A Great and Powerful Tyranny

by Victoria Carbol

Perfect for fans of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince, this dark, queer reimagining of the classic Wizard of Oz tale centers a slow-burn, sapphic enemies to lovers romance in an electrifying portal fantasy.

The first book in the Song of the Ghost Queen duology from debut author Victoria Carbol.


Falling into a world of magic and oppression, Kansas-born Thia joins three cursed companions in a quest to free them and send herself home.

Orphaned from a young age, Thia has spent her life trying to live up to her mother’s legacy as a doctor. She’s on track to become a promising medical student, yet she feels like she was meant for something else. The life she thought she knew comes crashing down one stormy Kansas day when Thia inadvertently uncovers clues that reveal her grandma has been lying to Her mother was never a doctor; she was a scholar of the supernatural, and all she left behind was a strange mirror that Thia’s grandma is convinced is dangerous.

Angry with her grandma for her deception, Thia leaves in a rage and accidentally falls through the mirror, killing a witch and crashing into a terrifying land ruled by the cruel and powerful Mage King.

Joined by a heartless girl, a cowardly academic, and a boy who cannot remember his past, Thia seeks out the Mage King, the only man powerful enough to send her home and grant her companions’ desires. In their quest, Thia discovers her mother was a part of the rebellion to overthrow the Mage King, and she must reckon with her mother’s real legacy. With each new truth revealed, it becomes harder to ignore the undeniable connection between Thia and the cursed, heartless girl, and even harder to decide where, in the end, Thia ultimately belongs.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Lesbian, Romance, Queer, Retellings

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2026

About the author

Victoria Carbol was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She has a BA in medieval history from Durham University in the UK and an MA in Theology from Regent College in British Columbia. She is also a musician known for creating cinematic theme songs for her favorite novels and is a founding member of the global book soundtrack phenomenon, Bookish Songs Collective. When not lost in the fantastic, you can find her sipping a hot beverage with her real-life found family or traipsing the woods with her small-but-mighty terrier, Bones. A Great and Powerful Tyranny is her first novel.

Reviews

[The Reading Frog (Less online ATM) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Victoria Carbol, Page Street YA & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Immediate thoughts after reading (6 August, 2026)
Came for lesbian masc tin-man, stayed for the (reluctant but endearing) found family, and the insane roller coaster of emotions the last 20% put me through.

I need the sequel, and I need it now!
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit | Death, gore, graphic wound/injury descriptions, medical procedures
Moderate | Blood, grief, (past) parental death, slight body horror, (past) child loss, dissociation, internalised victim-blaming, incidental self-harm and threat of suicide, brief suicidal ideation, displacement
Mild | Discussion of homophobia, mention of abuse of power, mention of execution, mention of grooming, mention of pedophilia, mention of SA, violence against an animal
Content warnings by the author/publisher | This book contains elements regarding violence, blood and gore, death and grief (especially regarding a parent), displacement, medical treatment and procedures, animal harm, homophobia, and discussion of grooming and sexual assault. Readers who may be sensitive to these elements are advised to take note.
My chosen soundtrack(s): I hate goodbyes - Maddie Ashman | My Own - Vanbur

Born to the daughter of Nowhere and Everywhere,
The Storm Crow shall come:
A harbinger of war before
The Tyrant’s reign undone.
In search of a Heart, a Soul, and a Mind
With powers he cannot contain,

The lost shall restore the Descendant of Lore,
The righteous again to reign.

Representation
╰┈➤ Ethnic/racial diversity
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC, possibly South(East) Asian MC, Oskaren, "bronze-brown skin" and has monolids
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC, possibly South(East) Asian SC, Sorcha,"was dark and golden, her eyes capped by a smooth monolid"
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC BGC, Pagdan, "deep brown skin that looked nearly black in the dim torchlight"
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Unspecified BIPOC BGC, Riley, "one brown hand"
╰┈➤ Queer characters and dynamics
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Lesbian MC, Thia
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Masc lesbian MC, Oskaren
‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ WLW dynamic
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✴︎ Gay BGC, Riley


Themes
Corruption, displacement, family secrets, grief, hope, identity, legacies/curses, living under an oppressive rule, love in all its diverse forms, overt wealth, poverty, prophecy, self-discovery, the anguish of "not knowing", the power of "together".


