-ever-ever-reading-this
February 19, 2015For fuck's sake, how many novellas are there?
April 2, 2015
Rating: 4/5
This review has been long overdue.
In the third prequel of the Dorothy Must Die series, we get a glimpse in the life of the Wizard of Oz right after he left for our world with his balloon. It turns out he never made it back. Instead he ended up in the middle of the poppy field where he send a few years sleeping, only to be awaken by a boy telling him that Oz needs him but he first has to go through 3 tests to prove his heart, brain and courage.
This was really enjoyable. I loved learning the backstory of the Wizard. When he showed up in the first book I had no idea if we could trust him or not. After reading this book turns out I still don't, but at least now I can understand his actions. I love how Danielle Paige builds the characters' stories, making their decisions justifiable, it makes them more real to me. And the Wizard was an especially mysterious character that I needed to learn more about. Now I can't wait to get my hands on The Wicked Will Rise and get back to Oz.
This review has been long overdue.
In the third prequel of the Dorothy Must Die series, we get a glimpse in the life of the Wizard of Oz right after he left for our world with his balloon. It turns out he never made it back. Instead he ended up in the middle of the poppy field where he send a few years sleeping, only to be awaken by a boy telling him that Oz needs him but he first has to go through 3 tests to prove his heart, brain and courage.
This was really enjoyable. I loved learning the backstory of the Wizard. When he showed up in the first book I had no idea if we could trust him or not. After reading this book turns out I still don't, but at least now I can understand his actions. I love how Danielle Paige builds the characters' stories, making their decisions justifiable, it makes them more real to me. And the Wizard was an especially mysterious character that I needed to learn more about. Now I can't wait to get my hands on The Wicked Will Rise and get back to Oz.
June 13, 2017
Are you ready to learn the truth behind the wizard? It's not pretty. We all though he was just a phony but he was also a jerk (to put it kindly)! Now with no memory he has the chance to set things right. He is given three trials to determine his true character.
This is one of those stories I can't say too much without giving things away. It does answer some things from Dorothy Must Die but also raises others. I am very curious to see how it all ties into the next couple books.
3.5 stars
This is one of those stories I can't say too much without giving things away. It does answer some things from Dorothy Must Die but also raises others. I am very curious to see how it all ties into the next couple books.
3.5 stars
April 8, 2015
tbh she needs to chill with the novellas.
April 4, 2015
I mean...why does this exist? This was a nonsense story that I don't think added anything, was extremely confusing, and just plain unnecessary.
October 27, 2016
This is post originally on Vivian's Book Pavilion
The Wizard Returns
To be honest…I don’t find this novella so interesting. Not bad, but not interesting as well. We all know that the Wizard involved in some creepy scheme in Dorothy Must Die, but we never know why. I was only so shock that he had such an ending, that plot twist was the best. Yet, what made him do those decision? Although after reading this novella, I couldn’t connect this Wizard and that Wizard…yet it somehow solves some problem and brings more questions. By the way, Pete appeared in this novella as well…and in order not to spoil you, I’m not telling you what my reaction was when I saw him.
Now, why did I say “more questions”? So in this novella, the Wizard lost all his memory, and tried to remember all. Yet, not without certain difficulties. However, after reading the ending, you might assume that the Wizard was about to be a good guy, I’m not telling you why, but yes, we could glimpse a little bit of goodness in him. Yet, when I was reading Dorothy Must Die series, I always assumed that the Wizard wasn’t a nice person. He wasn’t as wicked as Dorothy or her friends, however he definitely served his own good. So…that’s why I didn’t really enjoy this novella, since it gave me more questions, and the trials of Wizard weren’t really exciting as well. There were just…normal.
The Wizard Returns
To be honest…I don’t find this novella so interesting. Not bad, but not interesting as well. We all know that the Wizard involved in some creepy scheme in Dorothy Must Die, but we never know why. I was only so shock that he had such an ending, that plot twist was the best. Yet, what made him do those decision? Although after reading this novella, I couldn’t connect this Wizard and that Wizard…yet it somehow solves some problem and brings more questions. By the way, Pete appeared in this novella as well…and in order not to spoil you, I’m not telling you what my reaction was when I saw him.
Now, why did I say “more questions”? So in this novella, the Wizard lost all his memory, and tried to remember all. Yet, not without certain difficulties. However, after reading the ending, you might assume that the Wizard was about to be a good guy, I’m not telling you why, but yes, we could glimpse a little bit of goodness in him. Yet, when I was reading Dorothy Must Die series, I always assumed that the Wizard wasn’t a nice person. He wasn’t as wicked as Dorothy or her friends, however he definitely served his own good. So…that’s why I didn’t really enjoy this novella, since it gave me more questions, and the trials of Wizard weren’t really exciting as well. There were just…normal.
