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The Wicked Years #2
Son of a Witch : la Véritable Suite de Wicked
Liir hid in the shadows of the castle after Dorothy did in the Witch. Left for dead in a gully, the teen is shattered in spirit and body. But silent novice Candle tends him at the Cloister of Saint Glinda, and wills him back to life with her music.
What dark force left Liir in this condition? Is he really Elphaba's son? He has her broom and her cape - but what of her powers? Can he find his supposed half-sister, Nor, last seen in the forbidding prison Southstairs? Can he fulfill the last wishes of a dying princess? In an Oz under new and dangerous management, can Liir keep his head down long enough to grow up?
What dark force left Liir in this condition? Is he really Elphaba's son? He has her broom and her cape - but what of her powers? Can he find his supposed half-sister, Nor, last seen in the forbidding prison Southstairs? Can he fulfill the last wishes of a dying princess? In an Oz under new and dangerous management, can Liir keep his head down long enough to grow up?
480 pages
First published September 27, 2005
3986 people are currently reading
52998 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Maguire
113 books9,174 followersGregory Maguire is an American author, whose novels are revisionist retellings of children's stories (such as L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into Wicked). He received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England (a non-profit educational charity).
Maguire has served as artist-in-residence at the Blue Mountain Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Hambidge Center. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,377 reviews
July 4, 2008
I've read a lot of reviews for this book and most people seemed to hate it. You will notice, however, that I gave this book five stars.
To those who hated it, I say this: I see what your problems are.
The story is badly paced (most of the 'action' happens in the last third), the reader spends most of the time being confused as to what's going on (while it is a third person narrative, it is limited third person), some of the characters seemed half-drawn, the narrative is very disconnected (occasionally, emotionless), it completely lacked an ending (...I won't spoil things, but it's left very open ended), and most importantly, that it is nothing like [Wicked].
But here's the thing: a book is more than the sum of it's parts. And a sequel can be more than just the continuation of its predecessor's story.
It's something I find rather amusing, considering Liir's struggle throughout the entirety of the book: to find his own voice as he is asked over and over again both by his own desires and by the needs of others to take Elphaba's place. This is his story, and so yes, it is a very different book than [Wicked] and it would ring false if it wasn't. This was something I loved about the book, as the dense, twisted, complex tone of [Wicked] helped to characterize Elphaba for me; the lost, sparser, somewhat unconnected, occasionally clumsy writing very much characterized Liir for me. How anyone could think this anything but deliberate after having read [Wicked] or any of Maguire's other books is something I wonder about; the unreliable (or unknowing) narrator is something I enjoy a great deal and working my way through the doubletalk and reading between the lines of what Liir seemingly took straight almost made it seem like there were two worlds in this book: what Liir saw and what was really going on, a theme that should be well familiar to anyone reading one of Maguire's retreads.
I might also mention that this is the Oz that Baum's books never really covered. While Maguire's handling of Dorothy is somewhat fuddled (almost like Liir's), Liir's story is his own making. There is no framework and unlike with Elphaba, no eventual end. We don't know what's to come for him since he is an original creation and this freedom (sometimes terrifying) is another feature of this book that wasn't a part of the prequel. And another part I liked.
The pacing, I admit, is a fault of the book. I could have done less with the maunts and had more of Liir's story given to us but all books have their faults. The lack of an ending seems to be part of his plans for a continuation.
But if you read this book to slip into someone's world, someone's shoes, to slide behind their eyes and feel and see and know this world from someone uniquely conditioned to see things from something almost like a fourty five degree angle to the rest of his own world... then I think you will enjoy it. If you read this book to travel Oz with Liir, I think you'll enjoy the book. If you read this book to get more of Maguire's unique vision of Oz, you'll enjoy this book. If you've ever felt as if you don't know what you're doing with your life, if you don't think you'll ever live up to expectations, if you've ever felt as if you're just a bit off from everyone else... then yeah. I think you'll like this book.
Enjoy it for the experience. Where [Wicked]'s denseness demanded examination, [Son of a Witch] lets you wander about in Oz. The depth is there, but the book skims across the surface.
"Hidden depths," Liir once said.
"Hidden shallows," another character supplied afterwards. And that's all you will get if you don't care to consider it more closely.
So yes, a lot of people hated it. But I, personally, adored it down to my bones and will recommend it to anyone you care to name. Perhaps I could have written this more eloquently or in a more understandable format, but such is life.
To those who hated it, I say this: I see what your problems are.
The story is badly paced (most of the 'action' happens in the last third), the reader spends most of the time being confused as to what's going on (while it is a third person narrative, it is limited third person), some of the characters seemed half-drawn, the narrative is very disconnected (occasionally, emotionless), it completely lacked an ending (...I won't spoil things, but it's left very open ended), and most importantly, that it is nothing like [Wicked].
But here's the thing: a book is more than the sum of it's parts. And a sequel can be more than just the continuation of its predecessor's story.
It's something I find rather amusing, considering Liir's struggle throughout the entirety of the book: to find his own voice as he is asked over and over again both by his own desires and by the needs of others to take Elphaba's place. This is his story, and so yes, it is a very different book than [Wicked] and it would ring false if it wasn't. This was something I loved about the book, as the dense, twisted, complex tone of [Wicked] helped to characterize Elphaba for me; the lost, sparser, somewhat unconnected, occasionally clumsy writing very much characterized Liir for me. How anyone could think this anything but deliberate after having read [Wicked] or any of Maguire's other books is something I wonder about; the unreliable (or unknowing) narrator is something I enjoy a great deal and working my way through the doubletalk and reading between the lines of what Liir seemingly took straight almost made it seem like there were two worlds in this book: what Liir saw and what was really going on, a theme that should be well familiar to anyone reading one of Maguire's retreads.
I might also mention that this is the Oz that Baum's books never really covered. While Maguire's handling of Dorothy is somewhat fuddled (almost like Liir's), Liir's story is his own making. There is no framework and unlike with Elphaba, no eventual end. We don't know what's to come for him since he is an original creation and this freedom (sometimes terrifying) is another feature of this book that wasn't a part of the prequel. And another part I liked.
The pacing, I admit, is a fault of the book. I could have done less with the maunts and had more of Liir's story given to us but all books have their faults. The lack of an ending seems to be part of his plans for a continuation.
But if you read this book to slip into someone's world, someone's shoes, to slide behind their eyes and feel and see and know this world from someone uniquely conditioned to see things from something almost like a fourty five degree angle to the rest of his own world... then I think you will enjoy it. If you read this book to travel Oz with Liir, I think you'll enjoy the book. If you read this book to get more of Maguire's unique vision of Oz, you'll enjoy this book. If you've ever felt as if you don't know what you're doing with your life, if you don't think you'll ever live up to expectations, if you've ever felt as if you're just a bit off from everyone else... then yeah. I think you'll like this book.
