So here we are...2015. My last actual, responsible book post came almost three months ago! AHH! Clearly I am not meant to multitask during the holidays. So this post will be mostly catch up...Actually come to think of it, I'm going to have several catch up posts. So this first one is on The Wicked Years trilogy.
I had been wanting to read The Wicked Years book series by Gregory Maguire for quite awhile. Since college actually. Several years ago, I read the original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Sidenote: I highly recommend that everyone read it. It's a wonderful trip, and completely expands in areas where the film leaves you wondering. Plus it's highly entertaining. But back to The Wicked Years. I probably won't be going to in depth with summaries, simply because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone! So into the deep!
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
I actually read this book last spring, and I immediately loved it. I devoured it. And I knew I wanted to read the rest of the series as well. I couldn't read them immediately though because I was stuck on the hold list for the eLibrary for the longest time.
The book is essentially a biography of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. It takes one the most known villains in all literary history and makes the reader sympathize with her. Her childhood was filled with uncertainty. Her parents feared their green-skinned child that refused to speak. They clearly favored Elphaba's siblings, Nessarose and Shell. Elphaba truly begins to blossom when she heads off to college at the University of Shiz. She meets her roommate and lifelong friend, Galinda, who many know to be the Good Witch of the North from the original story.
Throughout the novel, there are other characters created that drive the plot of the subsequent novels in the series.
Son of a Witch
Son of a Witch is told with two different storylines that eventually converge into one. Both follow Liir, who we meet in Wicked as one of Elphaba's charges. *SPOILER ALERT* Liir is the son of Elphaba...This is mostly only speculated throughout the whole novel. Granted as the reader, you are fairly certain that he is the son of Elphaba.
But back on track. The novel opens up on Liir being found, mostly dead. He is brought back to the Mauntery to be nursed back to health. Candle, a Quadling, is selected to help him. A relationship develops between the two, and she becomes pregnant.
The second vein of the story picks up right where Wicked leaves off. Liir is on his mission to find Nor, his possible half-sister. During his quest, Liir ends up on many side journeys. He promises to help people in return for their assistance. In the end, he keeps all his promises to everyone.
The surprise ending of the novel actually sets up the fourth book.
A Lion Among Men
The third novel follows the travels of the Cowardly Lion, from a tiny cub all the way to the present. The novel opens up on the Cowardly Lion arriving to the Mauntery to speak with Mother Yackle, and her ties with Elphaba. Throughout the Cowardly Lion's interview, his own back story is weaved into the plot. The Cowardly Lion's youth is exposed...where he got his name...How he ended up with Dorothy...How he got nominated to search for information about Elphaba and by extension the Grimmerie (Elphaba's rumored book of spells).
Out of Oz
The fourth novel follows the travels of Rain. Rain is the child of Liir and Candle. She is merely eight years old when we meet her in the beginning. Her journey starts off with none other than Miss Glinda, Elphaba's dearest and oldest friend. The two form a bond over their shared use of the Grimmerie.
Rain's journey leads her to several characters in past novels...the Cowardly Lion, Liir, Candle, Nor, she even has a brush with Elphaba's brother. All to satisfy the overarching problem that has been lingering in Oz for several years.
Of all the novels, the first one was my absolute favorite. I found it to be exciting and quickest read. The subsequent novels took me quite awhile to finish. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed several parts in all the novels. I enjoyed the stories of Elphaba, Liir and Rain. I loved reading all their adventures, and comparing and contrasting them as characters. To me, they are by far the most fascinating of whole group.
