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The Battle for Oz
"The literary equivalent of a masterful musical masterpiece... The Battle for Oz is practically made for a Tim Burton big screen adaptation." ―Young Entertainment Magazine
The Battle For Oz reimagines L. Frank Baum’s canonical classic while also taking a page (and character or two) out of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
When a new queen endeavors to take over the city of Oz once again, Dorothy Gale and Alice Liddel must come together to fight off the wicked magic. With help from Toto and the Tin Man, Scarecrow and The Mad Hatter, the young women travel to earth and back and face impossible circumstances. In all the chaos and commotion, while Alice and Dorothy struggle to discover the key to saving the city, along the way they find themselves discovering the meaning of friendship.
The Battle For Oz reimagines L. Frank Baum’s canonical classic while also taking a page (and character or two) out of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
When a new queen endeavors to take over the city of Oz once again, Dorothy Gale and Alice Liddel must come together to fight off the wicked magic. With help from Toto and the Tin Man, Scarecrow and The Mad Hatter, the young women travel to earth and back and face impossible circumstances. In all the chaos and commotion, while Alice and Dorothy struggle to discover the key to saving the city, along the way they find themselves discovering the meaning of friendship.
180 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Jeyna Grace
10 books49 followersAn author with a love for fantasy and a heart to inspire others to chase their dreams.
While authoring under the the nom de plume, Jeyna is a content strategist, copywriter, and editor for businesses tackling the age of social media. Prior to her move into marketing, she spent over four years in a publishing house as both a writer and editor for children magazines, books, and pre-school materials, engaging with brands such as Disney and Mattel on licensed projects in Malaysia and Singapore.
In 2016, Jeyna won the Geek & Sundry Fantasy contest. She was also nominated as a CLEO HotShot in 2018.
Jeyna's most recent publications are 'Whispers of the Wind' and its sequel, 'Secrets of the Flood'.
While authoring under the the nom de plume, Jeyna is a content strategist, copywriter, and editor for businesses tackling the age of social media. Prior to her move into marketing, she spent over four years in a publishing house as both a writer and editor for children magazines, books, and pre-school materials, engaging with brands such as Disney and Mattel on licensed projects in Malaysia and Singapore.
In 2016, Jeyna won the Geek & Sundry Fantasy contest. She was also nominated as a CLEO HotShot in 2018.
Jeyna's most recent publications are 'Whispers of the Wind' and its sequel, 'Secrets of the Flood'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 20, 2015
3.5 stars
There is a new plan in action. A exiled queen is building her army.
Muttbits were like dogs but had pointed, rabbit-like ears, long whiskers, and two sharp front teeth.
The new plan is to take over rule of Oz. There's a new evil queen in town. She imprisons Glinda and takes over. Banishing the current queen of Oz to a magical mirror.
The world of Oz needs help. Enter Dorothy!
Dorothy can't tackle this queen alone though. She is meaner than the Wicked Witch.
So she searches out "a little bit of help from her friends"..
Together Dorothy and Alice must battle the queen for control of Oz. This Queen is a bad-ass psycho.
What a fun little middle grade book! Dorothy and Alice's characters do come across as a tad bit off but I still had fun reading this book. It made my day getting to re-visit some of my favorite characters ever in this book.
It's wild that the most kick-arse character was this little guy.
I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author.
Being a part of the crowd made them realize that anyone who fought for what they believed in was a hero. You didn't need to be the head-you just had to have a heart.
PS>> that epilogue!
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Aimee didn't like the book as much as I did but so what? She wrote an amazing review for it that grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book.
There is a new plan in action. A exiled queen is building her army.
Muttbits were like dogs but had pointed, rabbit-like ears, long whiskers, and two sharp front teeth.
The new plan is to take over rule of Oz. There's a new evil queen in town. She imprisons Glinda and takes over. Banishing the current queen of Oz to a magical mirror.
The world of Oz needs help. Enter Dorothy!
Dorothy can't tackle this queen alone though. She is meaner than the Wicked Witch.
So she searches out "a little bit of help from her friends"..
Together Dorothy and Alice must battle the queen for control of Oz. This Queen is a bad-ass psycho.
What a fun little middle grade book! Dorothy and Alice's characters do come across as a tad bit off but I still had fun reading this book. It made my day getting to re-visit some of my favorite characters ever in this book.
It's wild that the most kick-arse character was this little guy.
I'm definitely interested in reading more from this author.
Being a part of the crowd made them realize that anyone who fought for what they believed in was a hero. You didn't need to be the head-you just had to have a heart.
PS>> that epilogue!
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Aimee didn't like the book as much as I did but so what? She wrote an amazing review for it that grabbed my attention and made me want to read this book.
August 8, 2017
“She knew her worst enemy had arrived. It felt like the good old days. This time, however, she was not going to let her go.”- The Battle For Oz, Jeyna Grace.
My thoughts: Introduction:
*Beware: Rant ahead!*
Let us start off with the idea or plot points of the book. The idea for this book was unique and it was nothing like the other books I have read before. Okay, let me explain the idea in detail.
Basically, the idea was the Queen Of Hearts who was exiled from her kingdom in Wonderland and- everyone knows she is evil, right? Alright, back to the topic. So, she discovered a way to get to the land of Oz and with the help of her guards that were exiled as well and her bunch of muttbits, she had the chance to conquer Oz.
That sounds great doesn’t it? It sounds like the book is going to be epic and action-packed, right? Well, sorry to disappoint you but it is not action-packed and only 45% of the book is epic. The idea was fantastic but the story felt flat for me which I will talk more about later on.
Moving on, let us talk about the pacing of the book. The pacing for this book was too fast. Nothing in the book was described properly and everything was described with a breeze which leave me no choice but to move on with no visualization to the story.
The pages within this book- 167 pages, took me five days to finish. FIVE DAYS, people and that is never a good sign for a short book to take me a huge amount of time to finish. To be honest, I kind of regretted reading this book because it pulled me back into a reading slump. *Thank you, book.*
The atmosphere around this book was…? Perhaps..Bad? Because I have no visualization to the story whatsoever, so I cannot feel anything around the book and there is nothing in this book that stands out to me practically. So, I will say this book has a flat atmosphere.
Next, let us talk about the characters. I will go into detail later but for now, I will give you all a brief summary of the characters. All of the characters in the book were one-dimensional and they do not have any character growth which saddened me because I really want to know more about Alice and Dorothy!
Also, this book did not provide any flashbacks of the years that went by after Alice and Dorothy have both left their respective realms. So, I am very, very disappointed.
Did this book drag? one might ask me and I will answer: Of course it did but it did not really drag…drag. The scenes that kind of dragged were supposed to be engaging but it kind of fell flat and also, those scenes did not go very well with the book.
Now, let us move on to the next section- the writing section.
Writing:
Even though I did not enjoy most parts of the book, the writing style was the only one that I really enjoyed! Jeyna’s writing style for this book was epigrammatic, eloquent and crisp. Her writing style was really beautiful and lovely. I am so sorry for the synonyms! I did not intend to do it.
Now, let us move on to the characters section, shall we?
Characters:
Alice (From Wonderland): Alice was supposed to be that sweet and kind girl that fell into the rabbit hole and ended up in Wonderland. Instead, we got a bossy, ‘I Am Better Than You’ girl in this book. Her attitude in this book was unbearable and when it came to her point of view in the book, I dreaded reading it.
The worse thing is, her attitude did not change throughout the book, it stayed at its optimum state! I supposed her attitude is worse than the Queen Of Hearts herself. Also, she had zero character growth. That is all for her character.
Dorothy (From Oz): Unlike Alice, Dorothy was sweet and kind but she was also weak. She did not always believe in herself and she had this attitude called ‘I Cannot Do It’. I did enjoy her point of view but I did not enjoy her character and also, she had the same character growth as Alice. Zero.
Queen Of Hearts (Also Known as The New Queen of Oz in this book): The Evil Queen was the best character in this book! She had a complex mind, a crazy plan and a great ambition- To rule Oz.
But, how unfortunate, she did not get to rule for long because both Dorothy and Alice stopped her from torturing the citizens. I wished she could be the Queen for a longer period because of how complex she is. Also, she had a great character development, unlike Dorothy and Alice.
Overall:
I am giving this book a 43% rating. Sorry everyone, but I really did not like this book.
This review is also posted atMaxxesbooktopia
September 12, 2015
I was hoping to be swept off my feet into the combined stories of Alice from Wonderland and Dorothy's Oz. What a stellar idea with such a variety of creatures! It had the potential of dark with a touch of whimsy.
I can't put my finger on it really. I just wasn't very invested in Dorothy, and only a bit more in reckless Alice. The story felt a bit anticlimactic for me. The story progressed in a predictable way. There were some interesting ideas and characters: Toto can transform, Alice and Dorothy are older, the villain...but something held me at arm's length. Perhaps it was meant for middle grade?
I know a lot of people liked this one, but it was just OK for me.
The epilogue seemed a bit too dark for the story that preceded it, in my opinion.
The author should keep writing though - she has some good ideas.
Thank you Netgalley and Inkshares Publishing for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2015
I received this ebook from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover, I just thought it was very lovely. The book itself was pretty good. There were a lot of interesting ideas that I wish had been flushed out more thoroughly, but all in all it was good. Some of the details were a little confusing and I wanted more back story (why did Dorothy have a whip?), and when did Alice get magic from the Cheshire Cat (I didn't even know he could do magic). However if you ignore all the things you know (or I'm supposing you know from either other books or movies), then the story makes sense. It moved a long at a good pace and was a quick read.
The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover, I just thought it was very lovely. The book itself was pretty good. There were a lot of interesting ideas that I wish had been flushed out more thoroughly, but all in all it was good. Some of the details were a little confusing and I wanted more back story (why did Dorothy have a whip?), and when did Alice get magic from the Cheshire Cat (I didn't even know he could do magic). However if you ignore all the things you know (or I'm supposing you know from either other books or movies), then the story makes sense. It moved a long at a good pace and was a quick read.
July 30, 2015
Disclaimer: This copy of e-ARC is obtained from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of my honest review.
An interesting crossover of two of the most popular children classics stories. By finished reading this book, I wanted to re-read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and to read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland when I was very very young. So most of the plot and characters of the story is already long forgotten. On the other hand, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a new thing to me as I haven't read it. It's a good thing because I read this book without any expectation and I was able to enjoy reading it fully.
The two main characters of the two children classics - Alice and Dorothy are leading the story, but in this book, they've grown up as young adults. Even though Dorothy appeared before Alice, most of the time the inner thoughts of Alice are concentrated. And because of that, Alice has grown up to be a more sophisticated character.
Due to the length of the story (it's a novella by the way), most of the characters seemed single dimensional. But to me, Alice's character in this book is more developed. She is more matured and smarter than Dorothy and even braver.
The pace of the book is quite steady throughout the whole story development and the epilogue at the end of the book gave me some imaginary space. The fantasy creatures like the fairies, trolls, transforming Crows are amazing. The description of the fantasy land of Oz and Wonderland made me wanted to be carried away by the magical tornado to Oz or jump into the rabbit hole to Wonderland!
Even though this book is marked as young adult book, the writing is quite simple and easy to be understood by middle grade readers.
The review is originally posted on: http://wp.me/p5m5jd-ia
An interesting crossover of two of the most popular children classics stories. By finished reading this book, I wanted to re-read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and to read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland when I was very very young. So most of the plot and characters of the story is already long forgotten. On the other hand, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a new thing to me as I haven't read it. It's a good thing because I read this book without any expectation and I was able to enjoy reading it fully.
The two main characters of the two children classics - Alice and Dorothy are leading the story, but in this book, they've grown up as young adults. Even though Dorothy appeared before Alice, most of the time the inner thoughts of Alice are concentrated. And because of that, Alice has grown up to be a more sophisticated character.
Due to the length of the story (it's a novella by the way), most of the characters seemed single dimensional. But to me, Alice's character in this book is more developed. She is more matured and smarter than Dorothy and even braver.
The pace of the book is quite steady throughout the whole story development and the epilogue at the end of the book gave me some imaginary space. The fantasy creatures like the fairies, trolls, transforming Crows are amazing. The description of the fantasy land of Oz and Wonderland made me wanted to be carried away by the magical tornado to Oz or jump into the rabbit hole to Wonderland!
Even though this book is marked as young adult book, the writing is quite simple and easy to be understood by middle grade readers.
The review is originally posted on: http://wp.me/p5m5jd-ia
December 9, 2015
This copy of e-ARC is obtained from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of my honest review.
This book is yet another success for Jeyna. I dived into this book with not much of an expectation but this book is fantastic. I ended up reading this in a night. It was such a peculiar yet interesting crossover concept for a novel.
I was wondering if this crossover was going to work as Oz and Wonderland are very differently landscaped with very amusingly weird characters.
I loved how both Alice and Dorothy were all grown up in this book. Though, I felt as if the plot was more concentrated on Alice than Dorothy. Reading this book was such an enthralling experience because I got to relive my childhood. I remember finishing this book and rushing to my book shelf to pet my hardcover copy of Alice in Wonderland.
I loved the fact that there were myriad folk species such as faes and trolls and much more in this book.
Besides, there was Scarecrow in this book, who just so happens to be my favourite character. I also wished there was more story about the Hatter.
Reading this novel just made me fall in love with fantasy fiction all over again. I found the prose to be quite mesmerizing. It felt poetic, just like Laini Taylor's and Ransom Riggs's.
The book had a pace of its own which I loved because most of the SFF books nowadays are fast-paced and its hard for me to follow the plot.
The story's ending is satisfying. I remember tearing up at the last page because this book's message is just so beautiful. Remember,
no magic is strong enough to crush the heart of a hero. This is a must read for YA-lovers and children both. Basically, this book is recommended to anyone hungry for a good read. I really wish there'll be a sequel. PLEASE. :D
This book is yet another success for Jeyna. I dived into this book with not much of an expectation but this book is fantastic. I ended up reading this in a night. It was such a peculiar yet interesting crossover concept for a novel.
I was wondering if this crossover was going to work as Oz and Wonderland are very differently landscaped with very amusingly weird characters.
I loved how both Alice and Dorothy were all grown up in this book. Though, I felt as if the plot was more concentrated on Alice than Dorothy. Reading this book was such an enthralling experience because I got to relive my childhood. I remember finishing this book and rushing to my book shelf to pet my hardcover copy of Alice in Wonderland.
I loved the fact that there were myriad folk species such as faes and trolls and much more in this book.
Besides, there was Scarecrow in this book, who just so happens to be my favourite character. I also wished there was more story about the Hatter.
Reading this novel just made me fall in love with fantasy fiction all over again. I found the prose to be quite mesmerizing. It felt poetic, just like Laini Taylor's and Ransom Riggs's.
The book had a pace of its own which I loved because most of the SFF books nowadays are fast-paced and its hard for me to follow the plot.
The story's ending is satisfying. I remember tearing up at the last page because this book's message is just so beautiful. Remember,
no magic is strong enough to crush the heart of a hero. This is a must read for YA-lovers and children both. Basically, this book is recommended to anyone hungry for a good read. I really wish there'll be a sequel. PLEASE. :D
November 7, 2015
DNF... And to think I had high expectations from this one as a Baum fan...
I understand the necessity of fast pace. Of a big tale that has to be told in a certain amount of pages.
Believe me, I do.
But this was way too much, way too fast. Within a couple of chapters the main villainess was judged guilty and insane, banished to the wastelands, found a place to stay, a new army to raise, and a new place to call her kingdom. She walked up to the gates of the Emerald City, strutting her stuff, and took only a few pages to completely annihilate every and any person who stood in her way to claim the throne.
I reached page 13 before I stopped. Would I go on even if I had to wait a few more chapters for the story to actually get good?
In stories like this, you need a little bit more detail. This was not fair to the plot, the characters, and generally anything that Baum has gifted readers with.
If you are to use a pre-made universe for your book, you should at least be a little considerate to how it operates and give it a story it truly deserves. THIS story, was not it.
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
I understand the necessity of fast pace. Of a big tale that has to be told in a certain amount of pages.
Believe me, I do.
But this was way too much, way too fast. Within a couple of chapters the main villainess was judged guilty and insane, banished to the wastelands, found a place to stay, a new army to raise, and a new place to call her kingdom. She walked up to the gates of the Emerald City, strutting her stuff, and took only a few pages to completely annihilate every and any person who stood in her way to claim the throne.
I reached page 13 before I stopped. Would I go on even if I had to wait a few more chapters for the story to actually get good?
In stories like this, you need a little bit more detail. This was not fair to the plot, the characters, and generally anything that Baum has gifted readers with.
If you are to use a pre-made universe for your book, you should at least be a little considerate to how it operates and give it a story it truly deserves. THIS story, was not it.
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
August 5, 2015
I've gotten this e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, thanks to the author and publisher!
A surprisingly cool read for a book with great known characters! Although I have only watched the movies and not read Oz nor Wonderland before, I kept imagining the characters as those from the movies hence my reading journey was really entertaining. For example, the New Queen was Helena Bonham Carter and Hatter was Johnny Depp LOL! The author truly has a good imagination, merging both worlds together into a great fantasy. Am I right to anticipate a book 2?
My full review here:
http://www.sholee.net/2015/08/mpov-ba...
A surprisingly cool read for a book with great known characters! Although I have only watched the movies and not read Oz nor Wonderland before, I kept imagining the characters as those from the movies hence my reading journey was really entertaining. For example, the New Queen was Helena Bonham Carter and Hatter was Johnny Depp LOL! The author truly has a good imagination, merging both worlds together into a great fantasy. Am I right to anticipate a book 2?
My full review here:
http://www.sholee.net/2015/08/mpov-ba...
Read
August 19, 2015DNF at 19%, therefore, no rating!
I want start by stating that I did not finish this book, so I don’t know how it all ends. Don’t just take my word for it, you may enjoy this. There’s really not much to say for the little that I did read.
I know that, occasionally, I will complain about a book being too slow. Well, the pacing in this book is fast, too fast if you ask me. Right off the bat, the antagonist in this story is being exiled from her kingdom and, if I remember correctly, there’s no explanation as to why that is. It may have been something to do with magic. Her ever faithful guards follow her to her new home deep in the forest. She raises some muddbits (Looks like a rabbit & dog mixed together) to be evil like her and she sets off to the kingdom of Oz, with only one agenda; get inside and takeover, making her the new Queen of Oz. Once inside, she attacks the Queen and Glenda, stealing Glenda’s source of power. Soon, Oz isn’t green and gold anymore, it’s red and gold. The people of Oz are all fearful and hopeful at the same time, because they think that bringing Dorothy to help with the situation will free them of their new evil Queen.
I only got as far as meeting with Scarecrow. I just could not go on any longer. All of the above was achieved during the first 16% or so. All too fast and pushed together. It felt like one of those “made-up-on-the-fly” bedtime stories you tell to kids. No character development to see just what the Evil Queen is all about. How she came to be Queen, nothing. Sure, that could be explained later on. But, the way this story is set up, that’s not likely to happen. It’s only 180 pages and I just couldn’t keep reading. I labeled this as Children’s/MG simply because I don’t think that anyone older would enjoy this. It’s not like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , where no matter the age, you love it. That’s why I wanted to read this to begin with, and I was let down by the simpleness of it. Again, don’t just take my word for it. Read on, if you so dare. But, if you are looking for an awesome retelling or reimagining, then this is not the book for you. This book has none of the brilliance that stands out like The Wonderful Wiz………. nor Alice’s Adventures………..
I want start by stating that I did not finish this book, so I don’t know how it all ends. Don’t just take my word for it, you may enjoy this. There’s really not much to say for the little that I did read.
I know that, occasionally, I will complain about a book being too slow. Well, the pacing in this book is fast, too fast if you ask me. Right off the bat, the antagonist in this story is being exiled from her kingdom and, if I remember correctly, there’s no explanation as to why that is. It may have been something to do with magic. Her ever faithful guards follow her to her new home deep in the forest. She raises some muddbits (Looks like a rabbit & dog mixed together) to be evil like her and she sets off to the kingdom of Oz, with only one agenda; get inside and takeover, making her the new Queen of Oz. Once inside, she attacks the Queen and Glenda, stealing Glenda’s source of power. Soon, Oz isn’t green and gold anymore, it’s red and gold. The people of Oz are all fearful and hopeful at the same time, because they think that bringing Dorothy to help with the situation will free them of their new evil Queen.
I only got as far as meeting with Scarecrow. I just could not go on any longer. All of the above was achieved during the first 16% or so. All too fast and pushed together. It felt like one of those “made-up-on-the-fly” bedtime stories you tell to kids. No character development to see just what the Evil Queen is all about. How she came to be Queen, nothing. Sure, that could be explained later on. But, the way this story is set up, that’s not likely to happen. It’s only 180 pages and I just couldn’t keep reading. I labeled this as Children’s/MG simply because I don’t think that anyone older would enjoy this. It’s not like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , where no matter the age, you love it. That’s why I wanted to read this to begin with, and I was let down by the simpleness of it. Again, don’t just take my word for it. Read on, if you so dare. But, if you are looking for an awesome retelling or reimagining, then this is not the book for you. This book has none of the brilliance that stands out like The Wonderful Wiz………. nor Alice’s Adventures………..
June 13, 2016
As a child I was not a fan of the Wizard of Oz, nor Alice in Wonderland. Those witches and their flying monkeys scared the living daylights out of me! I do own first editions of the L. Frank Baum series as well as a turn of the century copy of Alice in Wonderland. I am a huge fan of the Johnny Depp Helena Bonham-Carter movie version of Alice.
That being said, Jeyna Grace has done a magnificent job in the mélange of two great children's classics, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. When a new evil witch takes over the city of Oz, Dorothy enlists the aid of Alice to restore Queen Ozma to her throne. Events move swiftly to a huge battle at the climax of the story. If you have faith and confidence in yourself you can overcome all. Remember it's a fairy tale for children. They do not need every little detail explained fully and rationally ( in reply to the criticism of other reviewers). I love all the description throughout the story. I can see this being made into a major picture.
This story is a children's fairy tale and is presented as thus all along. However, at the end there is a twist. Maybe this isn't just for kids. A hint of evil to come in world history, perhaps...
I received this copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
That being said, Jeyna Grace has done a magnificent job in the mélange of two great children's classics, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland. When a new evil witch takes over the city of Oz, Dorothy enlists the aid of Alice to restore Queen Ozma to her throne. Events move swiftly to a huge battle at the climax of the story. If you have faith and confidence in yourself you can overcome all. Remember it's a fairy tale for children. They do not need every little detail explained fully and rationally ( in reply to the criticism of other reviewers). I love all the description throughout the story. I can see this being made into a major picture.