January 21, 2021
Estos libros son SUPER necesarios para poder comprender del todo la historia de esta saga. Sinceramente me da rabia, porque no son demasiado buenos, pero cuentan cosas de suma importancia 😅
Ha sido interesante ver la perspectiva del Mago como se siente y cómo va recordando la memoria a lo largo de la historia corta. Pero aún así, había momento en los que me resultaba muy pesado, incluso llegó a aburrirme en más de una ocasión.
Los libros de la saga normal (sin historias cortas) son mucho mejores que estos 😶 Pero me siento en la obligación de leer los siguientes si de verdad quiero comprender todo este mundo.
Ha sido interesante ver la perspectiva del Mago como se siente y cómo va recordando la memoria a lo largo de la historia corta. Pero aún así, había momento en los que me resultaba muy pesado, incluso llegó a aburrirme en más de una ocasión.
Los libros de la saga normal (sin historias cortas) son mucho mejores que estos 😶 Pero me siento en la obligación de leer los siguientes si de verdad quiero comprender todo este mundo.
February 3, 2016
Hex, más mal no me puedes haber caído.
“Do you really think that's how it works? You forget about all the bad things you did, and they just go away? The people you hurt still remember.”
“Do you really think that's how it works? You forget about all the bad things you did, and they just go away? The people you hurt still remember.”
April 10, 2017
Ah, and so Danielle Paige does it again - she turns a distant and mysterious character into one that seems more human, one that has a backstory.
Overall, I wasn't really drawn into this one, but it did give me a better idea of who the Wizard was as a character.
Overall, I wasn't really drawn into this one, but it did give me a better idea of who the Wizard was as a character.
January 16, 2021
tercera precuela de la serie dorothy debe morir. me está encantando la manera en que están construidas. cada una nos da perspectiva de lo sucedido desde la mirada de un personaje diferente. aquí nos vemos con el mago mientras realiza su camino para recuperar sus recuerdos y elegir su camino. corta pero muy informativa!
April 5, 2015
This review appears in full on What Am I Reading?
Rate: 3
If Danielle Paige was trying to get me to hate the Wizard, then she did a great job. I was eager to find out what had happened to Wizard after he had "left" and subsequently "returned" later in the story, but I wasn't expecting all of this. The Wizard is selfish, manipulative, and slightly misogynistic. I immediately didn't like him and he had amnesia for crying out loud! Like you must be a terrible person and have a terrible personality if even when you can't remember who you are, you still hurt people as if you were your old self. But I kept reading because I had high hopes for the Wizard. I thought Paige was going to spin the story around and make it a sort of coming-of-age novella. But no such luck. The Wizard actually ends up worse in the end when he gets his memories back. In the end, he's selfish, manipulative, misogynistic, and deceptive. He claims to be staying in Oz to help them get rid of Dorothy, but really he's an evil male Dorothy in the making.
Another thing I disliked about this story was how everyone claimed that Oz was a beautiful, peaceful place before people from the Other Place arrived yet if the fairies are any indication, Oz has always been corrupted. It's like these people, these Ozians, are living in this self-proclaimed utopia, but now that cracks are starting to form they are being forced to recognize it as the corrupt dystopia it really is. The people (and creatures and things) of Oz claim that it's the people from the Other Place that are destroying Oz so why are they depending on these people to also save Oz. Pete said it himself that the Old Magic changes people as they transition from the Other Place to Oz so will the Wizard really be the key to saving Oz from Dorothy? Will Amy? To me, it seems like the true problem is Old Magic. It seems like the Magic is corrupt so it's making everyone and everything corrupt. Let's not blame the Other People for the structural fault of Oz.
So yeah, that story upset me. But at least I know to expect more drama and more corruptness before any "solution" is found. *sigh*
Rate: 3
If Danielle Paige was trying to get me to hate the Wizard, then she did a great job. I was eager to find out what had happened to Wizard after he had "left" and subsequently "returned" later in the story, but I wasn't expecting all of this. The Wizard is selfish, manipulative, and slightly misogynistic. I immediately didn't like him and he had amnesia for crying out loud! Like you must be a terrible person and have a terrible personality if even when you can't remember who you are, you still hurt people as if you were your old self. But I kept reading because I had high hopes for the Wizard. I thought Paige was going to spin the story around and make it a sort of coming-of-age novella. But no such luck. The Wizard actually ends up worse in the end when he gets his memories back. In the end, he's selfish, manipulative, misogynistic, and deceptive. He claims to be staying in Oz to help them get rid of Dorothy, but really he's an evil male Dorothy in the making.