Enjoy it for the experience. Where [Wicked]'s denseness demanded examination, [Son of a Witch] lets you wander about in Oz. The depth is there, but the book skims across the surface.
"Hidden depths," Liir once said.
"Hidden shallows," another character supplied afterwards. And that's all you will get if you don't care to consider it more closely.
So yes, a lot of people hated it. But I, personally, adored it down to my bones and will recommend it to anyone you care to name. Perhaps I could have written this more eloquently or in a more understandable format, but such is life.
February 12, 2008
This book was so satisfying. Liir, son of Elphaba, comes into his own and after 266 pages, he begins to do incredible things to help other people, lead, unite, take the helm of his mother’s legacy. And it’s so realistic because he does it while still in a state of confusion and self-doubt, obstacles he never really overcomes (neither did Elphaba really). I love how everyone says to him “if only Elphaba was here to see this…” The Bird Congress aka Witch Nation (charged by Liir to be the eyes of Oz and share info with other species and humans to foil future despots), rides in the shape of a witch on a broom, and Liir rides in the position as the Eye of the Witch.
I loved it when he asked Nanny if she thought Elphaba will have a history and she said “She does already, ninnykins! I just saw her flying up the valley. Her cape went out behind her, a thousand bits in flight (the thousands of birds). Nearly touched the peaks to the left and the right. If that’s not a history, what is?” So, Liir GIVES her a history. I also like how sarcastic he becomes in the middle of the book, like his mother, after life kicks him around a lot, he lies in a coma, etc. At one point he says, “What condition? I’ve been in this condition my whole life. It’s the only condition I know. Bitter love, loneliness, contempt for corruption, blind hope. It’s where I live.” I also love how he becomes a man of wry humor and charm, accepting his fate of never knowing the answers. He tells Elphaba’s monkey “She always liked you better” and smiles at him. The monkey says “Considering who she was, is that a compliment or an insult?”
He poisons all the Emperor’s dragons, which in turn saves lives, achieves revenge on Cherrystone, frees the skies for the birds, unites two warring tribes who thought each other was doing the dragon-stuff. He thinks of a way to draw out the voices of the dead, which allows the She-Elephant to die properly. He still does not know if he is Elphaba’s son until the last sentence when he holds up his newborn daughter in the rain to clean her (after finding her dead, wrapped in Elphaba’s cloak, and he revives her). Her skin is green.
NOTE: How Maguire is successful in using “perception” of different witnesses and participants to alter our “perception” of the well-known Oz Story is through characters who must act without “knowing all the answers” or “having enough information.” We all face that in life. There are those who do not act because of this lack of enough info, are held back, they are cautious, and they never do anything meaningful. And then there are those who do take risks and act (you will never have all the answers or enough info) and thus make/ change history. In the traditional Oz Story, all the risks Elphaba take are mis-perceived. So, it’s fascinating how he again uses this same tool for the story of Liir, and everything he does could be perceived as bad…but it’s not. Thus, the immense satisfaction. And then you get pieces of additional info that determine he was on the right track, confirm his decisions and actions. No misperception, redirection, just the story of a regular Joe-schmoe who does amazing things. “If only Elphaba was here to see this…” I’m talking about more than a mother’s pride and personal vindication. I’m talking about a righting of the wrongs in the world that her son engineers.
And again, I wonder if the son will love the granddaughter properly, being her only caretaker. Obviously yes, because of the way he cared for her immediately, again righting wrongs his mother committed against him. What kind of person will the granddaughter be, what legacy will she leave on the world? How will she carry the burden of Elphaba, the burden of being green. Will Liir ever find Nor?
Green: fresh as spring, dewy, not rotten. The first color I learned about in literary symbolism. The green light of Daisy’s house that Jay Gatsby stares at across the water all the time. It meant HOPE, renewal, fresh new growth, a new beginning.
I loved it when he asked Nanny if she thought Elphaba will have a history and she said “She does already, ninnykins! I just saw her flying up the valley. Her cape went out behind her, a thousand bits in flight (the thousands of birds). Nearly touched the peaks to the left and the right. If that’s not a history, what is?” So, Liir GIVES her a history. I also like how sarcastic he becomes in the middle of the book, like his mother, after life kicks him around a lot, he lies in a coma, etc. At one point he says, “What condition? I’ve been in this condition my whole life. It’s the only condition I know. Bitter love, loneliness, contempt for corruption, blind hope. It’s where I live.” I also love how he becomes a man of wry humor and charm, accepting his fate of never knowing the answers. He tells Elphaba’s monkey “She always liked you better” and smiles at him. The monkey says “Considering who she was, is that a compliment or an insult?”
He poisons all the Emperor’s dragons, which in turn saves lives, achieves revenge on Cherrystone, frees the skies for the birds, unites two warring tribes who thought each other was doing the dragon-stuff. He thinks of a way to draw out the voices of the dead, which allows the She-Elephant to die properly. He still does not know if he is Elphaba’s son until the last sentence when he holds up his newborn daughter in the rain to clean her (after finding her dead, wrapped in Elphaba’s cloak, and he revives her). Her skin is green.
NOTE: How Maguire is successful in using “perception” of different witnesses and participants to alter our “perception” of the well-known Oz Story is through characters who must act without “knowing all the answers” or “having enough information.” We all face that in life. There are those who do not act because of this lack of enough info, are held back, they are cautious, and they never do anything meaningful. And then there are those who do take risks and act (you will never have all the answers or enough info) and thus make/ change history. In the traditional Oz Story, all the risks Elphaba take are mis-perceived. So, it’s fascinating how he again uses this same tool for the story of Liir, and everything he does could be perceived as bad…but it’s not. Thus, the immense satisfaction. And then you get pieces of additional info that determine he was on the right track, confirm his decisions and actions. No misperception, redirection, just the story of a regular Joe-schmoe who does amazing things. “If only Elphaba was here to see this…” I’m talking about more than a mother’s pride and personal vindication. I’m talking about a righting of the wrongs in the world that her son engineers.
And again, I wonder if the son will love the granddaughter properly, being her only caretaker. Obviously yes, because of the way he cared for her immediately, again righting wrongs his mother committed against him. What kind of person will the granddaughter be, what legacy will she leave on the world? How will she carry the burden of Elphaba, the burden of being green. Will Liir ever find Nor?
Green: fresh as spring, dewy, not rotten. The first color I learned about in literary symbolism. The green light of Daisy’s house that Jay Gatsby stares at across the water all the time. It meant HOPE, renewal, fresh new growth, a new beginning.
