What do you think?
Rate this book
Dorothy Must Die #0.1
No Place Like Oz
In this digital original novella, Dorothy travels back to Oz to reunite with old friends, but her story may not have a happy ending. No Place Like Oz is a prequel to the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.
After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.
Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters. This digital original novella is a prequel that sets the stage for the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.
After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.
Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters. This digital original novella is a prequel that sets the stage for the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
332 people are currently reading
12974 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Paige
34 books5,599 followersDanielle lives in NY. Before turning to YA, she worked in television & was nominated for several Daytime Emmy's. Dorothy Must Die is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 993 reviews
November 13, 2013
I... devoured this. There was something about wanting to see how Dorothy rises to her vengeance that I just needed to see through to the end. How she rises to power, the insanity of who's at fault and how the world is going to be flipped-turned-upside-down has me beyond excited for when Dorothy Must Die releases. Since Wizard of Oz is one of my favourite books and films, I found myself really in love with how Paige portrays Dorothy and how she grows into her madness. It was SO perfectly fitting that I found myself nodding along with the story.
Seriously, can it be time for Dorothy Must Die to release yet? I must have it, like, right now.
Seriously, can it be time for Dorothy Must Die to release yet? I must have it, like, right now.
April 10, 2017
I really liked this prequel because of the way Dorothy was portrayed as a narrator - instead of making her a mindless villain, Danielle Paige depicted her transition away from innocence (and how greed overtook her) and I thought it was such a captivating journey.
Oh, and lots of foreshadowing for Dorothy Must Die:
Oh, and lots of foreshadowing for Dorothy Must Die:
If I had all that, I would never let myself lose sight of how lucky I was. Not for a moment.
January 26, 2023
“They say you can't go home again. Well, I'm proof that's not true. Home isn't just where you're born-it's where you belong. I found my home and I let it go. But I came back. Now I was home for good, and I would never, ever make the mistake of leaving again. The past was gone forever. There was no place like here.” - Dorothy
September 5, 2016
En realidad un 3,75*
«Muchos dicen que no puedes volver a casa. Bueno, tengo la prueba de que eso no es cierto. Ahora bien, ¿dónde está ese lugar? No siempre está donde uno nace o se cría, sino allí donde echa raíces. Ahora me sentía como en casa. Nunca, pasará lo que pasara, volvería a cometer el error de marcharme. Había dejado mi pasado atrás. Como en Oz, en ningún sitio.»
Es una pequeña historia introductoria de como Dorothy volvió a Oz. Es bastante entretenido y augura una buena historia para el primer libro. Deseando leer Dorothy debe morir.
«Muchos dicen que no puedes volver a casa. Bueno, tengo la prueba de que eso no es cierto. Ahora bien, ¿dónde está ese lugar? No siempre está donde uno nace o se cría, sino allí donde echa raíces. Ahora me sentía como en casa. Nunca, pasará lo que pasara, volvería a cometer el error de marcharme. Había dejado mi pasado atrás. Como en Oz, en ningún sitio.»
Es una pequeña historia introductoria de como Dorothy volvió a Oz. Es bastante entretenido y augura una buena historia para el primer libro. Deseando leer Dorothy debe morir.
January 1, 2015
Initially gave this 3 stars.
I know which side I'm on now though.
Original review:
Damn it, I didn't want to actually UNDERSTAND where Dorothy was coming from and why she is the way she is. This story definitely humanizes her a lot more and it changed my thinking towards Glinda and Ozma. But now I don't know whose side to be on! Argh.
I know which side I'm on now though.
Original review:
Damn it, I didn't want to actually UNDERSTAND where Dorothy was coming from and why she is the way she is. This story definitely humanizes her a lot more and it changed my thinking towards Glinda and Ozma. But now I don't know whose side to be on! Argh.
September 12, 2016
WOW. La precuela de Dorothy debe morir ha estado genial. Sin duda, me ha encantado volver a Oz y saber lo que pasa para que Dorothy deje de ser la buena de la historia. Sin duda me ha sorprendido muchísimo. Eso sí, recomiendo muchísimo haber leído El mago de Oz antes de adentrarte en esta aventura, hay muchas referencias en esta precuela, así que no me imagino la cantidad de referencias que puede haber en el primer libro. Estoy deseando tenerlo en mis manos y seguir con la historia.
October 1, 2016
Creo que es un error leer este antes que el primero, porque yo lo estoy haciendo en el orden que corresponde y tengo la sensación de que este me hubiese aclarado muchas más cosas si hubiese leído antes el otro.