Another thing I disliked about this story was how everyone claimed that Oz was a beautiful, peaceful place before people from the Other Place arrived yet if the fairies are any indication, Oz has always been corrupted. It's like these people, these Ozians, are living in this self-proclaimed utopia, but now that cracks are starting to form they are being forced to recognize it as the corrupt dystopia it really is. The people (and creatures and things) of Oz claim that it's the people from the Other Place that are destroying Oz so why are they depending on these people to also save Oz. Pete said it himself that the Old Magic changes people as they transition from the Other Place to Oz so will the Wizard really be the key to saving Oz from Dorothy? Will Amy? To me, it seems like the true problem is Old Magic. It seems like the Magic is corrupt so it's making everyone and everything corrupt. Let's not blame the Other People for the structural fault of Oz.
So yeah, that story upset me. But at least I know to expect more drama and more corruptness before any "solution" is found. *sigh*
March 15, 2015
I don't think it's ever taken me this long to read a novella. I had a really hard time getting into this. It was definitely my least favorite of the novellas tied to this series.
I wasn't overly interested in the wizard or his story. The other novellas added something to the series at large. They were interesting and helped explain backstories of several important characters. That's not to say the wizard isn't and won't continue to be important in the actual books, his backstory just wasn't all that compelling.
The only reason I didn't give this fewer stars is because of the way we get to see the wizard grow and change in this novella. It was nice to see. I also liked the character Iris and found her to be entertaining. But that doesn't change the fact that overall this novella was an unnecessary one.
I wasn't overly interested in the wizard or his story. The other novellas added something to the series at large. They were interesting and helped explain backstories of several important characters. That's not to say the wizard isn't and won't continue to be important in the actual books, his backstory just wasn't all that compelling.
The only reason I didn't give this fewer stars is because of the way we get to see the wizard grow and change in this novella. It was nice to see. I also liked the character Iris and found her to be entertaining. But that doesn't change the fact that overall this novella was an unnecessary one.
June 7, 2015
The Wizard is escaping Oz in his balloon but his balloon is caught up in a peculiar storm that sends him plummeting into a sea of poppies. When he wakes, he has lost his memories and a young boy with emerald eyes, Pete tells him of the fairies who can help him if he passes the The Three-Part Test.
The Wizard Returns was a wonderful novella, the last one, and I'm very pumped to start Dorothy Must Die. I reckon the novellas get better and better. I liked the Wingless Ones and the comical references to all things monkey. The conclusion brought a twist I did not see coming. It was so sudden but it made perfect sense!
The Wizard Returns was a wonderful novella, the last one, and I'm very pumped to start Dorothy Must Die. I reckon the novellas get better and better. I liked the Wingless Ones and the comical references to all things monkey. The conclusion brought a twist I did not see coming. It was so sudden but it made perfect sense!
March 31, 2015
Review coming soon!
June 3, 2017
Quick synopsis: This novella picks up immediately after Dorothy’s first triumph, with the Wizard in his hot air balloon leaving Oz. Somehow he crashes lands into a field of some hallucinogenic flower or plant (I’ll be honest, I zoned out) and stays there for 25 years losing all of his memories. He is later found by Pete (aka Ozma has we find out at the end of Dorothy Must Die) and is told he must undergo 3 tests to see if he is worthy of being helped by the fairies to retrieve his memories.
Throughout this short story, he is shown to have not always been a great person (already knew that) and shows that he can still be somewhat redeemable. He chooses to stay and fight for Oz instead of living out the rest of his life in the Other Place.
Honestly, I felt like this did nothing to add to the story. Sure, we learn why the Wizard came back but not much else. The flying monkeys clearly aren’t happy with Dorothy and nothing is explained about Pete so he remains a mysterious character. I finished this but I don’t remember what I read which is never a great sign.
1.5 stars.
Throughout this short story, he is shown to have not always been a great person (already knew that) and shows that he can still be somewhat redeemable. He chooses to stay and fight for Oz instead of living out the rest of his life in the Other Place.
Honestly, I felt like this did nothing to add to the story. Sure, we learn why the Wizard came back but not much else. The flying monkeys clearly aren’t happy with Dorothy and nothing is explained about Pete so he remains a mysterious character. I finished this but I don’t remember what I read which is never a great sign.
1.5 stars.
December 1, 2024
Tal vez 2.5
Algo que estoy agradeciendo mucho en estas historias es que el personaje principal cambia en cada libro. Así, podemos saber con certeza los puntos de vista y saber como esta reaccionando cada uno de ellos al problema inicial.
No soy muy fan del mago y siento que su historia está muy simple e innecesaria, no lo recuerdo en las otras historias pero a ver que pasa y cuales son sus verdaderas intenciones.
Algo que estoy agradeciendo mucho en estas historias es que el personaje principal cambia en cada libro. Así, podemos saber con certeza los puntos de vista y saber como esta reaccionando cada uno de ellos al problema inicial.