June 6, 2013
I love the Wicked series books for the fact that apparently they are "NOTHING LIKE THE PLAY!" to the point that it angers fans of the stage version. If you have time, read some of the one-star reviews for the first book (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37...). It's hilarious how mad these people get. It's like they've been betrayed, tricked into reading this divergence from their beloved baby. Since the play is based on the book, shouldn't they be upset at the play for switching things up and muddling their grey matter?
If they continued on reading the series (which there's no way in hell they would) no doubt this continuation of Maguire's alternative Oz history would further incense them. It departs even farther from Baum's original work...unless Baum discusses homosexuality in one of his books which I haven't read yet. The tone is more realistic and contemplative. Everything's taken more seriously than your great gran's fancy-free Oz.
I'm also a fan of these books for the writing. Gregory Maguire can string words together pretty well! He's a solid tale-teller too, although pacing can be his achilles heel. Those contemplations bog things down a bit now and then.
This is definitely not for everyone (certainly not for a certain few!), but if you liked adventuring in the Land of Oz as a kid and long for more now that you're all growed up (and are fully equipped with an open mind), this just might be the escape you were looking for.
If they continued on reading the series (which there's no way in hell they would) no doubt this continuation of Maguire's alternative Oz history would further incense them. It departs even farther from Baum's original work...unless Baum discusses homosexuality in one of his books which I haven't read yet. The tone is more realistic and contemplative. Everything's taken more seriously than your great gran's fancy-free Oz.
I'm also a fan of these books for the writing. Gregory Maguire can string words together pretty well! He's a solid tale-teller too, although pacing can be his achilles heel. Those contemplations bog things down a bit now and then.
This is definitely not for everyone (certainly not for a certain few!), but if you liked adventuring in the Land of Oz as a kid and long for more now that you're all growed up (and are fully equipped with an open mind), this just might be the escape you were looking for.
January 7, 2025
This was a book rich in detail and adventure, as well as personal growth for our hero. However, I'm so frustrated that Nor's outcome is still unclear and that Shell is still just a barely involved character. I really hope we found out where is Nor and how did Shell become who he is in a subsequent book.
The story spans so much time (like in the first book), and there are so many people in and out of Liir's life that it was sometimes hard to follow. I found myself searching the book backwards quite often to retrace one strand or another.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed the overall reading experience. I'm perhaps more invested in Elphaba than anything else. I really hate how much I came to admire her in the first book and how tragically ridiculous her death was, especially at the hands of her Dorothy, who is barely a cameo in Wicked and really unlikeable to anyone "Team Elphie."
The best part of the book is that Liir has a wonderful sense of internal integrity and is rewarded for it with an answer in regard to his parentage and is left with a choice regarding his daughter. I trust he'll do what's right by her, and hopefully, through their relationship, he'll find some much needed healing and closure. I would still love for him to stumble on Elphaba's diary (if she had one) so he could posthumously get the rest of his answers.
3.5, but I'm having a hard time deciding if to round up to 4. I'll think about it and maybe round up later. For now, will keep it a 3. It was a solid read, and I'll continue onto the third book. However, I think I'm too frustrated right now to give it that bump. Maybe if my own questions are answered in a later book, I'll come back and make it a 4.
The story spans so much time (like in the first book), and there are so many people in and out of Liir's life that it was sometimes hard to follow. I found myself searching the book backwards quite often to retrace one strand or another.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed the overall reading experience. I'm perhaps more invested in Elphaba than anything else. I really hate how much I came to admire her in the first book and how tragically ridiculous her death was, especially at the hands of her Dorothy, who is barely a cameo in Wicked and really unlikeable to anyone "Team Elphie."
The best part of the book is that Liir has a wonderful sense of internal integrity and is rewarded for it with an answer in regard to his parentage and is left with a choice regarding his daughter. I trust he'll do what's right by her, and hopefully, through their relationship, he'll find some much needed healing and closure. I would still love for him to stumble on Elphaba's diary (if she had one) so he could posthumously get the rest of his answers.
3.5, but I'm having a hard time deciding if to round up to 4. I'll think about it and maybe round up later. For now, will keep it a 3. It was a solid read, and I'll continue onto the third book. However, I think I'm too frustrated right now to give it that bump. Maybe if my own questions are answered in a later book, I'll come back and make it a 4.
January 4, 2026
As a sequel, it's a slighly disappointing follow up to Wicked, however if you loved Wicked, definitely read it because it will answer some of your questions... as well as paint a broader picture of the countries/cultures/peoples introduced in Wicked.
I guess my disappointment lies in the fact, like Wicked, there's nothing too happy about most of the story lines here.
(Reviewed 4-18-06)
I guess my disappointment lies in the fact, like Wicked, there's nothing too happy about most of the story lines here.
(Reviewed 4-18-06)
October 18, 2007
I made a mistake reading this book. I should have known from the ending of Wicked that it wouldn't get much better. But I held out hope. My hope was that "well, maybe the ending I didn't get in Wicked, I'll get here, and maybe that was the plan all along, to fully revise things in a sequel, as that would be more the author's OWN and he'd be less pigeon-holed."
Alas, that wasn't the case.
Again, 98% of this book is a great read. But the two main problems I had with the first book are the problems I have with this book.
1- The pace is way too slow. I like the author's writing. I could read volume after volume of the middle bits of his stories. So if this book were DOUBLE the size, I'd be ok with it. It's just again when I got to the end, I realized that not much had happened. I'll give credit where credit is due though, Liir accomplished about 10 times as much as Elphaba ever did. So this was a step in the right direction. It's just over the course of the two books, I must say, all that really happened was about 5 trips between Kiamo Ko and the Emerald City. A lot of walking. Or flying on a broomstick. The old saying about it's not the reward of the quest, but the quest itself, shines through in both of these books. The "getting there" is a great read. But the endings are so ... well, that's point 2 so let's get to point 2 now.
2- The ending left me flat. Very flat. I'll again give credit where credit is due ... this ending was way better than the ending to Wicked. It was a big step forward. Elphaba really doesn't seem like she's ALLOWED by the writer to accomplish anything. Liir accomplishes a few things of importance. But that's it. That's all. So unless there's a third book on the way, I'm really dissatisfied with the state the story is left in at the very end. Especially with the character of Nor. It seemed like everything I read about her was in fact not needed. Like she could be cut completely out of this book and it wouldn't matter. The same could ALMOST be said of Shell. And Trism. And Candle after they got to Apple Farm Press.
If there's a third book, well, I like his writing enough that I'll again fall victim to interest and read it. But until this story gets some better or more complete resolution, I can't in good faith reccommend this to anyone.
Alas, that wasn't the case.
Again, 98% of this book is a great read. But the two main problems I had with the first book are the problems I have with this book.
1- The pace is way too slow. I like the author's writing. I could read volume after volume of the middle bits of his stories. So if this book were DOUBLE the size, I'd be ok with it. It's just again when I got to the end, I realized that not much had happened. I'll give credit where credit is due though, Liir accomplished about 10 times as much as Elphaba ever did. So this was a step in the right direction. It's just over the course of the two books, I must say, all that really happened was about 5 trips between Kiamo Ko and the Emerald City. A lot of walking. Or flying on a broomstick. The old saying about it's not the reward of the quest, but the quest itself, shines through in both of these books. The "getting there" is a great read. But the endings are so ... well, that's point 2 so let's get to point 2 now.
2- The ending left me flat. Very flat. I'll again give credit where credit is due ... this ending was way better than the ending to Wicked. It was a big step forward. Elphaba really doesn't seem like she's ALLOWED by the writer to accomplish anything. Liir accomplishes a few things of importance. But that's it. That's all. So unless there's a third book on the way, I'm really dissatisfied with the state the story is left in at the very end. Especially with the character of Nor. It seemed like everything I read about her was in fact not needed. Like she could be cut completely out of this book and it wouldn't matter. The same could ALMOST be said of Shell. And Trism. And Candle after they got to Apple Farm Press.
If there's a third book, well, I like his writing enough that I'll again fall victim to interest and read it. But until this story gets some better or more complete resolution, I can't in good faith reccommend this to anyone.
January 2, 2025
Okay well...after reading Wicked, I was left a bit curious about Liir's fate, we can now consider that curiosity sated. I don't feel like reading the rest of this series, or the spinoff one, but I will check out the graphic novel.
What I liked, was that it wasn't like the first book, the writing was a bit better and the book a little less weird, Liir did develop as a character and it wasn't a bad listen.
I do wish this series gripped me though, I really was ready to read ALL the books connected to it, but yeah, not for me. Musical up next, fingers crossed I like that at least.
What I liked, was that it wasn't like the first book, the writing was a bit better and the book a little less weird, Liir did develop as a character and it wasn't a bad listen.
I do wish this series gripped me though, I really was ready to read ALL the books connected to it, but yeah, not for me. Musical up next, fingers crossed I like that at least.
August 7, 2008
As much as I liked Wicked, I had an inkling I was going to like Son of a Witch even better, especially given the beginning, with the spate of senseless "scrapings" and the discovery of the unconscious boy, who turns out to be Liir, the book's protagonist and the potential son of the Wicked Witch of the West.
The beginning was indeed good. Engaging. I especially enjoyed the brief time Liir spent with the Yellow Brick Road friends from The Wizard of Oz. I'm a huge WoO nut, but I didn't have any problem whatsoever with the irreverent, perhaps more realistic way the classic characters were handled.
When the silent maunt known as Candle is assigned to take care of Liir, that stuff was pretty good too -- the unconscious Liir's flashbacks were interesting and pulled the plot along nicely. I was totally into it.
Around three-quarters of the way into the book, though I started to get annoyed. It didn't look like Liir was going to accomplish anything -- he wasn't going to achieve a gratifying ending to any of his quests and charges, he wasn't going to settle into a romantic relationship, he wasn't going to figure himself out. The book makes Liir out to be a sort of malcontent, but I don't know. He's pretty mild. The only thing that really comes across is the character's confusion as to who he is and what he stands for. And I didn't feel he ever came to any conclusions about that. It was frustrating to get three-quarters into the book and still feel that the protagonist had no sense of purpose.
Perhaps his rudderlessness is the point. I could see how that might be the case. But I don't feel that it made for satisfying reading. I'll know I'll reread Wicked again and again, but I don't think Son of a Witch was worth finishing the first time through.
The beginning was indeed good. Engaging. I especially enjoyed the brief time Liir spent with the Yellow Brick Road friends from The Wizard of Oz. I'm a huge WoO nut, but I didn't have any problem whatsoever with the irreverent, perhaps more realistic way the classic characters were handled.
When the silent maunt known as Candle is assigned to take care of Liir, that stuff was pretty good too -- the unconscious Liir's flashbacks were interesting and pulled the plot along nicely. I was totally into it.
Around three-quarters of the way into the book, though I started to get annoyed. It didn't look like Liir was going to accomplish anything -- he wasn't going to achieve a gratifying ending to any of his quests and charges, he wasn't going to settle into a romantic relationship, he wasn't going to figure himself out. The book makes Liir out to be a sort of malcontent, but I don't know. He's pretty mild. The only thing that really comes across is the character's confusion as to who he is and what he stands for. And I didn't feel he ever came to any conclusions about that. It was frustrating to get three-quarters into the book and still feel that the protagonist had no sense of purpose.
Perhaps his rudderlessness is the point. I could see how that might be the case. But I don't feel that it made for satisfying reading. I'll know I'll reread Wicked again and again, but I don't think Son of a Witch was worth finishing the first time through.
August 3, 2007
"Wicked" kind of annoyed me from time to time ... inspite of the fact that I loved reading Elphaba's story. If that book fell a little short ... then this book (the sequel) completely misses the mark. Maguire did okay when he was writing on the basis of someone else's work ... but here on his own he flounders. Whatever it was that did not sit well with me from "Wicked" is found tenfold in the pages of "Son of a Witch." At first I thought that it was just Maguire's take on bits of Baum's original story that did not sit well with me ... then I thought maybe it was just his style. Now I think it's just a poorly written book from all angles. I kept reading and hoping that it would get better, that the real story would soon begin, but it didn't and it didn't and it didn't and finally I turned the last page ... and it was over. There have been very few times I felt like reading a book was a waste ... this was one of them.
January 26, 2010
I am angry at Gregory Maguire. (This will excuse the poor grammar and run-on sentences that may follow.) Very angry. Maguire writes books that are impossible to read; as such, I opted to listen to Son of a Witch on tape after failing to get past the 1st few chapters on more than one occasion. As it turns out, Maguire's books are equally difficult to listen to, especially when the audio reader is the author himself.
Although I am now questioning my previous opinion, I had it in my mind that Wicked was a good book. I read it a decade ago during my open-minded college years. As I began Son of a Witch I was excited to learn more about the (presumed) offspring of Elphaba - a character previously so misunderstood and yet so cleverly discovered in Wicked. What new insight could Maguire deliver into the Wonderful World of Oz?
None! He provides none! He provides a poorly conceived rambling tale told by an unreliable narrator about an unlikeable wholly self-involved kretin of a main character whose entire drive toward action throughout the story (and that which inspired the story itself as per Maguire's audio interview at the end of the book) is to find his (presumed) half-sister Nor! Who he never finds! And who he decides occasionally he doesn't care to find, oh wait yes he does, or no, oh yes! This book arguably was the sole inspiration behind the phrase, "WTF".
Perhaps some of my frustration for this piece of literature stems from how it makes me feel like an idiot. Nevermind my recurrent self analysis of why I was trying to finish it, but so many times I had no idea what was going on. Maguire was literaturely reaching around my back to tap me on my opposite shoulder so I could fall victim to being the clueless one. (I looked everytime!) Had I not been listening to his oddly voiced characters in his own audio narrative, I'd wonder whether he was cackling with mirth that he'd found another gullible reader with whom to play. He makes wild inferences forcing you to create connections that just aren't there. He about-faces at oblique angles just as you're starting to feel comfortable with the flow of things. He lies to you repeatedly without remorse. He is just bizarre. If possible I would send Liir a bouquet of daisies upon which he could pluck as he debated - I love Candle! I love her not! I love Candle! Golly, I just don't know! - I hate you Liir! I need no flowers to help me decide.
I was left speechless when I realized I was reading Giovanni's Room: the Twist of Oz. It was like a tornado had dropped a house of homoeroticism on my head! "I'm not going to sleep to let you stab me in the back!" "The milk that only boys make!" Clearly, not in Kansas anymore.
I am angry at Gregory Maguire. He tricked us with an ingenious concept - revising classic tales from the villains point of view! I even wrote a paper about it in college. What a humanitarian genius! (Maguire, not me.) And yet his development of this concept in Son of a Witch leaves me simmering with contempt at his inhumane fumblings.
Gregory, I wish you played the muse and not the creator. The premises of your stories are so familiar that I cannot help but plod my way through to see if you can delight me with further insight into classic tales. However, you manage to use the third person narrative as a weapon. Ultimately, you only describe Liir's viewpoint and yet you do not give me any insight in the madness behind the man. I learn what Liir is thinking but never why. Some might argue that this is because Liir himself does not know - but then why lock me into complete ignorance while following characters that are even more ignorant. What's the point?
Maguire's greatest talent is using culinary metaphors and terminology to describe the landscape - which he does ad nauseum. In a warm roasted chestnut shell, other than incite my ire to snap and crackle like winter's first batch of fire-cooked popcorn, this book made me hungry for things that haven't been deemed edible since the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, I don't plan on reordering this meal and I certainly will not try the dessert.
Although I am now questioning my previous opinion, I had it in my mind that Wicked was a good book. I read it a decade ago during my open-minded college years. As I began Son of a Witch I was excited to learn more about the (presumed) offspring of Elphaba - a character previously so misunderstood and yet so cleverly discovered in Wicked. What new insight could Maguire deliver into the Wonderful World of Oz?
None! He provides none! He provides a poorly conceived rambling tale told by an unreliable narrator about an unlikeable wholly self-involved kretin of a main character whose entire drive toward action throughout the story (and that which inspired the story itself as per Maguire's audio interview at the end of the book) is to find his (presumed) half-sister Nor! Who he never finds! And who he decides occasionally he doesn't care to find, oh wait yes he does, or no, oh yes! This book arguably was the sole inspiration behind the phrase, "WTF".
Perhaps some of my frustration for this piece of literature stems from how it makes me feel like an idiot. Nevermind my recurrent self analysis of why I was trying to finish it, but so many times I had no idea what was going on. Maguire was literaturely reaching around my back to tap me on my opposite shoulder so I could fall victim to being the clueless one. (I looked everytime!) Had I not been listening to his oddly voiced characters in his own audio narrative, I'd wonder whether he was cackling with mirth that he'd found another gullible reader with whom to play. He makes wild inferences forcing you to create connections that just aren't there. He about-faces at oblique angles just as you're starting to feel comfortable with the flow of things. He lies to you repeatedly without remorse. He is just bizarre. If possible I would send Liir a bouquet of daisies upon which he could pluck as he debated - I love Candle! I love her not! I love Candle! Golly, I just don't know! - I hate you Liir! I need no flowers to help me decide.
I was left speechless when I realized I was reading Giovanni's Room: the Twist of Oz. It was like a tornado had dropped a house of homoeroticism on my head! "I'm not going to sleep to let you stab me in the back!" "The milk that only boys make!" Clearly, not in Kansas anymore.
I am angry at Gregory Maguire. He tricked us with an ingenious concept - revising classic tales from the villains point of view! I even wrote a paper about it in college. What a humanitarian genius! (Maguire, not me.) And yet his development of this concept in Son of a Witch leaves me simmering with contempt at his inhumane fumblings.
Gregory, I wish you played the muse and not the creator. The premises of your stories are so familiar that I cannot help but plod my way through to see if you can delight me with further insight into classic tales. However, you manage to use the third person narrative as a weapon. Ultimately, you only describe Liir's viewpoint and yet you do not give me any insight in the madness behind the man. I learn what Liir is thinking but never why. Some might argue that this is because Liir himself does not know - but then why lock me into complete ignorance while following characters that are even more ignorant. What's the point?
Maguire's greatest talent is using culinary metaphors and terminology to describe the landscape - which he does ad nauseum. In a warm roasted chestnut shell, other than incite my ire to snap and crackle like winter's first batch of fire-cooked popcorn, this book made me hungry for things that haven't been deemed edible since the Middle Ages. Nevertheless, I don't plan on reordering this meal and I certainly will not try the dessert.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2007
I'm not sure why this has an average of 3.32. It's a great entertaining and thought-provoking book. Maybe I'm prejudiced toward GM, but I loved it, and think it came to its inevitable conclusion. Can't wait for the next (which goes into Mother Yackle if anyone's following the series - he read a bit at last year's Grub Street conference).
I just looked at some of the other reviews and disagree on so many levels. The kinship of Elphaba and Liir is demonstrated quite well through his behavior and to miss that, I think, is missing a large part of the theme [ie, what is wickedness?]
Anyhow, there are four parts. My interview with Maguire is on by blog here, if anyone cares to check it out.
I just looked at some of the other reviews and disagree on so many levels. The kinship of Elphaba and Liir is demonstrated quite well through his behavior and to miss that, I think, is missing a large part of the theme [ie, what is wickedness?]
Anyhow, there are four parts. My interview with Maguire is on by blog here, if anyone cares to check it out.
August 30, 2018
I remember reading this book when I was 11 and being highly disturbed by it. It's one of the books I remember quite vividly even now and it kinda stuck with me my whole life, but in a very bad way. I'm still debating whether I should try reading the whole series now that I'm mature enough for it (and have obviously read my fair share of creepy and disgusting books). The fact that this is a second book in a series where I had not even known the first book existed in the time reading it might also be a factor why I had disliked it so much. I remember being so confused to what was going on.
February 2, 2011
Me: I wish this book had never come to me. I wish I had never learned to read.
Gandalf: So do all who have tried to read it. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the literacy that is given to us. There are other authors at work in this world Erik, besides the will of Gregory Maguire. Barnes and Nobles was meant to stock this book. In which case, you were also meant to pick it up. And that is... well that's a discouraging thought I see now. Hmph, I'm bamboozled. Oh well.
Gandalf: So do all who have tried to read it. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the literacy that is given to us. There are other authors at work in this world Erik, besides the will of Gregory Maguire. Barnes and Nobles was meant to stock this book. In which case, you were also meant to pick it up. And that is... well that's a discouraging thought I see now. Hmph, I'm bamboozled. Oh well.
May 16, 2025
Taken by itself, this book seemed rather aimless to me (much like the main character himself, whose constant opining about being useless got old after a time)--but I still just enjoy being immersed in Maguire's writing and learning more about his Oz.
In Wicked we learned that , but the adolescent Liir himself does not know this for sure, although he has heard the rumors. With Elphaba having been such a force of nature, Liir is constantly disappointed in himself by comparison. He decides to go searching for the one person who showed him kindness in his childhood, and sets off for the Emerald City. Then life just sort of happens to him for the next several years. He crosses paths with several characters we met in the previous book, and meets some new ones. Finally, by the end of this book he decides to do something meaningful despite not being Elphaba.
I read another review saying this sequel answers a lot of questions left from book one, and I must wholeheartedly disagree - I don't think it answered a single one! But just sinking down into the world with all its fascinating politics and religions is still a treat to me.
In Wicked we learned that , but the adolescent Liir himself does not know this for sure, although he has heard the rumors. With Elphaba having been such a force of nature, Liir is constantly disappointed in himself by comparison. He decides to go searching for the one person who showed him kindness in his childhood, and sets off for the Emerald City. Then life just sort of happens to him for the next several years. He crosses paths with several characters we met in the previous book, and meets some new ones. Finally, by the end of this book he decides to do something meaningful despite not being Elphaba.
I read another review saying this sequel answers a lot of questions left from book one, and I must wholeheartedly disagree - I don't think it answered a single one! But just sinking down into the world with all its fascinating politics and religions is still a treat to me.
January 4, 2026
The follow up to Wicked. While Elpheba's spirit pervades and Glinda flits in and out of the plot, the focus is on Liir, possible son of Elpheba and his trials following the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. The extension of the Oz world and politics and the characters is intriguing and interesting. The only downside to the meandering journey is the abandonment of Liir's initial quest - the search for his half sister Nor, Fiyero's daughter, which falls away to being of secondary importance and is unresolved by the end of the book. But it does end with a great set up for the next book.
July 30, 2021
It's actually been a couple of days since I finished the book and I've been letting my thoughts mull. I've come to the conclusion that this is actually quite a horrible story. There's lots of wanton, unjustifiable violence to both people and Animals, and I can't say that this led to any great change or sense of hope. Lir's big action? To put on an aerial display?
The first section of the book is a bit of a mess, with lots of jumping around in time, but at least that seemed to set up some hope that there would be something good to come out of it all, some resolution of the great mystery of the attacks. But what follows is the same sort of meandering, seemingly half-baked storyline that, as mentioned before, doesn't actually come to much at all.
That said, I did read it all to find out what happened and would probably read more books in the series, but have been surprised by how disappointed I am by something I've been looking forward to reading in ages :(
The first section of the book is a bit of a mess, with lots of jumping around in time, but at least that seemed to set up some hope that there would be something good to come out of it all, some resolution of the great mystery of the attacks. But what follows is the same sort of meandering, seemingly half-baked storyline that, as mentioned before, doesn't actually come to much at all.
That said, I did read it all to find out what happened and would probably read more books in the series, but have been surprised by how disappointed I am by something I've been looking forward to reading in ages :(
January 7, 2025
He could bear to touch the small corpse of a human child. It was just another child, just another inevitable fatality, the next crude accident of the world, and not the last.
April 28, 2008
I really enjoyed Son of a Witch, despite the feeling that it’s just an interlude in a larger story. With Wicked, I had lots of preconceptions about the characters, and whilst I liked the slant on them that the book provided, I suppose it did get in the way a bit. With Son of a Witch, I didn’t have those same obstacles to get past.
I enjoyed finding out more about Liir. I felt he was shabbily treated in Wicked, so it was interesting to follow his development here. I did want to shout at him a few times!
There are a lot of loose threads left at the end, so I suspect (hope!) there’s another book in the works. It reminded me of those M. Night Shyamalan films where you just get to see one act in a much larger story. They’re satisfying in their own way, but leave you hungry for more.
I enjoyed finding out more about Liir. I felt he was shabbily treated in Wicked, so it was interesting to follow his development here. I did want to shout at him a few times!
There are a lot of loose threads left at the end, so I suspect (hope!) there’s another book in the works. It reminded me of those M. Night Shyamalan films where you just get to see one act in a much larger story. They’re satisfying in their own way, but leave you hungry for more.
June 5, 2025
I've read this book three times now and I see new connections and messages each time. It remains my favorite of the series.
March 23, 2025
La continuación de Wicked y una expansión en B de la historia del Mago de Oz. Gregory McGuire es muy bueno haciendo retelling.
Liir es un personaje complejo, que el autor desarrolla ampliamente y que en su camino del héroe (aunque no al uso) está buscando un montón de preguntas, que nosotros también tenemos.... Creo que lo mágico de la saga de Wicked es que al final tú mismo te haces muchas preguntas y sacas tus conclusiones, abarcando temas como la política y todos sus espectros, el poder y las guerras, la intolerancia y la segregación, la identidad sexual, etc.
Y aunque *SPOILER* (aunque ni tan spoiler porque eso pasó en El Mago de Oz hace casi un siglo) Elphaba ya haya muerto, su figura sigue muy presente, lo cual habla de como la gente puede morir, pero las ideas perdurar.
Liir es un personaje complejo, que el autor desarrolla ampliamente y que en su camino del héroe (aunque no al uso) está buscando un montón de preguntas, que nosotros también tenemos.... Creo que lo mágico de la saga de Wicked es que al final tú mismo te haces muchas preguntas y sacas tus conclusiones, abarcando temas como la política y todos sus espectros, el poder y las guerras, la intolerancia y la segregación, la identidad sexual, etc.
Y aunque *SPOILER* (aunque ni tan spoiler porque eso pasó en El Mago de Oz hace casi un siglo) Elphaba ya haya muerto, su figura sigue muy presente, lo cual habla de como la gente puede morir, pero las ideas perdurar.
August 26, 2016
Jeez, and I thought Wicked was bad. Wicked mostly stole freely from Baum's universe in a way that lacked both respect and imagination, and still managed to be little more than a trite exercise in politically correct stupidity. Give this man the chance to write a plot of his own, and the results are twice as insufferably vain and, well, lacking in actual content. Despite Maguire's extremely poor writing style, Wicked could at least prop itself up on the familiarity of Baum's characters, but now that we're entirely in original territory it falls flat on its face and stays there. This book is boring , and I say that as a trained librarian. Despite being written by the author of the original book, it reads like bad Wicked fanfic, as mendaciously unimaginative as it is limited in its execution. I think Maguire may be the only modern author I've read so lacking in talent that he's able to somehow pull this off.
This book was so bad I couldn't finish it, which is not something I say very often. I'm a bibliophile. My house has hundreds of books. However, after reading this one, I wouldn't rest until I'd convinced my wife to get rid of every Maguire book we owned. Not recommended except for total masochists or people who, well, prefer fanfic to actual books and aren't bothered by the sleaziness of this whole franchise where acknowledging the contributions of the original author is concerned.
This book was so bad I couldn't finish it, which is not something I say very often. I'm a bibliophile. My house has hundreds of books. However, after reading this one, I wouldn't rest until I'd convinced my wife to get rid of every Maguire book we owned. Not recommended except for total masochists or people who, well, prefer fanfic to actual books and aren't bothered by the sleaziness of this whole franchise where acknowledging the contributions of the original author is concerned.
March 5, 2008
Talk about a book that goes nowhere! I read Son of a Witch because I had read Mirror Mirror and Wicked . I really liked Mirror Mirror --it was a very creative and interesting reimagining of Snow White. I enjoyed Wicked considerably less, but it held some interest until the end. It had a lot more bizarre elements (like the wicked witch of the east having no arms) and a rambling plot. But Elphaba (the wicked witch of the west) was an interesting character throughout the novel.
Son of a Witch however, has absolutely no saving grace. The main character, Liir, who may or may not be, but let's face it really is Elphaba's son, is two dimensional and bounces around from random event to random event and random choice to random choice. He starts out on a quest and then abandons it. He heads down one path after the other without ever really having a clear reason for what he's doing or any true character development. Frankly, the book is boring, the main character unengaging, and the plot jumpy and unnecessarily gory. If you want to read Maguire, pick up Mirror Mirror instead. Son of a Witch is a waste of time.
Son of a Witch however, has absolutely no saving grace. The main character, Liir, who may or may not be, but let's face it really is Elphaba's son, is two dimensional and bounces around from random event to random event and random choice to random choice. He starts out on a quest and then abandons it. He heads down one path after the other without ever really having a clear reason for what he's doing or any true character development. Frankly, the book is boring, the main character unengaging, and the plot jumpy and unnecessarily gory. If you want to read Maguire, pick up Mirror Mirror instead. Son of a Witch is a waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2017
I can usually power my way through any book, especially fiction, but as much as it galls me to do so, I'm giving up on this fucker right here. I started this book 10 days ago, and I'm only 120 pages in, which is an indication of how little I'm enjoying it. in fact, the further I got in, the more I dreaded picking it up, and the more I wished I was reading something else. Absolutely fucking anything else. Liir is one of the least interesting main characters ever. I don't hate this character, and I'm not just neutral towards him, it's more like I have an actively hostile ambivalence. Whatever it was about the other characters I liked in Wicked seems to be entirely absent here. Add to that the utterly horrible pacing and a snooze-fest of a plot line, and well, I'm out. Fuck this dull, formless, grey goo abomination.
February 1, 2025
every time the scarecrow showed up, i was fully expecting him to be like “hi it’s me, fiyero.”
disappointed and confused.
disappointed and confused.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2016
2.5 stars.
Probably the best way to describe this book is disjointed. The pacing is pretty terrible, it's hard to get to know the characters because the story's not told in chronological order, the ending was an anticlimax, and so much of it was just Liir trekking all over freaking Oz that it reached the point where I just didn't give a crap any more.
Basically, this was 500 pages of a just-okay story, and I'm really not entirely sure why I bothered to finish it because I was ambivalent towards it for at least 75% of the book...
Probably the best way to describe this book is disjointed. The pacing is pretty terrible, it's hard to get to know the characters because the story's not told in chronological order, the ending was an anticlimax, and so much of it was just Liir trekking all over freaking Oz that it reached the point where I just didn't give a crap any more.
Basically, this was 500 pages of a just-okay story, and I'm really not entirely sure why I bothered to finish it because I was ambivalent towards it for at least 75% of the book...
June 24, 2025
I know I gave the first Wicked book 3.5 starts, but I'm changing that rating to 3 stars because even though I liked this one better, there is no way I am ever giving Son of a Witch a full 4 stars.
First of all, the writing in this book was still all over the place, but since it wasn't as long as the first one and there wasn't as much happening, in a way, it was easier to follow. I also liked Liir's character and how he was developed throughout this book. There were some parts of this that were a little confusing and difficult to get through, which is why it took me forever to finish it.🥲
This isn't a bad book, and even though it was better than the first one in my opinion, I am definitely taking a break from this series because it was a lot to comprehend. Overall, I would give this book 3.25 - 3.5 ⭐️ but probably not more than that.😬
First of all, the writing in this book was still all over the place, but since it wasn't as long as the first one and there wasn't as much happening, in a way, it was easier to follow. I also liked Liir's character and how he was developed throughout this book. There were some parts of this that were a little confusing and difficult to get through, which is why it took me forever to finish it.🥲
This isn't a bad book, and even though it was better than the first one in my opinion, I am definitely taking a break from this series because it was a lot to comprehend. Overall, I would give this book 3.25 - 3.5 ⭐️ but probably not more than that.😬
September 1, 2025
I’ve tried really hard to love this series but you shouldn’t have to work at enjoying reading
Too much effort to rate this higher I do have other books in series but might be a while before I get to them
Too much effort to rate this higher I do have other books in series but might be a while before I get to them
February 6, 2018
Deliciosamente bem escrito, assim como Wicked.
May 6, 2019
The wall read:
ELPHIE LIVES
OZMA LIVES
THE WIZARD LIVES
and then
EVERYONE LIVES BUT US.
Reading this book and The Marvelous Land of Oz simultaneously was an interesting experience. Oh, there's little Tip and Mombi! Nice nod, Mr. Maguire. But this Oz? It's quite different from the one Mr. Baum imagined. Unlike the Scarecrow-run original, where the Army of Oz was a single soldier, the illegitimate, unrecognized son of Elphaba finds himself in an unstable nation where the Scarecrow is both a literal and figurative straw man. The people (and Animals, especially the Animals!) of Oz are no more free than they were under the Wizard's rule and things just keep getting worse.
The novel opens with a nearly-dead Liir (son of Elphaba) being found and taken back to the same Cloister of St. Glinda where he was born. As Liir is nursed back to health, his life up to this point is revealed in flashbacks. Some is a rehash: accompanying Elphaba to his father's former home of Kiamo Ko and growing up alongside his half-siblings until their assumed deaths, and then his lonely adolescence alongside Elphaba and Nanny, until the disastrous arrival of Dorothy. Then there's the aftermath of the witch's death: joining Dorothy's ragtag entourage in their return to the Emerald City (where the few laughs of the novel are to be found), chasing rumors of his half-sister Nor into the prison known as Southstairs, where he meets his alleged uncle Shell, and then a military career in the Army of Oz that leads to more tragedies. Eventually, we catch up to Liir's present and see some action in the second half. Although there are glimpses of Baum's original characters (Dorothy & co., Glinda, the Wizard, etc.), most of main characters are Maguire's creations.
“Not everyone is born a witch or a saint. Not everyone is born talented, or crooked, or blessed; some are born definite in no particular at all. We are a fountain of shimmering contradictions, most of us. Beautiful in the concept, if we're lucky, but frequently tedious or regrettable as we flesh ourselves out.”
While Wicked featured the struggle between good and evil, this sequel focuses on Liir's search for identity. How does one know who one is, when one doesn't even know who one is? I'm rounding up a 3.5 star rating, because Liir's story was intriguing, even if he's not always a very sympathetic character. But that ending... Major cliffhanger.
ELPHIE LIVES
OZMA LIVES
THE WIZARD LIVES
and then
EVERYONE LIVES BUT US.
Reading this book and The Marvelous Land of Oz simultaneously was an interesting experience. Oh, there's little Tip and Mombi! Nice nod, Mr. Maguire. But this Oz? It's quite different from the one Mr. Baum imagined. Unlike the Scarecrow-run original, where the Army of Oz was a single soldier, the illegitimate, unrecognized son of Elphaba finds himself in an unstable nation where the Scarecrow is both a literal and figurative straw man. The people (and Animals, especially the Animals!) of Oz are no more free than they were under the Wizard's rule and things just keep getting worse.
The novel opens with a nearly-dead Liir (son of Elphaba) being found and taken back to the same Cloister of St. Glinda where he was born. As Liir is nursed back to health, his life up to this point is revealed in flashbacks. Some is a rehash: accompanying Elphaba to his father's former home of Kiamo Ko and growing up alongside his half-siblings until their assumed deaths, and then his lonely adolescence alongside Elphaba and Nanny, until the disastrous arrival of Dorothy. Then there's the aftermath of the witch's death: joining Dorothy's ragtag entourage in their return to the Emerald City (where the few laughs of the novel are to be found), chasing rumors of his half-sister Nor into the prison known as Southstairs, where he meets his alleged uncle Shell, and then a military career in the Army of Oz that leads to more tragedies. Eventually, we catch up to Liir's present and see some action in the second half. Although there are glimpses of Baum's original characters (Dorothy & co., Glinda, the Wizard, etc.), most of main characters are Maguire's creations.
“Not everyone is born a witch or a saint. Not everyone is born talented, or crooked, or blessed; some are born definite in no particular at all. We are a fountain of shimmering contradictions, most of us. Beautiful in the concept, if we're lucky, but frequently tedious or regrettable as we flesh ourselves out.”
While Wicked featured the struggle between good and evil, this sequel focuses on Liir's search for identity. How does one know who one is, when one doesn't even know who one is? I'm rounding up a 3.5 star rating, because Liir's story was intriguing, even if he's not always a very sympathetic character. But that ending... Major cliffhanger.
January 21, 2011
This sequel to the book Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West follows the adventures of Elphaba’s (implied) son, Liir. The story starts with the discovery of Liir’s body—badly injured, but not dead and with his face still intact, unlike the recent “victims” of a mysterious barbarian crime. From there, the story progressed in a series of alternating present scenes and flashbacks, telling us of Liir’s adventure and his struggle to find his (perhaps) half-sister Nor and his sense of purpose and self-identity.
I’ve always loved how encyclopedic Gregory Maguire made Baum’s Land of Oz, especially in Wicked. The politics and religion he created are intricately woven, and I admire how he created the characters with intelligence. Liir is not your ordinary protagonist: he is filled with doubts, and most of the time he is confused by his emotions, primarily the effect of Elphaba’s death on him. The poor soul-searching boy tries to find sense in his life by seeking the company of other people—quite the opposite of Elphaba, who is content in being alone.
Aside from search for self-identity, it as well tackles the issue: if you’re a child of a powerful figure, does it necessarily mean you can equal what your parent can do? Liir often thinks of what Elphaba—if she really is his mother—will do if she is in his shoes. Most of the time his knees will wobble, clobbered by self-doubt, but there are moments where he will stand up to leave a mark of his own. This is not your average bildungsroman.
There are certain parts, though, where the prose becomes too embellished and superfluous. I think Maguire is a little pressured by the positive reviews about how greatly he (re)crafted the Land of Oz in Wicked that he worked so much to ‘amaze’ the readers with this next installment. This intention didn’t really fail, but some elements are being affected. The plotline itself twists from one path to another and another and another, until the reader is lost and will be sent asking: where the hell is this heading? The ending didn’t quite satisfy me, but maybe that’s why there’s a third book. ;D
The best thing about Son of a Witch, I think, is that Maguire is able to show the readers how a fairytale can be as dark and as real as the happenings in real life. The politics, religion, personal issues, even sexuality, they’re all tackled very well. I will certainly watch out for the next book A Lion Among Men. *is just waiting for the paperback issue*
I’ve always loved how encyclopedic Gregory Maguire made Baum’s Land of Oz, especially in Wicked. The politics and religion he created are intricately woven, and I admire how he created the characters with intelligence. Liir is not your ordinary protagonist: he is filled with doubts, and most of the time he is confused by his emotions, primarily the effect of Elphaba’s death on him. The poor soul-searching boy tries to find sense in his life by seeking the company of other people—quite the opposite of Elphaba, who is content in being alone.
Aside from search for self-identity, it as well tackles the issue: if you’re a child of a powerful figure, does it necessarily mean you can equal what your parent can do? Liir often thinks of what Elphaba—if she really is his mother—will do if she is in his shoes. Most of the time his knees will wobble, clobbered by self-doubt, but there are moments where he will stand up to leave a mark of his own. This is not your average bildungsroman.
There are certain parts, though, where the prose becomes too embellished and superfluous. I think Maguire is a little pressured by the positive reviews about how greatly he (re)crafted the Land of Oz in Wicked that he worked so much to ‘amaze’ the readers with this next installment. This intention didn’t really fail, but some elements are being affected. The plotline itself twists from one path to another and another and another, until the reader is lost and will be sent asking: where the hell is this heading? The ending didn’t quite satisfy me, but maybe that’s why there’s a third book. ;D
The best thing about Son of a Witch, I think, is that Maguire is able to show the readers how a fairytale can be as dark and as real as the happenings in real life. The politics, religion, personal issues, even sexuality, they’re all tackled very well. I will certainly watch out for the next book A Lion Among Men. *is just waiting for the paperback issue*
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