Tropes/What to expect
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Portal fantasy
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Fantastical beings and creatures
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ The chosen one(s)? Perhaps.
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Reluctant found/forced family
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Meet-ugly
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Reluctant allies to lovers
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Sapphic slowburn
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ Rebels/resistance
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ A character haunts the plot
‎ ‎ ‎ ❥ And of course... A tyranny


⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆


What I liked/loved
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ A portal fantasy that doesn't instantly heroify the main character, which in turn, makes it all the more realistic.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ It is such a fun writing choice to make the (presumed) chosen one/hero someone who doesn't want to be, doesn't believe they are or is unable to live up to expectations. Because, yes, it is realistic to fawn or feel lost when thrust into a completely unfamiliar situations. Specifically when dealing with setting-specific hindrances. Combat/self-defence, hiking, camping and unfamiliar social norms or politics don't just come naturally to someone alien to this world.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Thia is a mundane, modern-day student, thrown into a confusing and overwhelming situation she has to learn to navigate. Not instantly excelling is what makes her human in ways that make it easy to relate, root for and/or sympathise with her. I loved this approach to her character and this trope.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Interesting worldbuilding, creatures and different societies/cultures. For spoiler reasons, I won't list all of them and why I love them, but I was definitely fascinated by the witches, the nüygen, the Losrohir and the overall (political) lore of Eldris.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Classic adventure/quest vibes that are very entertaining and easy to read.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Though this is a The Wizard of Oz retelling, it still introduces new and unique concepts, lore, characters, etc.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The characters and their dynamics.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ This group was just so lovable, even more so because they don't try to be. They are flawed, make mistakes, are complex, fight and make up. They feel like real people.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Not everyone in this group instantly clicks. They are thrown together for the sake of a goal, not because they want to be. There is tension, conflict of interest and unspoken pasts that influence the present. This makes the payoff all the more satisfying when they do connect. The vulnerability between them feels earned and hits even harder knowing what leaps of faith that must've been for these characters.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Individually they also shine; they are all layered and go through believable, satisfying, earned character arcs.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✵ Victoria Carbol, I don't know how you did it, but you completely flipped some of my opinions on certain characters. I found myself once again really caring for a character I disliked at their first introduction. It only took two conversations between this character and another to completely change my view. I love it when an author can do so!
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The romantic dynamic deserves its own segment because this doesn't happen to me often, but I was so charmed by the romantic sub-plot. There was believable chemistry, a developed emotional connection before anything physical happened, yearning/pining (my favourite), and I legit felt a few butterflies while reading their scenes.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Also, there is both a "Who did this to you?" and an "Oh no! a knife fight! 😭 Oh no.... a knife fight 😝😏" moment that were amazing.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Masc lesbian representation!!! I'm not gonna lie, a big reason why I requested this ARC was that I saw those magic words. Any masc/stud/dyke/butch representation is still a bit rare, unfortunately. So I was and still am super excited about this specific aspect.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I don't want to compliment such an oppressive force, but the Tyrant is unfortunately really sick (both meanings of the word). The power the Tyrant wields, having access to one's mind when distressed and then showing up in these vulnerable moments, is a crazy wild concept and legit terrifying.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The antagonistic force in this read truly made me huff and puff in anger, disgust and sadness for those affected by it. Which might not sound like a positive, but it is to me. I like any read that manages to make me feel, even when that feeling is intense distress. Even when it lowkey makes me want to throw my e-reader out of sight to calmly breathe for a second (Actually happened BTW. This book made me go THROUGH it at some points).
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The exploration of grief and the specific complexities one might face when dealing with such feelings was so well-written.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Grief isn't always as straightforward as mourning the dead, as sadness and loss. Sometimes someone's absence can be felt in every aspect of one's life. There might be a gaping hole left behind, unanswered questions, family legacies to explore without a guiding hand, and perhaps resenting them for it.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ One might idolise those no longer alive, put them on a pedestal or create an image of them that might not be true, only to be left disappointed.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Perhaps the bereaved search for answers about themselves through the identity of those who passed. Figuring that to know who came before, is to know oneself.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ They might find that complete strangers possess more knowledge of who was lost than they were able to scrape up themself.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ They might unleash Pandora's box with knowledge that can't be unknown.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I love the way Carbol explored these nuances and highlighted the sometimes ugly, undesirable yet extremely realistic aspects that come with grief. Grief isn't pretty; it can be raw like an open wound and ever-changing in its appearance like a healing bruise refusing to ever fully go away.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I appreciate the way this author spends time describing everyone's skin colour and features, not just the ones of characters of colour. Writing this way or not focusing on skin colour or race-defining facial features at all are both valid ways to not write with a white bias.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ This read was darker than I expected, which surprised me in a good way since I expected a more cozy fantasy vibe from the cover. I'm a sucker for darker fantasy, so this was a positive to me.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Visually, there are some pretty gnarly and graphic wound descriptions. I don't know if I could call it straight up body horror, but we get real up close and personal with some parts of bodies normally hidden behind skin, so keep that in mind if that easily icks you out.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Theme-wise, it explores some heavier subjects in a respectful and non-sensational way, which was highly appreciated. An important conversation on these topics was included, touching on responsibility or the lack thereof and consent without graphic details, while explicitly condemning those events.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Some plot twists I truly didn't see coming!
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The last 20% put me through emotional turmoil (complimentary)
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ Oh yeah, did I mention this is a debut???!!!
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ I know not everyone reads the acknowledgements, but I always do, and this one was so lovely.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✧ The ending sets up for a sequel. Though it made me instantly crave the second half of this duology, it did so without being an extreme cliffhanger that would make me rage-text the author (still a cliffhanger though).
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Regardless, I can't wait for any announcements on what Victoria Carbol has planned for us!


What I didn't like/felt lacklustre about
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ It was a teensy bit predictable on some fronts, aside from the obvious Wizard of Oz plot points, of course. I'd say it was somewhat easy to know what would happen up to the last 20%. It didn't bother me as much, though; I still had such a great time, and a few moments still caught me off guard! So this is not actually a huge complaint.
‎ ‎ ‎ ✦ I'm a bit unsure of intended audience; some parts of the writing felt very YA, which is the tag it has on Goodreads and NetGalley, but then we'd (non-explicitly) explore some real heavy topics plus really graphic wound descriptions, so I'm leaning towards labelling this New-Adult myself.


⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆


Conclusion/Notes
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ This was such a fun read! I finished in two days and had an absolute blast with it.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The highlights to me personally were the absolutely lovable found family, the characters on an individual level and the unique elements/world-building I hadn't expected from a retelling.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I'd recommend this read to anyone who loves fantasy adventure stories, diverse characters, found family, a sapphic romantic dynamic and an exploration of grief and identity.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ If any of this entices you, make sure to add A Great And Powerful Tyranny to your TBR and/or your cart. Make sure to follow Victoria Carbol on Instagram as well for any future updates!

Small, very important update: Victoria is a real one for sending me some masc rep recommendations via Instagram after finding out I'm always craving more. What an absolute legend for real!

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

"She didn't want to leave, but she didn't know how to stay."

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆



Want to buddy read this book now or in the future? You can do so on Storygraph.

Follow me on Spotify for reading playlists like this one: 📚 Whimsical Worlds | 📚 General Reading Playlist

Or check out the album specifically made for this universe | A Great and Powerful Tyranny (Original Literary Soundtrack) by Bookish Songs Collective

GoodReads | StoryGraph | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | Overview of all reading playlists | last.fm

[Unpopmary · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Ever since I was a kid, I've found The Wizard of Oz absolutely fascinating, so the moment I learned that A Great and Powerful Tyranny was a sapphic dark fantasy retelling, I knew I had to pick it up. And honestly? It ended up being everything I hoped for and more.

What impressed me most was how fresh this retelling felt while still capturing the heart of the original story. It never felt like it was simply copying familiar elements. Instead, it took inspiration from them and transformed them into something entirely its own. It's been years since I've revisited The Wizard of Oz, so I can't claim to be an expert on every reference, but as someone who grew up loving that story, this adaptation felt like it struck a wonderful balance between honoring the source material and creating something new.

This book also reminded me why I still enjoy YA despite being well outside the target age range. For a long time, I struggled to connect with the genre because many YA books feel written exclusively for teenagers. But every once in a while, a book comes along that captures the emotions of adolescence in a way that resonates regardless of age, and this was one of those books. It understands what it feels like to question who you are, where you belong, and what kind of future you want for yourself. Those are experiences that don't suddenly stop being relatable once you become an adult.

Thia was such an easy protagonist to root for. Raised by her grandmother and believing one thing about her mother's legacy her entire life, she suddenly finds herself forced to confront a very different reality. Watching her navigate that confusion and uncertainty was one of my favorite parts of the story.

What really stood out to me was how her journey became less about living up to someone else's expectations and more about figuring out what she wanted for herself. Her insecurities, self-doubt, and fears felt incredibly authentic, and there were moments when she reminded me so much of my younger self. I loved watching her gradually grow into someone more confident and self-assured. As the story progresses, she learns to trust her own judgment and starts looking beyond her own perspective, which allows her to better understand the people around her and the choices they make. The person she becomes feels worlds apart from the girl we meet at the beginning, and that transformation felt completely earned.

Her companions were just as memorable.

As the Scarecrow counterpart, Dessfar was the companion I connected with most quickly. He has lost his memories and is desperately trying to recover them, but what I loved most was his relationship with Thia. There was something so sweet about the way he always tried to make her feel safe and welcome despite how unfamiliar everything was to her. And that reveal about their relationship? Completely caught me off guard in the best possible way. Looking back, the clues were definitely there, but I never seriously considered the possibility.

Then there's Thran, the Cowardly Lion figure. At first, I honestly wasn't sure if I would ever warm up to him. He initially comes across as selfish, frustrating and well, cowardly. But the more time we spent with him, the more layers Victoria revealed. Slowly, I began to understand the pain and trauma behind so many of his choices, and before I knew it, I was deeply attached to his character. Needless to say, his storyline broke my heart.

And can we talk about how well the friendships were written? Every relationship felt layered and meaningful. The found family aspect of this story was handled beautifully, and it gave the entire book so much heart.

And then there's the romance...Oh my god, the romance.

This book absolutely captured everything I love about first love stories.

Thia and Oskaren's relationship unfolds at exactly the pace I enjoy most. It's a slow burn that takes its time building trust, emotional intimacy, and genuine affection before anything else. Watching their connection develop felt incredibly rewarding because every step mattered.

