The Key to Oz: Dorothy Returns

by L. Josephine Anttila

When Dorothy Gale (of the Kansas Gales) boards a ship bound for Australia she doesn't dream that she’ll soon be returning to the familiar faces of the Land of Oz. There, Dorothy meets a host of colorful new characters whose friendships drive her to journey through the ups and downs of the physical and political terrain of Oz when they fall into trouble. Along the way, Dorothy encounters a talking raven, an unexpected travel companion, a mysterious key, the evil Nome King, and Princess Ozma of Oz herself. But when Dorothy is captured in her attempts to aid her new friends, she realizes that the only way to escape and protect those she cares about may be to risk everything.

A whimsical escape into a familiar land, The Key to Oz leaves readers (and Dorothy herself) guessing until the close. As Dorothy makes important realizations that people are not always as wicked as they first appear, true love knows no bounds, and that there is untold magic in everyday things, readers will be left wanting more of the Oz that Anttila so artfully weaves in this outstanding debut novel.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2015

About the author

L. Josephine Anttila (you can call her L.J.) grew up in Merry-land, USA where the corn grows high and people say hello when they pass on the street. The idea for this novel visited her with the sunshine of a Sunday afternoon one day about fifteen years ago (she's older than she looks). Having given procrastination its due justice she decided she might as well go ahead and write the thing.

After living a few places around the world (including Australia) she found her way back to Merry-land where she resides today. The author welcomes questions and comments from readers so long as the coffee's still hot.

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Key to Oz: Dorothy Returns is an imaginative retelling of the original Oz storyline, but, I'm ashamed to say I really struggled with this. The coverwork is beautiful, the idea is a nice one, but there were far too many political undertones and a little too much asked of the reader for me to really enjoy this. A few inspired moments appear in the form of Dorothy's first few meetings with the Princess Langwidere; sparking the first hints at her return to Oz and my first real interest. Those really were gripping and well written moments, but that was page 57 in a book only spanning 209! I understand the message Anttila wishes to create, but I did not feel this was the right story with which to make it. It may be a fault of my own that, being so familiar with the original this telling just did not sit right; but to me the crushing of our own Earthly politics and agendas with the distinctly unearthly land of Oz was a little too much to swallow. I won the book in a Goodreads giveaway, and thank Anttila for the chance to venture into the world she created, I appreciate the final dedication. For those with an open mind who can understand the melding of fantastical Oz with political Earth-life, this book is probably worth a read!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

So here's the deal. I tend to be a little critical of literature inspired fiction, because, why mess with a good thing? I'm completely revising my opinion after reading The Key to Oz: Dorothy Returns. This is a beautiful book. Anttila is so artful in her telling of the story - paying homage to Baum while making Dorothy a more complex, three dimensional character. This is a book that I finished and immediately wanted to read again. So fun the adventure, so delightful the characters, so moving the messages about love and friendship and belonging. I want to live inside the Oz that Anttila creates, which is the highest compliment I can pay any book. These characters became my friends over the course of my reading and I sincerely hope that we see more of Dorothy in Anttila's future works.