This story is a children's fairy tale and is presented as thus all along. However, at the end there is a twist. Maybe this isn't just for kids. A hint of evil to come in world history, perhaps...
I received this copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
June 15, 2015
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/06/1...
Publisher: Inkshares
Publishing Date: September 2015
ISBN: 9781941758311
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.1/5
Publisher Description: When a foreign queen invades Oz and steals its citizens’ magic, the land turns to someone who has aided them before: Dorothy. But the silver-slippered girl has grown up, and in her years away from Oz the game has changed. So, in order to defeat this new and unfamiliar enemy, Dorothy seeks the aid of Alice, a legendary woman who once famously defeated a queen.
Review: This was a very creative and inventive novella. The characters were fairly one dimensional due to the abbreviated structure. I would have liked to have read a full length version of this story line with well built characters evolving around a manifestation of evil. The world building could have been epic as well.
Still, a promising talent.
Publisher: Inkshares
Publishing Date: September 2015
ISBN: 9781941758311
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.1/5
Publisher Description: When a foreign queen invades Oz and steals its citizens’ magic, the land turns to someone who has aided them before: Dorothy. But the silver-slippered girl has grown up, and in her years away from Oz the game has changed. So, in order to defeat this new and unfamiliar enemy, Dorothy seeks the aid of Alice, a legendary woman who once famously defeated a queen.
Review: This was a very creative and inventive novella. The characters were fairly one dimensional due to the abbreviated structure. I would have liked to have read a full length version of this story line with well built characters evolving around a manifestation of evil. The world building could have been epic as well.
Still, a promising talent.
January 29, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this. It was a fun adventure, definitely, but I feel like it was a little off. The author changed up a lot of things about the backgrounds of Alice and Dorothy without filling in the gaps or adding backstory. For some reason Alice has a trusty flintlock pistol and all we ever know is it came from "before", we don't ever get a how or why. Dorothy has a whip and a bag of magic candy that were from her first trip to Oz. While I confess to not having read the entire Wizard of Oz series, I don't remember those things ever being a part of the story. If you're going to add things like that I feel like a little explanation is required. Then, we NEVER get a description of the characters. I think Alice is described a having dark hair and wearing a skirt. That's all can tell you. Dorothy is apparently blond and wears a blue vest and some kind of utility belt, but that's the only description of her ever given. I wasn't sure if she was supposed to be kind of steampunk or what. I need enough of a description of the characters (especially if it deviates from the traditional fairy tale) to know what I'm working with.
Aside from these issues though, I really enjoyed this short, fast-paced adventure. I loved the idea of Dorothy enlisting Alice - I'm a huge fan of both stories. And I loved the surprise ending. Talk about a twist...
Aside from these issues though, I really enjoyed this short, fast-paced adventure. I loved the idea of Dorothy enlisting Alice - I'm a huge fan of both stories. And I loved the surprise ending. Talk about a twist...
June 30, 2017
I really loved this book. I'm a sucker for crossovers, so seeing Alice and company in Oz really made my day. Its a very well written book, with excellent pacing, and wonderful imagery. Other reviewers write about the premise, so I'll forgo going into details, but I really like the direction Grace took with the story and with each character. While its short (its a novella), you really see how Dorothy and Alice have grown as young adults, which is fun for a fan like me. Well worth reading if you love Alice in Wonderland and any of the Oz books!
June 7, 2017
The Battle for Oz is a wonderful blend of familiar children's stories. I really enjoyed the new twists on the characters, and I hope there is a sequel!
May 22, 2024
interesting plot..which I thought was a great way to fast forward a couple of years for the Oz characters Good read for me.
October 18, 2015
I won this book in a giveaway and thank you so much for sending the book! ^_^
The book was an interesting add on of Oz and a little bit of Wonderland. Dorothy and Alice were strong women in the book but kind of flat. Their characters never grow from the first page to the last and everything was a wee bit too easy to accomplish or get away from in the book. I loved Toto in this book, it was a nice twist to see what he can do.
I was kind of sad that there wasn't any romance in the book. I was really hoping Scarecrow and Dorothy would maybe hint at something, but nothing there. Alice and Hatter moment in Wonderland was probably my favorite part of the entire book even though it had little to do with the actual plot I think.
When I first picked up the book, I was thinking who is this New Queen of Oz and then through a few subtle hints, I figured it out. A bonus that the reader figured it out instead of the author just saying this is who it is!
I would love to see a second book of this. I love The Wizard of OZ and Alice in Wonderland and this was fun to go back to those worlds in a war-framed point of view. It was a enjoyable read while I was at work on lunch or staying at home, wrapped in a blanket. :)
The book was an interesting add on of Oz and a little bit of Wonderland. Dorothy and Alice were strong women in the book but kind of flat. Their characters never grow from the first page to the last and everything was a wee bit too easy to accomplish or get away from in the book. I loved Toto in this book, it was a nice twist to see what he can do.
I was kind of sad that there wasn't any romance in the book. I was really hoping Scarecrow and Dorothy would maybe hint at something, but nothing there. Alice and Hatter moment in Wonderland was probably my favorite part of the entire book even though it had little to do with the actual plot I think.
When I first picked up the book, I was thinking who is this New Queen of Oz and then through a few subtle hints, I figured it out. A bonus that the reader figured it out instead of the author just saying this is who it is!
I would love to see a second book of this. I love The Wizard of OZ and Alice in Wonderland and this was fun to go back to those worlds in a war-framed point of view. It was a enjoyable read while I was at work on lunch or staying at home, wrapped in a blanket. :)
October 7, 2015
THE BATTLE FOR OZ by Jeyna Grace is a reintroduction to characters we both know and love. When an exiled dictator finds new servants and manages to make a path through the heavens to the Land of Oz, things are not going to be good. The new invader easily tricks Queen Ozma of Oz into submission and rapidly captures Glinda, and manages to imprison her in such a way so as to render the good witch powerless.
It is only the fairies that manage to flee the new queen’s wrath and they turn to Scarecrow for help. He, being the bright fellow that he is, manages to enlist Dorothy’s aid and, along with an unexpected visitor but a deadly opponent to the new queen from years before, they plan to retake Oz and free the peoples of the kingdom.
This is a fun flight of fantasy back into realms we have explored before. The author has taken generous leaps in the abilities of her characters, or perhaps I have not read all the Oz books and have yet to discover some things that are taken for granted here, but that does not interfere with a delightful story.
This is a nice surprise back into the Land of Oz and I expect more good things from this author.
I did win this book through Goodreads.
It is only the fairies that manage to flee the new queen’s wrath and they turn to Scarecrow for help. He, being the bright fellow that he is, manages to enlist Dorothy’s aid and, along with an unexpected visitor but a deadly opponent to the new queen from years before, they plan to retake Oz and free the peoples of the kingdom.
This is a fun flight of fantasy back into realms we have explored before. The author has taken generous leaps in the abilities of her characters, or perhaps I have not read all the Oz books and have yet to discover some things that are taken for granted here, but that does not interfere with a delightful story.
This is a nice surprise back into the Land of Oz and I expect more good things from this author.
I did win this book through Goodreads.
September 28, 2015
The Queen of Hearts, having been evicted from Wonderland, discovers a new land, Oz. She decides to make herself queen with the aid of faithful minions both old and new, and the magic ring she steals from Glinda. She imprisons the present queen in a mirror and proceeds to remake Oz in her own cruel and violent image. The citizens send for Dorothy to help them but, when she realizes she cannot succeed on her own, she decides to search for Alice, an old foe of the queen, to aid her.
The Battle for Oz is a novella by author Jeyna Grace combining two classics, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, two of my favourite books from childhood. Given the length of the book and the large number of characters, there is very little character development here. Still, it is fast-paced with lots of action so a pretty decent read if you’re looking for something to fill a lazy afternoon.
The Battle for Oz is a novella by author Jeyna Grace combining two classics, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, two of my favourite books from childhood. Given the length of the book and the large number of characters, there is very little character development here. Still, it is fast-paced with lots of action so a pretty decent read if you’re looking for something to fill a lazy afternoon.
May 12, 2016
*I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I'll admit, I'm a sucker for reimaginings. And I'm a sucker for crossovers. So a crossover of Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland that is also a reimagining of what happens to both of them after they grow up a little? Count me in.
Jeyna Grace does a great job blending both worlds that we have come to know and love. Seeing characters from each world in the other world is a lot of fun, and she does a great job of adding her own story elements to the original stories, such as Toto's true talents and the effects of Mad Hatter's tea.
However, I felt that the writing itself fell just a little bit flat. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was, but the words of the story felt somewhat boring, even if the story itself was exciting.
Overall, although I wasn't thrilled with this book, I'd recommend it to someone looking for a quick read (I finished it in two hours) who is a fan of both worlds. I'm definitely happy I read it!
I'll admit, I'm a sucker for reimaginings. And I'm a sucker for crossovers. So a crossover of Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland that is also a reimagining of what happens to both of them after they grow up a little? Count me in.
Jeyna Grace does a great job blending both worlds that we have come to know and love. Seeing characters from each world in the other world is a lot of fun, and she does a great job of adding her own story elements to the original stories, such as Toto's true talents and the effects of Mad Hatter's tea.
However, I felt that the writing itself fell just a little bit flat. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was, but the words of the story felt somewhat boring, even if the story itself was exciting.
Overall, although I wasn't thrilled with this book, I'd recommend it to someone looking for a quick read (I finished it in two hours) who is a fan of both worlds. I'm definitely happy I read it!
February 1, 2016
I was kindly given a copy by the publishers through Netgalley, with many thanks to the author and publisher.
Full review will be up on September 3rd over at: http://silkereadsandwrites.blogspot.be/
I was so in love with the idea of this book. I got incredibly excited.
I love it when favourite stories collide together and get given a new twist etc.
This was such an enjoyable read. The way it was written did feel like it was mainly directed to a young/teen audience, but that doesn't take away the fact that both younger and older readers will absolutely adore this story.
It's a book I definitely want to add to my book collection!
Full review will be up on September 3rd over at: http://silkereadsandwrites.blogspot.be/
I was so in love with the idea of this book. I got incredibly excited.
I love it when favourite stories collide together and get given a new twist etc.
This was such an enjoyable read. The way it was written did feel like it was mainly directed to a young/teen audience, but that doesn't take away the fact that both younger and older readers will absolutely adore this story.
It's a book I definitely want to add to my book collection!
March 5, 2016
"Imagine, if you will, a linear accelerator for fiction. Say someone took The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, put them in the machine, and slammed ‘em together. Sifting through the results, you’d find The Battle For Oz, Jeyna Grace’s exciting adventure published by Inkshares."
The rest of the review can be found at http://www.thewarblerbooks.com/the-ba...
The rest of the review can be found at http://www.thewarblerbooks.com/the-ba...
May 8, 2016
I got book thanks to Goodreads giveaway. I did not finish the book yet, but I will update this review when I finish it.
As a fan of both the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, I was very excited to get into this book. The ideas are interesting and creative as this is a joining of two classic stories, but from reading the first half of the book, I noticed that the plot is sometimes abrupt and I'm not a huge fan of the writing style. However, so far it has been enjoyable.
As a fan of both the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland, I was very excited to get into this book. The ideas are interesting and creative as this is a joining of two classic stories, but from reading the first half of the book, I noticed that the plot is sometimes abrupt and I'm not a huge fan of the writing style. However, so far it has been enjoyable.
June 25, 2016
I got this book in a goodreads giveaway.
I thought it might be interesting and I am not sure why I entered this particular giveaway since I don't really like Alice or Dorothy but for some reason i entered it anyway.
This book was not great at all. I was hoping for something good but it wasn't interesting at all and was actually really dumb. I wish I had liked it though.
I thought it might be interesting and I am not sure why I entered this particular giveaway since I don't really like Alice or Dorothy but for some reason i entered it anyway.
This book was not great at all. I was hoping for something good but it wasn't interesting at all and was actually really dumb. I wish I had liked it though.
July 11, 2016
I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways for an honest review.
In The Battle for Oz, the Queen of Hearts leaves Wonderland and takes over Oz. Dorothy and Alice must work together to save Oz.
I liked the book. Alice and Dorothy being together in Wonderland and Oz was neat. Some of the book seemed to move really fast without any background knowledge though.
In The Battle for Oz, the Queen of Hearts leaves Wonderland and takes over Oz. Dorothy and Alice must work together to save Oz.
I liked the book. Alice and Dorothy being together in Wonderland and Oz was neat. Some of the book seemed to move really fast without any background knowledge though.
December 3, 2015
I really thought I was going to enjoy this, I mean Alice and Dorothy together, what couldn't be awesome about that. Well it just didn't do it for me, childish writing style and a plot that really didn't draw me in or encourage me to continue reading.
January 10, 2016
I thought this book had a great idea of combining the worlds of Oz and and Alice. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but the epilogue really jarred with the rest of the book and let the rest of the book down - was there any need for an ending like this?
February 23, 2017
Jeyna creates a great piece of fanfic by mashing the worlds of Wonderland and Oz together. It was a wonderful way to tell a combining story involving beloved characters in Dorothy and Alice.
November 12, 2015
Great book.I am a big fan of Oz and Wonderland. This was wonderful.
October 9, 2015
Jeyna Grace has woven together a marvelous tale, combining elements from Alice in Wonderland with an updated land of Oz. Everyone from your kids to your grandparents will love it!
May 8, 2016
I gave this book to one of my students that is obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and he adored it. It was short and thrilling.
I won this book on Firstreads on Goodreads.
I won this book on Firstreads on Goodreads.
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