What I adored most was that Thia never accepted the version of Oskaren that everyone else seemed determined to believe. She saw beyond the curse, beyond the cold exterior, and chose to understand the person hidden underneath. Little by little, she discovered someone vulnerable, lonely, and deserving of love.

And Oskaren? My heart absolutely shattered for her.

I can't even imagine what it would be like to spend your life being labeled as heartless when feeling emotions comes with a cost. Every time she allowed herself to be vulnerable, every time she let her guard down around Thia, it felt significant. Watching her slowly believe that she might actually deserve love after convincing herself otherwise for so long was one of the most touching parts of the entire story.

The yearning. The banter. The emotional intimacy.

Victoria handled every stage of their relationship with so much care, and it shows. By the time they finally got closer, I was completely invested in them.

I also loved the fantasy elements. The magic, the witches, the Losrohir people, and the world itself all felt fascinating and immersive. But what truly elevated everything was Victoria's writing. Her prose felt atmospheric and dreamlike, making it incredibly easy to lose myself in the story. There were moments when I looked up from the page and realized hours had passed without me noticing.

The pacing is a little slower at the beginning, but once the story finds its footing, it maintains a really satisfying momentum. I found myself completely absorbed in Thia's journey and eager to see where everything would lead.

More than anything, though, this book feels like a love letter to anyone who has ever felt lost, out of place, or uncertain about who they are. It captures so many of the emotions that come with growing up while reminding readers that they're not alone in those experiences.

Between the found family dynamics, the unforgettable cast of characters, the gorgeous slow-burn romance, and Thia's journey of self-discovery, this book completely won me over.

And after that ending?

Yeah, I'm going to need the sequel immediately.

Massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the incredible early opportunity to read this book!

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an advanced reader's copy.

A wickedly powerful debut novel and fantastic retelling of the Wizard of Oz, mixed with unique elements and nods to Narnia. From the first chapter, I was enthralled by A Great and Powerful Tyranny. Thia is a med school student, following in the path of her late mother. However, after work, the weather turns, and she's forced to head home to her Grammy. When she accidentally stumbles upon an artifact of her mother's past, she portals into an unfamiliar, magical world. And comes to realize, her mother is not at all who Thia thought she was.

This book is full of my favorite tropes found (slightly forced) family, rivals to lovers, prophecies, unique magic systems, and "who did this to you?" I am absolutely OBSESSED with Carbol's debut novel, and given the ending, I need the sequel more than I need air.

I highly HIGHLY recommend this enchanting and well-paced novel. I cannot wait for others to fall in love with the magical world of Eldris and beyond.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

A Great and powerful Tyranny is a tense and exciting retelling of Wizard of Oz filled with magic, friends and a treacherous quest through an unknown realm. Thia always thought her mother was a doctor but when she finds out it was all a lie and discovers a magic mirror, she gets more than she bargains for after falling through it into another world and finds help from a place called the Haven. This story is split into two parts as Thia and her new companions travel to the king for a way home and then have to complete his quest before he will help.

The King is known for placing curses on people as proven by two of her new friends – Dess’s memories of his roots were removed and Oskaren has lost her heart. I loved the originality of the magic in this story and the danger and tension that runs throughout as Thia does everything she can to return home to her grammy, alive. I also enjoyed the reveal of the prophecy about the Storm Crow which was fascinating as more information is revealed as the story gradually unfolds.

My favourite part about this book is definitely the people! I loved Thia and her 4 companions Oskaren, Dess, Thran and Mavrel the falcon and I really enjoyed seeing their friendship and trust get stronger the more they have to deal with. I loved Thia and Oskaren’s dynamic especially the flirty and sarcastic banter and there was a lot more to uncover about her curse as she slowly opens up to Thia about her past with this slow burn sapphic romance. Thran was also a surprising character, known for his cowardice but he definitely redeemed himself by the end. I also loved the information that Thia finds out about her mother during this quest as there were some quite shocking reveals!

The setting of the various places they visited on this quest were also beautifully described, especially Losrohiria and its people who offered help even when they didn’t need to. There are some exciting action scenes as Thia has to fight for her way home and I really enjoyed the journey this book takes as the group comes up against some surprising foes and work together to help a girl they had only just met.

There was a bit of a lull around the 70-80% mark as they slowly made their way to the final destination to end this once and for all and I was starting to wonder if there would be enough space for the ending. However, the ending completely blew me away with shock twists and tense scenes that perfectly set up book two. When I picked this book up, I didn’t even know it was a series but upon finishing I feel like I need the sequel immediately!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

2.75 stars

A Great and Powerful Tyranny is a Wizard of Oz-style story with Thia as our central character. Unfortunately, I found Thia an unimaginative young woman, always taking everything at face value. She doesn’t seem to wonder, or to care where she is or what’s going on around her. She just knows two things: One, she isn’t the chosen one the people are looking for, and two, she wants to go home. Even when she finds out how this place relates to her mother, Thia doesn’t seem to care. It makes her a frustrating character to read, but it’s not entirely her fault, as almost every chapter is chock full of events. It’s event, reveal, event, reveal, event, event, event … The characters have no time to sit down and think or feel before the book has them hopping to their feet and on to another adventure, which is a shame. This book takes great pains to have travel take time; the characters set up tents, take watch, get tired of carrying things, care for small injuries, and run out of food, but never really stop to talk.