No soy muy fan del mago y siento que su historia está muy simple e innecesaria, no lo recuerdo en las otras historias pero a ver que pasa y cuales son sus verdaderas intenciones.
June 10, 2018
so the last one was written in third person ... I found myself getting a liiiiiitttle lost with this one but it still wasn’t bad .
July 5, 2015
Well, I suppose one of the novellas had to be a clunker.
This one just felt messy on top of all of the other bleh bits when you read it.
If you've read the first book and the first and second novellas you've seen bits and pieces of the Wizard and know that there's this whole WHAT DOES HE WANT. WHAT IS HE UP TO. vibe.
In this we get a hint of what happened to him after he left Dorothy, in the time since, and what happened before he showed back up in the Emerald City again. But it's all just...meh.
Everything else I've read so far from this series has been 4 stars, but this one was just... Like part of me feels like two stars is generous.
I just honestly didn't like it.
This one just felt messy on top of all of the other bleh bits when you read it.
If you've read the first book and the first and second novellas you've seen bits and pieces of the Wizard and know that there's this whole WHAT DOES HE WANT. WHAT IS HE UP TO. vibe.
In this we get a hint of what happened to him after he left Dorothy, in the time since, and what happened before he showed back up in the Emerald City again. But it's all just...meh.
Everything else I've read so far from this series has been 4 stars, but this one was just... Like part of me feels like two stars is generous.
I just honestly didn't like it.
May 12, 2015
This is the 3rd and final novella in the "Dorothy Must Die" series. I have to ask: "What was the point of this novella?".
Honestly, I don't see how this adds any real depth to the Wizard character or back story. It was quite boring and by far the worst of the three novellas. Skip it, I nearly did (or wish I had!).
Honestly, I don't see how this adds any real depth to the Wizard character or back story. It was quite boring and by far the worst of the three novellas. Skip it, I nearly did (or wish I had!).
December 13, 2015
Another one that was just ok for me. I'm not enjoying these stories, or the writing, as much as I did in Dorothy Must Die. But I'm willing to stick with it in the hopes that they'll get better??
We'll see.
We'll see.
September 2, 2015
The Wizard is much more likable after reading this novella.
Review in Swedish at Boktycke.
Review in Swedish at Boktycke.
January 23, 2016
Nothing happens.
Nothing makes sense.
I still don't get how Pete and Ozma are sharing one body.
Nothing makes sense.
I still don't get how Pete and Ozma are sharing one body.
March 19, 2016
Enjoyable, good for what is it. Working my way through these prequels, the first two I had already read. I'm not a novella/short story fan over all, as I'd just like the full book, but it's cute stories to give some background for what is going on in the main stories so they are worth the read.
January 17, 2019
Ready for book #2...looking forward to that leg of this trip down the yellow brick road.
July 30, 2015
I believe this books intention was to make people NOT like the Wizard. And he is tied with Dorothy on my "characters I don't care for" list. But I am glad to see his side of the story.
March 4, 2015
I love the prequels. It's great to find out everyone else's part in oz before things got really bad. Can't wait for the second book to be out at the end of the month!
May 31, 2021
HOLY CRAPANOLI NOW THOSE ARE STORIES! After reading/listening to the first volume of these first three of these 9 stories, and so far I don't even know who's story I like better because with each character's story so fare with the first being Dorothy, then Jellia's and now the Wizard's (who I was actually loving until the end that made me get chills), gosh dang it now I HAVE to start Volume 2 and novella 4 Heart of Tin
In the meantime, I'm going to take a small break and listen to music while I try and wrap my head around of what I just heard/read in The Wizard Returns! Holy crapanoli that ending!!
April 27, 2020
The Wizard is on his way back to the Other Place in his hot air balloon but a mysterious magical storm lands him in a poppy field for 25 years. He is brought out of his long slumber by the mysterious Pete. The Wizard has no memories of his previous con-artist life and he's given the chance to recover his memory by participating in three tests. He fails the first one but passes the final two. Can the Wizard be trusted to help Oz or does he have ulterior motives.
Another brilliant prequel to Dorothy Must Die. We get an insight into what the Wizard might be up to and how Pete and the Flying Monkeys tie into the story.
Another brilliant prequel to Dorothy Must Die. We get an insight into what the Wizard might be up to and how Pete and the Flying Monkeys tie into the story.
August 23, 2017
This book was really good! I read a big chunk of it today since I finally had more time. It was still weird that it was written in third person as opposed to first like the other two were but oh well. The characters were pretty good but I docked a star since they weren't described as well as they were in the first two. This was still a pretty awesome book. Can't wait to read the rest of this series!
March 29, 2017
It isn't that this story was interesting, I just didn't care. I wasn't into it like the others so far. It did give some good insight as to what the wizard was feeling and really up to in then last couple books though. That was nice. But not my favorite by any means.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews