On the coattails of having read the Wicked Years quartet somewhat recently, having the opportunity to read Elphie was nothing short of an exciting blessing. As a fan of the Wizard of Oz, both for its political commentary of the time and its place as a piece of fiction; and of the Broadway musical, Wicked – it seemed a no brainer to step into the world that Gregory Maguire has taken careful effort to flesh out and craft into something far beyond what was established years ago by L. Frank Baum.

This, however, was a bit of a letdown. There is something of a tone difference between Elphie and the initial Wicked Years Quartet, and I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on it. The initial jarring aspect was the flowery nature of Elphie’s prose. Maguire, I’ve come to understand, fancies himself as something of a wordsmith, and as such, often utilizes prose and syntax to develop his world and characters, at the expense of delving dangerously close to purple prose. This overexposure of language also detracts from the overall magic of Oz, and the excitement that inevitably comes with the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Elphaba Thropp’s earlier years.

I will, however, also point out that my appreciation for the source material is what kept me from DNFing this book outright, as I wanted to understand its place in the greater fabric of the Oz-verse, and there was also some part of me that hoped the overall pacing, tone and structure of the book would improve. Unfortunately, it did not. At least, for me, it didn’t.

That isn’t to say there isn’t some merit to this book, however, as there are some details that can be garnered whilst reading, albeit with some effort. For instance, we get a greater idea of the absence of Melena Thropp and Frexspar the Godly in Elphaba’s life, something further exasperated with the presence of Nessarose and Frex’s continued mission-work. This novel also establishes a true father figure in Unger, someone who filled a gap in Elphaba’s life that she desperately needed. It was the relationship between Elphaba and Unger that, I feel, set her on the path for her to become the Elphaba we’ve all come to know and cherish.

Some other important details of the book were the touch on Elphaba’s “sweet” singing abilities, no doubt a nod at the musical, but also the first foray into the rights of Animals - a future point of contention in the series proper, the establishment of the title “witch” - another point of contention, as we come to understand in the future of Elphaba's life - and the framework that is laid for the roles of magic. The book is wholly new and familiar simultaneously, something that can be both entirely frustrating and heartening to boot.

I’m sure this book will find its audience. Perhaps there is someone far more enraptured in the saga of Elphaba than I am, but this book was not for me. Reconciling that, however, comes with some ease, as I understand, too, that Elphaba’s tale is likely not over, and has potentially to be revisited in a much easier to digest form.

Overall, I’ll be giving this 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for its potential, however lacking I felt it may be.

I do want to thank #NetGalley, Gregory Maguire and William Morrow (Publisher) for the opportunity to read #Elphie in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I think it is important to start this review by being as candid as possible. I read ALL of Gregory Maguire's books, but the Wicked Years Quartet is special to me in a way no other book has ever been. I do enjoy the musical, but these books are my comfort books. I'm a fan girl for these books and I'm not ashamed.

Preamble accomplished, I truly feel that what Mr. Maguire has achieved here is nothing short of a hex in itself. For "Oz People" like myself, the splits and chasms of all the known stories can be brutal. What the author has done in this case is paid homage to the musical while remaining faithful to his original story and world. I didn't expect that he could or would knit the two universes together in this way.

I read this in a peculiar way... I went back and read the pre-shiz chapters in Wicked Life and Times, dove into this novel, then I'm immediately went back into Wicked. This experience alone was just the coolest way to reread my favorite book. It also set me up for some major deep-dive into Elphaba in an uninterrupted (or, rather, non glinda distracted, way. Elphaba, being the imperfect heroine/antihero of her own story, sometimes was eclipsed by the world around her in the original books. I think that by adding this introspective coming of age novel, it allows our green girl to shine in a relatable and affirming way.

Things were not lost on me, as a reader. Elphie's singing abilities, for example, was a sweet "note" toward the musical and fans of the musical who may be reading this as their gateway into the Wicked Years. Other gorgeous touches include but are not limited to the scorpions in Nessa's shoes (excuse my language but that was fucking brilliant and so clever). Our first introduction into the rights of Animals, the advent of the title "witch" and the nudges toward the magic that we know will follow, subtle nods to the film as well as Elphie's future in the books, make for a thick read in such a small form. Familiar friends and new ones, familiar settings and new situations lend this book an air of adventure and comfort.

I could probably write whole papers on the symbolism and foreshadowing in this books, but then I wouldn't be able to touch on the best character.. . Unger. To add this character as a true father figure and mentor was to give Elphaba something we don't often see: love. Elphaba is a survivor, but to become who she is in the future... Even to be who she is opposite Glinda, she needed another guide and Unger was heartbreakingly perfect. This was, to me, the best part of the book. Upon their parting (twice! Ugggh) I sobbed.

A note about Shell. These books often focus on the nature of evil... Born or made. I would argue that Sheltergod Thropp manages to settle this debate pretty decently. His character will forever bring me shivers, old or young.

My one critique: we saw the Tigelaar children and Lir up to much mischief in the Quartet... I would have loved to see more childish hijinks from the Thropp children. This is a nit pick and only because I never wanted the book to end and was desirous of such bird-walks.

Speaking of bird-walks, I apologize for mine. I had no choice. Thank you to the author for once again giving us a way to return to Oz. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I'm going to start by saying that I have been a fan of Wicked since I saw a touring company performance of the musical many, many years ago and had to stop by a bookstore on the way home to purchase the box set of The Wicked Years. I devoured all four books while listening to the Broadway cast album in the following week. And, I've had a relapse of my mild Wicked obsession since I heard about the movie adaptation, so the idea of this book just adds to my amusement. This novella takes place during the same timeframe as the first part of the Wicked novel, fleshing out some of the detail of Elphaba's upbringing that the first book glossed over. We get a deeper look at sibling rivalry, absentee parenting, monkeys and wings, attempts at formal and informal schooling, all that formed the character of the young woman that finally arrived at Shiz. It was a diverting read for someone who wants more of Elphie. This was not an action-packed adventure, but a somewhat slow narrative. The writing style is similar to the prose of The Wicked Years books, maybe even a bit more passive. This story is probably targeted toward completionists, ones who have read and enjoyed at least the first book in The Wicked Years series if not the entire series. Anyone who has seen the musical (or movie) but not read any of the books should, in my opinion, start with Wicked.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

DNF'ing @ 25%. I really, really wanted to love this one because Wicked was great, but this book is practically unreadable to me. The writing is … well, I don't even know how to explain the writing. There are short, repetitive sentences that are written in such a way that they just don't make much sense. I wouldn't exactly call it purple prose, but it's like the text kind of skirts around what it's trying to say instead of saying it directly? I dunno. I read some sections of this book out loud to my husband to make sure it wasn't just me who found it incomprehensible, and he said that it sounded like I was reading poetry (and not in a good way). I don't know why Gregory Maguire decided that this was the writing style he wanted to use for this one - Wicked is written in perfectly normal prose – but it just does not work for me. I gave it until the beginning of Part Two hoping that something would change, but it didn't and I can't suffer through another 220 pages of this, sorry.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 25, 2025.

I first read WICKED when it FIRST released, many many years ago. Then of course seeing Wicked on Broadway was life-changing and I fell in even deeper love with the story. Imagine my THRILL when now Gregory Maguire has returned to Oz and will give us all we missed in Elphie's childhood. I teared up at the dedication in the book - to Idina Menzel, Cynthia Eriva, and all the past and future Elphabas. <3

I am snuggling up with this right now and am already hooked from chapter 1. What a MUST read, especially before the movie releases this Thanksgiving!!

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Gregory Maguire for this eARC in exchange for my honest review --- which is already beyond my hopes and expectations from page 1. Thank you so much.

This book was a wonderful insight into the characters from Wicked, I always love stories where they tell you more about the villains or side characters from different classic stories and this was no different! I can't wait for the book to be officially published so that I can buy a copy for my cousin who is obsessed with all things wicked

This book captivates with its intricate plot and well-developed characters, drawing readers into a world rich with detail and emotion. The author masterfully balances suspense and depth, making it hard to put down. Its thought-provoking themes and unexpected twists leave a lasting impression, making it a must-read for any literary enthusiast.

Having read the Wicked Years books (#1-4) and being a big fan of Wicked the Musical, I was intrigued to see what this new entry into Maguire's Oz would be like. I ended up mostly liking it, I think especially because it's shorter than the other books in the series and it helps deepen some of the character relationships in interesting ways (I'm mainly talking about Elphaba and Nessarose, who get some great scenes together.) This is definitely a story that is more focused on characters than action, and I enjoyed that.

This book might be appealing to fans of the musical (and the forthcoming movie adaptation) but Maguire's writing style (which can be challenging to get through at times) and the reliance on lore from the book series rather than the musical may make it difficult to recommend to casual fans/readers.

Truth be told, I’m not quite sure what to make of this book, which fills in the gap that Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West left between Elphaba’s infancy and her arrival at Shiz University. Maguire offers glimpses into Elphaba’s life at ages three, seven, ten, and thirteen, and highlights pivotal moments that were only referenced in the original book, such as the death of her mother in childbirth and her father’s dogged quest to make amends with the family of their murdered Quadling friend, Turtle Heart. Some of these sections were incredibly slow, with Maguire’s characteristic contemplative writing taking center stage. As a fan of Maguire’s previous work (though not, admittedly, the Wicked Years quartet; I read and enjoyed Wicked but stalled out on Son of a Witch), this was familiar to me, and I do appreciate the very recognizable style and pitch of his writing; however, I did find myself frustrated, wishing that things would actually happen. They do pick up significantly later in the book, but it’s a slow process getting there. Other than that, I enjoyed the dedication a lot (to Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo); the Easter eggs (like a nod to Galinda!), the additional insight into the complicated sister relationship between Elphaba and Nessa, and, of course, Nanny. I love the way Maguire writes old cranky women SO much and that will never change.