There are some very well done moments, some great foreshadowing, and some really nice plot twists. While the author of the book has some honest storytelling talent, the relentless pace didn’t allow the book or the characters to breathe.

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[Katya Anikeev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally couldn't look away from this book and read it in one sitting the second after I bought it.... Such fun characters, cool twists, and a really easy read. I loved the fantasy vibe and the relationships between the characters. This is so much better then just narnia meets wizard of Oz.

[L Reads Books · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Total: 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)

really enjoyed this book! I’m a big fan of Victoria Carbol’s worldbuilding within her music, so I was excited to see what she did with the book and it did not disappoint! Carbol utilizes the fantastical elements of the original Oz but gives it all a darker twist for her novel. Pacing was a bit slow at times but overall it had me hooked.

The MCs:
Thia - She is exactly how I’d picture a modern Dorothy. I like her as a character, but I think compared to the other main characters she’s a bit dull.
Oskaren - I actually love her. Morally gray love interest but she’s a woman and she’s morally gray because she was cursed. I am also very interested in the exact nature of the curse (which was hinted at throughout the novel)
Dess - My little cutie who needs to be protected at all costs
Thran - This guy was forced into the found family and decided to stay. He’s such an unwilling caretaker and I love him (and then the ending happened 😭)


SPOILERS BELOW!!!
this is genuinely just me trying to gather my thoughts with all the lore drops at the end of the book

-Thia broke the curse and she and Oskaren kissed!!! Yay lesbians!!!
-Solanthe is the Tyrant and she’s the one who cursed Oskaren???
-THRAN IS DEAD. NOOO MY GUY
-THIA AND DESS ARE SIBLINGS????
-Solanthe said she promised Thia and Dess could live… who did she make that promise to? Is Melina still alive?
-Okay so it’s confirmed that Thia is the Storm Crow
-SOLANTHE SENT THIA BACK HOME SO THAT SHE COULD GET HER FAVOR

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the best retelling of Wizard Of Oz in the whole entire universe, but it’s also incredibly itself, there is enough of familiarity to see the similarities between this book and Wizard Of Oz but it’s also so incredibly unique that it’s not a straight up copy and paste, predictable or anything.
This story is about a girl called Thia, the majority of the story takes place after she gets transported to Eldris through a mirror that Thia suspects was her mother’s. Both Thias parents died when she was really young, what Thia knows of them she learned from her grandmother, who she lives with, or did before she got sucked through a mirror portal to Eldris.
The ‘Tin Man’ of this story is a woman called Oskaren, who has been cursed by the tyrant King of Eldris to have no heart. This doesn’t believe this, Thia sees the true Oskaren other people can’t, Thia believes that having no heart means you don’t feel- and Oskaren definitely feels, it just hurts. Oskaren is incredibly strong, to be going through that pain all day every day, she’s also so caring, and the part of the book where her full story is explained is heartbreaking, to see how much she cares even though it physically causes her a lot of intense pain, and everyone has given up on her, thought her lost, they grieve for her almost, yet Oskaren is still there.
The ‘Scarecrow’ of this story is Dess, who has lost all his memories, he was taken in by Oskarens mother Sorsha when he finds himself in the Blackwoods, so Oskaren and Dess see each other as siblings and their relationship was so beautiful before Oskarens curse. Dess is the first to truly bond with Thia, it’s almost instant, they are incredibly cute together and I love their relationship so much, I truly hope Dess gets his memories back in the sequel.
The ‘Coward’ of this story is a man named Thran, forced to go on the adventure with Thia and Dess to gain back his honor after he left thirteen men to die after fleeing his scouting role after seeing kings soldiers. Thrans story is definitely one that touches the feels, he knows what he did was wrong, yet he keeps fleeing, fleeing when his friends are in danger. In my opinion he sort of takes on the father role to Thia on their adventure, their relationship is incredibly special to me, even with his flaws I adore Thran so much, his pain really comes across through the writing.
I loved the magicalness of this book, not all fantasy stories can fully capture the truly magical feeling like fairytales do, but this one definitely does and I loved it the most.
“I’ll see you home.” is truly the line of the book and is just is the whole vibe of the book, it matches perfectly. I could talk about this book for hours I am incredibly grateful for it and I enjoyed it so incredibly much, thank you so much for this experience.

[East of Reality · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for abelism in a big way.

Our love interest, Oskaren, was a delightful child. Easy to love, made friends, was helpful and kind. Then she went away to the big not-so-green city to earn money for her family. There she was cursed or rather groomed, sexually harassed, and then cursed for not being flattered by the person making moves on her. Now she's heartless, cold and indifferent. She's broken, changed, and her mother says that she wishes her daughter were dead.

