Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Jordan Riley Swan's Into a Wicked World offers a fresh and imaginative retelling of L. Frank Baum's classic, The Wizard of Oz. This novel reimagines Dorothy as a college-aged woman from our modern world who finds herself transported to the magical land of Oz. There, she embarks on a journey alongside familiar characters—Nick Chopper (the Tin Man), the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion—each presented with deeper backstories and nuanced personalities.

The narrative explores themes of self-discovery, courage, and the complexities of the human (and non-human) heart. Dorothy's interactions with Nick, whose curse renders him increasingly metallic in her presence, add a layer of poignant romance that enriches the story. The author's vivid descriptions bring the enchanting world of Oz to life, making it easy for readers to visualize the settings and connect with the characters.

Readers have praised the novel for its strong character development and the unique twist it brings to the beloved tale. One reviewer noted, "Each character of the book has a great backstory that thoroughly adds to the story. Each character truly came alive and not in the way of the 1939 film." Another highlighted the romance, stating, "A sweet and wholesome romantic retelling of the Wizard of Oz with a college-aged Dorothy and a human Tinman under a very metallic curse."

While the book maintains a light-hearted and adventurous tone, some readers have mentioned that the pacing could be more consistent, and a few wished for deeper exploration of certain plot elements. Nevertheless, the novel's charm and creativity have resonated with many, making it a delightful read for fans of fantasy and romance.

I’ve always loved a good retelling, especially when it comes to one of the Wizard of Oz.. and I how much I loved this! In this book all the characters were faithful to the original in certain aspects, but in others felt completely new.. and I loved this! The romance was compelling and sweet, the pacing was good and the world simply enchanting!

**Review of *The Tinman’s Heart***

Lions, tigers, and a brooding, emotionally unavailable woodsman—oh my! *The Tinman’s Heart* is a charming, whimsical reimagining of the classic *Wizard of Oz* tale with a fresh, romantic twist. The story follows Dorothy Gale, a college student from Kansas who, after escaping her narcissistic mother, is mysteriously transported to the Land of Oz. What she expects to be a simple journey to find the Wizard and return home turns into an adventure filled with dangerous trees, wicked witches, and unlikely allies.

One of the highlights of this story is Dorothy’s relationship with Nick Chopper, the emotionally distant, cursed woodsman known as the Tinman. He’s gruff, stoic, and has a magical axe, but he also hides a tender side, making him the perfect brooding love interest. Their dynamic is full of slow-burn tension, and it’s easy to root for their growing connection as they face challenges together in Oz. Nick’s internal conflict—his desire to remain detached while gradually falling for Dorothy—is both heart-wrenching and endearing.

The new take on the classic characters is another winning element. Dorothy isn’t just the innocent, wide-eyed girl from Kansas; here, she’s resourceful, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to get home. Her team of allies— including the naïve, chatty scarecrow and a princely lionman—adds a fun, quirky dynamic to the group, creating both lighthearted moments and deeper emotional beats.

The world-building of Oz is enchanting, blending familiar elements like the Munchkins and the Emerald City with fresh ideas that make the setting feel new and exciting. The magical elements, combined with the looming curse on Nick and the romantic tension between him and Dorothy, elevate the stakes of the plot. It’s a story about finding love in unexpected places, learning to open up, and realizing that sometimes home is not where you expect it to be.

However, while the romance is compelling, at times it feels like the emotional beats could be deepened further. There are moments when the relationship between Dorothy and Nick feels slightly rushed, as if their emotional growth happens a bit too quickly. Still, their chemistry is undeniable, and the slow burn of their relationship makes for an enjoyable read.

Overall, *The Tinman’s Heart* is an enchanting, lighthearted, and emotional journey through a reimagined Oz. If you’re a fan of magical worlds, reluctant heroes, and a slow-burn romance with plenty of heart, this book will definitely have you captivated. With a cast of lovable characters, rich world-building, and a romance that tugs at your heartstrings, it’s a delightful addition to the *Wizard of Oz* retellings.

I love when people try Wizard of Oz retelling. It's ambitious considering so much of Oz is in the popular consciousness because of other adaptations, but I think this book struck the right balance of retelling and romance.

I did not have time to finish unfortunately thanks to life getting in the way. I have purchased the book however and plan to read it.

You know, I admire the authors for going the way they did and trying to re-tell a classic in a different way. Unfortunately this was not for me, but I am happy I read this book regardless.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

If you are looking for a cozy fantasy retelling of the Wizard of Oz go no further than this one. It was super cute and the romance was wonderfully done. I do wish that the magic system would have been better focused I really did still enjoy this one. I cannot wait for the next one.

The premise of this story sounded very interesting to me when I read the synopsis of it here on NetGalley, so I was excited to receive an ARC of this novel. Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a good and satisfying read. I love reading Wizard of Oz retellings, and I found this one to be endearing and unique compared to other retellings I have read in the past. I like that the author maintained the authenticity of the characters from the original story while putting a modern twist on them. I was interested in the story of each of the characters as well as their progression throughout the novel. I really liked the romance featured in this story and the style of the author's writing. I think a lot of people will enjoy this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Single POV, Retelling, Fantasy, Slow Burn

This Wizard of Oz retelling is centered around Dorothy Gale, a Kansas college student who is transported to the Land of Oz. Familiar faces soon join Dorothy as she sets out on her quest to find her way home. The romance between Dorothy and Nick (the Tinman) builds slowly and is full of aching yearning. Cursed a long time ago Nick is used to life being bleak but meeting her causes his tin heart to feel again. Lots of plot twists and a insights into the characters motivations and desires this retelling is such a fun read.

Thank you NetGalley and Jordan Riley Swan for this ACR Copy!

This was a modern retelling that I did not know that I needed. I enjoyed getting a backstory on some of the beloved characters from my childhood. The romance was cute, and I just love me some Glenda.

There are a few fairytales that I hold near and dear to my heart - "The Wizard of Oz" being one of them. "Into A Wicked World" is modern-retelling of a childhood favorite. I loved the details that made it more contemporary than the original story, such as the fact that Dorothy is a student at Kansas State University. She enters Oz in a houseboat versus a house and meets Nick, aka "The Tin Man," who is Cursed to have no emotions or suffer the consequences of a life as a tin statue. Dorothy also meets other characters that we all know and love, like the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Each character's unique voice really shines in this story. The author was very careful in modernizing the classic to keep each character authentic, while also maintaining their lovability. All in all, this was a very enjoyable read and detailed enough to really make me feel like I was on the yellow-brick road with Dorothy and her companions.
I feel like the book could be improved by drastically reducing the amount of hyphenated words throughout. Each page (sometimes a single paragraph) contains 2-5 word combinations and I found it to be distracting. For example,
"her river-water snort was nothing compared to the stomach-aching, rib-tickling, face-twisting hysterics."
Overall, "Into A Wicked World" is a fun story that will make lovers of "The Wizard of Oz" feel nostalgic and take them back to their childhoods in a wonderful way!

Reading this book gave me a better understanding why I like the wizard of oz books more. While it was enjoyable I don’t really like it. If you want to read it that’s fine. It just wasn’t for me.

Wizard of oz with an interesting twist! This book had a very interesting take on the wizard of oz classic story!

A cute, fun and easy read. A unique spin on one of our favorite classic stories! Eagerly looking forward to the remainder of this feel-good series.

A cute and easy to read retelling of wizard of the oz that I thoroughly enjoyed. It didn’t have the action I typically like in fantasy novels but it was still quite fun. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the overall feel of the book and how it was able to grasp the feel of the Wizard of Oz so well.

A sweet and wholesome romantic retelling of the Wizard of Oz with a college aged Dorothy and a human Tinman under a very metallic curse.

Well, I don’t do this very often but this one was hard to get into. I was really looking forward to a Wizard of Oz retelling but this one missed the mark for me. DNF at 40%.

An enchanting romance set in Oz- modernized for us Wizard of Oz lovers looking for a refreshing spin on the tale.

I loved the unique backstories the beloved characters received. Nick and Dorothy's chemistry was also off the charts. I couldn't stop smiling the whole way through this book!

I loved the modern twist on such a classic story. Dorothy’s back story with the farm and her mother really struck a chord with me because she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders which I can relate too. Nick’s story is so sad and plays wonderfully into the epic love story. I found it a little hard to get into in the beginning, but once I got going I finished the book quickly!