I have been a fan of the Wicked Years books since the beginning and was so excited to receive a digital ARC of Elphie. I was only able to make it through a few chapters before giving up. The narrative dragged and was not interesting in the slightest. It may have been that I had read the other titles so long ago that the story was lost on me, I found myself having to look up all of the political backstory for context- but it didn't help. I had hoped for a book that was really about Elphaba and not the politics of Oz.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

This prequel to "Wicked" was a little lackluster for me. The plot seemed to drag on more than was necessary and there wasn't really a clear identifiable problem to solve or overcome during the story. It was fairly dry throughout and I struggled to keep reading it. Honestly, if it wasn't related to Wicked, I probably wouldn't have finished it.

So, this was an interesting book and I admit I don’t know what I expected at the outset. It’s very well-written but also contains a lot of stylistic sentence fragments that I had mixed feelings about and moments where the 4th wall gets broken that don’t appear to serve any purpose but add to a bit of the snark which this book already has by the gallons. By the same token, there are also a whole lot of well-expressed gems peppered about — one-off philosophical ideas and observations delivered really beautifully. And there is certainly very good and thorough character development. For example, I can’t imagine the challenge in writing a character that has no arms but whose entire personality is not dominated by this disability. And it was a little harrowing to watch Elphie grow ever more pessimistic and cruel as time went on. So, I really enjoyed the work put into that.

What I enjoyed less was the endless descriptions of fictional landscapes, and since the family was essentially nomadic during Elphie’s early years, there was a lot of change in their surrounding that was described in a lot of detail. And, there were interactions with people who were not necessarily important, a lot of events that didn’t seem worth it to commit to memory in the larger scheme of the plot, and some backstory that felt extraneous except to give Oz connoisseurs or at least Gregory McGuire fans even more of a glimpse behind the curtain. I did not really identify with any of that.

At the end of the day, I was able to ignore the extraneous stuff and follow what I thought was the main storyline which was Elphie in her early childhood development. But, it took more than half the book for anything to actually happen and half the time I couldn’t really see the point to the story. The majority of the book is a series of events just incrementally showcasing Elfie’s ever-increasing cruelty and capriciousness. It didn’t help that Nanny, Frex, Melina, Lei, Boozy, and every other adult that came and went from her life were all emotionally inaccessible at best and insufferable and unkind at worst which I think may have been meant to serve as a possible explanation for why Elphie went down the path she did. I mean, it makes complete sense that there was no love lost in literally any of the relationships depicted here — there isn’t even any grieving discussed after Elphie’s mother dies. But that’s how a villain becomes a villain I suppose, being surrounded by and exposed to people who just don’t care or are willfully blind to the insipid maliciousness of everyone around them. Or maybe the point was that Elphie clearly struggles with expressing her feelings so perhaps the point was the show that. There are also a lot of one-liners highlighting how Elphie doesn’t understand emotions or how she can’t read people and other comments to suggest that she might be on the autism spectrum to some degree. Or maybe this was the author’s way of trying to write a character with high IQ, low EQ, and zero emotional support. I don't know, but I do think Elphie's overall unlikable personality came across quite clearly.

To be perfectly honest, the first 3/4 of the book was actually pretty boring. But like I said, the quality of the writing is quite good with a lot of really clever and poignant narrator observations, for example, “asleep, all children appear innocent. But Elphie is often awake,” or, “a hobbled swan on the water may be unable to wheel aloft with her sisters. But she is no less beautiful, and she is doubled by her reflection in the way she can never be doubled in the air,” or, “maybe it doesn’t matter how we’re made, in the end; it matters who we are.” And frankly, it was these little off the cuff, nearly parenthetical side comments coming every other page that really kept me in the story because I was tasked with looking for a way to connect all of these observations and comments to some overarching story and unfortunately I had to wait till the 80% mark to get to that point.

But as much as I took a beat at every pithy observation about the very world the author was creating to comment on, I was still unsettled by the layers upon layers of near psychopathic apathy and self centeredness running through every character. Shell, at 5 years old, taking pleasure in his campaign of covert destruction while Frex spends 100% of the book in “deep rumination,” Lei is occupied with keeping the family on her property in exchange for some perceived yet unspoken benefit she believes is owed to and will come to her at some point without wanting to do any of the mother/wife work one second before she gets what she wants, Nanny sticking with these people because she has no other use anywhere else but is not useful in any meaningful way and doesn’t provide the maternal or even parental presence these children so desperately need (it is not an exaggeration to say that this lot had not 1 but 2, possibly 3, mother figures fail them), and that’s before we even get to Nessa. If it wasn’t for the author constantly reminding you of her armlessness and the fact that she is bound to spend her life indebted to a person at literally all times you would never guess it given how entitled a lot of her comments were. The girl was destined for a life of near total dependence but you would never know it with how she masterfully manipulates everyone around while keeping up the appearance of one who couldn’t possibly be capable causing any kind of damage.

Honestly, I could go on and on about this book. So much happened but so little happened. It was not a long read, but it was definitely not a quick one because parts of it dragged and I struggled to read continuously. I think if you were somebody who is already aware of the rest of the books in the series you would enjoy this a whole lot. It is indeed a rich backstory and it tells Elphie’s origin story in a pretty satisfying way. I also think the fact that there’s so much to talk about, with so little action and no obvious point of the story, speaks volumes. Being absolved by Turtle Heart’s tribe seemed to represent some kind of crescendo in the story and it was well done. I think the ending was perhaps a little bit rushed: the transition into Wicked came up quickly and I wasn’t expecting that It was all going to wrap up so soon.

Overall, it was a good experience. Not the most compelling plot, and certainly not the most likable characters. But the writing is very good, the backstory will be a satisfying exploration for Wicked fans, and the characters are very well developed, as flawed as they are.

While Wicked is one of my favorite musicals, I do not think this book is simply for those who are fans of the musical. To me, this story was not really about Elphaba, but was more so about the people around her and her surroundings. There were so many times I wanted Elphie to do more or say more. Her childhood is also far from the dreamy one I had imagined and while reading and I couldn’t find any of the characters likeable - except for Elphie herself of course. It was interesting to read about one of my favorite characters, but I found the storyline to be a bit lacking and at times redundant. The pacing was very slow and depended on time skips to move the plot forward. This story was not a bad one… I just wanted more of the Elphaba we know and love.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

Elphie is a glimpse into what really shaped Elphaba into the Wicked Witch of the West that we all know and love. What really stood out to me is the emphasis on early childhood and how that can really shape us as people. There were specific events that happened, like her sister falling into a pond (water!) and being saved by Animals (the ones who can talk), only to have something truly baaaad happen to them later, that show us why she, later, puts so much stake into finding justice for all Animals. I found myself highlighting moments that really put into words feelings that I have felt while looking back on my own childhood. I think Elphie will really resonate well with those of us who read Wicked years ago and now grew up ourselves some and maybe even have kids of our own. You may even find yourself wondering if wickedness was in fact thrust upon her childhood, too.

I was so excited to receive this since I'm a huge fan of the Wicked series. "Elphie" provides some key background for the series, and brings back some nostalgia of the original. The novel is not really plot-driven and it follows Elphaba's stream of consciousness (not my preference). Like Maguire's other work in the series, the writing and tone is both viciously biting and playful. The story itself can be confusing to follow at times, and I had to go back for some re-reading. It did take a while to get into the story, and wasn't as enjoyable as a reading experience as Maguire's other work.

I was so excited to receive this ARC! Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley. I am a huge Gregory Maguire fan, but who isn’t?! I own all of his novels. I was so thrilled to see this novel! It is the backstory we all needed. The only problem I had was this novel didn’t have much of a story line. I think it’s a must read for any Wicked fan, but for informational purposes. Other than that, it fell a bit flat.

Ugh I am so sad about this one. I almost DNF but stuck it out and I am just so disappointed.

I could not get into this book at all. The writing just wasn’t the best and as a huge Wicked fan, I expected so much more because nothing happened!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This novel really took me back, the nostalgia was something else! I adored the writing style of the book, and loved learning more about Elphie's childhood. Knowing how everything turns out for her, my heart ached but I could not put this book down until I was finished. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved The Wicked Years!

I absolutely loved wicked, son of a Witch, etc. This gave some background information, which was great. I hoped it would have had more of a storyline, but I am grateful to have read this. I'll always be a Gregory Mcguire fan.

Elphie is a story about Elphaba’s childhood before events taking place in Wicked. This book is for you if you enjoy Wicked AND you have a fondness for stream of consciousness writing. I personally had a hard time following the story because the stream of consciousness (while beautifully and artfully crafted) made it difficult for me to settle into the story and understand what was going on without reading a section several times.

I would like to thank William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The story starts in Quadling country with Elphie as a toddler, her mother still alive and her father trying unsuccessfully to start a mission. Like the title says, it follows her childhood as she grows up.

I really liked most of this book. The tone is sarcastic, almost playful, and sometimes a bit jaded. Elphie is portrayed as morally ambiguous, the same as when she's an adult so the evolution of Elphie rings true. She has a vicious sibling rivalry with her sister and watches on as her brother raises havoc everywhere he goes. Her curiosity is insatiable, and it runs alongside an attitude problem.

It was interesting getting to know the supporting characters with more depth than Wicked offered. Alongside Elphaba we see the evolution of Nessa and Shell. Her parents' histories and shortcomings are delved into, although with regards to Melena as a person there was no real surprise.

What I wasn't super crazy about was the obscure plotline... Her father Frex is searching for Turtle Heart's family (Turtle Heart is from Wicked if you haven't read it) to atone for his own family's sins. And as he searches out Turtle Heart's relatives, he drags his family along. But the plot is Frex's more than it's Elphie's... She's just along for the ride.

And while I can't tell you where this story ends, if you have read Wicked you know where it begins. I think this is an excellent companion novel to the story that gave it its start.

This book is definitely one for die-hard fans of the Wicked series. It’s more of a slow, introspective dive into Elphaba's childhood, giving some backstory and filling in gaps from the original novels. While that could be really satisfying for some, I personally found it hard to stay engaged. The writing style is dense and a bit scattered, and at times, it feels like the narrative is more focused on musing about the world than actually telling a cohesive story.

I was expecting more plot, especially for a prequel that promises to flesh out the backstory of such a beloved character. Unfortunately, the pacing was quite slow, and not much really happened until much later in the book. There are moments where you start to see hints of the Elphaba we know, but they’re buried in a lot of overly descriptive, sometimes confusing prose that made it hard to connect. I think the complexity of the writing and the lack of a strong narrative thread would make it a tough read for anyone who isn’t already deeply invested in this universe.

That said, fans of the series who are looking for more context and character development might appreciate the book for what it is—more of a reflective piece than an action-packed prequel. But for me, it didn’t quite hit the mark. I’d give it 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3, because while I didn’t enjoy it much, I can see how it might appeal to more dedicated readers of the Wicked saga.

Well, I was not enough of a Wicked fan to enjoy this book. I remember liking the original when I read it years ago, but this was incredibly tough to wade through. There was almost no plot or characterization. It was mostly just a loosely related collection of expository facts about Maguire's version of Oz, along with a bunch of random musings about how children think and act and process information.

I might've been able to tolerate that, but the writing was also incredibly clunky and choppy. Sentences tended to be weirdly repetitive with tons of excessively long words that didn't flow together at all. You're just minding your own business, trying to read a story about a ten year old, and it keeps throwing sentences like "Enmired in the narcissism of youth, she has largely lost the capacity of empathetic fungibility that quietly characterizes the younger child." at you.

I only kept going because I got an ARC, but it was a really big challenge to finish this book. If I'd picked it up at the library or something, I probably would've DNFed 50 pages in or so.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I read Wicked years ago and found this one to be just as good. Mr. Maguire has a particular tone to his writing that makes it almost nostalgic, and I really loved seeing the start of the story that we all know and love. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

I love Maguire's style of writing and I could read what he writes forever!
In this story we learn more about Elphaba. Basically, after her birth to her teen years. Maquire provides the backdrop to the most notorious villian in all of history. The story highlights the death of Elphie's mother, her siblings and her father's obsession with making amends, clearly portraying her as your everyday young woman. It's not perfect. But I loved it and I am off to read old Maguire books right now! #gregorymaguire #elphie #elphaba
#williammorrow

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read Elphie!! Let me start with this, I love Wicked with every fiber of my being and cried when I got the notification that I was approved for this arc read. This writing style was not one that I typically am drawn towards but it was easy to comprehend. This was everything that I needed regarding Elphies childhood. Especially with the new movie coming out soon, so many questions were answered.

I read 30% into it and couldn't get into it. I expected a little bit more than what it got. I sill continue to read it but for now I will be putting it down.

I wanted to like this one, really I did. Huge fan of the first book (even reread it in preparation for this one) and the musical. But this just…isn’t it. This book doesn’t really add anything to the original story, and the characters don’t “feel” like themselves (with the exception of Nanny, who is the only one who feels familiar). One of the few books I’ve read that I was glad was on the shorter side. Sorry, Elphaba 😞

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz my whole life! Seriously my favorite! I also love the musical Wicked. So when I saw a book about the early life of Elphaba I was beyond excited and really hoped to be chosen to read it! I loved the author's version of Elphie's childhood. It kept me entertained and wanting to know more. I thought it was clever how he worked in things we know that Elphaba the witch uses/has as an adult like the mirror and crystal ball. I also liked the idea of her having a connection to animals when she was young. This definitely helps to explain her relationship with the monkeys later. I also liked learning about the different groups of people in Oz, the different areas of the country and her family! This book really gave insight into young Elphie's life and what made her her in older age. Great book! I truly enjoyed it!