Not because she hates her! But because she's now hard to love and can't love her mother back. She's disabled, and her mother things it's a horrible thing that she can remember being happy, being un-broken, and wouldn't it be better if she had just died?

Then there's Thia, the main character who wants to be a doctor and has been accepted into Harvard pouring alcohol into every cut and stab wound she sees which is ... not good. Why did the author make her interested in being a doctor if she's not going to look up whether pouring alcohol on a cut is a good thing or not? Hint, it's not.

Thia also -- during an attack where she is flanked by two actual fighters with her in between them -- runs off because it's tactical. Splitting the attack. Instead the other two have to now run after Thia, getting hurt, in order to protect her. For the first quarter or so of the book I wondered if Thia was simply too stupid and if I should spare my brain cells and DNF.

But, the book did get better! The plotting and foreshadowing is actually very well done, and the final third of the book is pretty solid -- both story and character wise. But, the first two thirds of this book is ... slow, sloggy and boring despite having some grand event and reveal happening every chapter. That's because the main character, Thia, is a dull and lifeless creature with no opinion, thought, or feeling. She observes and while she does participate -- she's active in the story, just not introspective -- and it's hard to get a grasp on who she is as a person.

Roughly after the magical forest, Thia starts to bloom. She shows more concern towards other people, starts thinking about the future, starts having likes and dislikes. And it's a shame, but the final third just isn't strong enough to balance out the desultory first part.

[Kimberley Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A crash landing through a magic mirror takes the reader on a journey down a dark and twisted yellow brick road with dangers closer to home than they are initially believed.

To put such a modern spin on such a classic tale is bold, but I truly believe the story achieved by Carbol here is something to be admired. Beginning in a modern Kansas, Thia as a character demonstrates the quieter, less magical cost of a tyranny faced in modern day Amercia's reality. The exhaustion felt by this character from her medical student life, pressures to maintain family expectations and the mysteries surrounding her parents past, would almost make the reader think it would be a relief to fall into a magical world for a bit of escapism. But the world she falls into is just as rife with tyranny though with more explicit immediate threats being thrown her way. There is magic, gore, curses and no way to tell who is the good or bad witch.

The twists on the gifts/curses from the beloved original tale are so delightfully twisted in this retelling. Particularly Oskaren's lack of "heart" - when indeed she was the character that made me feel the most. Thia and Oskaren's journey to each other despite themselves is full of yearning and tension that several times had me screaming for them to admit their feelings. A slow-burn absolutely worth the pain!

The world itself is huge. I will admit throughout I was slightly worried it may have been too big given the very many quick stops and diversions Thia and her friends made on their way to meet the Mage King. As a reader, I did feel slightly ushered from place to place without really knowing the purpose. However, knowing now that this will be a series, I feel more confident in that the more exposure there is to the world as the narrative unfolds, I will better understand it.

The soundtrack to the book was absolutely exceptional and I cannot wait to both read and hear what the next one has in store.

Thank you to Victoria Carbol for the ARC.

[Saltea · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book! I didn't realize until I started reading it that it is YA, which I am keeping in mind with my review of the book. Also, I was listening to the audiobook, which may have had an impact on my experience as well.

This is a dark retelling of The Wizard of Oz, which is a book that I have never read—but I have watched the movie and seen Wicked the movie Part 1, so I am not super familiar with the story but I know enough that I could catch some references easily.

If I had read this when I was 15 I would have absolutely been feral for it. Thia is a character that I likely could have easily connected with when I was a teenager and very young adult. I love the concept and premise, I love the sense of found family, I love the adventure. But something about the way it is written seems to hold it back for me. I can't quite place it, but there is a clunkiness, along with moments where I have to go back and re-listen or re-read to determine whether I misread something or there's a weird plot blooper (like in TV shows when someone's sleeves keep shifting from rolled up to long and back to rolled up but then back to long every time the camera angle changes because they forgot where the sleeves were when filming the scene again at a later time). But I didn't confirm just how much was my brain, clunky writing, or actual errors. And overall I still enjoyed the journey.

I predicted a fair bit of the reveals, but I don't really think that is shocking or bad. And one reveal definitely caught me off guard, even though I still did expect part of that twist—just not in its entirety.

I haven't decided if I'm going to read book two yet or not, but I definitely would have if I was a teenager and it was available to me. For now I'm leaning toward just letting this series go, unless I really find myself wanting to see how it continues at some point in the future. The next book isn't even out yet.

[Annie Tasaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝟱⭐️𝗔 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗹. ⁣
⁣
This young adult sapphic reimagining of The Wizard of Oz was such a delight, feeling both fresh and familiar, I flew through it. It got put on my radar because the author is local to me and I am so grateful I picked it up. Easy 5⭐️. ⁣
⁣
Thia lives with her grandma in Kansas. Orphaned at a young age she tries her hardest to live up to her to her mother’s legacy by becoming a doctor. It doesn’t quite feel like the right fit for her, but it’s the path that was chosen for her and she’s determined to make her grandma proud. ⁣
⁣
When she falls into a world of magic she finds herself on a magical quest to return home with three cursed companions.⁣
⁣
Dessfar as the Scarecrow, a young boy who has been cursed to have no memory. I immediately took a liking to him. ⁣
Thran, the Cowardly Lion who eventually won my heart. ⁣
And Oskaren’s as the Tin Man who has been cursed to not have a heart. ⁣
⁣
This trio set on an adventure that kept me reading late into the night and that ending, I need to get an ETA on book two immediately. ⁣
⁣
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:⁣
* 🌳𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁.⁣
* 🌪️𝗖𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.⁣
* 🌳𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆. ⁣
* 🌪️𝗥𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼.⁣
* 🌳𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻.⁣
⁣
“𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.”⁣
“𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲,” 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆.⁣
𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆. “𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.”⁣
⁣
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄. • 𝗬𝗔. • 𝗦𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰. • 𝗪𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘇 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱.

[Victoria Carbol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi, it's me, the author! I'm not biased at all with this star rating, teehee. I'm just popping in to list the content warnings here (they are also in the front of the book) and then I will scamper away from this space.

Let me start by mentioning that this is a Young Adult book aimed at readers ages 14-18 (Grade 7 and up, as School Library Journal listed it), so each of these topics is handled with sensitivity and care, to the best of my ability, with that young audience in mind. That said, this book contains elements regarding violence, blood and gore, death and grief (especially regarding a parent), displacement, medical treatment and procedures, animal harm, homophobia, and discussion of grooming and sexual assault (this is explored in relation to a character's backstory, it does not occur on page). Readers who may be sensitive to these issues are advised to take note.

Falling into a world of magic and oppression, Kansas-born Thia joins three cursed companions in a quest to free them and send herself home. Readers who also yearn to quest will find this one full of:

-pesky prophecies, haunted mountains, and magical forests
-liars and tyrants and beasts, oh my!
-questions of family legacy and belonging
-gay girls slaying (literally and figuratively)
-“maybe the real magic was the friends we made along the way” wholesomeness

If that sounds good to you, then I hope you enjoy this sapphic Wizard of Oz reimagining!

With love and whimsy,
Victoria

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the Wizard of Oz, Owl House, She Ra and the Princesses of Power got together and had a book baby, it would look something like A Great and Powerful Tyranny.

Very much a Wizard of Oz retelling, it is full of teenage sapphic confused feelings and yearning, young, motley found family and I dare say the awkward grossness that comes with being a teenager.

I loved the romance subplot, the originality of Carbol's reinterpretation and how she has made a world that will make queer teens feel safe and seen.

While there was some gore and hard topics that AGATT deals with, the writing was further towards the younger end of YA than I was expecting.

I think I would have adored this as a tween/early teen. Having read a lot of high and lyrical adult fantasy lately, the tone contrast felt like a big jump for me personally.

Buy this book for your queer teens, or if you want to escape with the protagonist Thia into an alternate fantasy world with the vibes of the books/shows I mentioned at the beginning!

Many thanks to Page St YA for the eARC and specifically emailing to ask if I'd like to read this one in return for my unbiased review.

[Sawyer · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I really liked it, super sad that the next book isn’t out yet :(





Spoilers ahead!





The major character death was so uncalled for and I feel like the characters didn’t care. There was a vague “oh no!” And then they just left his body there. The ending seemed rushed in general, and although it was an interesting take on the Wizard of Oz, all the “plot twists” (which were technically not twists because we know the story etc) were all stacked together so quickly you didn’t really have time to process them. It seemed like the author had a deadline to meet and then had to put everything in at the same time, and I major plot twist happened in the epilogue, which in my opinion, shouldn’t happen. Either make one last chapter or leave it for the next book, it didn’t really need a cliffhanger on top of a cliffhanger to keep me engaged and wanting to read the next book. But, in all, I did enjoy the book and had a good time reading it, the ending just brought it down roughly .5 stars.

[Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel.

A dark and wickedly thorny retelling of a literacy classic The Wizard of Oz. Carbol's debut novel brings a new life and even more queerness to the world of Oz in A great and Powerful Tyranny. I am a glutton for retellings especially queer retellings and there are so many incredible stories throughout history that sometimes are so obtrusively straight (sorry..). I enjoyed the blend of classic OZness with Carbol's creative world twists and storytelling. The reason I gave this three stars is because I felt like the pacing was off and the ending was somewhat thrown together. In my opinion the story would move steadily in some parts and then fully speed up or slow during important parts. I also feel that the ending was somewhat rushed though and was rushed.

[Ari · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

We need more sapphic fantasy books like this! Finished reading this book over two days and loved the retelling of Wizard of Oz with sapphic elements. Highlight has to be the characters. Dess is such a sweetheart and Oskaren, brooding baddie she is, stole the attention right off the page with her dialogue from her first (or rather, second) appearance. The emerging romance was fun to read and I couldn't with all the snarky comments and later, tender moments. As well, the descriptions were beautiful, especially the dance with the Losrohir. Even clothes are well-detailed in the story, painting a perfect image of how the realm was like. Another highlight was watching the relationships between the characters grow throughout their adventures, definitely resonant with the idea of a found family. Looking forward to the sequel!

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book lost me pretty early on, when Thia first arrived in 'Oz'. It felt like the author was so keen to get to the action that we rushed through all of the adjustment and world-building that is usually the most fun part of portal fantasies. I really liked her character at the very start but it felt like all of that characterisation was undone the second she left Kansas. Nothing really sold it me from then on, as it felt a bit like going through the motions. I know it's the first half of a duology, but the end felt abrupt and anti-climactic. I would have loved to just spend a bit more time with it all, and to feel the emotional beats of the story as much as the action.

I received a free copy for review via NetGalley.

[Cheyenne Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh that was so fun! I loved the world-building for Eldris as we learned more about it alongside Thia, who is a more classic, refreshing "girl on a quest" protagonist than some of my recent reads. She's still young, clearly sorting through all the emotions that come from her ever-changing situation, but also smart enough to 1) know when to take advice from the people around her and 2) piece together the well-woven threads of this story by the very end.

Carbol left enough breadcrumbs across the page to lead us through an overall fantastic retelling of The Wizard of Oz, while also breathing enough new life into it to keep us guessing before each twist. I'm glad this is set as a duology (and that I knew that fact going into it) because I cannot wait to see what else comes next.

[Rae Quigley]

This is going to be a beloved book for a lot of people, and I am so excited for that audience to find this. There is nothing *bad* about this. There’s actually a lot of really great elements, and I actually really liked the retelling of this. It was unique, and it was interesting, and had a really fun twist on it with the portal aspect. So why did I DNF? If just isn’t captivating me. I keep finding myself stopping and picking up my phone, or wanting to be watching TV. And when I’m away from it, I don’t feel any kind of calling to go back to it. The fact I’m just barely over the halfway mark… it was time for me to hang it up.

[Serina’s Stories wolfganghollows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Wizard Of Oz and I love Wicked and the idea of a sapphic retelling of the Wizard of Oz was well up my street. I can’t believe this is a debut novel, Carbol’s writing comes across as a seasoned writer and a fantasy author to watch out for. This is a retelling very loosely based on the wizard of oz, there are some basic premises that are similar but on the whole this is a completely new and awesome fantasy tale and I found myself at the end hoping for a book 2 🤞🏻

I hope this becomes a series of novels based in this world.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the author for an ARC for my honest review,

[Sapphire Detective · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

As many of you know at this point I love a good retelling. And this is a pretty good one! In a world where Wicked will always be the dominant way people think of a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, this managed to craft its own vision for the world, pulling still from Oz lore without treading the same ground the Maguire's series did. At times this does drift into a standard feeling of dark YA fantasy, with all the blood, guts, and grimdark that comes with that expectation, but elements of this rise above that. Mostly of this all comes about from the way that Dorothy's companions are reimagined, especially the Tin Man in the form of Oskaren, who also serves as our love interest here. Quite worth the read, imo, and I intend to listen to the soundtrack provided too.

Overall rating: 4.5/5
Would I own/re-read?: Maybe!
TW: Violence, Blood, Gore, Death, Grief, Displacement. Medical Discussion, Homophobia, Grooming, Sexual Assault (thank you Victoria Carbol for including a trigger warning page at the front)
Does the animal die?: One of the trigger warnings at the front of the book (not included above since I have this section) is animal harm, so be noted of that.

[Kacey Holme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me captivated from the first page. A true wizard of Oz retelling with plenty original ideas to give it it's own story. The slow burn and the yearning leading up until that end... i felt Thia's pain. I'm so excited to hear that this is part of a duology as I desperately need part 2!!!!

It's one of those books that you can just sit and read forever.

[K]

I requested this book from Netgalley because of its premise. Unfortunately, the publisher is undermining the author here by not allowing her to find the appropriate reviewers. Nowhere in the review page does it give a list of content warnings (which, to her great credit, the author herself does in the book), which is especially troubling when the triggers are incredibly common and appear literally in the first sentence.

[Chiara aka Giorg¡a · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the whimsy and all the adventure vibes with this one! You gotta trust the process and really let yourself fall into the world that Victoria has created. I loved the characters more and more with every chapter, like slowly falling through the portal to Eldris step by step. By the end I was fully immersed and now I need the sequel STAT!!!

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great and Powerful Tyranny is filled with magic and unlikely friendships. This sapphic romantasy has lots of pining, action, and an ending which leaves the door open for another book.

“Thank you, Page Street YA, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

[Alex Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been such a cozy read! I loved the mystery vibes, each character was unique and had their own story. Can’t wait to read the sequel.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

not gonna lie, totally got wicked vibes from the cover

[I'm only whatever you make me]

I really don't understand all the positive reviews this book received.

The protagonist gets emotionally attached to a group of people she hardly knows, no depth, boring.

[Lisa Öhlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,75 ⭐️