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The Wicked Years #0.25
Galinda: A Charmed Childhood
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26In this sister volume to Elphie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Gregory Maguire shares the eagerly awaited origin story of Galinda, the pink-clad, effervescent, and popular favorite character.
Who was Glinda the Good Witch before she floated down in her bubble to greet Dorothy? Who was Glinda before she became Elphaba Thropp’s magnetic and popular roommate at Shiz University?
Well, before then, she was Galinda. With a “ga.”
The youngest of four children in a high-born family down on their luck, Galinda is both pampered and ignored. Her natural grace promises to elevate her in the district dance competitions—but these efforts distract her from seeing the growing resentments of local merchants who disapprove of her family’s business strategies. Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it. However, as her father deftly pivots around the snares and nets laid for him by his competitors, Galinda begins to dance toward a life that might lift her above her proud, if hardscrabble, childhood.
Galinda reveals the girl behind the bubbly, shallow cliché—offering fans of Wicked their first richer glimpse into the life of a beloved and iconic character.
Who was Glinda the Good Witch before she floated down in her bubble to greet Dorothy? Who was Glinda before she became Elphaba Thropp’s magnetic and popular roommate at Shiz University?
Well, before then, she was Galinda. With a “ga.”
The youngest of four children in a high-born family down on their luck, Galinda is both pampered and ignored. Her natural grace promises to elevate her in the district dance competitions—but these efforts distract her from seeing the growing resentments of local merchants who disapprove of her family’s business strategies. Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it. However, as her father deftly pivots around the snares and nets laid for him by his competitors, Galinda begins to dance toward a life that might lift her above her proud, if hardscrabble, childhood.
Galinda reveals the girl behind the bubbly, shallow cliché—offering fans of Wicked their first richer glimpse into the life of a beloved and iconic character.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Gregory Maguire
107 books9,355 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 71 reviews
Did Not Finish
June 26, 2026Thank you to NetGalley & Gregory Maguire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dearest darlingest g(a)linda,
im superbly sorry that i did not finish your childhood biography. while i love and adore all your pink- and pretti-ness, your biography did not reflect your pink and pretty spirit. unfortunatishisly, it read more like an attempt to copycat peaky blinders (which you must watch, my friend), and while i understand your popsicle was a tommy shelby type character (whom i love with all my heart), i was craving more pink- and pretti-ness. i am sorry i did not attend the rest of your pageant auditions, but im sure that you won and became very very 💗popular💗 like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ✨✨✨
✨𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽✨
ARC APPROVED BECAUSE IM 💗POPULAR💗
dearest darlingest g(a)linda,
im superbly sorry that i did not finish your childhood biography. while i love and adore all your pink- and pretti-ness, your biography did not reflect your pink and pretty spirit. unfortunatishisly, it read more like an attempt to copycat peaky blinders (which you must watch, my friend), and while i understand your popsicle was a tommy shelby type character (whom i love with all my heart), i was craving more pink- and pretti-ness. i am sorry i did not attend the rest of your pageant auditions, but im sure that you won and became very very 💗popular💗 like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ✨✨✨
✨𝓪𝓻𝓬 𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽✨
ARC APPROVED BECAUSE IM 💗POPULAR💗
Want to Read
November 24, 2025Marked as to-read so I'll be ✨popular✨.
June 13, 2026
Special thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC! Let’s just say this was a “thrillifying” book to be able to read before it hits the shelves. If you’re a fan of Wicked and have ever wanted more insight into Galinda’s backstory, this is definitely worth picking up. I may be a little biased, but there was no scenario where you could put a book about Glinda in front of me and expect me not to enjoy it. While her privileged upbringing is a major part of her story, the book digs far deeper than wealth, popularity, and social status. Beneath the glitter and pink is a family tangled in dysfunction, hidden truths, and complicated relationships. As the only daughter, Galinda is treated like a jewel, yet she’s often overlooked in the ways that matter most. The novel does a great job showing how she develops the poise and confidence that we recognize later on. This story not only added depth to a beloved character, but also explores the ways power, privilege, and expectations shape who we become.
Read
December 5, 2025Looking for explicit confirmation that my girl G(a)linda is hella gay. That's all.
May 17, 2026
Well, here comes another installment in the canon of the Wicked universe. To a large degree, this book was a lot like Elphie, which is not surprising because it seems that was rather the heavy-handed point: no matter how different Elphie and Galinda seem, they — and perhaps all of us — are essentially cut from the same cloth. One could argue that this was the actual point of the original story of Wicked. But this story also tells us that no amount of wealth or material success can substitute for parents who are devoted to their child’s personal growth and development and who provide adequate love and attention. In the end, for both sets of parents, the pursuit of status turns out to be an empty endeavor that neither benefits nor enriches the lives of their children.
That said, this was not a very enjoyable read for me. Much like Elphie, this story sacrificed overall plot for individual character development. Unlike Elphie, however, the character development in this novel was rather thin, and I found much of the book scattered and disjointed. In addition to continuing the author’s trend of describing landscapes that were not easy to visualize, the book also included a great deal of detail about Highmuster’s dealings in the aggregate business, which was neither interesting nor easy to keep track of. The spent a lot of time building anticipation around important emotional moments only to resolve it all in a short sentence. The dance-training sequences are the best example of this. The author devotes extensive attention to the preparation, hope, and expectation surrounding these competitions, only for the actual outcomes to occur almost as an afterthought. At one point, I had to reread a passage because I genuinely thought I had skipped over the competition itself, only to realize that it had already come and gone in a single line. I don't know if the intent was to gloss past the failures in the same way that Galinda would push through the unpleasantness of not being the best, but for us folks with a normal emotional IQ, the tonal whiplash and lack of payoff just felt empty.
And, with few exceptions, the characters were all either unlikeable, unscrupulous, or untrustworthy. There also appears to be a thick vein of delusion running through these characters’ lives. Ironically, the most compelling emotional arcs in the novel don't belong to Galinda, but to the side characters in her life. Ham, despite being relegated to the background, undergoes a genuinely tragic transformation from an intelligent and hopeful boy into someone trapped by the very corruption he once hoped to escape. Likewise, Grandmama is the clear emotional center and grounding force with the family, stepping in to care for Galinda while simultaneously trying to shield the family from Highmuster’s recklessness. Her efforts basically go unnoticed by the very people who depend on her most, and it is feels unfair for her to be taken for granted only to up and die before the book is done.
Galinda’s father, Highmuster, gave off corrupt politician vibes, and he lived up to them through his actions as well. The way he skirted the law was deplorable, and the way it eventually caught up with him was unsatisfying. Larena is presented as a largely absent and emotionally distant mother, and she remains that way throughout the book. She is depicted as a former socialite who has fallen from grace after a natural disaster destroyed her home and much of her family wealth. But the way she abandons her role as a parent in her efforts to crawl back onto the pedestal is equally unsatisfying. I found the storyline with her brothers uninteresting and, aside from Ham’s ascent to the top of the family business, I was not sure why it was included. I also didn’t understand why there had to be a character who did not speak and otherwise had no personality (Bacon). And I didn’t connect with Ibbison (whose death also occurs in a throwaway sentence), Dora, or Angusta, and Pork was forgettable.
As for Galinda, well, she was grating, had an astounding lack of self-awareness, and was unlikeable overall. As a child, her perspective lacked the natural curiosity and innocence one would expect from an eight-year-old, and far too much of her parents’ fake and phony personas shone through despite the lack of actual time spent with them. She asks to go to school because she suspects that the girls she dislikes look down on her for being uneducated. And while it might ordinarily seem noble to depict a character asking for the chance to learn despite being largely ignored, her efforts are undermined by the fact that her motivations come across as insincere and self-serving. Much like her father, Galinda’s enemies are imaginary, and she endeavors to get ahead because she feels entitled, not because she is genuinely interested in learning.
From a very young age, the conceit and self-centeredness were so strong that they became difficult to tolerate at times. She thinks highly of herself and is convinced that her perspective is always correct. There is an undeniable sense that whenever Galinda engages with another character, it is for the sole purpose of manipulation. She learns to choose her words carefully early on, and though this may have been a survival skill, it mostly made her seem deceitful. During the chapters focused on her childhood, instead of being fascinated by a talking donkey, she is cruel to him despite the fact that he saves her, she feels contempt for a figment of her own imagination despite the fact that it apparently helped her through some difficult times, and she seems incapable of showing basic kindness though several characters demonstrate it to her clearly. Overall, the lack of empathy is so prevalent that it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her with the character she eventually becomes.
But, maybe that was the point. One of the thoughts I kept returning to while reading this book was how profoundly unlikeable Galinda is. But then I realized that I felt much the same way while reading Elphie. Maybe these books are not actually interested in making us love these characters. Maybe the characters themselves are simply the vehicles through which the author tells a larger story about family, identity, morality, and values. Rather than romanticizing these iconic figures, both novels seem determined to lean into their flaws to an almost frustrating degree, perhaps in an effort to dismantle the audience’s instinct to glorify them in the first place.
Even so, that approach made for a tough reading experience for me. And then, just like in Elphie, we blink and suddenly she is off to Shiz. The final line — “Will I make a friend?” — felt strangely insincere after the book spent so much time portraying Galinda as emotionally detached, manipulative, and incurious about the people around her. It makes no sense that she has a pensive moment just because she saw an owl when she seemed utterly incapable of critical thinking in the preceding 260 pages. And so, just like in Elphie, I walked away feeling as though nothing had really happened and yet there was still so much left to say. I felt unfulfilled but could not decide if I wanted mroe or less. Even still, despite my own reading experience and what I've written, I didn't hate the writing style and there was a lot to parse through in trying to write this. So, I still feel comfortable giving this 3 stars.
Thank you so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.
That said, this was not a very enjoyable read for me. Much like Elphie, this story sacrificed overall plot for individual character development. Unlike Elphie, however, the character development in this novel was rather thin, and I found much of the book scattered and disjointed. In addition to continuing the author’s trend of describing landscapes that were not easy to visualize, the book also included a great deal of detail about Highmuster’s dealings in the aggregate business, which was neither interesting nor easy to keep track of. The spent a lot of time building anticipation around important emotional moments only to resolve it all in a short sentence. The dance-training sequences are the best example of this. The author devotes extensive attention to the preparation, hope, and expectation surrounding these competitions, only for the actual outcomes to occur almost as an afterthought. At one point, I had to reread a passage because I genuinely thought I had skipped over the competition itself, only to realize that it had already come and gone in a single line. I don't know if the intent was to gloss past the failures in the same way that Galinda would push through the unpleasantness of not being the best, but for us folks with a normal emotional IQ, the tonal whiplash and lack of payoff just felt empty.
And, with few exceptions, the characters were all either unlikeable, unscrupulous, or untrustworthy. There also appears to be a thick vein of delusion running through these characters’ lives. Ironically, the most compelling emotional arcs in the novel don't belong to Galinda, but to the side characters in her life. Ham, despite being relegated to the background, undergoes a genuinely tragic transformation from an intelligent and hopeful boy into someone trapped by the very corruption he once hoped to escape. Likewise, Grandmama is the clear emotional center and grounding force with the family, stepping in to care for Galinda while simultaneously trying to shield the family from Highmuster’s recklessness. Her efforts basically go unnoticed by the very people who depend on her most, and it is feels unfair for her to be taken for granted only to up and die before the book is done.
Galinda’s father, Highmuster, gave off corrupt politician vibes, and he lived up to them through his actions as well. The way he skirted the law was deplorable, and the way it eventually caught up with him was unsatisfying. Larena is presented as a largely absent and emotionally distant mother, and she remains that way throughout the book. She is depicted as a former socialite who has fallen from grace after a natural disaster destroyed her home and much of her family wealth. But the way she abandons her role as a parent in her efforts to crawl back onto the pedestal is equally unsatisfying. I found the storyline with her brothers uninteresting and, aside from Ham’s ascent to the top of the family business, I was not sure why it was included. I also didn’t understand why there had to be a character who did not speak and otherwise had no personality (Bacon). And I didn’t connect with Ibbison (whose death also occurs in a throwaway sentence), Dora, or Angusta, and Pork was forgettable.
As for Galinda, well, she was grating, had an astounding lack of self-awareness, and was unlikeable overall. As a child, her perspective lacked the natural curiosity and innocence one would expect from an eight-year-old, and far too much of her parents’ fake and phony personas shone through despite the lack of actual time spent with them. She asks to go to school because she suspects that the girls she dislikes look down on her for being uneducated. And while it might ordinarily seem noble to depict a character asking for the chance to learn despite being largely ignored, her efforts are undermined by the fact that her motivations come across as insincere and self-serving. Much like her father, Galinda’s enemies are imaginary, and she endeavors to get ahead because she feels entitled, not because she is genuinely interested in learning.
From a very young age, the conceit and self-centeredness were so strong that they became difficult to tolerate at times. She thinks highly of herself and is convinced that her perspective is always correct. There is an undeniable sense that whenever Galinda engages with another character, it is for the sole purpose of manipulation. She learns to choose her words carefully early on, and though this may have been a survival skill, it mostly made her seem deceitful. During the chapters focused on her childhood, instead of being fascinated by a talking donkey, she is cruel to him despite the fact that he saves her, she feels contempt for a figment of her own imagination despite the fact that it apparently helped her through some difficult times, and she seems incapable of showing basic kindness though several characters demonstrate it to her clearly. Overall, the lack of empathy is so prevalent that it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her with the character she eventually becomes.
But, maybe that was the point. One of the thoughts I kept returning to while reading this book was how profoundly unlikeable Galinda is. But then I realized that I felt much the same way while reading Elphie. Maybe these books are not actually interested in making us love these characters. Maybe the characters themselves are simply the vehicles through which the author tells a larger story about family, identity, morality, and values. Rather than romanticizing these iconic figures, both novels seem determined to lean into their flaws to an almost frustrating degree, perhaps in an effort to dismantle the audience’s instinct to glorify them in the first place.
Even so, that approach made for a tough reading experience for me. And then, just like in Elphie, we blink and suddenly she is off to Shiz. The final line — “Will I make a friend?” — felt strangely insincere after the book spent so much time portraying Galinda as emotionally detached, manipulative, and incurious about the people around her. It makes no sense that she has a pensive moment just because she saw an owl when she seemed utterly incapable of critical thinking in the preceding 260 pages. And so, just like in Elphie, I walked away feeling as though nothing had really happened and yet there was still so much left to say. I felt unfulfilled but could not decide if I wanted mroe or less. Even still, despite my own reading experience and what I've written, I didn't hate the writing style and there was a lot to parse through in trying to write this. So, I still feel comfortable giving this 3 stars.
Thank you so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.
May 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
In hindsight, I should have anticipated that this book was coming after last year's Elphie, but the reason I didn't anticipate it is probably the same as why I enjoyed it less: there's less of an existing foundation into what Galinda's childhood to build off of than we did Elphaba's. (Unless there was more material in other books in the Wicked Years cycle; I only ever read the first.) Many of the events in Elphie were alluded to in the later chapters of Wicked: her mother's death, the birth of her brother Shell, and the years the family spent doing missionary work in Quadling Country. Galinda's entire childhood isn't, to my memory, alluded to at all, and while arguably that gives Maguire more room to be creative, to me, I just cared slightly less. I did enjoy the hints as to how Galinda developed into her personality--her parents are reminiscent of Matilda Wormwood's, with a scheming, crooked businessman father and a socialite mother who's never at home, and neither of them are interested in cultivating her interest in learning and going to school. But the plot was less engaging to me than was Elphie--right up until the end, where the final line of the book made me burst into tears in a way previously not seen since Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stood on opposite sides of a door.
Also, just as I loved that Elphie was dedicated to Cynthia Erivo and Idina Menzel, it made me smile to see this book dedicated to Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth.
In hindsight, I should have anticipated that this book was coming after last year's Elphie, but the reason I didn't anticipate it is probably the same as why I enjoyed it less: there's less of an existing foundation into what Galinda's childhood to build off of than we did Elphaba's. (Unless there was more material in other books in the Wicked Years cycle; I only ever read the first.) Many of the events in Elphie were alluded to in the later chapters of Wicked: her mother's death, the birth of her brother Shell, and the years the family spent doing missionary work in Quadling Country. Galinda's entire childhood isn't, to my memory, alluded to at all, and while arguably that gives Maguire more room to be creative, to me, I just cared slightly less. I did enjoy the hints as to how Galinda developed into her personality--her parents are reminiscent of Matilda Wormwood's, with a scheming, crooked businessman father and a socialite mother who's never at home, and neither of them are interested in cultivating her interest in learning and going to school. But the plot was less engaging to me than was Elphie--right up until the end, where the final line of the book made me burst into tears in a way previously not seen since Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stood on opposite sides of a door.
Also, just as I loved that Elphie was dedicated to Cynthia Erivo and Idina Menzel, it made me smile to see this book dedicated to Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth.
June 9, 2026
I received this as an ARC!
I love the whole Wicked story line from the moment I read the first book and this was such a fun introduction to young Galinda. You really get to see where she came from and why she was so desperate to be liked and “popular”. This Galinda is much truer to the book as opposed to the musical(both of which are fantastic) so be prepared if you’ve really only seen the musical. As always with a Gregory Maguire book, the writing was phenomenal and the story compelling. 10/10 would recommend!
I love the whole Wicked story line from the moment I read the first book and this was such a fun introduction to young Galinda. You really get to see where she came from and why she was so desperate to be liked and “popular”. This Galinda is much truer to the book as opposed to the musical(both of which are fantastic) so be prepared if you’ve really only seen the musical. As always with a Gregory Maguire book, the writing was phenomenal and the story compelling. 10/10 would recommend!
May 10, 2026
Oh, Gregory. This is exactly the book I wanted, after Wicked and Elphie.
I love the Wicked musical and I love the books that it was born from (however loosely, let’s be honest). Really, anything Gregory Maguire writes is very in my wheelhouse. Once Elphie came out promising and delivering a glimpse into these star crossed friends beginnings, I waited (im)patiently for the next one, sure to come, on our spoiled but ultimately sweet little pink confection, Galinda.
This book delivered. It was everything I wanted it to be. Of course, Galinda came from money, being the only girl and doted upon, but as expected, it goes deeper than that here. A family in ruin with more secrets than sense, a young girl who is the family princess but generally ignored, who learns to use her poise and attitude to her advantage, while also watching her family members use various means of power or threats and coercion to theirs. It shows very clearly how we end up with the Galinda that we meet in Wicked, but more importantly, makes you think about why women need to do these things in the first place.
If you love the Wicked universe, you will love this book. It is a fantastic addition to the world and an interesting read from start to finish.
I love the Wicked musical and I love the books that it was born from (however loosely, let’s be honest). Really, anything Gregory Maguire writes is very in my wheelhouse. Once Elphie came out promising and delivering a glimpse into these star crossed friends beginnings, I waited (im)patiently for the next one, sure to come, on our spoiled but ultimately sweet little pink confection, Galinda.
This book delivered. It was everything I wanted it to be. Of course, Galinda came from money, being the only girl and doted upon, but as expected, it goes deeper than that here. A family in ruin with more secrets than sense, a young girl who is the family princess but generally ignored, who learns to use her poise and attitude to her advantage, while also watching her family members use various means of power or threats and coercion to theirs. It shows very clearly how we end up with the Galinda that we meet in Wicked, but more importantly, makes you think about why women need to do these things in the first place.
If you love the Wicked universe, you will love this book. It is a fantastic addition to the world and an interesting read from start to finish.
Want to Read
November 27, 2025November 26, 2025
Marking as 'want to read' ... maybe
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood
Marking as 'want to read' ... maybe
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Galinda: A Charmed Childhood is the latest expansion of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked Years books. As the title suggests this book provides the backstory for “Glinda the Good”, giving a peek behind the curtains at the foundational childhood experiences that shaped the type of person Galinda was when she arrived at Shiz. For those readers who are looking for an engaging and compelling storytelling experience, this book may come up short on those expectations. But for those readers who are hungry for lore and backstory, this book is definitely going to scratch that itch.
The story dives deep on the Arduenna Upland family, introducing us to Galinda’s parents, brothers and grandmother as they try to make ends meet while living in a cramped and run down old mill. The family’s prosperity is in ruins after a natural disaster destroyed the Upland ancestral home, but the family patriarch Highmuster has a plan dig the family out of squalor and return them to heights of nobility. Eight year old Galinda isn’t part of these plans, her only care in the world is to win the local dance competition and gain an invitation to Shiz.
I don’t want to be too reductive, but I think the main thing anyone is going to get from this novel is lore. We learn a lot about Galinda’s sheltered and naive childhood, her family’s obsession with image and superficial trappings, her complicated history with education, and the terrible life lessons she receives from mediocre people. The book also explores a time of great change in Oz which means along with exploring Galinda’s childhood we get to see things like the development of the Great Gillikin Railway, the rural perspectives of Shiz and The Emerald City, and the limited role magic was playing in Oz at the time. There is a lot of content here for super fans to dig their teeth into.
But in my opinion when you look past all the lore what’s left is not much, and this is because eight year old Galinda is pretty much the Galinda we all get to know start of Wicked. This novel ends up being a story about awful people doing awful things with no signs of remorse or redemption, no real repercussions, and no real stakes. Galinda doesn’t have much development (positive or negative) because she does all of her development in Wicked. This story is basically Schitt’s Creek if the characters never stop being insufferable awful people who are mean and sad and uncaring, and incapable of learning lessons. Taking that into account, it was hard for me to find any joy in this book outside of the fan service, and it made me consider knocking it down to two stars.
In my opinion this a book for a very specific audience - those people who really want to know why Galinda is the way that she is at the start of Wicked. And Maguire hit that goal quite effectively. But in order to hit that goal Maguire had to write a story about miserable people being miserable, and that is a story I struggled to engage with.
The story dives deep on the Arduenna Upland family, introducing us to Galinda’s parents, brothers and grandmother as they try to make ends meet while living in a cramped and run down old mill. The family’s prosperity is in ruins after a natural disaster destroyed the Upland ancestral home, but the family patriarch Highmuster has a plan dig the family out of squalor and return them to heights of nobility. Eight year old Galinda isn’t part of these plans, her only care in the world is to win the local dance competition and gain an invitation to Shiz.
I don’t want to be too reductive, but I think the main thing anyone is going to get from this novel is lore. We learn a lot about Galinda’s sheltered and naive childhood, her family’s obsession with image and superficial trappings, her complicated history with education, and the terrible life lessons she receives from mediocre people. The book also explores a time of great change in Oz which means along with exploring Galinda’s childhood we get to see things like the development of the Great Gillikin Railway, the rural perspectives of Shiz and The Emerald City, and the limited role magic was playing in Oz at the time. There is a lot of content here for super fans to dig their teeth into.
But in my opinion when you look past all the lore what’s left is not much, and this is because eight year old Galinda is pretty much the Galinda we all get to know start of Wicked. This novel ends up being a story about awful people doing awful things with no signs of remorse or redemption, no real repercussions, and no real stakes. Galinda doesn’t have much development (positive or negative) because she does all of her development in Wicked. This story is basically Schitt’s Creek if the characters never stop being insufferable awful people who are mean and sad and uncaring, and incapable of learning lessons. Taking that into account, it was hard for me to find any joy in this book outside of the fan service, and it made me consider knocking it down to two stars.
In my opinion this a book for a very specific audience - those people who really want to know why Galinda is the way that she is at the start of Wicked. And Maguire hit that goal quite effectively. But in order to hit that goal Maguire had to write a story about miserable people being miserable, and that is a story I struggled to engage with.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In the sister volume to Elphie, the author of the Wicked novels explores Galinda’s upbringing and why she is the way she is in the main series. Galinda’s childhood is anything but charmed, but her perseverance and cleverness allow her to rise to the occasion despite this.
As you can tell by my description of the book, the title and synopsis of Galinda are misleading. It’s possible that I just didn’t get the sarcasm, but I was expecting a substantially different book than the one that was described on book sites. The synopsis acts like Galinda’s dance competitions are a major portion of the book, and while they are relevant to the plot, the actual competition sequence is incredibly short. Given that the book was only 272 pages, I really do think there was more room for a part of the book that seemed like it was supposed to be a major focus of the book. I would have also enjoyed more exploration of Galinda’s relationships with the other girls in her dancing group, or even her dance teacher.
There were good things about this book, however. The writing style is whimsical and can be enjoyable if you are in the mood for having to look up words and aren’t frustrated by some of the words being completely made-up by the author. I actually struggled to find a few of the words he used in any common online dictionary because they were so obscure and from many centuries ago, or were used in contexts different from the way they are usually used. A lot of the characters had strange speaking patterns and used words in ways they’re not typically used.
Galinda did also help with understanding why Galinda is the way she is. It explores Galinda’s first interaction with a talking Animal (relevant because a major plot element of the Wicked musical is the oppression of the sentient Animals of Oz). Galinda’s family life is anything but charmed, and if you are triggered by depictions of covert or not-so-covert incest/child sexual abuse, I would not recommend this book to you. One of the characters that Galinda interacts with throughout much of the book is a serial child rapist, and although there’s nothing too directly graphic or salacious it could be unpleasant to read if you’re not expecting it in a novel subtitled A Charmed Childhood.
I am torn on whether to recommend this book or not. I would say that as you know what you are going into and are interested in a book that is substantially different from how you are described, you will be fine. If you’re looking for more straightforward “genre” fantasy fare, this is not the book for you.
Galinda releases September 29th from William Morrow. Thank you to NetGalley, Gregory Maguire and William Morrow for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
As you can tell by my description of the book, the title and synopsis of Galinda are misleading. It’s possible that I just didn’t get the sarcasm, but I was expecting a substantially different book than the one that was described on book sites. The synopsis acts like Galinda’s dance competitions are a major portion of the book, and while they are relevant to the plot, the actual competition sequence is incredibly short. Given that the book was only 272 pages, I really do think there was more room for a part of the book that seemed like it was supposed to be a major focus of the book. I would have also enjoyed more exploration of Galinda’s relationships with the other girls in her dancing group, or even her dance teacher.
There were good things about this book, however. The writing style is whimsical and can be enjoyable if you are in the mood for having to look up words and aren’t frustrated by some of the words being completely made-up by the author. I actually struggled to find a few of the words he used in any common online dictionary because they were so obscure and from many centuries ago, or were used in contexts different from the way they are usually used. A lot of the characters had strange speaking patterns and used words in ways they’re not typically used.
Galinda did also help with understanding why Galinda is the way she is. It explores Galinda’s first interaction with a talking Animal (relevant because a major plot element of the Wicked musical is the oppression of the sentient Animals of Oz). Galinda’s family life is anything but charmed, and if you are triggered by depictions of covert or not-so-covert incest/child sexual abuse, I would not recommend this book to you. One of the characters that Galinda interacts with throughout much of the book is a serial child rapist, and although there’s nothing too directly graphic or salacious it could be unpleasant to read if you’re not expecting it in a novel subtitled A Charmed Childhood.
I am torn on whether to recommend this book or not. I would say that as you know what you are going into and are interested in a book that is substantially different from how you are described, you will be fine. If you’re looking for more straightforward “genre” fantasy fare, this is not the book for you.
Galinda releases September 29th from William Morrow. Thank you to NetGalley, Gregory Maguire and William Morrow for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with early access to this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The first movie I remember truly loving as a little girl was The Wizard of Oz. I shouted at the screen when Dorothy's neighbor tried to steal Toto, gasped as the world shifted from black and white to technicolor, and was completely entranced by Glinda floating down in that glittering bubble. I'm pretty sure my lifelong love of rainbows started right there.
As a young bookseller, I discovered Wicked by Gregory Maguire on the shelf before anyone was asking for it, before Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth made these characters legendary on Broadway. I read it, made it my bookseller's pick, and pressed it into the hands of everyone I knew. So when I spotted Galinda: A Charmed Childhood on NetGalley, it was an immediate, excited request. I squealed out loud when my approval came through.
I love that Maguire dedicated this book to Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth. Sweet, fitting, and perfectly on brand for this world.
I really wanted to love this one. Truly. But I found it to be a slow and challenging read.
Galinda's childhood is painted as lonely and largely loveless. Her father is a swindler navigating shady business schemes, and her mother is both emotionally and physically absent, preferring to travel and visit friends from her more posh and affluent past rather than face the reality of where the family is now. Galinda herself is treated a bit like a porcelain doll on a shelf: pretty to look at occasionally, fragile, and mostly ignored. The story spends a lot of time on her father's dealings and in quiet reflection on how much the family once had compared to where they are now. There were moments that reminded me faintly of Matilda, but without the spark of magic that made that story come alive. Not a lot happens, and I found it difficult to stay engaged.
Galinda doesn't have much character development in this story, and I think that's true by design. Her real transformation belongs to Wicked. This is purely backstory, and it reads that way.
I think the perfect audience for this book is die-hard Wicked fans who want every thread of lore and world-building Maguire has to offer. But if you're hoping for magic, adventure, or a story that can stand on its own, you may find yourself wanting more.
As someone who has loved this world for decades, I was hoping for more for Galinda. I wish her origin story had a little more Glinda sparkle and magic sprinkled throughout.
The first movie I remember truly loving as a little girl was The Wizard of Oz. I shouted at the screen when Dorothy's neighbor tried to steal Toto, gasped as the world shifted from black and white to technicolor, and was completely entranced by Glinda floating down in that glittering bubble. I'm pretty sure my lifelong love of rainbows started right there.
As a young bookseller, I discovered Wicked by Gregory Maguire on the shelf before anyone was asking for it, before Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth made these characters legendary on Broadway. I read it, made it my bookseller's pick, and pressed it into the hands of everyone I knew. So when I spotted Galinda: A Charmed Childhood on NetGalley, it was an immediate, excited request. I squealed out loud when my approval came through.
I love that Maguire dedicated this book to Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth. Sweet, fitting, and perfectly on brand for this world.
I really wanted to love this one. Truly. But I found it to be a slow and challenging read.
Galinda's childhood is painted as lonely and largely loveless. Her father is a swindler navigating shady business schemes, and her mother is both emotionally and physically absent, preferring to travel and visit friends from her more posh and affluent past rather than face the reality of where the family is now. Galinda herself is treated a bit like a porcelain doll on a shelf: pretty to look at occasionally, fragile, and mostly ignored. The story spends a lot of time on her father's dealings and in quiet reflection on how much the family once had compared to where they are now. There were moments that reminded me faintly of Matilda, but without the spark of magic that made that story come alive. Not a lot happens, and I found it difficult to stay engaged.
Galinda doesn't have much character development in this story, and I think that's true by design. Her real transformation belongs to Wicked. This is purely backstory, and it reads that way.
I think the perfect audience for this book is die-hard Wicked fans who want every thread of lore and world-building Maguire has to offer. But if you're hoping for magic, adventure, or a story that can stand on its own, you may find yourself wanting more.
As someone who has loved this world for decades, I was hoping for more for Galinda. I wish her origin story had a little more Glinda sparkle and magic sprinkled throughout.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Poor eight-year-old Galinda Upland: all she wants to do is dance, dance, dance. Galinda is determined to land a spot on the Tennery dance competition team and then advance all the way to the finals in Shiz, where she hopes to be crowned with the coveted Princess Tiara. She also dreams of attending school and making more friends beyond her fairweather imaginary companion, Robbery.
High aims for a small-fry who’s been poked by the fickle finger of fate. After a pair of catastrophic geologic events turned their glorious estate, Chrysanthemum Hall, into a hunka hunka burning rubble, the formerly well-off but now suddenly indigent Upland family relocated into an abandoned milltower. The emotionally distant Papa High has built a shady construction materials business; the literally distant Mama Larena is constantly away, visiting socially upscale friends; and Galinda’s three brothers—Ham, Pork, and Bacon—are busy learning their father’s trade; so it falls to Grandmama to become Galinda’s sole cheerleader (and Grandmama might have a little magic at her disposal).
After a solid setup, “Galinda” proceeds to pound sand, narratively speaking, with lots of attention paid to High’s business dealings with the community, Grandmama’s concerns about a buried owl totem at the demolished Chrysanthemum Hall, and the cultural customs of a faraway tribe called the Ugabu. Galinda almost becomes a bit player in her own story. Still, to its credit, the novel eventually gets back on track, becoming more interesting as Galinda’s path wends towards “Wicked.”
A follow-up to Maguire’s better “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood,” this second prequel in the “Wicked” universe suggests that maybe the juggernaut has finally run out of magical steam. But I wouldn’t necessarily bet on it: Maguire has built a fantastic revisionist fairy-tale empire with his Ozma series and the companion “Brides of Maracoor” trilogy. And he continues to dazzle with standalone fantasies inspired by other classics, including “After Alice,” “Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker,” and “The Wild Winter Swan.” Who knows what the next trick up his sleeve will be?
Bottom line: while not top-drawer Maguire, “Galinda” will surely still be…uh…popular with the legions of “Wicked” fans. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy.
High aims for a small-fry who’s been poked by the fickle finger of fate. After a pair of catastrophic geologic events turned their glorious estate, Chrysanthemum Hall, into a hunka hunka burning rubble, the formerly well-off but now suddenly indigent Upland family relocated into an abandoned milltower. The emotionally distant Papa High has built a shady construction materials business; the literally distant Mama Larena is constantly away, visiting socially upscale friends; and Galinda’s three brothers—Ham, Pork, and Bacon—are busy learning their father’s trade; so it falls to Grandmama to become Galinda’s sole cheerleader (and Grandmama might have a little magic at her disposal).
After a solid setup, “Galinda” proceeds to pound sand, narratively speaking, with lots of attention paid to High’s business dealings with the community, Grandmama’s concerns about a buried owl totem at the demolished Chrysanthemum Hall, and the cultural customs of a faraway tribe called the Ugabu. Galinda almost becomes a bit player in her own story. Still, to its credit, the novel eventually gets back on track, becoming more interesting as Galinda’s path wends towards “Wicked.”
A follow-up to Maguire’s better “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood,” this second prequel in the “Wicked” universe suggests that maybe the juggernaut has finally run out of magical steam. But I wouldn’t necessarily bet on it: Maguire has built a fantastic revisionist fairy-tale empire with his Ozma series and the companion “Brides of Maracoor” trilogy. And he continues to dazzle with standalone fantasies inspired by other classics, including “After Alice,” “Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker,” and “The Wild Winter Swan.” Who knows what the next trick up his sleeve will be?
Bottom line: while not top-drawer Maguire, “Galinda” will surely still be…uh…popular with the legions of “Wicked” fans. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC! All thoughts are my own.
I’ve been a fan of The Wicked Years for a long time, so getting more of this series in the past few years has been really exciting. Galinda is an especially interesting addition because, in the main books, we know so little about Glinda’s upbringing. That leaves Maguire with a great deal of room to play, and he certainly does. Some details here do contradict the little we already know about her—she does say in Out of Oz that she is an only child, for starters—but honestly, L. Frank Baum never bothered with continuity either so I think inconsistencies are just part of the Wizard of Oz legacy.
That said, I greatly enjoyed this! Maguire’s prose remains as sharp, strange, and distinctive as ever. There is such a particular pleasure in the way he puts words together. The characters were interesting in ways I did not expect, especially Galinda’s father, who never once did what I thought he would. Galinda herself, however, was everything I expected she would be. She carries her insecurities in this fascinating, detached sort of way. She is learning who she is and who she wants to become, and her loneliness bleeds through the page. In so many ways, she seems unconcerned and unaffected by the world around her, while actually being deeply affected by everything without quite realizing it. The "weird little girl" experience is so well presented it made my heart clench several times.
The plot and worldbuilding also really worked for me. I’m used to The Wicked Years taking me all over Oz, but this book is much more contained, unfolding across only a handful of locations. Because of that, those places have room to deepen and gather weight. I found myself somewhat more entertained by this book than by Elphie, simply because Galinda’s childhood and family have always been such a mystery, so I never knew where the story would go next. I do have to say the little twists and turns and reveals were riveting, and I appreciated that each of the main characters had clear goals and ambitions. It gave the story a strong sense of momentum while still maintaining the character-focused approach that I love about Maguire’s writing.
Overall, this was a really engaging read, full of details that call back to the main series despite a few inconsistencies here and there. Along with a handful of plot points that are introduced only to be resolved a bit too quickly, those are the only things keeping this from being a full five-star read for me.
It’s fascinating to now have Glinda’s life stretched across the series from beginning to end. If you take a step back, it's really easy to see how she became the person she became. I’m seriously impressed by how vivid and consistent she remains across books written so many years apart, even when certain details of her story have been revised or retconned. She’s just a character I love reading about, and I continue to adore the way Maguire captures her voice.
And that last line absolutely made me bawl my eyes out, of course.
Fantastic.
I’ve been a fan of The Wicked Years for a long time, so getting more of this series in the past few years has been really exciting. Galinda is an especially interesting addition because, in the main books, we know so little about Glinda’s upbringing. That leaves Maguire with a great deal of room to play, and he certainly does. Some details here do contradict the little we already know about her—she does say in Out of Oz that she is an only child, for starters—but honestly, L. Frank Baum never bothered with continuity either so I think inconsistencies are just part of the Wizard of Oz legacy.
That said, I greatly enjoyed this! Maguire’s prose remains as sharp, strange, and distinctive as ever. There is such a particular pleasure in the way he puts words together. The characters were interesting in ways I did not expect, especially Galinda’s father, who never once did what I thought he would. Galinda herself, however, was everything I expected she would be. She carries her insecurities in this fascinating, detached sort of way. She is learning who she is and who she wants to become, and her loneliness bleeds through the page. In so many ways, she seems unconcerned and unaffected by the world around her, while actually being deeply affected by everything without quite realizing it. The "weird little girl" experience is so well presented it made my heart clench several times.
The plot and worldbuilding also really worked for me. I’m used to The Wicked Years taking me all over Oz, but this book is much more contained, unfolding across only a handful of locations. Because of that, those places have room to deepen and gather weight. I found myself somewhat more entertained by this book than by Elphie, simply because Galinda’s childhood and family have always been such a mystery, so I never knew where the story would go next. I do have to say the little twists and turns and reveals were riveting, and I appreciated that each of the main characters had clear goals and ambitions. It gave the story a strong sense of momentum while still maintaining the character-focused approach that I love about Maguire’s writing.
Overall, this was a really engaging read, full of details that call back to the main series despite a few inconsistencies here and there. Along with a handful of plot points that are introduced only to be resolved a bit too quickly, those are the only things keeping this from being a full five-star read for me.
It’s fascinating to now have Glinda’s life stretched across the series from beginning to end. If you take a step back, it's really easy to see how she became the person she became. I’m seriously impressed by how vivid and consistent she remains across books written so many years apart, even when certain details of her story have been revised or retconned. She’s just a character I love reading about, and I continue to adore the way Maguire captures her voice.
And that last line absolutely made me bawl my eyes out, of course.
Fantastic.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4⭐️ I've been a fan of Gregory Maguire's storytelling for a long time, so getting more stories set in this version of Oz has been so much fun! Elphaba has always been one of my favorite characters and I have always loved reading from her perspective so obviously, this new book Galinda: A Charmed Childhood is a perfect addition to the Wicked Years series since we hear so little from Galinda herself or about her early life in the other books. More often than not, we usually see her through the eyes and opinions of others. This book gives us a taste of Galinda’s backstory that I didn’t know I needed.
Learning more about her life growing up and her family dynamics helped broaden my understanding of why she becomes the person that she is. From the beginning she craves recognition and approval from her family and her peers. Despite a wealthy upbringing she works hard to become the woman she imagines herself to be. Galinda wrestles with insecurity, self-doubt, and the pressure to meet her family’s expectations. She is hyper aware of how others see her. Even as a child, she learns to read people's expectations and adjust her behavior accordingly.
This book made her a more relatable character for me and helped my view of her personality become softer. She is ambitious, hardworking, and sensitive. Although often fickle. She wants to do the right thing but also wants to be liked, and as we’ve seen in previous books those desires don't always align.
If you enjoyed Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, any of the other Wicked Years books, or love Gregory Maguire’s writing style, this is definitely one to add to your TBR list.
4⭐️ I've been a fan of Gregory Maguire's storytelling for a long time, so getting more stories set in this version of Oz has been so much fun! Elphaba has always been one of my favorite characters and I have always loved reading from her perspective so obviously, this new book Galinda: A Charmed Childhood is a perfect addition to the Wicked Years series since we hear so little from Galinda herself or about her early life in the other books. More often than not, we usually see her through the eyes and opinions of others. This book gives us a taste of Galinda’s backstory that I didn’t know I needed.
Learning more about her life growing up and her family dynamics helped broaden my understanding of why she becomes the person that she is. From the beginning she craves recognition and approval from her family and her peers. Despite a wealthy upbringing she works hard to become the woman she imagines herself to be. Galinda wrestles with insecurity, self-doubt, and the pressure to meet her family’s expectations. She is hyper aware of how others see her. Even as a child, she learns to read people's expectations and adjust her behavior accordingly.
This book made her a more relatable character for me and helped my view of her personality become softer. She is ambitious, hardworking, and sensitive. Although often fickle. She wants to do the right thing but also wants to be liked, and as we’ve seen in previous books those desires don't always align.
If you enjoyed Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, any of the other Wicked Years books, or love Gregory Maguire’s writing style, this is definitely one to add to your TBR list.
May 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for an ARC of Galinda in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions that follow are my own.
"The Uplands-the matrilineal name- had been superior folk before that pair of seismic disasters singled them out for ruin."
Galinda: A Chamed Childhood follows the popular, pink-clad character before she became Elphaba's friend and before she ever met Dorothy. Galinda is the youngest of four children and is obessed with placing first in the district dance competition so that she can escape her rundown home and visit the city of Shiz and possibly be crowned the Princess Tiara (the highest honor in dance).
I was so excited to read this book and of course, Gregory Maguire did not disappoint. It was so fun to see the origins of Galinda and see that her bossy, princess attitude stemmed all the way from her childhood and her desperation for her parents to notice and appreciate her. I was also super interested in the storyline surrounding Galinda's father and how those events shaped her view of the world around her. Galinda is actually super smart but nobody gives her any credit, especially when she decides she really wants to attend school. Her parents try all manner of tutors and governesses to get the idea out of her mind but she stood firm. My favorite part of the book was probably at the very end because of the masterful lineup of the end of Galinda and where we see her in Wicked. The transition was absolutely seamless.
Overall, if you love Wicked or are a fan of Glinda and want to see her origins, definitely give this one a read! 4/5 stars!
"The Uplands-the matrilineal name- had been superior folk before that pair of seismic disasters singled them out for ruin."
Galinda: A Chamed Childhood follows the popular, pink-clad character before she became Elphaba's friend and before she ever met Dorothy. Galinda is the youngest of four children and is obessed with placing first in the district dance competition so that she can escape her rundown home and visit the city of Shiz and possibly be crowned the Princess Tiara (the highest honor in dance).
I was so excited to read this book and of course, Gregory Maguire did not disappoint. It was so fun to see the origins of Galinda and see that her bossy, princess attitude stemmed all the way from her childhood and her desperation for her parents to notice and appreciate her. I was also super interested in the storyline surrounding Galinda's father and how those events shaped her view of the world around her. Galinda is actually super smart but nobody gives her any credit, especially when she decides she really wants to attend school. Her parents try all manner of tutors and governesses to get the idea out of her mind but she stood firm. My favorite part of the book was probably at the very end because of the masterful lineup of the end of Galinda and where we see her in Wicked. The transition was absolutely seamless.
Overall, if you love Wicked or are a fan of Glinda and want to see her origins, definitely give this one a read! 4/5 stars!
Did Not Finish
June 1, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an advance copy of Galinda: A Charmed Childhood in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this ended up being my first DNF of the year at 32%.
Going into this book, I was excited by the premise. As a prequel centered on Galinda’s childhood, I was hoping for deeper insight into her character and the experiences that shaped her into the complex figure readers meet in Wicked. I expected a character-driven story that would expand my understanding of who Galinda was before the events of the original novel.
Instead, I found the narrative focused far more heavily on her father and his questionable business dealings than on Galinda herself. Much of the story revolved around the various conflicts and enemies he was making within the community, and I often struggled to follow exactly what his ventures involved. While those elements may ultimately connect to the larger story, they overshadowed the character I was most interested in learning about.
By the time I reached 32%, I still felt I had very little understanding of Galinda’s personality, motivations, or formative experiences. The plot moved slowly, and I found myself searching for a clearer sense of direction and purpose in the story.
While longtime Gregory Maguire fans may connect with the book differently, I ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit for me and chose not to continue. I was genuinely excited for this one, which made the decision disappointing, but it simply wasn’t holding my interest enough to keep reading.
Unfortunately, this ended up being my first DNF of the year at 32%.
Going into this book, I was excited by the premise. As a prequel centered on Galinda’s childhood, I was hoping for deeper insight into her character and the experiences that shaped her into the complex figure readers meet in Wicked. I expected a character-driven story that would expand my understanding of who Galinda was before the events of the original novel.
Instead, I found the narrative focused far more heavily on her father and his questionable business dealings than on Galinda herself. Much of the story revolved around the various conflicts and enemies he was making within the community, and I often struggled to follow exactly what his ventures involved. While those elements may ultimately connect to the larger story, they overshadowed the character I was most interested in learning about.
By the time I reached 32%, I still felt I had very little understanding of Galinda’s personality, motivations, or formative experiences. The plot moved slowly, and I found myself searching for a clearer sense of direction and purpose in the story.
While longtime Gregory Maguire fans may connect with the book differently, I ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit for me and chose not to continue. I was genuinely excited for this one, which made the decision disappointing, but it simply wasn’t holding my interest enough to keep reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to get this ARC for the next prequel in the Wicked universe. I had some reservations after being disappointed with the first prequel Elphie. Although I wanted to give Galinda: A Charmed Childhood a chance due to not having a foundation of Galinda's childhood in the original book. I kept having to remind myself that the play and movies are loosely based off these books and the books are way more darker than the "frilly" pink and green in the movies. Galinda grew up with a crooked businessman father who cut corners just to get what he wanted and didn't care who he hurt in the end. Her mother was never around and her tutor was a questionable fellow.
The plot kind of jumped around a lot and Maguire would introduce something and it would feel like it was important to the story because it was mentioned a lot, like the dance competition throughout all of Galinda's childhood, only for the competition to be glanced over in a sentence and no in depth scenes to the competition.
The book did do a good job of showing how Galinda's personality came to be, but a "charmed" life she did not have. The very last sentence made me cry ugly tears though. I felt like I was watching "For Good" again
I was excited to get this ARC for the next prequel in the Wicked universe. I had some reservations after being disappointed with the first prequel Elphie. Although I wanted to give Galinda: A Charmed Childhood a chance due to not having a foundation of Galinda's childhood in the original book. I kept having to remind myself that the play and movies are loosely based off these books and the books are way more darker than the "frilly" pink and green in the movies. Galinda grew up with a crooked businessman father who cut corners just to get what he wanted and didn't care who he hurt in the end. Her mother was never around and her tutor was a questionable fellow.
The plot kind of jumped around a lot and Maguire would introduce something and it would feel like it was important to the story because it was mentioned a lot, like the dance competition throughout all of Galinda's childhood, only for the competition to be glanced over in a sentence and no in depth scenes to the competition.
The book did do a good job of showing how Galinda's personality came to be, but a "charmed" life she did not have. The very last sentence made me cry ugly tears though. I felt like I was watching "For Good" again
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Did I love this? Absolutely. As soon as I finished Elphie's book I knew there would be one for Galdinda and the scream I screamed when I got the email 😍 thank you!
These are such a weird guilty pleasure for me and yes, I already have this pre ordered, to match the other.
Who was Glinda before she was the all pink poofy witch we know today??
Well she was Galinda! She was lucky and unlucky, born into privilege but the lower levels with a struggling family and growing resentment from the merchants but her dad is taking care of things. While this story dosent make me love Galinda it does make me think a little harder, yes she's privileged but money doesn't fix everything, especially when you only seem to have it..I did not love her at all 😅 but I didn't expect too.
There were times I still wanted to shake her, so naive and I'm not shocked at all that her dad is a scheming fuck, I thought it was interesting tho that his own worst enemy is legitimately himself and I feel like Galinda inherited that trait from him big time.
This was a nice little add on to the Wicked universe and if your a fan of the books, this is a great read, it's nothing Earth shattering, but it's more of what we wanted, the Wicked world..
These are such a weird guilty pleasure for me and yes, I already have this pre ordered, to match the other.
Who was Glinda before she was the all pink poofy witch we know today??
Well she was Galinda! She was lucky and unlucky, born into privilege but the lower levels with a struggling family and growing resentment from the merchants but her dad is taking care of things. While this story dosent make me love Galinda it does make me think a little harder, yes she's privileged but money doesn't fix everything, especially when you only seem to have it..I did not love her at all 😅 but I didn't expect too.
There were times I still wanted to shake her, so naive and I'm not shocked at all that her dad is a scheming fuck, I thought it was interesting tho that his own worst enemy is legitimately himself and I feel like Galinda inherited that trait from him big time.
This was a nice little add on to the Wicked universe and if your a fan of the books, this is a great read, it's nothing Earth shattering, but it's more of what we wanted, the Wicked world..
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book feels like peeling back the “perfect girl” image and realizing there was a whole life underneath it long before the bubble ever showed up in Oz.
Galinda works so well because it reframes her as more than just bubbly or shallow—it shows her as someone shaped by expectation, class pressure, and the quiet pressure of always being *seen* but not truly understood.
what stood out most is how character-driven it is. instead of turning her into a villain or a symbol, it explores how she becomes the version of herself the world rewards, even when that version doesn’t fully reflect who she is inside.
Galinda’s arc feels like:
* growing up under quiet emotional neglect disguised as privilege
* learning how to perform “grace” as survival
* slowly realizing charm can be both armor and cage
and that tension between who she is and who she’s expected to be is what makes her so compelling here.
the vibes:
✨ character-focused retelling
🎀 Glinda backstory
🏰 privilege vs identity
💭 soft but thoughtful introspection
🫧 origins of a “perfect” persona
if you like Wicked universe retellings that dig deeper into familiar characters and show the emotional shaping behind the legend, this one adds a really interesting layer to Galinda’s story.
Galinda works so well because it reframes her as more than just bubbly or shallow—it shows her as someone shaped by expectation, class pressure, and the quiet pressure of always being *seen* but not truly understood.
what stood out most is how character-driven it is. instead of turning her into a villain or a symbol, it explores how she becomes the version of herself the world rewards, even when that version doesn’t fully reflect who she is inside.
Galinda’s arc feels like:
* growing up under quiet emotional neglect disguised as privilege
* learning how to perform “grace” as survival
* slowly realizing charm can be both armor and cage
and that tension between who she is and who she’s expected to be is what makes her so compelling here.
the vibes:
✨ character-focused retelling
🎀 Glinda backstory
🏰 privilege vs identity
💭 soft but thoughtful introspection
🫧 origins of a “perfect” persona
if you like Wicked universe retellings that dig deeper into familiar characters and show the emotional shaping behind the legend, this one adds a really interesting layer to Galinda’s story.
May 11, 2026
How did Galinda the Good become who she ultimately became?
Instead of growing into the person that others wanted, expected or told her to be...she EXPLORED!
To feel needed, wanted, pretty and yes, even popular was a huge undertaking that this witch wasn't exactly sure how to bring about, and yet, she did it anyway.
In following her path from a little girl with her family, to seeing where she grew up, and watching her dealings with others around her we got a glimpse into her outstanding journey toward self. We got to see how one small pebble at a time added to even bigger ripples, more growth, and a greater understanding of exactly who she was, and even beyond that, who she actually wanted to be.
From the classic 1939 Wizard of Oz, and even through the telling of Wicked, we saw Galinda and never got a sense of her backstory. Discovering why she was the way she was, and really understanding the ways in which she got there.
I found myself rooting for her, and hoping that some easter eggs perhaps would drop that might have drawn that parallel with the other tellings we already knew and loved to really hammer home the whole adage of if A than B.
I would love to know beyond Wicked, where does Galinda's story take her, and by what means does she get there?
Galinda might not have always had the power like she told Dorothy, but she sure did manage to find it in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy of this book.
Instead of growing into the person that others wanted, expected or told her to be...she EXPLORED!
To feel needed, wanted, pretty and yes, even popular was a huge undertaking that this witch wasn't exactly sure how to bring about, and yet, she did it anyway.
In following her path from a little girl with her family, to seeing where she grew up, and watching her dealings with others around her we got a glimpse into her outstanding journey toward self. We got to see how one small pebble at a time added to even bigger ripples, more growth, and a greater understanding of exactly who she was, and even beyond that, who she actually wanted to be.
From the classic 1939 Wizard of Oz, and even through the telling of Wicked, we saw Galinda and never got a sense of her backstory. Discovering why she was the way she was, and really understanding the ways in which she got there.
I found myself rooting for her, and hoping that some easter eggs perhaps would drop that might have drawn that parallel with the other tellings we already knew and loved to really hammer home the whole adage of if A than B.
I would love to know beyond Wicked, where does Galinda's story take her, and by what means does she get there?
Galinda might not have always had the power like she told Dorothy, but she sure did manage to find it in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 .75 🌟
This was intriguing and had some dark themes even though some weren't discussed as much as I would have liked. I was very surprised by Highmusters character/behavior. He was a dirty man that preyed on young girls which is will behavior especially since he was very adamant about protecting his daughter Galinda from the world of perverts. I wish the whole token owl thing was discussed in more detailed along with magic. It was crazy how they denied Galinda and her brothers an education. You would think her parents would of looked their children to at least be able to read. They thought Galinda's looks was enough which is so crazy. She was just so lost in everything because she had no concept of meaning to several words, topics, or life in general. All the plot twist toward the end was unexpected. Just when I thought her father couldn't be any worse of a human being here he comes doing some other shit. He really did have his head up his bum thinking he was untouchable. What a sad sad man!!!
This was intriguing and had some dark themes even though some weren't discussed as much as I would have liked. I was very surprised by Highmusters character/behavior. He was a dirty man that preyed on young girls which is will behavior especially since he was very adamant about protecting his daughter Galinda from the world of perverts. I wish the whole token owl thing was discussed in more detailed along with magic. It was crazy how they denied Galinda and her brothers an education. You would think her parents would of looked their children to at least be able to read. They thought Galinda's looks was enough which is so crazy. She was just so lost in everything because she had no concept of meaning to several words, topics, or life in general. All the plot twist toward the end was unexpected. Just when I thought her father couldn't be any worse of a human being here he comes doing some other shit. He really did have his head up his bum thinking he was untouchable. What a sad sad man!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was fine. If you're very invested in learning more of Galinda's (Glinda) backstory then go ahead and pick it up. It really is a slice of life book and so not much really happens. It was nice to see some of the things that made Galinda who she is, however, a good chunk of the book focused more on the men in Galinda's life (her father, brother, and tutor) than on Galinda. Not on Galinda's reaction of feelings about the men being focused on but actually on the men. Like the chapter's that happen from Ham's perspective where Galinda is no where present. This could have worked for me a bit better if we got Galinda's perspective on how how these men acted affected her... but we don't get that.
So overall... a book for massive Wicked (the novel) fans but not necessarily for anyone else.
Also, I did forget that Gregory Maguire writes women, at least the side characters for sure, in the manner that female readers have been joking about for a while. As in "she boobily walked down the hall with her boobs boobing." It's 2026... enough of that.
So overall... a book for massive Wicked (the novel) fans but not necessarily for anyone else.
Also, I did forget that Gregory Maguire writes women, at least the side characters for sure, in the manner that female readers have been joking about for a while. As in "she boobily walked down the hall with her boobs boobing." It's 2026... enough of that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Galinda feels like a deliberate mirror to Elphie, reinforcing Maguire’s idea that even seemingly opposite characters are shaped by the same forces of family, status, and identity.
That said, I found this a difficult read. It prioritizes character moments over plot. The story gets bogged down in details—particularly Highmuster’s affairs—while major emotional moments are rushed, often resolved in just a line or two, which makes the payoff feel hollow.
The side characters are often more compelling than Galinda herself. Grandmama and Ham, in particular, provide the most grounded and emotionally resonant arcs. I would've preferred more time reading about them in parts of the book.
Galinda herself is intentionally unlikeable—self-centered, manipulative, and lacking empathy. It sets the stage to show us why she is the way she is throughout both the original book and when we first meet her in the musical.
Thank you to Gregory Maguire, NetGalley, and William Morrow Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!
That said, I found this a difficult read. It prioritizes character moments over plot. The story gets bogged down in details—particularly Highmuster’s affairs—while major emotional moments are rushed, often resolved in just a line or two, which makes the payoff feel hollow.
The side characters are often more compelling than Galinda herself. Grandmama and Ham, in particular, provide the most grounded and emotionally resonant arcs. I would've preferred more time reading about them in parts of the book.
Galinda herself is intentionally unlikeable—self-centered, manipulative, and lacking empathy. It sets the stage to show us why she is the way she is throughout both the original book and when we first meet her in the musical.
Thank you to Gregory Maguire, NetGalley, and William Morrow Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for a review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and William Marrow for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Galinda was a surprisingly thoughtful look at one of Oz's most iconic characters. Gregory Maguire peels back the glitter and charm to show the messy, uncertain girl behind the future Good Witch, and I loved seeing how her childhood shaped the person she eventually becomes.
As always with Maguire, the writing is rich and layered. This isn't a fast-paced story—it's very much a character study—but it rewards readers who enjoy getting lost in the world and its quieter moments. Galinda is both privileged and vulnerable, and watching her slowly become more aware of the world around her made for a compelling read.
I did wish the story had a bit more momentum in places, but the beautiful prose and expanded Oz lore more than made up for it. If you're a fan of Wicked and have ever wondered who Galinda was before Shiz University and before she was Glinda the Good, this is an enjoyable return to Oz
Galinda was a surprisingly thoughtful look at one of Oz's most iconic characters. Gregory Maguire peels back the glitter and charm to show the messy, uncertain girl behind the future Good Witch, and I loved seeing how her childhood shaped the person she eventually becomes.
As always with Maguire, the writing is rich and layered. This isn't a fast-paced story—it's very much a character study—but it rewards readers who enjoy getting lost in the world and its quieter moments. Galinda is both privileged and vulnerable, and watching her slowly become more aware of the world around her made for a compelling read.
I did wish the story had a bit more momentum in places, but the beautiful prose and expanded Oz lore more than made up for it. If you're a fan of Wicked and have ever wondered who Galinda was before Shiz University and before she was Glinda the Good, this is an enjoyable return to Oz
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For anyone who has read Gregory Maguire's The Wicked Years and followed it up with the recent prequel, Elphie, this second prequel is an absolute must. But, this entry into the Wicked-verse may also work as a stand-alone for those who have seen the recent movies and want to read more about the book's titular character, you know the one who is (checks lyrics of "Loathing") Blond. In Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, we find out just where all that "charm" came from before arriving at Shiz, glimpses of her Momsie and Popsical and her three porcine brothers, and the start of her very particular filter for seeing the world. The book was a fun, quick read that is both true to the young Glinda's voice and the author's slightly dry humor.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Galinda is an imaginative and layered story that expands the backstory of a familiar character in thoughtful ways.
Maguire’s writing is one of the biggest strengths here. It has a literary, almost whimsical quality that adds depth to the story and gives it a distinctive tone. The world-building is rich, with subtle details that make Oz feel more complex and grounded than the version most people know.
The exploration of character is especially interesting. The book takes its time unpacking motivations, identity, and relationships, offering a more nuanced look at the personalities behind the larger Oz narrative. It adds new perspective without completely losing sight of the original story’s spirit.
That said, the pacing can be uneven. Some sections feel slow or overly detailed, which may make it harder to stay fully engaged if you’re expecting a more plot-driven story. At times, the narrative leans heavily into introspection, which won’t work for every reader.
Maguire’s writing is one of the biggest strengths here. It has a literary, almost whimsical quality that adds depth to the story and gives it a distinctive tone. The world-building is rich, with subtle details that make Oz feel more complex and grounded than the version most people know.
The exploration of character is especially interesting. The book takes its time unpacking motivations, identity, and relationships, offering a more nuanced look at the personalities behind the larger Oz narrative. It adds new perspective without completely losing sight of the original story’s spirit.
That said, the pacing can be uneven. Some sections feel slow or overly detailed, which may make it harder to stay fully engaged if you’re expecting a more plot-driven story. At times, the narrative leans heavily into introspection, which won’t work for every reader.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Overall, this was such a fun read!
Despite being a Wicked fan, I had no idea that there were newer books about Elphaba and Galinda out there! (I will definitely be reading Elphie next!) So it was such a surprise to find on NetGalley, and I’m so glad I found it!
It was really fun to see where Galinda (with a ga) came from before the events of Wicked! I’ve always liked her as a character, but it really did offer a new perspective that I enjoyed. Seeing Galinda as a younger sibling, and as a competitive dancer, was entertaining for sure. And the writing was as whimsical as I expected it to be.
If you are a fan of Wicked, I would definitely give this story a shot. I certainly found it to be an enjoyable read!
Thank you so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!
Despite being a Wicked fan, I had no idea that there were newer books about Elphaba and Galinda out there! (I will definitely be reading Elphie next!) So it was such a surprise to find on NetGalley, and I’m so glad I found it!
It was really fun to see where Galinda (with a ga) came from before the events of Wicked! I’ve always liked her as a character, but it really did offer a new perspective that I enjoyed. Seeing Galinda as a younger sibling, and as a competitive dancer, was entertaining for sure. And the writing was as whimsical as I expected it to be.
If you are a fan of Wicked, I would definitely give this story a shot. I certainly found it to be an enjoyable read!
Thank you so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!
Review of advance copy
I truly loved reading another take on one of Oz's most iconic figures.
I must say, the only reason this isn't a five stars for me is because I recently read GLINDA: The GOOD Witch by R.W. Adams and I felt it encapsulated the character completely for me. I found myself comparing and I just enjoyed the worldbuilding, story, heart and magic of it much better.
But... this story is WONDERFUL in its own way.
Where it shines is the unexpected humour and how it seamlessly weaves into Wicked and Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, I loved reading another take on Glinda's upbringing and siblings, and I loved getting a better understanding on Maguire's specific take on Glinda.
Will I recommend people to read this? Absolutely yes! I feel If you're a fan of the Wicked books you will absolutely enjoy getting to re-enter Maguire's grim Oz but with a new lense on a sidelined, yet iconic character.
I must say, the only reason this isn't a five stars for me is because I recently read GLINDA: The GOOD Witch by R.W. Adams and I felt it encapsulated the character completely for me. I found myself comparing and I just enjoyed the worldbuilding, story, heart and magic of it much better.
But... this story is WONDERFUL in its own way.
Where it shines is the unexpected humour and how it seamlessly weaves into Wicked and Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, I loved reading another take on Glinda's upbringing and siblings, and I loved getting a better understanding on Maguire's specific take on Glinda.
Will I recommend people to read this? Absolutely yes! I feel If you're a fan of the Wicked books you will absolutely enjoy getting to re-enter Maguire's grim Oz but with a new lense on a sidelined, yet iconic character.
May 27, 2026
First off, thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC! As a longtime fan of the Wicked franchise (books first, then musical, then film), I was looking forward to reading the prequel novels. I haven’t read Elphie yet, but this was my first trip back to Oz since I reread the series a few years ago. Galinda was a quick read and a fun peek into her childhood, but I wanted more from this. I feel like knowing too much about her background and her somewhat dubious family almost ruins it? But despite that, there were moments of intrigue in this book. I wanted less about the dance competition and more about Pint, Grandmama, and Ham. I could’ve done without the other two brothers. I may need to read Elphie now… or just read the main series again. That said, the last line got me!
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