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Ages of Oz #1
A Fiery Friendship
Lions, and tigers, and bears, not quite! Travel down the red brick road with the world’s most iconic Good Witch, Glinda, as she embarks on a brave adventure in Oz in this start to a brand-new series from Gabriel Gale and Lisa Fiedler.
On her Declaration Day, a day meant for celebration and happiness, Glinda’s peaceful life in Oz is shattered when her mother is imprisoned for practicing forbidden Magic. As she is ripped from her home by a fearsome bounty hunter sent by Aphidina, the Witch of the South, Glinda soon uncovers a startling truth: the Oz she’s always know is not good and right—it’s a world governed by the wickedest of the wicked, overrun with tyranny, corruption, and dark power. And Glinda’s mother? She is actually a high-ranking member of a secret society whose mission is to overthrow the four Wicked Witches and set the stage for the return of the rightful ruler of Oz.
With the help of a feisty, purple-haired girl named Locasta, Glinda sets across the unforgiving landscape to rescue her mother. They are soon joined by Ben, a revolutionary New Yorker, and a mysterious girl called Shade. Armed with their individual gifts, these unlikely heroes mount an epic attack on Aphidina to free Glinda’s mother…and save the future of Oz from the Wickeds before it’s too late.
On her Declaration Day, a day meant for celebration and happiness, Glinda’s peaceful life in Oz is shattered when her mother is imprisoned for practicing forbidden Magic. As she is ripped from her home by a fearsome bounty hunter sent by Aphidina, the Witch of the South, Glinda soon uncovers a startling truth: the Oz she’s always know is not good and right—it’s a world governed by the wickedest of the wicked, overrun with tyranny, corruption, and dark power. And Glinda’s mother? She is actually a high-ranking member of a secret society whose mission is to overthrow the four Wicked Witches and set the stage for the return of the rightful ruler of Oz.
With the help of a feisty, purple-haired girl named Locasta, Glinda sets across the unforgiving landscape to rescue her mother. They are soon joined by Ben, a revolutionary New Yorker, and a mysterious girl called Shade. Armed with their individual gifts, these unlikely heroes mount an epic attack on Aphidina to free Glinda’s mother…and save the future of Oz from the Wickeds before it’s too late.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published May 16, 2017
12 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Fiedler
24 books78 followersLisa Fiedler is the author of a number of popular young adult novels, including two retellings of a Shakespearean story from the female point of view, Dating Hamlet and Romeo's Ex. She lives in Connecticut with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 6, 2017
Before there was a girl with a dog named Toto, before there was a tornado, there was Glinda – a young girl living in Oz with her mother. When she and her mother must flee their home to escape a bounty hunter sent by the Witch of the South, Aphidina, they are unwillingly separated. Glinda learns a startling truth: the Wicked rule Oz and she and her mother are in grave danger. With the help of three unlikely friends, Glinda journeys to the witches castle to free her mother.
When the book opens, Glinda is on the cusp of preparing for her Declaration Day, in which she must choose from one of four possible careers. Her choices are limited to domestic work, because she is a woman. In this period of Oz’s history, women are not seen as equal to men.
“Now that I think of it,” Glinda grumbled, “why is it that at Madam Mentir’s, the title of almost every course ends with the qualifier ‘for Girls’? Does educating female students somehow require a specific approach?”
Her plight, however, is quickly overshadowed by her quest to save her mother. Though not as macabre as the original books by L. Frank Baum, Fielder’s interpretation of Oz hints at familiar characters, such as a winged monkey and young Nick Chopper.
Sometimes the writing is lovely:
The castle had grown up around her from the rich Lurlian soil – a living edifice of stems and creepers shooting off here, trailing there, climbing and clinging and bending toward the sun in a magnificent melding of agriculture and architecture.
Sometimes it’s poor:
“Roundiling, spindiling, outside and indiling
Story unfold-a-ling, story be told-a-ling
History, mystery, tell all of this to me
Whirl-a-ring, swirl-a-ring, past is unfurl-a-ring . . .”
And sometimes it seems like Ages of Oz has Harry Potter envy:
“We are all born predisposed to one of the Magical Pathways,” Tilda smiled. “Some of us have the talent to master all four. The strength of a Sorceress’s Magic is guided by her intellect; she deals in enchantment. Witchcraft is connected to emotion; it effects transformation through incantation. Wizardry relies upon illusion and ambition. And finally, the craft of the Makewright is both humble and noble, in that he or she creates ordinary objects from materials imbued with Magic, so that they may take on Magical qualities of their own.
The illustrations, however, are fantastic.
The story hinges on Glinda have an impossibly good memory, and hurtles along from one ‘Glinda suddenly understood’ moment to another, ultimately revealing itself to be a story in which its protagonist is shuffled from one event to another to arrive at a messy conclusion.
Ages of Oz is a rocky start to a new series but may appeal to fans of the original Oz books.
When the book opens, Glinda is on the cusp of preparing for her Declaration Day, in which she must choose from one of four possible careers. Her choices are limited to domestic work, because she is a woman. In this period of Oz’s history, women are not seen as equal to men.
“Now that I think of it,” Glinda grumbled, “why is it that at Madam Mentir’s, the title of almost every course ends with the qualifier ‘for Girls’? Does educating female students somehow require a specific approach?”
Her plight, however, is quickly overshadowed by her quest to save her mother. Though not as macabre as the original books by L. Frank Baum, Fielder’s interpretation of Oz hints at familiar characters, such as a winged monkey and young Nick Chopper.
Sometimes the writing is lovely:
The castle had grown up around her from the rich Lurlian soil – a living edifice of stems and creepers shooting off here, trailing there, climbing and clinging and bending toward the sun in a magnificent melding of agriculture and architecture.
Sometimes it’s poor:
“Roundiling, spindiling, outside and indiling
Story unfold-a-ling, story be told-a-ling
History, mystery, tell all of this to me
Whirl-a-ring, swirl-a-ring, past is unfurl-a-ring . . .”
And sometimes it seems like Ages of Oz has Harry Potter envy:
“We are all born predisposed to one of the Magical Pathways,” Tilda smiled. “Some of us have the talent to master all four. The strength of a Sorceress’s Magic is guided by her intellect; she deals in enchantment. Witchcraft is connected to emotion; it effects transformation through incantation. Wizardry relies upon illusion and ambition. And finally, the craft of the Makewright is both humble and noble, in that he or she creates ordinary objects from materials imbued with Magic, so that they may take on Magical qualities of their own.
The illustrations, however, are fantastic.
The story hinges on Glinda have an impossibly good memory, and hurtles along from one ‘Glinda suddenly understood’ moment to another, ultimately revealing itself to be a story in which its protagonist is shuffled from one event to another to arrive at a messy conclusion.
Ages of Oz is a rocky start to a new series but may appeal to fans of the original Oz books.
finish-later
May 18, 2017I'll be interested in reading this in the future, but right now I'm just not getting into it.
July 13, 2020
I have to say it was really well written. It reminded me of The Land of Stories but told about Oz, in Oz.
There were definitely a few places where I was reading from one person and the dialogue somehow switched to someone else speaking. It took me a sec to figure it out.
It was worth the read and I might consider reading the second one, but I don’t know if I want to read it on my phone. I might have to make a trip to library for the second one.
There were definitely a few places where I was reading from one person and the dialogue somehow switched to someone else speaking. It took me a sec to figure it out.
It was worth the read and I might consider reading the second one, but I don’t know if I want to read it on my phone. I might have to make a trip to library for the second one.
October 21, 2024
There are a lot of facts, characters, and terminology to learn and follow. The book was good. It was interesting, but there were so many subplots to follow that i sometimes got a little lost and had to go back to check some facts. But it was good! I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. It has higher reviews.
July 24, 2020
This book has to one of the most shocking storyline I have ever read. The first time I tried to read I just couldn’t get into it, I promised myself I would read it someday. I started reading the book, thinking it is just a book that was gone make my days go by a little bit faster, but it was more than just that. It had so much adventures in it that made not want to put the book down. I’ll promise you one think when you start to read this book, once you read the first few chapters, you are hooked. Once I started reading it, I probably got it finished in less than two days. Lisa Fiedler did an amazing job writing this book and I can’t wait to start reading the next book. Lisa did such a good job making world seem so amazing and gives justice towards Dorthy and Toto in the beginning.
If you are looking for an amazing book to read, I would totally recommend this book.
If you are looking for an amazing book to read, I would totally recommend this book.
September 28, 2017
I love this book if you have seen the wizard of oz then read this book but if you don't like cliff hangers then don't read this
January 26, 2018
It's been awhile since I've seen anything that had to do with Oz. And even then, the most I knew about Oz was that it was a whole separate world from Earth, and it could make the impossible possible. Take for example the familiar story about Oz--the one with Dorothy. Dorothy was a normal girl who lived in the countryside with her dog, Toto and her mother and father. Long story short, Dorothy and Toto get stuck in some tornado when they're at home, which magically transports them to Oz--which is how I remember it--and Dorothy has to get back home by following a yellow brick road to get to the Wizard of Oz, and ask him to bring her back home. Of course, there were probably many remakes of the story, but there was always a question lingering on everyone's minds--if not everyone, then just mine--: what kind of history does Oz have? Does it even have a history? What lies within Oz's past? Well, in this book, lots of questions are answered. For example, Glinda the Good's past. Nobody knew her past, but thanks to this book, an answer has been given. But even with questions being answered, the book gives a whole new story than the one we had been familiar for some time. It makes you look at the world of Oz in a whole new way, and really makes you think and consider some of the things that Oz has in its world. Overall, I think that I would really enjoy reading the next book. I want to know more about Oz and its exciting history it has in store!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2017
This is the first book in an intended series from Simon & Schuster, which is pretty impressive. It's a prequel to the Baum books set in the eighteenth century, starring a young Glinda and Locasta. They're joined by a boy from the New York colony and a bald eagle in their quest to overthrow the Wicked Witches who have conquered the four countries of Oz. There are a few things the book has going for it, including Baum-related references (character names include Matilda, Maud, and Gage), fun and Ozzy-sounding names like Aphidina and Abrahavel J. Squillicoat, some word puzzles and puns, an attempt at a developed history of Oz, and the running gag about the useless classes taught at Glinda's school. I also suspect the Queryor might have been inspired by the Curious Cottabus. Still, the book didn't really grab me. Many of the right elements are there, but it doesn't come across as all that Ozzy, and the writing doesn't strike me as especially engaging. I guess coming at it from the point of view of a long-time fan makes me a bit biased in the sense that I've read fan-written works better than this, and they didn't get anywhere near the same level of promotion. Regardless, if this series can get more people interested in Oz, that's a good thing.
September 5, 2017
Fiedler, Lisa A Fiery Friendship (Gabriel Gale’s Ages of Oz #1), 412 pages. McElderry (Simon and Schuster), 2017. $18. Content: G (mild danger).
On the day of her Declaration, Glinda learns disturbing truths about her country, the witch Aphidina who rules it, and even about her own mother. Instead of celebrating, she ends of fleeing for her life on a quest with Locasta, a highly irritating Gillikin, and Ben, a Earthling who was transported magically to Oz. Together they are supposed to fulfill a prophecy and take the first step to freeing Oz from the wicked witches who rule over it.
Fiedler pays homage to the original Oz stories – adding depth to the backstory without taking extraordinary liberties with the characters and original ala “Wicked”, for which I am very grateful. I really hope that this ignites a new interest in the Oz books. Regardless, kids will really enjoy this rollicking, magical adventure.
EL, MS –ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
On the day of her Declaration, Glinda learns disturbing truths about her country, the witch Aphidina who rules it, and even about her own mother. Instead of celebrating, she ends of fleeing for her life on a quest with Locasta, a highly irritating Gillikin, and Ben, a Earthling who was transported magically to Oz. Together they are supposed to fulfill a prophecy and take the first step to freeing Oz from the wicked witches who rule over it.
Fiedler pays homage to the original Oz stories – adding depth to the backstory without taking extraordinary liberties with the characters and original ala “Wicked”, for which I am very grateful. I really hope that this ignites a new interest in the Oz books. Regardless, kids will really enjoy this rollicking, magical adventure.
EL, MS –ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
September 18, 2017
Glinda is on a journey to save her mother from the wicked witch of the south. She teams up with Locasta (a Gillikin) and Ben (a New Yorker) at first to find her mother's old mentor, Maud. Maud was killed but The group teams up with a listener, Shade, and together they discover that Fire fairy is concealed in a red stone and to free him they must reunite his stone with a sword. Once free the fire fairy can defeat the witch of the south and free Glinda's mother. The plan works and the witch is destroyed. Unfortunately, Mombi (the 5th witch who is more powerful than the others combined) tells the other 3 remaining witches what occurred and they are now heading to the south to battle Glinda and her group.
Genre: fantasy
Audience: middle school
Topics: magic, family, friendship
Likes: quick read, red brick road
Dislikes: all adults just leaving the 4 kids to figure things out, it being a 4 book series, how quickly characters change emotions
Thoughts: begins abruptly and leaves reader that will eventually be answered in the book
Genre: fantasy
Audience: middle school
Topics: magic, family, friendship
Likes: quick read, red brick road
Dislikes: all adults just leaving the 4 kids to figure things out, it being a 4 book series, how quickly characters change emotions
Thoughts: begins abruptly and leaves reader that will eventually be answered in the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2017
Ages of Oz is set as a prequel series to the L. Frank Baum series of Oz books. I have read all his books as well as many of the continued books written by others.
This book is not meant to be similar to the Oz books. They are usually warm and fuzzy with lots of interesting creatures. Ages of Oz is a darker tale of Glinda's coming of age. The book is geared toward teens. L. Frank Baum seemed to target a younger age.
I enjoyed Ages of Oz. It introduces a lot of the characters with whom I am familiar in the L. Frank Baum books and creates a backstory for each of them.
If you are not familiar with the Oz books, Ages of Oz is still a great read but you won't appreciate the characters and their development.
Overall, this is a great book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
This book is not meant to be similar to the Oz books. They are usually warm and fuzzy with lots of interesting creatures. Ages of Oz is a darker tale of Glinda's coming of age. The book is geared toward teens. L. Frank Baum seemed to target a younger age.
I enjoyed Ages of Oz. It introduces a lot of the characters with whom I am familiar in the L. Frank Baum books and creates a backstory for each of them.
If you are not familiar with the Oz books, Ages of Oz is still a great read but you won't appreciate the characters and their development.
Overall, this is a great book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
March 16, 2017
If you are someone who has frequently travelled to Oz and back through L. Frank Baum’s many works or the various adaptations and stories set there then you’ll like this chance to return again and see it through Lisa Fiedler’s eyes. You’ll once again meet the good and the villains; Mombi, Glinda, the Tin Woodsman and more.
Although you should be more than familiar with Oz, how it looks, feels and works as a society this author still managed to put her own spin on it letting you walk through this magical land as if it’s brand new to you. You’ll meet exciting characters and go on an incredulous journey with new adventures Baum hadn’t covered. It’s something of a prequel in a way telling the story of Oz before Dorothy finds it with Glinda as the Good Witch of the South; here Glinda isn’t a witch or in charge of anything so it’s something of a coming of age story for her.
The only negative I found, and it was a small one, it didn’t feel like all the characters – Glinda in particular – was fully developed or the story taken to full fruition. That could be because this is only the first book in a series so it’s only a negative in the sense I want more which means the author has done her job in making me want to get her next book.
There’s been lots of authors spinning their own tales and versions of Oz history since Baum first opened a window to this world decades ago. It’s always interesting to see what perspective of Oz and its people we will be treated to next so you should give Fiedler a chance to wow you with her witchy smashing talent.
Although you should be more than familiar with Oz, how it looks, feels and works as a society this author still managed to put her own spin on it letting you walk through this magical land as if it’s brand new to you. You’ll meet exciting characters and go on an incredulous journey with new adventures Baum hadn’t covered. It’s something of a prequel in a way telling the story of Oz before Dorothy finds it with Glinda as the Good Witch of the South; here Glinda isn’t a witch or in charge of anything so it’s something of a coming of age story for her.
The only negative I found, and it was a small one, it didn’t feel like all the characters – Glinda in particular – was fully developed or the story taken to full fruition. That could be because this is only the first book in a series so it’s only a negative in the sense I want more which means the author has done her job in making me want to get her next book.
There’s been lots of authors spinning their own tales and versions of Oz history since Baum first opened a window to this world decades ago. It’s always interesting to see what perspective of Oz and its people we will be treated to next so you should give Fiedler a chance to wow you with her witchy smashing talent.
June 10, 2020
This book is a fun adventure, with riddles, evil witches, and lots of adventure.
It does have a few issues. First, the main characters' "fiery" friendship consists largely of them sniping at one another and refusing to apologise. More nitpicky, the author seems to think silk worms normally survive the silk-making process. Finally, a poppet, which Glinda's mother carefully tucks into her dress and repeatedly talks about protecting, is just left behind and disappears from the story.
Despite this, the book is fun to read and goes well with the original Oz series.
It does have a few issues. First, the main characters' "fiery" friendship consists largely of them sniping at one another and refusing to apologise. More nitpicky, the author seems to think silk worms normally survive the silk-making process. Finally, a poppet, which Glinda's mother carefully tucks into her dress and repeatedly talks about protecting, is just left behind and disappears from the story.
Despite this, the book is fun to read and goes well with the original Oz series.
January 30, 2022
The whole book was 5 stars with the exception of one startling episode in chapter two. If you have read the Harry Potter books you will be amazed to see a setting and plot development that is so similar it is hard to believe that it is a coincidence. It is really too bad as the rest of the story seems to come directly from the Royal Historian of Oz. The magic, the friendships and the gripping adventure never have a glimpse of being anything but Oz. I hope there is a follow up as I am sure that this story has many more wonderful permutations.
March 13, 2018
Ages of Oz: A Fiery Friendship
This book gives a spin and a background story of the first and most common story works of OZ. It gives so much information and backdrop on the Good Witch of the South and the Good Witch of the North. The story is enchanting and thrilling, full of adventure and has a great sense of humor. The story is a must read, especially for those Oz fans, and readers who like adventures, fantasy, and humor all in one.
This book gives a spin and a background story of the first and most common story works of OZ. It gives so much information and backdrop on the Good Witch of the South and the Good Witch of the North. The story is enchanting and thrilling, full of adventure and has a great sense of humor. The story is a must read, especially for those Oz fans, and readers who like adventures, fantasy, and humor all in one.
December 16, 2018
:(
I really wanted to like this. I gave it a fair shot--over 1/3 of the way through, 150-some pages...but it just didn't do it for me. I even skipped to the last chapter to see how it ended--and while it was compelling and leaving the door open for the sequel, it wasn't strong enough to make me go back and push through the rest of the book.
Bummer... :(
I really wanted to like this. I gave it a fair shot--over 1/3 of the way through, 150-some pages...but it just didn't do it for me. I even skipped to the last chapter to see how it ended--and while it was compelling and leaving the door open for the sequel, it wasn't strong enough to make me go back and push through the rest of the book.
Bummer... :(
September 21, 2021
A wonderful new fantasy when Glinda was thirteen, what she discovers, and her quest to save Oz from destruction by evil witches. The characters are lively, the story impressive, and I'm looking forward to Book #2 in the set. Loved it.
May 5, 2017
4.5 *s This was a really fast pace and enjoyable read.
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
September 19, 2017
I loved it.
January 1, 2018
Great to enjoy a gutsy girl hero in Oz!
March 12, 2018
If you like Wizard of Oz and that type of fantasy fiction, then I'm assuming you'd like this. The second half was much better than the first since it took me way too long to get into it.
February 19, 2019
This is a good series i recommend it if you love the Wizard of Oz and want to know it's back story.
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed it enough I will probably get around to reading sequels. While there are some flaws in the non-logical progression, I'm sure my 9 year old will love reading this adventure in Oz.
June 7, 2022
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
March 20, 2023
Entertaining
After reading Mouseheart, this book was a very delightful and enjoyable book. This book is highly recommended book for just about anybody.
After reading Mouseheart, this book was a very delightful and enjoyable book. This book is highly recommended book for just about anybody.
March 5, 2024
Loved the Wizard of Oz. This was hard to follow.
September 14, 2024
Amazing 🤩 🤩 🤩 🤩 strongly recommend, if you love, adventures and fantasy, this is the book for you 💖💖💖
March 29, 2025
Pretty good
July 21, 2025
When Glinda's mother gives her a rose red pendent her mother has worn for years, Glinda knows somethings up. She ebarks on an adventure to find someone to help her defeat the evil witches on the north south east, and west.
Want to read
April 30, 2017I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews