I made an attempt to read it, but unfortunately, it just became overly blah.

There is an abundance of detail and rather mundane facts within it.

These elements combined made it extremely difficult for me to maintain my interest.

It seems as if the author has gone into such minute details that it has actually detracted from the overall appeal of the piece.

The excessive focus on the ordinary and the uninteresting has left me feeling disengaged and almost bored.

I had hoped to find something captivating and engaging, but instead, I was met with a text that was just too blah to hold my attention.

Perhaps if the author had been more selective in the details they included and had focused on the more interesting aspects, it would have been a more enjoyable read.

As it stands now, however, it has simply failed to capture my interest and has become a rather forgettable piece of writing.

The cover of this item is truly amazing. It catches the eye and immediately draws one in with its stunning visuals. However, as much as I appreciate the aesthetics, I have to admit that I'm just not a big fan of Fantasy.

Maybe it's the whole concept of magical worlds and mythical creatures that doesn't quite resonate with me. I understand that many people love this genre and find it highly engaging and entertaining. But for me, it just doesn't hold the same appeal.

Despite the great cover, my lack of interest in Fantasy ultimately leads me to rate this only 2 stars. It's not that there's anything objectively wrong with the product itself; it's simply a matter of personal preference. I'm sure there are many others out there who will absolutely love this, but unfortunately, it's just not for me.

Wicked - 5/5

Gregory Maguire's brilliant concept of expanding, rejuvenating, and retelling a villain's story in such a politically charged manner truly revolutionized the way modernity would approach FABLES and FAIRY TALES in the decades following its release. In the best possible way, it is a rather dry and serious book, yet it possesses a sardonic sense of humor and a dark sensibility that is intertwined with its cynical views on class, race, and politics.

When Wicked strikes, it does so with great force. Since a significant portion of its dry humor and political undertones were lost during its adaptation into the popular musical, the novel form of Wicked is unique to this book, making it (for me) even more special and worthy of being revisited from time to time.

I adore the way Maguire manipulates iconography, tropes, and utilizes the space between the lines of the original book, the WB film, and other visuals related to THE WIZARD OF OZ to tell his reimagined tale. Elphaba is a worthy character for the trope of the WICKED WITCH, as is Galinda. Fantastic.

Son of a Witch - 3/5

The sequel to the big hit, Son of a Witch, contains many of the elements that made Wicked successful, but unfortunately lacks the strong parallels that Wicked had. Frankly, Son of a Witch is rather dull. Its action builds slowly, and any political intrigue that is present unfolds slowly and unsatisfactorily. Regrettably, it is not a great follow-up, let alone an entertaining one. While Wicked had me turning the pages rapidly, Son of a Witch was a bit of a chore to get through.

This book follows the captivating story of Elphaba's son. It delves into his life, experiences, and the challenges he faces as he grows up.

If you were enthralled by the magical and enchanting world of "Wicked," then you are sure to find this book equally enjoyable. It continues the legacy of the beloved story, offering new perspectives and adventures.

The author has done an excellent job of creating a vivid and engaging narrative that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

Whether you are a die-hard fan of "Wicked" or simply looking for a great read, this book is definitely worth checking out. It offers a unique and exciting take on the world of Oz and is sure to leave you wanting more.

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This took me forever.

There are always more questions than answers.

I have the feeling that we rush through the actual plot at an alarming speed.

Sometimes, important details are not even described, which is quite frustrating.

Instead, we seem to loiter around in the in-between scenes, which gives a strange pacing to the whole thing.

It is not at all like the musical, which I had expected it to be more similar to.

However, Son of a Witch is much better in comparison.

It has a more engaging storyline and the pacing is more appropriate.

I would highly recommend Son of a Witch over this one.

Maybe if they had spent more time on the actual plot and less on the in-between scenes, this would have been a better read.

As it is now, I'm left with a lot of unanswered questions and a feeling of dissatisfaction.

Hopefully, the next book in the series will be an improvement.

I read "Wicked," but unfortunately, I haven't read "Son of a Witch." Sadly, I had the opportunity to see the Wicked musical before delving into the book.

I must say that I thought the stage show had a much smoother narration compared to the book. It seemed to fill in more gaps and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the story.

In contrast, much of the book left me with unanswered questions. There were several aspects that were unexplained, and it didn't quite match up with the events from "The Wizard of Oz."

I understand that Maguire might have intended to show how the story could have been miscommunicated in "Wizard," but for me, the differences were just too great to make it truly enjoyable.

Perhaps if I had read the book first and then seen the musical, my perception might have been different. However, based on my current experience, I found the musical to be a more satisfying and engaging experience.

Nonetheless, I still appreciate Maguire's attempt to offer a new perspective on the well-known story of "The Wizard of Oz." It's always interesting to see how authors can reimagine and reinterpret classic tales.

Maybe one day I'll give "Son of a Witch" a try and see if it can change my opinion of Maguire's work.

This review specifically focuses on "Son of a Witch" as I read "Wicked" over 10 years ago.

Some of the world-building aspects were rather difficult to follow. This might be attributed to the fact that my memories of "Wicked" are extremely vague. However, I don't really reduce my rating of the book because of that. One aspect that I did appreciate was that frequently Macguire would simply drop a comment about something that was common and obvious to the characters and leave it at that without further explanation. But, it was always for things where not having the details written out didn't change the understanding of the story. Nevertheless, since there were so many made-up words in the book, at times it didn't quite hit the mark with me to use so many obscure words to describe things that probably had a more common similar word.

Also, for the majority of the book, it was challenging to discern the point of most actions. And, that can be a good way to set up a story where at the end the seemingly unconnected things become connected. However, that never occurred.

Overall, it felt as if Macguire had determined the main action points and the flow of the story and simply made the characters act in a way to advance that predetermined line, even if it didn't align with what we understood the character to be like.

It sometimes seemed as if the author was attempting to make some grand statement about something universal, but either fell short of it or got so caught up in grandiose ideas and fancy language that it all became lost.

I want to explain my rating, because it’s the result of combining individual ratings for each novel.

I truly loved "Wicked". I read it twice, initially in German and then in the original version. It was such a captivating read that I would毫不犹豫地 give it 4 out of 5 stars.

For a decade, I had been eager to read "Son Of A Witch". The ending of "Wicked" had left me excitedly anticipating the next chapter in the story. However, when I finally got around to reading "SOAW", I just did not enjoy it. I almost gave up on reading it, but I'm glad that I persevered because there are some hidden gems within the chaotic mess that is this story. I can't even precisely explain what exactly it was that annoyed me about the novel, but I just have this feeling that both the story and the characters deserved better. I would rate this novel a mere 2 out of 5 stars, still wishing that I could have enjoyed it more.

Overall, my combined rating is a reflection of these two very different reading experiences.

If you loved or enjoyed this book, that's GREAT! I'm truly happy for you! But I have to admit, I DID NOT!

It's perfectly fine to have a different opinion. Please be kind :). I just recently read the first book in the Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum and really liked it. Now, the book and the 1939 classic movie are pretty different. I have to be honest and say that it's one of those rare instances where the movie is better than the book.

Now, I had never heard of (or if I did, I never paid attention to) Wicked when it came out. I was in a bookstore and saw a beautiful edition on the shelf and loved the synopsis. The whole idea or concept was really intriguing to me. I very rarely read retellings or fan fictions at all. This fan fiction changes the entire nature of the original book/story.

What shocked me was that this book is very complex, political, religious, and VERY ADULT, and so on. Maybe I shouldn't have read this book right after reading the original Wizard of Oz. This wasn't anything like what I was expecting, and I wanted to love it so much. But for me, this was just so bizarre and it gave me a headache.

This was a truly excellent addition to the first book.

It brought a whole new level of excitement and depth to the story. The author did a great job of building on the foundation laid in the previous installment and taking the narrative in fresh and interesting directions.

The characters were well-developed and engaging, and their relationships added an extra layer of complexity to the plot. The new settings and situations were vividly described, making it easy for the reader to immerse themselves in the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first one. It's a must-read for fans of the genre and a great example of how a sequel can be just as good as, if not better than, the original.

As always, Gregory Maguire is very entertaining.

His writing style has a unique charm that draws readers in from the very beginning. In this particular work, which is a wonderful sequel to "Wicked", he continues to weave a captivating story.

The characters are well-developed and full of depth, making it easy for the readers to connect with them on an emotional level. The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep the readers on the edge of their seats.

Maguire's attention to detail is also值得称赞. He creates a vivid and immersive world that the readers can easily get lost in. Overall, this sequel is a must-read for fans of "Wicked" and anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel. It is a testament to Maguire's talent as a writer and his ability to continue to tell engaging stories that capture the hearts and imaginations of readers.