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The Wicked Years #0
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood
What happened to young Elphaba before her witchy powers took hold in Wicked? Almost 30 years after the publication of the original novel, for the first time Gregory Maguire reveals the story of prickly young Elphie, the future Wicked Witch of the West—setting the stage for the blockbuster international phenomenon that is Wicked: The Musical.
Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, will grow to have a feisty and somewhat uncompromising character in adult life. But she is always a one-off, from her infancy; Elphie is the riveting coming-of-age story of a very peculiar and relatable young girl.
Young Elphie is shaped and molded by the behaviors of her promiscuous mother, Melena, and her pious father, Frex. She suffers ordinary childhood jealousies when her sister, saintly Nessarose, and brother, junior felon Shell, arrive. She first encounters the mistreatment of the Animal populations of Oz, which live adjacent to but not intertwined with human settlements, haunted by a Monkey and receiving aid from Dwarf Bears. She thrashes through her first bruising attempts at friendship, a possible lifeline from her tricky family life. And she gleans the benefits of an education, haphazard though it must be—until she arrives at the doors of Shiz University, about to meet the radiant creature that is Galinda.
Elphie is destined to be a witch; she bears the markings from childhood—most evidently in her green skin but more obscurely and profoundly in her cunning and perhaps amoral behaviors, as she seeks to make do, to slip by, to sneak out, to endure, and to aspire.
Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, will grow to have a feisty and somewhat uncompromising character in adult life. But she is always a one-off, from her infancy; Elphie is the riveting coming-of-age story of a very peculiar and relatable young girl.
Young Elphie is shaped and molded by the behaviors of her promiscuous mother, Melena, and her pious father, Frex. She suffers ordinary childhood jealousies when her sister, saintly Nessarose, and brother, junior felon Shell, arrive. She first encounters the mistreatment of the Animal populations of Oz, which live adjacent to but not intertwined with human settlements, haunted by a Monkey and receiving aid from Dwarf Bears. She thrashes through her first bruising attempts at friendship, a possible lifeline from her tricky family life. And she gleans the benefits of an education, haphazard though it must be—until she arrives at the doors of Shiz University, about to meet the radiant creature that is Galinda.
Elphie is destined to be a witch; she bears the markings from childhood—most evidently in her green skin but more obscurely and profoundly in her cunning and perhaps amoral behaviors, as she seeks to make do, to slip by, to sneak out, to endure, and to aspire.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2025
1271 people are currently reading
23262 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Maguire
110 books9,116 followersGregory Maguire is an American author, whose novels are revisionist retellings of children's stories (such as L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into Wicked). He received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England (a non-profit educational charity).
Maguire has served as artist-in-residence at the Blue Mountain Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Hambidge Center. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 939 reviews
August 9, 2024
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, 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.
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.
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November 24, 2025🎶OH, ELPHABA, MANY YEARS I HAVE WAITED FOR A BOOK LIKE THIS TO APPEAR. 🎵
I hoped this book would tell us more about our dearest and darlingest asparagus Elphaba, but I found nothing new here (save for a glimpse at Elphie's relationship with her siblings and an explanation for Shell's misbehavior, which is covered in a few pages).
🧪 My thoughts while sipping a green elixir at this mixer:
CHP 01
I am SO THERE.
"Everyness" is officially my new favorite word. 💚
CHP 03
One thing I really like about this book is all the little details Maguire weaves in that give a sense that Oz is a real place. For example:
CHP 04
I feel like Maguire is employing a lot of rarely used words in this book, many of which I'm unfamiliar with. I think I'll start an UNUSUAL WORD LOG at the bottom of this review. ✍️
CHP 09
Eventually, Elphaba will take center stage in this book, right? RIGHT?⁉️
CHP 10
Whoa. Maguire just spilled the tea about Nessarose's parentage. Did we know this before?
CHP 12
^ This has reminded me that I'm hoping this book will reveal why Elphaba was born with an intolerance of water.
CHP 13
Heavens, this story is slow and centers very little on Elphaba. I hope it picks up soon. 😔
PASSIM
CHP 19
This almost reads like a (dry) biography of Elphaba rather than a story where the protagonist has a driving want and takes action to pursue it. 🫤
CHP 23
CHP 25
Elphaba's brother has just been born, and knowing what he becomes in Son of a Witch makes this an uncomfortable moment. Hard to feel celebratory about new life, however innocent at first, when we know the person will evolve into a . 😔
For all this book's sluggishness, this chapter is absolutely exquisite. Vivid prose evokes imagery of a stunning divide: a river; mother on one side, Elphaba on the other—and between them, water that Elphaba can never cross.
PASSIM
CHP 29
^ This scene is so harrowing! 😭
CHP 30
"Nanny, talk some sense into Elphaba. I can't tolerate this kind of frotherall." I was going to add "frotherall" to my list of unusual words, but apparently it's a made up word, like "everyness", though it's less clear what this means. Perhaps devious make believe or dubious ponderings?
I'm curious...
CHP 34
Finally getting to see more of Elphaba in this chapter as she begins to grasp the mistreatment of Animals in Oz.
CHP 41
Really interesting scene here where it's revealed that Elphaba's a good singer, and her voice is fluting and unspooling and finding altitude. 🎶 It's as if even her singing voice is an incantation. 💚
CHP 42
At this point, I'd say this book is almost about Elphaba as much as it is about her dad Frexispar (aka "Frex").
CHP 43
CHP 44
It's just occurred to me that this book essentially follows the same major plot points as Wicked....
Wicked [W] vs Elphaba [E]:
[W] Elphie is a strange child / [E] Elphie is a strange child.
[W] Elphie goes somewhere new (Shiz) / [E] Elphie goes somewhere new (Ovvels)
[W] Elphie meets an Animal (Dr. Dillamond) / [E] Elphie meets Animals (the Dwarf Bears)
[W] Something happens to the Animal. / [E] Something happens to the Animals.
[W] Elphie's care for the Animal alters her journey. / [E] Elphie's care for the Animals alters her journey (slightly).
Curious to see how things continue to line up throughout the rest of the book.
CHP 47
This book is SO SLOW and uneventful. 😮💨 Look, I don't need every chapter to be "Defying Gravity", but I at least need something to happen, or something to be at stake, or a character to give more than just a passing concern for something. I need a reason to care.
CHP 51
CHP 52
^ I've been wondering this whole book why Elphaba and her family intend to find Turtle Heart's survivors, and it seems Elphaba doesn't know why either?!⁉️ It's possible some reason was given earlier, but I missed it. Even then, Elphaba's family is so apathetic about getting around to it that I was beginning to wonder if they forgot that's what they were going to do. 😕
CHP 55
^ There it is. That's the reason they're searching for Turtle Heart's survivors (i.e., relatives? clan?). I'm still not sure if this was explained earlier in the book. Or why Maguire has waited until the final pages to send the characters off to achieve their goal. This would be akin to Dorothy setting off down the yellow brick road on page 253 of 277. 😑
CHP 59
Welp, I can't think of a better place to end this book... 👉.
I can't help but feel like I went on a long, slow, elaborately written journey to travel... nowhere, knowing just as much about Elphaba at the end as I did at the beginning. 🫤
If nothing else, I hoped this book would say more about Elphaba's inability to touch water, but alas... no answers given there either.
✨Fun Fact: Maguire created Elphaba's name using L. Frank Baum's initials: El (L) Fuh (F) Buh (B). [I wrote to Maguire's assistant and she confirmed this is true.]✨
✍️UNUSUAL WORD LOG✍️
- dishabille - being partly or scantily clothed
- cozen - to trick or deceive
- cadge - ask for or obtain
- bursary - the treasury of an institution (esp. a religious one)
- rube - a country bumpkin
- skived - (British slang) avoid work or duty
- arriviste - an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person
- bailiwick - district or jurisdiction
- sallied - a sudden outburst of action, expression, or emotion
- animism - belief in a supernatural power that organizes & animates the material universe.
- entablature - a horizontal part in classical architecture that rests on the columns.
- aberrance - a state or condition markedly different from the norm.
- poxite eyes - eyes that protrude abnormally from their sockets.
- obeisance - deferential respect.
- stroppy - bad-tempered and argumentative.
- netherward - pertaining to the downward or lower part of something.
- abstruse - obscure or difficult to understand.
- aural - relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
- unguent - a greasy substance used as an ointment.
- strigil - an instrument with a curved blade.
- frisson - a strong feeling of excitement or fear.
- deliquescing - becoming liquid.
- wodge - (informal British) a lump or wad of something.
- mawkish - sentimental in a feeble or sickly way.
- fungible - replaceable by another identical item.
- gibber - speak rapidly and unintelligently.
- caterwauling - making a shrill howling or wailing noise.
- ennui - a feeling of listlessness from lack of excitement.
- miens - a person's look or manner.
- melismatic - a vocal style where multiple notes are sung in a single syllable of text.
- soughs - make a moaning, whistling, or rushing sound.
- invigilator - a person who watches people taking an exam.
- scintillant - sparkling.
- doxology - a hymn of praise to God.
- gambrel - a roof with two sides, each has a shallower slope above a steeper one.
- expiation - the act of making amends for guilt or wrongdoing.
- prelate - a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.
- rotogravure - a sheet or magazine printed by rotogravure (a printing system using a rotary press with cylinders that designed to carve or engrave into a surface).
- doyenne - a woman who is the most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
- convocation - a large formal assembly of people.
- riparian - relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams.
- rondel - a circular object or shape.
- kirtle - a woman's gown or outer petticoat.
- sprog - (informal British) humorous term for a child or baby.
- corundum - extremely hard aluminum oxide.
- unctuous - excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily.
- nacreous - having the lustrous, iridescent quality of mother-of-pearl.
- ululating - howl or wail as an expression of strong emotion, typically grief.
- aspersions - an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something.
- nascent - just coming into existence & beginning to display signs of future potential.
- furbelows - a gathered strip or pleated border of a skirt or petticoat.
- parochial - having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
- umbrage - offense or annoyance.
- obsequy - funeral rites.
- glaucous - of a dull grayish-green or blue color.
- sclerotic - of or having sclerosis.
- simulacrum - an image or representation of someone or something.
- sanctimonious - making a show of being morally superior to other people.
- fobbed -give (someone) something inferior to or different from what they want.
- aberrant - departing from an accepted standard.
- sisal - a natural, slightly abrasive raw material.
- conviviality - the quality of being friendly and lively.
- imbrications - an overlapping arrangement, as of tiles or shingles.
- prurience - being too interested in the details of another person's sexual behavior.
- avaricious - having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
- colloquy - a conversation or a gathering for discussion of theological questions.
- melismatic - is a musical technique where one syllable of a word is sung over several different notes.
- insouciance - casual lack of concern; indifference.
- totted - run at a moderate pace, typically with short steps.
- inchoate - just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
- refulgent - shining brightly.
I hoped this book would tell us more about our dearest and darlingest asparagus Elphaba, but I found nothing new here (save for a glimpse at Elphie's relationship with her siblings and an explanation for Shell's misbehavior, which is covered in a few pages).
🧪 My thoughts while sipping a green elixir at this mixer:
CHP 01
Rotting jasmine and ripe skunk cabbage. Frogs in the sawgrass marsh. The basso profundo statement of a water buffalo, out of sight somewhere upstream.
I am SO THERE.
Something has caused this day to lift out of the morass of everyness.
"Everyness" is officially my new favorite word. 💚
CHP 03
One thing I really like about this book is all the little details Maguire weaves in that give a sense that Oz is a real place. For example:
Most likely it's Nanny, whose voice caws and grates like a dawn scissorjay.
Boozy's forehead is tall and her glossy hair is yanked back along her scalp, clamped under a band of marshberry cord.
CHP 04
I feel like Maguire is employing a lot of rarely used words in this book, many of which I'm unfamiliar with. I think I'll start an UNUSUAL WORD LOG at the bottom of this review. ✍️
CHP 09
Eventually, Elphaba will take center stage in this book, right? RIGHT?⁉️
CHP 10
Whoa. Maguire just spilled the tea about Nessarose's parentage. Did we know this before?
CHP 12
She's a creature of wild reed and murky riverside, although she avoids immersion. (She won't even wade in the shallows.)
^ This has reminded me that I'm hoping this book will reveal why Elphaba was born with an intolerance of water.
CHP 13
Heavens, this story is slow and centers very little on Elphaba. I hope it picks up soon. 😔
PASSIM
The lily pads circle and float on, in the rain. Some memories disappear around the bend and die while others link arms and make moments into episodes so firm it feels you could walk across the water, walk upon them across time itself.
CHP 19
This almost reads like a (dry) biography of Elphaba rather than a story where the protagonist has a driving want and takes action to pursue it. 🫤
CHP 23
They hate each other with affection, Nessa and Elphie; they tolerate each other with impatience; they love each other with scorn.
Sisters are not flowers. And parents can never, from the first day, give the same water and light and soil to one girl that they gave to the sister. Sisters grow, if they grow together at all, in adjacent sorrow.
They look at each other and shake their heads, scarcely believing the untoward luck of having been born adjacent—to that!—and like this!
CHP 25
Elphaba's brother has just been born, and knowing what he becomes in Son of a Witch makes this an uncomfortable moment. Hard to feel celebratory about new life, however innocent at first, when we know the person will evolve into a . 😔
For all this book's sluggishness, this chapter is absolutely exquisite. Vivid prose evokes imagery of a stunning divide: a river; mother on one side, Elphaba on the other—and between them, water that Elphaba can never cross.
PASSIM
In the dark all cats are grey, goes the saying. In the dark, no children are green.
CHP 29
Tragedy it will be, because Elphie can't plunge into deep water any more than she could run face-first into a bonfire. Her body won't move itself. Paralysis.
^ This scene is so harrowing! 😭
The first experience of hearing a creature speaking can come as a kind of welcome assault. Akin to listening to water and trying to hear melody in it, or eavesdropping on a pair of squawking parrots and imagining what they might be on about.
CHP 30
"Nanny, talk some sense into Elphaba. I can't tolerate this kind of frotherall." I was going to add "frotherall" to my list of unusual words, but apparently it's a made up word, like "everyness", though it's less clear what this means. Perhaps devious make believe or dubious ponderings?
I'm curious...
CHP 34
"I'm not a plant," says Elphie, not certain if she should be offended or perhaps wistful. What would it be to be a plant?
Finally getting to see more of Elphaba in this chapter as she begins to grasp the mistreatment of Animals in Oz.
"Why do you pretend to be animals without the power of speech?"
"Safer that way," says Neri-neri. "You see, we can pass. You, I don't think you have that much luck. Unless there are hundreds more of you, all that verdancy."
"She could pass as swamp muck," says Lollo-lollo.
CHP 41
Really interesting scene here where it's revealed that Elphaba's a good singer, and her voice is fluting and unspooling and finding altitude. 🎶 It's as if even her singing voice is an incantation. 💚
CHP 42
At this point, I'd say this book is almost about Elphaba as much as it is about her dad Frexispar (aka "Frex").
CHP 43
"I mean it," he tells her. "You're just like a vegetable pearl. Harvested in muck, just waiting for the gleam and polish."
CHP 44
It's just occurred to me that this book essentially follows the same major plot points as Wicked....
Wicked [W] vs Elphaba [E]:
[W] Elphie is a strange child / [E] Elphie is a strange child.
[W] Elphie goes somewhere new (Shiz) / [E] Elphie goes somewhere new (Ovvels)
[W] Elphie meets an Animal (Dr. Dillamond) / [E] Elphie meets Animals (the Dwarf Bears)
[W] Something happens to the Animal. / [E] Something happens to the Animals.
[W] Elphie's care for the Animal alters her journey. / [E] Elphie's care for the Animals alters her journey (slightly).
Curious to see how things continue to line up throughout the rest of the book.
CHP 47
This book is SO SLOW and uneventful. 😮💨 Look, I don't need every chapter to be "Defying Gravity", but I at least need something to happen, or something to be at stake, or a character to give more than just a passing concern for something. I need a reason to care.
CHP 51
...a curiosity to sort out the variables between Animal and human behavior—character—the absolute quality of being one thing or the other—is an appetite that has taken hold, and it will not quit her, ever.
CHP 52
...we're going to look for Turtle Heart's survivors and, I don't know, bring them marsh plums or something.
^ I've been wondering this whole book why Elphaba and her family intend to find Turtle Heart's survivors, and it seems Elphaba doesn't know why either?!⁉️ It's possible some reason was given earlier, but I missed it. Even then, Elphaba's family is so apathetic about getting around to it that I was beginning to wonder if they forgot that's what they were going to do. 😕
CHP 55
The end in sight: to ask pardon for the ways that Frex and Melena, delaying Turtle Heart in his quest, may have set him up for danger.
^ There it is. That's the reason they're searching for Turtle Heart's survivors (i.e., relatives? clan?). I'm still not sure if this was explained earlier in the book. Or why Maguire has waited until the final pages to send the characters off to achieve their goal. This would be akin to Dorothy setting off down the yellow brick road on page 253 of 277. 😑
CHP 59
Welp, I can't think of a better place to end this book... 👉.
I can't help but feel like I went on a long, slow, elaborately written journey to travel... nowhere, knowing just as much about Elphaba at the end as I did at the beginning. 🫤
If nothing else, I hoped this book would say more about Elphaba's inability to touch water, but alas... no answers given there either.
✨Fun Fact: Maguire created Elphaba's name using L. Frank Baum's initials: El (L) Fuh (F) Buh (B). [I wrote to Maguire's assistant and she confirmed this is true.]✨
✍️UNUSUAL WORD LOG✍️
- dishabille - being partly or scantily clothed
- cozen - to trick or deceive
- cadge - ask for or obtain
- bursary - the treasury of an institution (esp. a religious one)
- rube - a country bumpkin
- skived - (British slang) avoid work or duty
- arriviste - an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person
- bailiwick - district or jurisdiction
- sallied - a sudden outburst of action, expression, or emotion
- animism - belief in a supernatural power that organizes & animates the material universe.
- entablature - a horizontal part in classical architecture that rests on the columns.
- aberrance - a state or condition markedly different from the norm.
- poxite eyes - eyes that protrude abnormally from their sockets.
- obeisance - deferential respect.
- stroppy - bad-tempered and argumentative.
- netherward - pertaining to the downward or lower part of something.
- abstruse - obscure or difficult to understand.
- aural - relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
- unguent - a greasy substance used as an ointment.
- strigil - an instrument with a curved blade.
- frisson - a strong feeling of excitement or fear.
- deliquescing - becoming liquid.
- wodge - (informal British) a lump or wad of something.
- mawkish - sentimental in a feeble or sickly way.
- fungible - replaceable by another identical item.
- gibber - speak rapidly and unintelligently.
- caterwauling - making a shrill howling or wailing noise.
- ennui - a feeling of listlessness from lack of excitement.
- miens - a person's look or manner.
- melismatic - a vocal style where multiple notes are sung in a single syllable of text.
- soughs - make a moaning, whistling, or rushing sound.
- invigilator - a person who watches people taking an exam.
- scintillant - sparkling.
- doxology - a hymn of praise to God.
- gambrel - a roof with two sides, each has a shallower slope above a steeper one.
- expiation - the act of making amends for guilt or wrongdoing.
- prelate - a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.
- rotogravure - a sheet or magazine printed by rotogravure (a printing system using a rotary press with cylinders that designed to carve or engrave into a surface).
- doyenne - a woman who is the most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
- convocation - a large formal assembly of people.
- riparian - relating to wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams.
- rondel - a circular object or shape.
- kirtle - a woman's gown or outer petticoat.
- sprog - (informal British) humorous term for a child or baby.
- corundum - extremely hard aluminum oxide.
- unctuous - excessively or ingratiatingly flattering; oily.
- nacreous - having the lustrous, iridescent quality of mother-of-pearl.
- ululating - howl or wail as an expression of strong emotion, typically grief.
- aspersions - an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something.
- nascent - just coming into existence & beginning to display signs of future potential.
- furbelows - a gathered strip or pleated border of a skirt or petticoat.
- parochial - having a limited or narrow outlook or scope.
- umbrage - offense or annoyance.
- obsequy - funeral rites.
- glaucous - of a dull grayish-green or blue color.
- sclerotic - of or having sclerosis.
- simulacrum - an image or representation of someone or something.
- sanctimonious - making a show of being morally superior to other people.
- fobbed -give (someone) something inferior to or different from what they want.
- aberrant - departing from an accepted standard.
- sisal - a natural, slightly abrasive raw material.
- conviviality - the quality of being friendly and lively.
- imbrications - an overlapping arrangement, as of tiles or shingles.
- prurience - being too interested in the details of another person's sexual behavior.
- avaricious - having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
- colloquy - a conversation or a gathering for discussion of theological questions.
- melismatic - is a musical technique where one syllable of a word is sung over several different notes.
- insouciance - casual lack of concern; indifference.
- totted - run at a moderate pace, typically with short steps.
- inchoate - just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary.
- refulgent - shining brightly.
November 23, 2024
My darling and dearest little asparagus, Elphaba, how I’ve missed you.
When I first saw Gregory Macguire was writing an “origin” story of Elphie, I thought eh I don’t need it. Then I kept on seeing it and I have to admit, over time my curiousity peaked and I couldn’t resist more Elphaba in my life. If you have read the other books in the Wicked series this is a treat, and if you haven’t, this is the perfect place to start.
We get to witness the evolution of our greenest girl in Elphie and establish the connections with her father, Nessa, and mischievous baby brother Shell before all the “turmoil” in the later stories begin. We get to see her first interactions with talking animals and the reactions and culture that shapes Elphaba’s personality and reactions to those around her. There were so many nuances in this story that further shapes the story we are already so familiar with and there were some easter eggs if you love the Wicked The Musical too! It was the perfect place to start and I have to admit, it being available right as the movie came out shaped my wanting in reading this ARC.
I absolutely love Maguire’s writing and always have and he does not disappoint when it comes to writing style. One of the true joys in reading him is learning so many new words and witnessing him play with dialect and shape words into new amalgamations that never stops you from giggling with joy.
Overall, I’m so pleased to have another book by him and especially one that centers Elphaba. The biggest question though, was it necessary? And while I enjoyed it I don’t think my answer would be a resounding yes, but I’m also not mad that it exists. Sometimes getting more of something you love can be an exquisite little treat and Elphie was exactly that.
When I first saw Gregory Macguire was writing an “origin” story of Elphie, I thought eh I don’t need it. Then I kept on seeing it and I have to admit, over time my curiousity peaked and I couldn’t resist more Elphaba in my life. If you have read the other books in the Wicked series this is a treat, and if you haven’t, this is the perfect place to start.
We get to witness the evolution of our greenest girl in Elphie and establish the connections with her father, Nessa, and mischievous baby brother Shell before all the “turmoil” in the later stories begin. We get to see her first interactions with talking animals and the reactions and culture that shapes Elphaba’s personality and reactions to those around her. There were so many nuances in this story that further shapes the story we are already so familiar with and there were some easter eggs if you love the Wicked The Musical too! It was the perfect place to start and I have to admit, it being available right as the movie came out shaped my wanting in reading this ARC.
I absolutely love Maguire’s writing and always have and he does not disappoint when it comes to writing style. One of the true joys in reading him is learning so many new words and witnessing him play with dialect and shape words into new amalgamations that never stops you from giggling with joy.
Overall, I’m so pleased to have another book by him and especially one that centers Elphaba. The biggest question though, was it necessary? And while I enjoyed it I don’t think my answer would be a resounding yes, but I’m also not mad that it exists. Sometimes getting more of something you love can be an exquisite little treat and Elphie was exactly that.
January 6, 2025
This was extremely disappointing 😭
If you know me personally, you know I grew up in theatre and, up until recent years, it was a giant part of my life. My college minor was even musical theatre! Wicked the Musical was pivotal for me falling in love with theatre, and some years back I read Wicked (the classic novel by Maguire) and, while it wasn't exactly the same as the musical I had grown up loving obviously, I still appreciated seeing where the work came from and enjoyed my time reading it. So when I saw this prequel was coming out, I was SO excited to get to learn more about Elphie, who I have grown up loving so much in varying forms of media. I could not wait to get my hands on it, and when I received this ARC today, I literally dropped everything else I had planned and anything else I was reading to sit and binge this.
This did not deliver how I hoped. First and foremost, the writing did not flow well to me at all. I had an extremely hard time focusing on the book and understanding the story due to: 1.) The incredibly short simple sentences. It was all written so choppy. 2.) It was SO overly flowery that I genuinely had to sit and puzzle together what was even being said (just for it to be nothing relevant most of the time). For example, at one point Elphie's teeth were called "little gems of standard design". Huh??? I know some people love very academic, flowery writing, so perhaps this is just a me issue. For me, it was so unnecessarily difficult to read for absolutely no reason, and a major turn off for the book.
Which brings me to my next issue--nothing happened. If I'm going to read a prequel, I need it to add something to the experience I already knew and loved. Realistically, I was mostly reading this to spend time with and further get to know Elphie, but I don't even feel like I further got to know her, at least not to any degree of importance. At that point, I'm unsure what the point of this was.
Very sad about this one and will be bummed until I get more Elphie content (Wicked movie Nov 22 cannot come soon enough!!!). This one's a 2🌟 from me.
Thanks so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you know me personally, you know I grew up in theatre and, up until recent years, it was a giant part of my life. My college minor was even musical theatre! Wicked the Musical was pivotal for me falling in love with theatre, and some years back I read Wicked (the classic novel by Maguire) and, while it wasn't exactly the same as the musical I had grown up loving obviously, I still appreciated seeing where the work came from and enjoyed my time reading it. So when I saw this prequel was coming out, I was SO excited to get to learn more about Elphie, who I have grown up loving so much in varying forms of media. I could not wait to get my hands on it, and when I received this ARC today, I literally dropped everything else I had planned and anything else I was reading to sit and binge this.
This did not deliver how I hoped. First and foremost, the writing did not flow well to me at all. I had an extremely hard time focusing on the book and understanding the story due to: 1.) The incredibly short simple sentences. It was all written so choppy. 2.) It was SO overly flowery that I genuinely had to sit and puzzle together what was even being said (just for it to be nothing relevant most of the time). For example, at one point Elphie's teeth were called "little gems of standard design". Huh??? I know some people love very academic, flowery writing, so perhaps this is just a me issue. For me, it was so unnecessarily difficult to read for absolutely no reason, and a major turn off for the book.
Which brings me to my next issue--nothing happened. If I'm going to read a prequel, I need it to add something to the experience I already knew and loved. Realistically, I was mostly reading this to spend time with and further get to know Elphie, but I don't even feel like I further got to know her, at least not to any degree of importance. At that point, I'm unsure what the point of this was.
Very sad about this one and will be bummed until I get more Elphie content (Wicked movie Nov 22 cannot come soon enough!!!). This one's a 2🌟 from me.
Thanks so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 13, 2024
Almost 30 years since the publication of Wicked, we get a prequel following Elphie from childhood to University.
What I hoped would be an insight into Elphaba’s childhood was instead a delve into the politics of Oz during Elphaba’s childhood and adolescence. Unfortunately this was a difficult read due to the slow moving plot and odd writing style. Other fans of Wicked and the series may find this enjoyable, but I did not.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
What I hoped would be an insight into Elphaba’s childhood was instead a delve into the politics of Oz during Elphaba’s childhood and adolescence. Unfortunately this was a difficult read due to the slow moving plot and odd writing style. Other fans of Wicked and the series may find this enjoyable, but I did not.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2025
I adore the musical and the movie was brilliant but this book is unreadable to the point where I don't know how this ever got published?
The only upside: if you're a writer and ever think your own writing is bad - read this. You'll feel so much better 👌
The only upside: if you're a writer and ever think your own writing is bad - read this. You'll feel so much better 👌
April 22, 2025
I had previously read Wicked and Son of a Witch. I thought they were an interesting take, but by the end of that second book, I knew I'd had my fill. Then this one came out and made me curious, but as I got through the first 58 pages, I remembered why I had previously retired this series unfinished.
August 23, 2024
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.
Rating: ★★½ | 2.5/5
☠️
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.
Rating: ★★½ | 2.5/5
☠️
December 16, 2024
I really wanted to love this book, but wow did I not love it.
It is the story of Elphaba's childhood, except story is a generous word. I spent most of this book waiting for the actual plotline to start - and then realised there wasn't going to be one. The writing style is really not to my taste. I am absolutely certain there are people who will love it, but I am not one of them. Lots of flowery words and elaborate sentences to hide an utter lack of depth, like a university student aiming for a good grade despite not understanding any of the material.
And the characters. Oh, the characters. After reading 288 pages about her life I still don't feel I know Elphaba any better. I couldn't put my finger exactly on what made me uneasy in the descriptions of children until the author wrote an oddly sexual paragraph specifying that a young child knocking over tomato plants was enjoying the violence in a non-sexual way because he's too young to enjoy it in that way. That really helped narrow it down.
Many parts of this book I think were meant to be clever and funny and like interesting social commentary - and for those who appreciate Maguire's writing style, it might read that way. It just didn't work out that way for me. The animals were alright though. That's all I got. I'm sorry, I really tried.
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for a honest review.
It is the story of Elphaba's childhood, except story is a generous word. I spent most of this book waiting for the actual plotline to start - and then realised there wasn't going to be one. The writing style is really not to my taste. I am absolutely certain there are people who will love it, but I am not one of them. Lots of flowery words and elaborate sentences to hide an utter lack of depth, like a university student aiming for a good grade despite not understanding any of the material.
And the characters. Oh, the characters. After reading 288 pages about her life I still don't feel I know Elphaba any better. I couldn't put my finger exactly on what made me uneasy in the descriptions of children until the author wrote an oddly sexual paragraph specifying that a young child knocking over tomato plants was enjoying the violence in a non-sexual way because he's too young to enjoy it in that way. That really helped narrow it down.
Many parts of this book I think were meant to be clever and funny and like interesting social commentary - and for those who appreciate Maguire's writing style, it might read that way. It just didn't work out that way for me. The animals were alright though. That's all I got. I'm sorry, I really tried.
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for a honest review.
April 10, 2025
Nope
I don't even know.
I saw the reviews and I was more than a little heart broken but I picked it up anyway. I read 25% of the book, started it over again and well. I can't even tell you. It's just so off and yeah.
If you try it out, good luck.
Oh the audio and narration were fine. It sounded like blahblahblah, but very clear.
I don't even know.
I saw the reviews and I was more than a little heart broken but I picked it up anyway. I read 25% of the book, started it over again and well. I can't even tell you. It's just so off and yeah.
If you try it out, good luck.
Oh the audio and narration were fine. It sounded like blahblahblah, but very clear.
January 27, 2025
Nooooo this was so baaaaaad
I won this in a giveaway so that is my honest review... lol I barely got to page 30
I won this in a giveaway so that is my honest review... lol I barely got to page 30
April 11, 2025
On the blog this will be four stars because compared to the other books in the series this one was not as dark and political as the others. I gave it five stars here as my way of challenging the one and two star reviews by brainless readers who said the book made no sense and those who said it had no plot.
"War in the air, and yet the air is soft. Rotting jasmine and ripe skunk cabbage. Frogs in the sawgrass marsh. The basso profundo statement of a water buffalo, out of sight somewhere upstream. From farther off, a pock-pockity-pock. Not rain, but human hands skittering across drumheads of alligator hide. It sounds random unless you know the grammar. Just a pockity-pockity, while dawn drifts in like an afterthought."
This opening paragraph assured me the book hadn't been turned into pablum for the Wicked musical crowd. One reader who gave it one star said she is a big fan of the Wicked musical and the movie, and she liked the book, but was confused because she thought she would be the target audience for Elphie. I am confused as to why she thought she was the target audience, or even that there would be a "target audience" for a book in a series written as literature, not as a commercial product. I also find it suspect that she read Wicked if she thought this book was going to be fluffy like the musical.
"... we need writers who know the difference between production of a market commodity and the practice of an art. Developing written material to suit sales strategies in order to maximise corporate profit and advertising revenue is not the same thing as responsible book publishing or authorship." ―Ursula Le Guin
Maguire is practicing an art, or as I like to say... art with a capital A.
A one star reviewer said, "... it's like the text kind of skirts around what it's trying to say instead of saying it directly?" Well that's called "show me don't tell me" and it's a skilled way of writing. It requires the reader to have enough intellect to interpret the characters' actions, words, senses, thoughts and feelings for meaning; as well as decipher subtext clues for themes. Maguire does this very well.
“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ―Anton Chekhov
As to there being no plot... it's wandering, but it's there. Before reading the story I had this shelved as Adult Fiction; however, after finishing I changed it to YA because it is a true coming-of-age story, with a Journey (Voyage) and Return plot where the protagonist travels to other places and returns changed. It is also episodic in feel, so you are not going to get a big straight-line build up to an intense climax. Elphie's journey is meandering and thoughtful. It's a novel that offers a thinking experience gilded with vibrant vocabulary and imagery.
Do people not realize they can review a book without giving it a star rating? Why do they not understand it's them not getting it?
I wonder if we will get a Glinda prequel?
I was approved for a DRC, via Edelweiss, in return for an honest review.
"War in the air, and yet the air is soft. Rotting jasmine and ripe skunk cabbage. Frogs in the sawgrass marsh. The basso profundo statement of a water buffalo, out of sight somewhere upstream. From farther off, a pock-pockity-pock. Not rain, but human hands skittering across drumheads of alligator hide. It sounds random unless you know the grammar. Just a pockity-pockity, while dawn drifts in like an afterthought."
This opening paragraph assured me the book hadn't been turned into pablum for the Wicked musical crowd. One reader who gave it one star said she is a big fan of the Wicked musical and the movie, and she liked the book, but was confused because she thought she would be the target audience for Elphie. I am confused as to why she thought she was the target audience, or even that there would be a "target audience" for a book in a series written as literature, not as a commercial product. I also find it suspect that she read Wicked if she thought this book was going to be fluffy like the musical.
"... we need writers who know the difference between production of a market commodity and the practice of an art. Developing written material to suit sales strategies in order to maximise corporate profit and advertising revenue is not the same thing as responsible book publishing or authorship." ―Ursula Le Guin
Maguire is practicing an art, or as I like to say... art with a capital A.
A one star reviewer said, "... it's like the text kind of skirts around what it's trying to say instead of saying it directly?" Well that's called "show me don't tell me" and it's a skilled way of writing. It requires the reader to have enough intellect to interpret the characters' actions, words, senses, thoughts and feelings for meaning; as well as decipher subtext clues for themes. Maguire does this very well.
“Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ―Anton Chekhov
As to there being no plot... it's wandering, but it's there. Before reading the story I had this shelved as Adult Fiction; however, after finishing I changed it to YA because it is a true coming-of-age story, with a Journey (Voyage) and Return plot where the protagonist travels to other places and returns changed. It is also episodic in feel, so you are not going to get a big straight-line build up to an intense climax. Elphie's journey is meandering and thoughtful. It's a novel that offers a thinking experience gilded with vibrant vocabulary and imagery.
Do people not realize they can review a book without giving it a star rating? Why do they not understand it's them not getting it?
I wonder if we will get a Glinda prequel?
I was approved for a DRC, via Edelweiss, in return for an honest review.
April 21, 2025
I respect people who enjoy this author and am obsess with everything wicked! But these books don’t do justice for me 🤷🏼♂️
March 26, 2025
This was so bad.
Read
January 31, 2025God I'm so disappointed and it is truly painful for me to have to write a review like this...
Having read all four of the Wicked Years books and loving them, and being halfway through The Brides of Maracoor (having started years ago..) I knew what I was in for with a Maguire book and his style of writing. They're difficult, often lacking in engaging plot and much more just "here are things that happened and it's probably not exciting, you just ned to appreciate what it is" but this let me down.
From the get go this was jarring. I didn't feel like I was reading the same characters we read about in Wicked - remember that book is subtitled "the life and times of the wicked witch of the west" and we do see at least a glimpse of Elphaba's childhood.. I expected this to feel similar but more fleshed out, more of her childhood experiences but it felt different. I mean every time I've read Wicked I had such a clear picture of where Frex, Melena, Elphie, Nessa, and Shell lived and it was not a bunch of tents???? And who are these people? Boozy and co? Did I just wipe them from my memory?? I know this is supposed to be a more fleshed out version of her childhood but it did not feel canon..
More so, the way we jumped time was jarring and I don't understand why a book about her childhood focused so intensely on mostly plotless weeks of her life for SO LONG only to jump to 5 years later? Are those 5 years just not her childhood? Even less engaging? Somehow lacking in plot even more that there was nothing to write??
Truthfully, this felt either like Maguire didn't really want to write it but felt pressured to do so - possibly also rushed to be done in time for the movie hype - or like it's been a labour of love that was 1000 pages long and the publisher chopped 75% of it and made it feel even more clunky and disjointed than anything else.
I honestly don't know. I was so ready to love this, so ready to forgive the writing style and just appreciate spending time in Oz and learning about Elphie's childhood and instead I feel like I've almost ruined what the Wicked Year books gave me. I don't even know if I'll buy a physical copy just for my collection.
I may give the audiobook a try at some point - I adore Gregory. He's liked pictures of my cat before.. This was not the start to the year I had hoped for and I'm so upset. I really want to believe it just wasn't a good time for me to read it.
No rating as I can't bring myself to give the book I was certain would be a 5 star favourite of the year anything less... Hopefully I reread this review one day having reread the book and think I'm off my rocker for feeling this way.
Having read all four of the Wicked Years books and loving them, and being halfway through The Brides of Maracoor (having started years ago..) I knew what I was in for with a Maguire book and his style of writing. They're difficult, often lacking in engaging plot and much more just "here are things that happened and it's probably not exciting, you just ned to appreciate what it is" but this let me down.
From the get go this was jarring. I didn't feel like I was reading the same characters we read about in Wicked - remember that book is subtitled "the life and times of the wicked witch of the west" and we do see at least a glimpse of Elphaba's childhood.. I expected this to feel similar but more fleshed out, more of her childhood experiences but it felt different. I mean every time I've read Wicked I had such a clear picture of where Frex, Melena, Elphie, Nessa, and Shell lived and it was not a bunch of tents???? And who are these people? Boozy and co? Did I just wipe them from my memory?? I know this is supposed to be a more fleshed out version of her childhood but it did not feel canon..
More so, the way we jumped time was jarring and I don't understand why a book about her childhood focused so intensely on mostly plotless weeks of her life for SO LONG only to jump to 5 years later? Are those 5 years just not her childhood? Even less engaging? Somehow lacking in plot even more that there was nothing to write??
Truthfully, this felt either like Maguire didn't really want to write it but felt pressured to do so - possibly also rushed to be done in time for the movie hype - or like it's been a labour of love that was 1000 pages long and the publisher chopped 75% of it and made it feel even more clunky and disjointed than anything else.
I honestly don't know. I was so ready to love this, so ready to forgive the writing style and just appreciate spending time in Oz and learning about Elphie's childhood and instead I feel like I've almost ruined what the Wicked Year books gave me. I don't even know if I'll buy a physical copy just for my collection.
I may give the audiobook a try at some point - I adore Gregory. He's liked pictures of my cat before.. This was not the start to the year I had hoped for and I'm so upset. I really want to believe it just wasn't a good time for me to read it.
No rating as I can't bring myself to give the book I was certain would be a 5 star favourite of the year anything less... Hopefully I reread this review one day having reread the book and think I'm off my rocker for feeling this way.
August 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
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.
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.
March 28, 2025
G.M. lives!
September 4, 2025
I read Wicked years ago and I have seen the musical several times now as well as the movie (yes, they are all different and all amazing in their own right). When this book came out, I knew I had to have it. Now, I finally got around to reading and finishing it (I've been at this for about six months now, somehow other books always managed to catch me more). I loved being back in Oz and getting more of Elphaba's story, how she got to Shiz and everything. What bothered me and kept me from reading much was the way this was told. I didn't feel like we were following a story but little episodes and the writing is as peculiar as Elphie herself - fitting but I had a bit of difficulty to get into this book because of it. I don't remember if it was the same for Wicked but I read that in a translation so I'm really curious about rereading that in English in the future.
March 11, 2025
This could have easily been sent in an email.
I really had hope that I would love this a bit more than Wicked (which I recommend reading before reading Elphie as it mentions quite a lot of what happens there) but alas, I almost cried of boredom.
The only part I enjoyed somewhat was seeing Elphaba in her teenage years and seeing what was happening in this book and connecting it to Wicked. We also see how people always made their own truths the reality of a situation and having strangers believe that truth instead of the TRUTH TRUTH, which is a common theme in Wicked. But that’s truly where it ends.
Everything else feels neverending, the writing is again choppy and nothing is cohesive to one another. Nessa gets on my las nerve, as well as Shell. Don’t even get me started on the father. 😤
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!
I really had hope that I would love this a bit more than Wicked (which I recommend reading before reading Elphie as it mentions quite a lot of what happens there) but alas, I almost cried of boredom.
The only part I enjoyed somewhat was seeing Elphaba in her teenage years and seeing what was happening in this book and connecting it to Wicked. We also see how people always made their own truths the reality of a situation and having strangers believe that truth instead of the TRUTH TRUTH, which is a common theme in Wicked. But that’s truly where it ends.
Everything else feels neverending, the writing is again choppy and nothing is cohesive to one another. Nessa gets on my las nerve, as well as Shell. Don’t even get me started on the father. 😤
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!
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May 29, 2025Gregory Maguire certainly stayed true to his original style of writing. If you are going to make it through this book you definitely must read the first one. There are a few lightbulb moments scattered throughout that make a connection to the musical/movie and I loved those: This is challenging to read but I did push myself to finish and appreciate the author’s intent in sharing this new story with us. I did not rate the first book, so I also won’t rate this one.
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December 7, 2025this was a fun vacation read!! only gets 3 stars because i gave wicked 4 and i didn’t think this was as good as that (goodreads PLEASE give us half stars. this was at least a 3.5). i still thoroughly enjoyed this. wanna read more gregory maguire!
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August 21, 2025
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood
The Wicked Years, Book 0
I Picked Up This Book Because: #14Books14Weeks
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: S Public Library
Dates Read: 8/17/25 - 8/19/25
Rating: No Rating
Narrator(s): Eldorado Ballerini
The Characters:
Elphaba:
NessaRose:
Nanny, Father, Mother, Other various characters
The Story:
There is nothing wrong with this book, I am just bored. 66% in and in danger of a reading slump I am calling it quits.
The Wicked Years, Book 0
I Picked Up This Book Because: #14Books14Weeks
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: S Public Library
Dates Read: 8/17/25 - 8/19/25
Rating: No Rating
Narrator(s): Eldorado Ballerini
The Characters:
Elphaba:
NessaRose:
Nanny, Father, Mother, Other various characters
The Story:
There is nothing wrong with this book, I am just bored. 66% in and in danger of a reading slump I am calling it quits.
September 12, 2024
[I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review.]
Oh, Miss Elphaba. The things one hears these days!
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire is the author's fourth foray back into the world of The Wicked Years novel series in just a few short years after a long dry spell that might, in the eyes of fans of Maguire's series, be compared to the Ozians' long wait for Ozma to return.
The previous travel back to Maguire's Oz was the Another Day trilogy, a sequel-of-sorts to 'The Wicked Years' that began strongly but ended on a disjointed whimper when the third book was published last year.
Where does that leave "Elphie," a novel which was announced rather suddenly along with the marketing push for the upcoming 'Wicked' adaptation?
Well...
I think that diehard fans of 'The Wicked Years' like myself will get the most enjoyment out of this prequel novel.
Maguire's writing mostly returns to good form here. I had some major disappointments with Maguire's writing in the final novel of the 'Another Day' trilogy, but with exception for a few sections that read like they weren't fully edited or fleshed out, Maguire's writing returns to that engrossing, vibrant, introspective style that I've come to love.
As for why I think the book will appeal mostly to diehard fans of the book series: It simply does not stand on its own merit as a story. Not much happens, and a good majority of the book is simply musing.
Sometimes it reads like we are sitting in Maguire's drawing room, a fire going and a warm cup of tea at hand, as he tells of maybe-stories of perhaps-what-might-have happened in Elphaba's childhood.
Which, for me, someone who has eaten up every book in the series and even adored the 'Another Day' trilogy until the last book, is perfectly fine. But I can see many readers, especially those who are perhaps picking up the book after the release of the "Wicked" film adaptation, being put-off.
The first few sections of the book read like vaguely connected vignettes of Elphaba's childhood, detailing notable instances here and there, but mostly musing on the people and places the characters trek through.
There is a central section of the book where the now-widowed Frex "settles down" for a spell (pardon my pun) as he attempts to find more information about the murdered Turtle Heart while also looking to convert the locals. Truthfully, this is the only part of Elphie that feels like an actual, proper book with narrative and development to propel it forward.
It is here that we witness Elphaba beginning to make connections--threadbare, uneasy, but still--with other people. It is here that the sparks of Elphaba's desire to learn and know the world--and know herself--begin to be flamed. We also see the growing pains of Elphaba's siblings, Nessa and Shell, and come to see how their childhoods would later develop them into the adults they become in later books.
The final section, like the first, returns to telling us about Elphaba and her family as if we are strangers listening to a thirdhand version of a story. What is true of what we read? Did it happen how it happened? We're told that perhaps this happened, but maybe not.
Although we do learn more about the titular Elphaba Thropp in this work, like the character herself, we only know what little bits she begins to understand about herself in childhood. Which is not much and, if the narration's questioning of itself is to be believed, may not even be the the full truth of it.
And indeed, the final paragraph of the novel tells the reader bluntly: "That's how I see it anyway. But what do I know, really? It's all conjecture."
For diehard fans like myself, I would say this is a solid between 3 and 4 stars.
For anyone else? ... Well, what do I know, really? It's all conjecture.
Oh, Miss Elphaba. The things one hears these days!
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire is the author's fourth foray back into the world of The Wicked Years novel series in just a few short years after a long dry spell that might, in the eyes of fans of Maguire's series, be compared to the Ozians' long wait for Ozma to return.
The previous travel back to Maguire's Oz was the Another Day trilogy, a sequel-of-sorts to 'The Wicked Years' that began strongly but ended on a disjointed whimper when the third book was published last year.
Where does that leave "Elphie," a novel which was announced rather suddenly along with the marketing push for the upcoming 'Wicked' adaptation?
Well...
I think that diehard fans of 'The Wicked Years' like myself will get the most enjoyment out of this prequel novel.
Maguire's writing mostly returns to good form here. I had some major disappointments with Maguire's writing in the final novel of the 'Another Day' trilogy, but with exception for a few sections that read like they weren't fully edited or fleshed out, Maguire's writing returns to that engrossing, vibrant, introspective style that I've come to love.
As for why I think the book will appeal mostly to diehard fans of the book series: It simply does not stand on its own merit as a story. Not much happens, and a good majority of the book is simply musing.
Sometimes it reads like we are sitting in Maguire's drawing room, a fire going and a warm cup of tea at hand, as he tells of maybe-stories of perhaps-what-might-have happened in Elphaba's childhood.
Which, for me, someone who has eaten up every book in the series and even adored the 'Another Day' trilogy until the last book, is perfectly fine. But I can see many readers, especially those who are perhaps picking up the book after the release of the "Wicked" film adaptation, being put-off.
The first few sections of the book read like vaguely connected vignettes of Elphaba's childhood, detailing notable instances here and there, but mostly musing on the people and places the characters trek through.
There is a central section of the book where the now-widowed Frex "settles down" for a spell (pardon my pun) as he attempts to find more information about the murdered Turtle Heart while also looking to convert the locals. Truthfully, this is the only part of Elphie that feels like an actual, proper book with narrative and development to propel it forward.
It is here that we witness Elphaba beginning to make connections--threadbare, uneasy, but still--with other people. It is here that the sparks of Elphaba's desire to learn and know the world--and know herself--begin to be flamed. We also see the growing pains of Elphaba's siblings, Nessa and Shell, and come to see how their childhoods would later develop them into the adults they become in later books.
The final section, like the first, returns to telling us about Elphaba and her family as if we are strangers listening to a thirdhand version of a story. What is true of what we read? Did it happen how it happened? We're told that perhaps this happened, but maybe not.
Although we do learn more about the titular Elphaba Thropp in this work, like the character herself, we only know what little bits she begins to understand about herself in childhood. Which is not much and, if the narration's questioning of itself is to be believed, may not even be the the full truth of it.
And indeed, the final paragraph of the novel tells the reader bluntly: "That's how I see it anyway. But what do I know, really? It's all conjecture."
For diehard fans like myself, I would say this is a solid between 3 and 4 stars.
For anyone else? ... Well, what do I know, really? It's all conjecture.
April 30, 2025
5⭐️
If you haven't read Wicked Stop, don't read on. Don't pick up this book. Instead, head over to your local bookstore or library and pick up the masterpiece that is Wicked, i also strongly recommend Son Of A Witch (the sequel to Wicked) before reading this. This book is the companion. Elpheba's ("wicked witch") formative years. Her childhood. Her growing up.
All the backstory. How her parents Melena and Frex met and wed, what actually happened to Turtle Heart (Nessa's bio father), we find out why Elpheba gave the monkeys wings. 🐒 🪽 more info on the unnamed God, plus so much more.
I can see why this book has been DNFd a lot in the first 25% of the book. It reads like a historical documentary of their lives. Full of factoids, large words, and bland background information. Plod on. It gets so much better!
We truly get a real account of Elphie growing into her own authentic self. How her life experiences as the daughter of a poor missionary shapped her. The delicacies of her interpersonal relationships. The bonds forged with her siblings. Trials, hardships, and endurance play out across the pages, forming well-rounded characters with hopes, aspirations, and flaws.
"They hate each other with affection, Nessa and Elphie; they tolerate each other with impatience; they love each other with scorn."
I think this quote from the book perfectly sums up the bond of sisterhood. Maguire doesn't hold back when describing the ups and downs of their relationship. Elphie being green skinned and Nessa having no arms,they both have their crosses to bear. Where Elphie grows to take care of her sister with a sort of indifference, Nessa has a hard time seeing past her jealousy over all the things Elphie can do unassisted. She has sharp edges while Elpheba tends to hold herself back and stay in the shadows.
I greatly enjoyed this read, even if it was a feet in reading comprehension. Maguire masterfully blends the English language with his own dictionary of the dialects of OZ. He has brought us a world love child born of his and Baum. He does justice to an already existing dimension, expanding it and breathing new life upon it. I will never not read one of these books!
If you haven't read Wicked Stop, don't read on. Don't pick up this book. Instead, head over to your local bookstore or library and pick up the masterpiece that is Wicked, i also strongly recommend Son Of A Witch (the sequel to Wicked) before reading this. This book is the companion. Elpheba's ("wicked witch") formative years. Her childhood. Her growing up.
All the backstory. How her parents Melena and Frex met and wed, what actually happened to Turtle Heart (Nessa's bio father), we find out why Elpheba gave the monkeys wings. 🐒 🪽 more info on the unnamed God, plus so much more.
I can see why this book has been DNFd a lot in the first 25% of the book. It reads like a historical documentary of their lives. Full of factoids, large words, and bland background information. Plod on. It gets so much better!
We truly get a real account of Elphie growing into her own authentic self. How her life experiences as the daughter of a poor missionary shapped her. The delicacies of her interpersonal relationships. The bonds forged with her siblings. Trials, hardships, and endurance play out across the pages, forming well-rounded characters with hopes, aspirations, and flaws.
"They hate each other with affection, Nessa and Elphie; they tolerate each other with impatience; they love each other with scorn."
I think this quote from the book perfectly sums up the bond of sisterhood. Maguire doesn't hold back when describing the ups and downs of their relationship. Elphie being green skinned and Nessa having no arms,they both have their crosses to bear. Where Elphie grows to take care of her sister with a sort of indifference, Nessa has a hard time seeing past her jealousy over all the things Elphie can do unassisted. She has sharp edges while Elpheba tends to hold herself back and stay in the shadows.
I greatly enjoyed this read, even if it was a feet in reading comprehension. Maguire masterfully blends the English language with his own dictionary of the dialects of OZ. He has brought us a world love child born of his and Baum. He does justice to an already existing dimension, expanding it and breathing new life upon it. I will never not read one of these books!
June 13, 2025
I was so excited to receive this ARC, especially after just seeing wicked the movie. The backstory of Elphie!
I tried several times to get into it, first with the e-book, reading aloud to my son, reading quietly to myself, then I got the audiobook from the library and give it another couple hours. The writing is so dry and laborious is 40% of the book, I don’t really think anything happens. Had to put down, DNF.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I tried several times to get into it, first with the e-book, reading aloud to my son, reading quietly to myself, then I got the audiobook from the library and give it another couple hours. The writing is so dry and laborious is 40% of the book, I don’t really think anything happens. Had to put down, DNF.
Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2025
DNF - Stopped at 50%
This was my first foray into the literary world of Wicked and boy was it a jarring one. Maybe I’m the problem for starting with the prequel out of all the books, and for primarily being interested in it due to my love for the stage musical, but this book was such a let down on all fronts I’m not sure that’s the case.
For starters, the writing style was hard to follow. It was somehow choppy yet overdone, saying everything and nothing at all. I believe the author was going for a style that mimicked memory, pulling snippets from Elphie’s past and weaving them into a narrative that made no sense. I was never quite sure what was happening, and whether what was happening was actually happening. The author gives no answers, only clues that aren’t interesting enough to follow.
I might have given the writing style a pass — even liked it — had the author given us a plot to hold onto, but he didn’t. The characters were also written so evasively that I couldn’t connect to them either, and I found the setting to be uninteresting and mirage-like.
Definite 2/5 from me.
This was my first foray into the literary world of Wicked and boy was it a jarring one. Maybe I’m the problem for starting with the prequel out of all the books, and for primarily being interested in it due to my love for the stage musical, but this book was such a let down on all fronts I’m not sure that’s the case.
For starters, the writing style was hard to follow. It was somehow choppy yet overdone, saying everything and nothing at all. I believe the author was going for a style that mimicked memory, pulling snippets from Elphie’s past and weaving them into a narrative that made no sense. I was never quite sure what was happening, and whether what was happening was actually happening. The author gives no answers, only clues that aren’t interesting enough to follow.
I might have given the writing style a pass — even liked it — had the author given us a plot to hold onto, but he didn’t. The characters were also written so evasively that I couldn’t connect to them either, and I found the setting to be uninteresting and mirage-like.
Definite 2/5 from me.
August 28, 2024
1.75⭐️ rounded up. Being such a big fan of Maguire’s work, it truly pains me to give this book such a low rating. The first third of this book was very difficult to follow: multiple POVs, rambling descriptions, hard to follow action/movement, and a nonstop host of characters that GM went into detail describing that were never heard from again. The second third felt like a fever dream wherein we watch Elphie’s father’s obsession with making amends for the murder of Turtle Heart and some interaction between her, Nessa, and Shell. I’m still not a 100% sure what I read. Maybe that’s the point? That Elphie was so dissatisfied with so much and lived such a removed life from everyone around her, that details/characters/scenes all feel half there, like water color, fading and difficult to understand? It is constantly remarked that Elphie will not remember this later.. so mayhaps that is why the book feels so disjointed? Sadly, that style did not work for me.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to review this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to review this book in exchange for my honest review.
dnf
July 19, 2025DNF @ 5% 🥲😂
so sorry @Holly who I just gifted this book to
so sorry @Holly who I just gifted this book to
November 29, 2024
Many thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to ARC read, but I couldn’t finish it. It is supposed to be about Elphie’s childhood, but the book talks about everyone else more than her. Also, none of it makes any sense. It jumps around a lot, and it’s very hard to follow. I’m just not a fan of the author’s writing style, but I hoped this one would be better than the others in his series.
April 3, 2025
3 stars
go mr maguire! you capitalise on that film franchise!!
yes this was so unnecessary and silly and really didn't need to be written but you already know i'm consuming anything wicked related. i found this jarring and strangely written yet also pretty entertaining (when i could follow the storyline). i think it's interesting how much maguire's writing style has changed since writing the first book of the series.
interestingly, i also found this novel quite a bit funnier than maguire's other works?? yes this is gregory "thropp-is-the-sound-a-house-makes-when-it-falls-on-your-sister" maguire though so i really should have expected that.
and now. we must take a moment for all of the very strange and kind of hysterical jokes made about armless nessa by baby elphie.
"And there's you, a snake."
"Why a snake?" asks Nessa.
"Because a snake is a venemous creature. And, like you, has no arms."
literally gagged.
"What's. Wrong. With. Her. Arms?"
"Nothing," replies Elphie. "She doesn't have any. On the plus side, she never worries about hitting her funny bone. On the minus side, she doesn't have much of a sense of humor to begin with."
i always forget how crazy book nessa is 😭😭
"A paradox: I may not have arms, but I am armed with the truth."
"Oh, please," mutters Elphie.
lmfaoooo she was really done with her bs 😭
go mr maguire! you capitalise on that film franchise!!
yes this was so unnecessary and silly and really didn't need to be written but you already know i'm consuming anything wicked related. i found this jarring and strangely written yet also pretty entertaining (when i could follow the storyline). i think it's interesting how much maguire's writing style has changed since writing the first book of the series.
interestingly, i also found this novel quite a bit funnier than maguire's other works?? yes this is gregory "thropp-is-the-sound-a-house-makes-when-it-falls-on-your-sister" maguire though so i really should have expected that.
and now. we must take a moment for all of the very strange and kind of hysterical jokes made about armless nessa by baby elphie.
"And there's you, a snake."
"Why a snake?" asks Nessa.
"Because a snake is a venemous creature. And, like you, has no arms."
literally gagged.
"What's. Wrong. With. Her. Arms?"
"Nothing," replies Elphie. "She doesn't have any. On the plus side, she never worries about hitting her funny bone. On the minus side, she doesn't have much of a sense of humor to begin with."
i always forget how crazy book nessa is 😭😭
"A paradox: I may not have arms, but I am armed with the truth."
"Oh, please," mutters Elphie.
lmfaoooo she was really done with her bs 😭
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