August 15, 2024
O introducere în noul Oz creat de Danielle Paige. Mi s-a părut ca un roman, nu ca o nuvelă, cu personaje diverse și complexe, dar o poveste destul de simplă. M-a făcut să îmi doresc să citesc și lectura originală, pe care o știu doar din desene animate, piese de teatru sau filme.
Nu mă așteptam la finalul acesta și sincer nu mi-a prea plăcut de Dorothy. Sunt curioasă ce se poate întâmpla în continuare și cum/dacă devine ea personaj negativ.
Nu mă așteptam la finalul acesta și sincer nu mi-a prea plăcut de Dorothy. Sunt curioasă ce se poate întâmpla în continuare și cum/dacă devine ea personaj negativ.
November 20, 2013
No Place Like Oz Review on K-Books
Oh. My. Word. There are no words to explain just how amazing this novella is. When I first heard of Dorothy Must Die I thought hmm that sounds interesting. With me being a massive musicals fan I have, of course, watched The Wizard of Oz a gazillion times and memorised every word. So anything to do with Wizard of Oz I instantly was interested in. Dorothy Must Die was on my radar of a 'I want to read... eventually... at some point." When seeing there was a prequel I decided to get it to get a taste of what Dorothy Must Die would be like. After reading it is now a "I must have this book... like seriously... RIGHT NOW."
No Place Like Oz gives us a backstory and a sequel all at the same time. Dorothy has returned to Oz after her adventure when she was younger. Now 16 years old all she wanted was to get back to Oz and now she's there with her beloved aunt and uncle. But as they start to have more and more disagreements Dorothy starts to change... and it will impact not only her family but the whole of Oz.
No Place Like Oz was so much better than I ever expected. I love that we get a kind of sequel from the original Wizard of Oz story. In a lot of books that have a new take on a already known story it tends to take the viewpoint of retelling the story in a different, more magical or supernatural or more modern way. One thing I adored about this one is that it doesn't. It take The Wizard of Oz having already happened and gives you a "What happened next" story.
I completely expected this to be a very quick short read with it being a novella but I felt like it was more like a full story. I have a very love-hate relationship with novellas. I love getting the back story for books but I feel like there isn't a whole arc of the story because as soon as you get into it and are dying to find out what happens it's over. But that's what novellas do. That's their job. No Place Like Oz is more like a whole full-length novel. It may not be in length but it feels like it as there is everything you want in a novel included in it. You have the characterisation, the story arc. Everything is there.
Get ready to see a whole new side of Dorothy. From the original story I always liked Dorothy. I hate her now! Dorothy has changed from the innocent girl she once was who only wanted to go home. She has grown up and I really felt more and more dislike for her the further I read. She is selfish and pretty bitchy right throughout the book. She's just awful.
I am completely surprised that Dorothy Must Die will be Danielle's first novel as just from this prequel novella you can really feel the talent, passion and love for her writing. I was completely drawn in right from the start and I seriously couldn't put it down. I am a fan for life now. I cannot wait for her work.
No Place Like Oz was incredible and I don't even see it as a novella... to me it's a book. It has everything you could possibly want in a book. It completely sucked me in and took me on this journey to Oz. It made me fall back in love with the characters I loved in The Wizard of Oz as well as introducing me to new ones. Ozma... I adore her! It also makes you rethink everything you ever thought about the characters. I am so beyond excited to get my hands on Dorothy Must Die. It's going to be absolutely phenomenal and breathtaking if the prequel is anything to go by. I went ahead and pre-ordered as soon as I finished this. If you are curious about Dorothy Must Die then I urge you to go and read this prequel. It will make Dorothy Must Die one of your most anticipated books of 2014... I know it is mine. March cannot get here fast enough. The countdown begins!
Oh. My. Word. There are no words to explain just how amazing this novella is. When I first heard of Dorothy Must Die I thought hmm that sounds interesting. With me being a massive musicals fan I have, of course, watched The Wizard of Oz a gazillion times and memorised every word. So anything to do with Wizard of Oz I instantly was interested in. Dorothy Must Die was on my radar of a 'I want to read... eventually... at some point." When seeing there was a prequel I decided to get it to get a taste of what Dorothy Must Die would be like. After reading it is now a "I must have this book... like seriously... RIGHT NOW."
No Place Like Oz gives us a backstory and a sequel all at the same time. Dorothy has returned to Oz after her adventure when she was younger. Now 16 years old all she wanted was to get back to Oz and now she's there with her beloved aunt and uncle. But as they start to have more and more disagreements Dorothy starts to change... and it will impact not only her family but the whole of Oz.
No Place Like Oz was so much better than I ever expected. I love that we get a kind of sequel from the original Wizard of Oz story. In a lot of books that have a new take on a already known story it tends to take the viewpoint of retelling the story in a different, more magical or supernatural or more modern way. One thing I adored about this one is that it doesn't. It take The Wizard of Oz having already happened and gives you a "What happened next" story.
I completely expected this to be a very quick short read with it being a novella but I felt like it was more like a full story. I have a very love-hate relationship with novellas. I love getting the back story for books but I feel like there isn't a whole arc of the story because as soon as you get into it and are dying to find out what happens it's over. But that's what novellas do. That's their job. No Place Like Oz is more like a whole full-length novel. It may not be in length but it feels like it as there is everything you want in a novel included in it. You have the characterisation, the story arc. Everything is there.
Get ready to see a whole new side of Dorothy. From the original story I always liked Dorothy. I hate her now! Dorothy has changed from the innocent girl she once was who only wanted to go home. She has grown up and I really felt more and more dislike for her the further I read. She is selfish and pretty bitchy right throughout the book. She's just awful.
I am completely surprised that Dorothy Must Die will be Danielle's first novel as just from this prequel novella you can really feel the talent, passion and love for her writing. I was completely drawn in right from the start and I seriously couldn't put it down. I am a fan for life now. I cannot wait for her work.
No Place Like Oz was incredible and I don't even see it as a novella... to me it's a book. It has everything you could possibly want in a book. It completely sucked me in and took me on this journey to Oz. It made me fall back in love with the characters I loved in The Wizard of Oz as well as introducing me to new ones. Ozma... I adore her! It also makes you rethink everything you ever thought about the characters. I am so beyond excited to get my hands on Dorothy Must Die. It's going to be absolutely phenomenal and breathtaking if the prequel is anything to go by. I went ahead and pre-ordered as soon as I finished this. If you are curious about Dorothy Must Die then I urge you to go and read this prequel. It will make Dorothy Must Die one of your most anticipated books of 2014... I know it is mine. March cannot get here fast enough. The countdown begins!
February 13, 2016
I am not sure what to rate this, for now a 1.5, rounded up to a 2.
I am just disappointed. Dorothy isn't evil, she is just a bitch (sorry for my language) and rude to friends and family, who all just want the best for her and only care for her. What do they get? Mindcontrol, bitchy behaviour and more.
Let's just say I was really looking forward to this new series. Dorothy becoming evil? Dorothy not good but the enemy for Oz? Wow. Sadly it was not meant to be. Like I said above, I didn't feel like she was evil, just deranged, bitchy and a whiny little teenage girl who didn't get what she wanted.
It was fun however to see the world of Oz again, to see everyone who was in the original story and see they were all doing fine. Also the Yellow Bricked Road. <3
I felt sorry for Dorothy's Aunt and Uncle, suddenly they were ripped from their Kansas, ripped from their home, into a strange country that they didn't believe in. Also sad for other reasons, but you will find those out when you read the book.
All in all, I am not planning on reading the next book. Dorothy was just bleh and I felt like too much was said in the ebook. Some things I think would have better to be saved for the main book.
I am just disappointed. Dorothy isn't evil, she is just a bitch (sorry for my language) and rude to friends and family, who all just want the best for her and only care for her. What do they get? Mindcontrol, bitchy behaviour and more.
Let's just say I was really looking forward to this new series. Dorothy becoming evil? Dorothy not good but the enemy for Oz? Wow. Sadly it was not meant to be. Like I said above, I didn't feel like she was evil, just deranged, bitchy and a whiny little teenage girl who didn't get what she wanted.
It was fun however to see the world of Oz again, to see everyone who was in the original story and see they were all doing fine. Also the Yellow Bricked Road. <3
I felt sorry for Dorothy's Aunt and Uncle, suddenly they were ripped from their Kansas, ripped from their home, into a strange country that they didn't believe in. Also sad for other reasons, but you will find those out when you read the book.
All in all, I am not planning on reading the next book. Dorothy was just bleh and I felt like too much was said in the ebook. Some things I think would have better to be saved for the main book.
October 17, 2018
Wow. I felt this ties in nicely to the original story. The main differences is that I felt Oz is a bit more fantastical here (flaming toast, prebuttered, cooked corn still on the stalks, etc) and that Dorothy seems a bit conceited and selfish even from the beginning. Was she ever sweet? The setting when she was in Kansas did feel a bit modern though.
Danielle Paige does a great job with references from the original book. She bases is more on the books than the movies since the ending is fairly different. Going from the original story to this is a fairly smooth transaction.
The questioning of Ozma and missing Glinda was a great idea and the way it plays out is interesting. You really get a glimpse of how Dorothy changes from the innocen girl who first journeyed the Yellow Brick Road to go home, the the wretched brat she is in Dorothy Must Die. Eager to read the next step in the prequel series!
Danielle Paige does a great job with references from the original book. She bases is more on the books than the movies since the ending is fairly different. Going from the original story to this is a fairly smooth transaction.
The questioning of Ozma and missing Glinda was a great idea and the way it plays out is interesting. You really get a glimpse of how Dorothy changes from the innocen girl who first journeyed the Yellow Brick Road to go home, the the wretched brat she is in Dorothy Must Die. Eager to read the next step in the prequel series!
October 24, 2016
1.5 en realidad
Hacía tiempo que un libro no me atrapaba y se me hacía tan largo y pesado. Poco más de 150 páginas y me ha parecido que tenía el doble.
El clásico de Oz me gusta mucho, no es mi favorito pero sí me gusta su historia y los personajes, por lo que tenía curiosidad sobre este retelling.
No tengo mucho que decir sobre esta precuela. Dorothy ha crecido y quiere con todas sus fuerzas volver a Oz para reencontrarse con sus amigos: el león, el espantapájaros y el hombre de hojalata. No todo saldrá como ella desea.
Dorothy es un personaje insufrible y egoísta. Solamente piensa en ella sin importar lo que digan los demás y dejando en ridículo hasta a su propia familia. Esos aires de grandeza me cabreaban un montón, en serio. Veremos como sigue la saga, aunque mis expectativas han caído en picado.
Hacía tiempo que un libro no me atrapaba y se me hacía tan largo y pesado. Poco más de 150 páginas y me ha parecido que tenía el doble.
El clásico de Oz me gusta mucho, no es mi favorito pero sí me gusta su historia y los personajes, por lo que tenía curiosidad sobre este retelling.
No tengo mucho que decir sobre esta precuela. Dorothy ha crecido y quiere con todas sus fuerzas volver a Oz para reencontrarse con sus amigos: el león, el espantapájaros y el hombre de hojalata. No todo saldrá como ella desea.
Dorothy es un personaje insufrible y egoísta. Solamente piensa en ella sin importar lo que digan los demás y dejando en ridículo hasta a su propia familia. Esos aires de grandeza me cabreaban un montón, en serio. Veremos como sigue la saga, aunque mis expectativas han caído en picado.
November 14, 2013
I will go into full detail with a review to come soon! But basically, THUMBS UP! Go read it! Or if you're smart you'll wait till the day before Dorothy Must Die comes out so you don't have to wait.
Cut that. Don't be smart.
Cut that. Don't be smart.
January 9, 2015
I’d like to start this review by saying a big ‘well done’ to Danielle Paige, because not once during this story, did I ever doubt that this was Dorothy Gale, which in itself is pretty impressive!
Dorothy was as I expected her, and I did feel pretty sorry for her at points. I totally got where she was coming from when everyone who heard her story thought she was crazy, and when girls started being nasty to her because her aunt and uncle couldn’t afford to buy her a beautiful new dress. I could also see why she would want more from life than to farm pigs.
Dorothy did become awkward, rude, and drunk on magic as the book progressed, but I could even see how that happened, at the end of the day she was just a normal 16-year-old girl with a heck of a lot of powerful magic at her fingertips, and that’s unlikely to be easy to cope with.
The storyline in this was good, although this felt more like a full-length book to me rather than a novella! So much happened, and so much was revealed, and I really got sucked into the story. I’m not sure where the next book goes from here, but there was a lot of information in this book, which I can only guess will become important in ‘Dorothy Must Die’.
I really loved how well the author had managed to bring Oz back to life in this book though, and how well she had done to make this so convincible as a ‘Wizard of Oz’ story, so again, a big well-done!
There wasn’t any romance in this one, but the story didn’t lack for it.
The ending to this was really good, and things happened that I really didn’t expect. I’m really intrigued as to where the story goes from here!
Overall; great ‘Wizard of Oz’ story,
8 out of 10
June 11, 2014
Rating: 4.5/5
No Place Like Oz is the prequel to Dorothy Must Die, and for me it is a must read. This is the story of Dorothy a few years after she came back from Oz. Now Dorothy is about to turn 16 and everything around her, everything she fought so hard to get back to, doesn't seem the same anymore. As they say, you can never go back home. And for Dorothy returning to what she though was her home didn't turn out to be what she hoped for.
I really loved seeing what happened once Dorothy was back. It was easy to understand why Kansas and her life there didn't excite her anymore. I think a try to Oz might have that affect to anyone. Her life can never get back to normal because she knows what awaits her away from Kansas. I loved getting inside Dorothy's head and witnessing her change from a 'normal' Kansas girl to the Queen of Oz. It made me sympathise with her and I am still a big fan, even after everythin she did (and everything that happened in Dorothy Must Die). If there is one character I can completely relate in this series is Dorothy. If I was in her shoes, her magical red heels, I would have felt and done exactly them same.
Also, besides my love for Dorothy, Danielle Paige manages to bring back my love for Oz. The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorite stories. I love Oz so much. If I could jump into a fictional world and spend the rest of my days there, Oz would be it. Danielle Paige managed to bring Oz back to life, even though it is a more dark and scary place, it's still the Oz that L. Frank Baum made me fall in love with.
No Place Like Oz is the prequel to Dorothy Must Die, and for me it is a must read. This is the story of Dorothy a few years after she came back from Oz. Now Dorothy is about to turn 16 and everything around her, everything she fought so hard to get back to, doesn't seem the same anymore. As they say, you can never go back home. And for Dorothy returning to what she though was her home didn't turn out to be what she hoped for.
I really loved seeing what happened once Dorothy was back. It was easy to understand why Kansas and her life there didn't excite her anymore. I think a try to Oz might have that affect to anyone. Her life can never get back to normal because she knows what awaits her away from Kansas. I loved getting inside Dorothy's head and witnessing her change from a 'normal' Kansas girl to the Queen of Oz. It made me sympathise with her and I am still a big fan, even after everythin she did (and everything that happened in Dorothy Must Die). If there is one character I can completely relate in this series is Dorothy. If I was in her shoes, her magical red heels, I would have felt and done exactly them same.
Also, besides my love for Dorothy, Danielle Paige manages to bring back my love for Oz. The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorite stories. I love Oz so much. If I could jump into a fictional world and spend the rest of my days there, Oz would be it. Danielle Paige managed to bring Oz back to life, even though it is a more dark and scary place, it's still the Oz that L. Frank Baum made me fall in love with.
not-for-me
July 16, 2014I really wanted to read this. But I just can't. James Frey will get none of my money. Ever. His practices are disgusting.
http://bibliodaze.com/2014/04/say-no-...
http://bibliodaze.com/2014/04/say-no-...
July 5, 2021
Having read the first book in the series, now the first book in the prequel series, I'm more than a bit confused, and over it all.
I loved the Oz books, I loved Maguire's Wicked series, and the first book in the 'real' series showed some promise. But going back to before 'Dorothy Must Die' I found a bit of overkill.
May leave both series for another time, too convoluted for me.
I loved the Oz books, I loved Maguire's Wicked series, and the first book in the 'real' series showed some promise. But going back to before 'Dorothy Must Die' I found a bit of overkill.
May leave both series for another time, too convoluted for me.
June 19, 2015
LOVED IT. LOVED IT! awesome prequel to what i think will be an amazing book!
December 15, 2025
Because I saw Wicked: For Good the day before I started reading this. I have been on a Wicked Wizard of Oz kick, and this series did not disappoint. I had read the first book Dorothy Must Die Last year after watching Wicked so I am now just starting from the very tip top of this series.
No Place Like Oz is a dark, compulsively readable reimagining that takes everything you thought you knew about Dorothy Gale and flips it on its head. Danielle Paige wastes no time pulling us back into Oz, but this version is grimmer, bloodier, and far more emotionally complex than the fairy tale many of us grew up with.
Dorothy is no wide-eyed girl skipping down a yellow brick road. She’s traumatized, angry, and deeply unsettled by what Oz has taken from her. The way Paige explores PTSD, gaslighting, and the cost of being labeled “the hero” is one of the strongest parts of this book. You feel Dorothy’s confusion and rage in every chapter, especially as the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur in unsettling ways.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is heavy, and the stakes feel real from the jump. Oz itself is no longer whimsical it’s violent, political, and unforgiving. Paige’s writing leans into the darkness without feeling edgy for the sake of it, making this story feel intentional and sharp rather than gimmicky.
This novella is the perfect gateway into the Dorothy Must Die series. It sets the tone, reframes familiar characters, and makes one thing clear: Oz is not a place you escape from without consequences.
If you love fractured fairy tales, morally gray heroines, and stories that ask what happens after the happily ever after, this is an easy 5 stars
No Place Like Oz is a dark, compulsively readable reimagining that takes everything you thought you knew about Dorothy Gale and flips it on its head. Danielle Paige wastes no time pulling us back into Oz, but this version is grimmer, bloodier, and far more emotionally complex than the fairy tale many of us grew up with.
Dorothy is no wide-eyed girl skipping down a yellow brick road. She’s traumatized, angry, and deeply unsettled by what Oz has taken from her. The way Paige explores PTSD, gaslighting, and the cost of being labeled “the hero” is one of the strongest parts of this book. You feel Dorothy’s confusion and rage in every chapter, especially as the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur in unsettling ways.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is heavy, and the stakes feel real from the jump. Oz itself is no longer whimsical it’s violent, political, and unforgiving. Paige’s writing leans into the darkness without feeling edgy for the sake of it, making this story feel intentional and sharp rather than gimmicky.
This novella is the perfect gateway into the Dorothy Must Die series. It sets the tone, reframes familiar characters, and makes one thing clear: Oz is not a place you escape from without consequences.
If you love fractured fairy tales, morally gray heroines, and stories that ask what happens after the happily ever after, this is an easy 5 stars
January 8, 2021
hasta la precuela está muy bien. ahora que ya terminé los libros principales, estoy leyendo las precuelas para conocer a fondo lo que ocurría. me encanta cómo se respeta la línea temporal de ella después de que regresa a Cansas sobre la trama original de Frank Baum. pero ahora, dando por inicio a una nueva forma de contarnos todo.
November 25, 2025
a pretty slow start, but the last half made me wish this wasnt a novella. just imagine Dorothy returns to oz, gains magic and becomes evil.
reading the next one tomorrow, probably also in one sitting
reading the next one tomorrow, probably also in one sitting
November 13, 2016
Nunca me imaginé un regreso a Oz tan divertido, entretenido y diferente.
El estilo que le ha dado la autora a este tradicional cuento, me ha enganchado y ha hecho que esta precuela sea indispensable de cara a comenzar con Dorothy debe morir, pues nos muestra la malvada evolución de Dorothy en su regreso a Oz de forma progresiva con pequeños matices que van in crescendo hasta el final.
El resto de personajes y la ambientación de ese mundo fantástico han sido geniales también. Con ganas de seguir esta saga.
El estilo que le ha dado la autora a este tradicional cuento, me ha enganchado y ha hecho que esta precuela sea indispensable de cara a comenzar con Dorothy debe morir, pues nos muestra la malvada evolución de Dorothy en su regreso a Oz de forma progresiva con pequeños matices que van in crescendo hasta el final.
El resto de personajes y la ambientación de ese mundo fantástico han sido geniales también. Con ganas de seguir esta saga.
October 16, 2016
4,5 sobre 5.
"Este regreso a Oz me ha conquistado. Decidida a leer la saga, he optado por empezar desde el inicio, con esta precuela. Es una historia corta que nos habla del retorno de Dorothy a Oz y cómo su vida da un giro de 180°. No sé si Dorothy debe morir, pero de momento diré que desde la página uno tenía boletos para una reprimenda y un guantazo.
Ha sido fantástico reencontrarme con personajes de la infancia y un Oz con tanta luz como oscuridad. Deseando continuar la historia."
Reseña completa en www.laplumadelangelcaido.com
"Este regreso a Oz me ha conquistado. Decidida a leer la saga, he optado por empezar desde el inicio, con esta precuela. Es una historia corta que nos habla del retorno de Dorothy a Oz y cómo su vida da un giro de 180°. No sé si Dorothy debe morir, pero de momento diré que desde la página uno tenía boletos para una reprimenda y un guantazo.
Ha sido fantástico reencontrarme con personajes de la infancia y un Oz con tanta luz como oscuridad. Deseando continuar la historia."
Reseña completa en www.laplumadelangelcaido.com
September 30, 2016
This book was the first prequel to Dorothy Must Die.
It definitely explained a lot, like how Dorothy got back to Oz, what has happened to turn her evil and what the heck had happened to Ozma. But I just couldn't get into it as much as Dorothy Must Die. It was informative and a fast easy read, I just felt a little let down considering how much more I enjoyed the very first book in the series. But it's definitely worth a read because it gives the important back story.
It definitely explained a lot, like how Dorothy got back to Oz, what has happened to turn her evil and what the heck had happened to Ozma. But I just couldn't get into it as much as Dorothy Must Die. It was informative and a fast easy read, I just felt a little let down considering how much more I enjoyed the very first book in the series. But it's definitely worth a read because it gives the important back story.
December 22, 2015
I so desperately need Dorothy Must Die. Like now.
June 5, 2020
2,5⭐. Not great, not terrible.
March 5, 2023
Dorothy is so freaking annoying
April 19, 2014
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
“Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had the vaguest notion that I was the one being wicked. But I found that I didn’t care. In fact, I almost enjoyed it.”
I’ve wanted to read this book since I’d read the first book in this trilogy, Dorothy Must Die was just plainly perfect so you can imagine what grate expectations I had before I started this book. I’m glad to tell you: No Place Like Oz did not disappoint me. It was everything what I imagined, maybe I couldn’t relate to the characters but this book showed us how everything went bad.
The Storyline:
In this book we could take a look into Dorothy’s mind to see what made her become an evil witch who doesn’t care about anyone but herself. I hated Dorothy from the very beginning, maybe I’d have liked her more if I’d read this book before the first one, guess we’ll never know but one thing is for sure, if I ever met her I’d slap her in the face.
When the story starts her situation would be relatable if not for her narcissistic attitude. Just imagine, she lived in Kansas and didn’t know anything better until she went to Oz and saw a world much more amazing than her own. When she went home Kansas was nothing considered to the magical lands of Oz and worst of all no one believed her story, even her best friend and family called her a liar. She endured it all until her birthday when nothing happened as it should have so when there was a chance to go back she grabbed it and take her aunt and uncle with her too. This was the point where the story became real interesting because after this event her personality became worse and worse.
The Characters:
Dorothy: It was hard for me to like this story because of my hatred for her, she is so annoying and can’t appreciate anything she has. Strange thing was she felt that she is changing for the bad, she felt alone but becoming more powerful than anyone else was so important for her that she never cared about it.
“I wrapped myself in magic like it was a heavy down quilt.
As it enveloped me, I felt both happy and content—and emptier than ever.”
Nothing was enough for her, she couldn’t appreciate the biggest things in life not to mention the small ones. When she got everything what she wanted she craved for more and more until this became a vicious cycle.
“That was who I was, I realized, as I drifted off to sleep. This wanting itself was a kind of magic—one that I’d had since I was just a little girl. Since even before I’d been to Oz. Even before I’d had a pair of magic shoes, silver or red. I had always wanted more.”
However after reading this I wonder if she really would be such a monster without those shoes. What if she had learnt magic properly and not just thrown into the middle of it because of Glinda, if she could cope with it by her own, without the bad influence? Maybe she would have been exactly the same, maybe not.
Ozma: I would never imagine her personality anything like this based on the first book. She was too enthusiastic and she was half crazy, I wouldn’t chose her for princess even if I can see how good she was to her people. Though I still don’t know how I should feel about her, I hope this will change in the next book.
I don’t want to say bad about her character because actually she is very cute and all kinds of thoughtful but she was kind of dumb. I hope suffering through Dorothy’s rule made her more powerful and careful because she handled the whole situation with a kind heart but without really thinking it through.
Glinda: I hate her, I knew that she’s a manipulative b*tch but I’ve never known how for she could go for power. Using a 16 year old from another world who can easily become overwhelmed by magic was too low for even her. I hope someone will kick her ass in the next books.
Aunt Em and Uncle Henry: They were typically the kind of people who are very realistic and can’t even accept anything magical or inexplicable. They loved Dorothy but it was always obvious that they loved each other the most and Dorothy was always the second to them, not like a real child.
The Tin Woodman, the Lion and the Scarecrow: Their bad nature started to show in this book, the Lion always picked a fight when he had the chance just so he could prove his courage. The Tin Woodman started to fell for Dorothy which will lead him to do whatever she asks in the future.
“I wanted more. I wanted what Ozma had. I wanted everything”
The story idea: 5/5
The realization of the story: 4/5
The characters: 4/5
The cover: 4/5
All in all: 4/5
This short-story can be read before Dorothy Must Die.
“Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had the vaguest notion that I was the one being wicked. But I found that I didn’t care. In fact, I almost enjoyed it.”
I’ve wanted to read this book since I’d read the first book in this trilogy, Dorothy Must Die was just plainly perfect so you can imagine what grate expectations I had before I started this book. I’m glad to tell you: No Place Like Oz did not disappoint me. It was everything what I imagined, maybe I couldn’t relate to the characters but this book showed us how everything went bad.
The Storyline:
In this book we could take a look into Dorothy’s mind to see what made her become an evil witch who doesn’t care about anyone but herself. I hated Dorothy from the very beginning, maybe I’d have liked her more if I’d read this book before the first one, guess we’ll never know but one thing is for sure, if I ever met her I’d slap her in the face.
When the story starts her situation would be relatable if not for her narcissistic attitude. Just imagine, she lived in Kansas and didn’t know anything better until she went to Oz and saw a world much more amazing than her own. When she went home Kansas was nothing considered to the magical lands of Oz and worst of all no one believed her story, even her best friend and family called her a liar. She endured it all until her birthday when nothing happened as it should have so when there was a chance to go back she grabbed it and take her aunt and uncle with her too. This was the point where the story became real interesting because after this event her personality became worse and worse.
The Characters:
Dorothy: It was hard for me to like this story because of my hatred for her, she is so annoying and can’t appreciate anything she has. Strange thing was she felt that she is changing for the bad, she felt alone but becoming more powerful than anyone else was so important for her that she never cared about it.
“I wrapped myself in magic like it was a heavy down quilt.
As it enveloped me, I felt both happy and content—and emptier than ever.”
Nothing was enough for her, she couldn’t appreciate the biggest things in life not to mention the small ones. When she got everything what she wanted she craved for more and more until this became a vicious cycle.
“That was who I was, I realized, as I drifted off to sleep. This wanting itself was a kind of magic—one that I’d had since I was just a little girl. Since even before I’d been to Oz. Even before I’d had a pair of magic shoes, silver or red. I had always wanted more.”
However after reading this I wonder if she really would be such a monster without those shoes. What if she had learnt magic properly and not just thrown into the middle of it because of Glinda, if she could cope with it by her own, without the bad influence? Maybe she would have been exactly the same, maybe not.
Ozma: I would never imagine her personality anything like this based on the first book. She was too enthusiastic and she was half crazy, I wouldn’t chose her for princess even if I can see how good she was to her people. Though I still don’t know how I should feel about her, I hope this will change in the next book.
I don’t want to say bad about her character because actually she is very cute and all kinds of thoughtful but she was kind of dumb. I hope suffering through Dorothy’s rule made her more powerful and careful because she handled the whole situation with a kind heart but without really thinking it through.
Glinda: I hate her, I knew that she’s a manipulative b*tch but I’ve never known how for she could go for power. Using a 16 year old from another world who can easily become overwhelmed by magic was too low for even her. I hope someone will kick her ass in the next books.
Aunt Em and Uncle Henry: They were typically the kind of people who are very realistic and can’t even accept anything magical or inexplicable. They loved Dorothy but it was always obvious that they loved each other the most and Dorothy was always the second to them, not like a real child.
The Tin Woodman, the Lion and the Scarecrow: Their bad nature started to show in this book, the Lion always picked a fight when he had the chance just so he could prove his courage. The Tin Woodman started to fell for Dorothy which will lead him to do whatever she asks in the future.
“I wanted more. I wanted what Ozma had. I wanted everything”
The story idea: 5/5
The realization of the story: 4/5
The characters: 4/5
The cover: 4/5
All in all: 4/5
This short-story can be read before Dorothy Must Die.
April 23, 2014
This was a very giant change of pace for me. I went from dark erotica, to a young adult 'sequel' to The Wizard of Oz. Now, at first I was taking this the wrong way. I thought this was going to continue on AFTER the full original series took place. I feel like most people just wiki The Wizard of Oz when they do retellings, and honestly I feel like that's what this author did. Maybe I'm being judgy about this book because I'm such a fan of Oz. But, I honestly can't tell if this is a full retelling, which it can't be, this is supposed to be where Dorothy returned from Oz, and has lived an isolated life, with no friends, and bored on the farm. In the original books there were 14 installments and Dorothy was basically the savior.
I give the author valiant efforts for creativity. However, I can't help but feel like this is almost fan fiction. I would like to note I felt the same way about Wicked. I always feel if you are going to retell, keep the base, and move on from there, or retell the WHOLE story.
This book is the prequel to Dorothy Must Die. I get why she needs to maybe be 'debriefed' but I'm not sold on her being a villain. I'm not sold on the 'fairy' idea, and I actually hated Ozma. I didn't care what happened to her she seemed ridiculously ungrateful for how everyone saved Oz and was very eh about it. Then she got all judgy about it. I probably would have tossed some ruby slipper mojo at her too if I was Glinda or Dorothy.
As a whole, I need to know what happens now. I bought the full first book in this series and I'm hoping to start it soon. As of right now, I feel like the story is solid, yet I don't really like any of the characters but Glinda and Dorothy and I believe I'm designed to hate them. Which kind of shows that the author didn't do her job as a writer in selling me that 'Dorothy Must Die' because right now, I don't think she should.
I give the author valiant efforts for creativity. However, I can't help but feel like this is almost fan fiction. I would like to note I felt the same way about Wicked. I always feel if you are going to retell, keep the base, and move on from there, or retell the WHOLE story.
This book is the prequel to Dorothy Must Die. I get why she needs to maybe be 'debriefed' but I'm not sold on her being a villain. I'm not sold on the 'fairy' idea, and I actually hated Ozma. I didn't care what happened to her she seemed ridiculously ungrateful for how everyone saved Oz and was very eh about it. Then she got all judgy about it. I probably would have tossed some ruby slipper mojo at her too if I was Glinda or Dorothy.
As a whole, I need to know what happens now. I bought the full first book in this series and I'm hoping to start it soon. As of right now, I feel like the story is solid, yet I don't really like any of the characters but Glinda and Dorothy and I believe I'm designed to hate them. Which kind of shows that the author didn't do her job as a writer in selling me that 'Dorothy Must Die' because right now, I don't think she should.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 993 reviews