Gregory Maguire’s Elphie: A Wicked Childhood is a captivating and unexpected gem, offering a rich and intimate glimpse into the early life of one of literature’s most misunderstood characters—Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West. For those who fell in love with *Wicked* and have long wondered what shaped the green-skinned, feisty Elphaba, this novel provides the answers, and so much more.

From the first page, Maguire pulls us into Elphie’s world—an Oz that is equal parts magical and heartbreaking. Young Elphaba’s childhood is anything but ordinary. Raised by a distant father, Frex, and a careless, self-absorbed mother, Melena, Elphie grows up in a family as complicated and disjointed as the world around her. She navigates sibling rivalries with her saintly sister, Nessarose, and the troublemaker Shell, all while grappling with her own identity. Maguire does a brilliant job of showing how Elphaba’s prickly nature is born out of a mix of neglect, longing, and an overwhelming desire to make sense of a chaotic world that doesn’t seem to want her.

One of the most striking elements of *Elphie* is how Maguire makes Elphaba’s journey feel incredibly relatable, even as it unfolds in a fantastical world. Her struggles with acceptance, friendship, and the stark realities of the world around her—particularly the mistreatment of the Animal populations in Oz—are universal experiences, despite the magical backdrop. Maguire’s prose is sharp and evocative, making Elphie’s inner turmoil tangible, while also reminding us that even the most seemingly wicked characters are formed by layers of circumstance and hardship.

This novel also shines in its exploration of Oz’s social and political divides. Elphie’s early encounters with the Animals—creatures oppressed and marginalized by society—set the stage for the strong moral convictions that will later define her character. As a reader, it’s hard not to feel for Elphie as she tries to carve out a place for herself in a world that doesn’t quite know what to do with her. Her struggles to fit in, her growing awareness of the injustices around her, and her thirst for something more—these elements make Elphie’s journey one of self-discovery, even as it hints at the darker path she will eventually take.

Maguire’s world-building is, as always, mesmerizing. He fills Oz with a strange mix of wonder and discomfort, and we see it through Elphie’s eyes—a young girl who is both a product of her environment and yet fiercely determined to define her own destiny. The familiar faces from *Wicked*, like the radiant Galinda, take on new depth here, and the world feels richer for it. Even if you’re new to the *Wicked* universe, Maguire does an excellent job of drawing you in without requiring prior knowledge of his earlier works.

Ultimately, *Elphie: A Wicked Childhood* is a powerful coming-of-age story, wrapped in the layers of fantasy and dark magic that Maguire is known for. It’s a reminder that the most iconic characters are often the product of their circumstances, their choices, and the forces that shape them—sometimes in ways we may never fully understand. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of *Wicked* or just discovering Oz for the first time, this novel is an essential read, full of heart, soul, and an unforgettable character who will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

I love musical theater and Wicked immediately captured my family’s hearts. When I read Gregory Maguire’s original Wicked novel, I was shocked to say the least. I was way too young for it, but I also loved how Maguire approached Elphaba and how she approached a world that saw her as “other.” Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men felt the same. Unfortunately, Elphie didn’t live up to that same level of hype.

There were a few good nuggets of quotes in the novel, but overall, it was difficult for Elphie’s childhood perspective to allow Maguire to really explore how even a child is judged by society. There were many interruptions of “But Elphie wouldn’t understand this until later” that broke the flow of the narrative. None of the characters really felt well developed, and I kept wanting more. More of his world-building, more of his social commentary, just…more.

The plot was okay, but it left me disappointed. I liked his end message, but it took too long to get to and once he states the message, he basically just drops the story. And not in a fulfilling, wrapped up in a bow, kind of way. The kind that left me saying “wait, this is the end?” I’m not sure whether Elphie is evidence that this author is running out of ideas for the Wicked Years universe or if this universe had just been mined for everything it can give but they wanted to grab more to follow the movie’s hype-train, but something here didn’t quite work for me. It wasn’t bad, but it’s not one I’ll likely revisit often (if at all).

“Maybe it doesn’t matter how we’re made, in the end; it matters only who we are”
The story of Elphaba before. A young girl growing up as the daughter of a traveling minister and the events that would shape her into who she becomes. Maguire’s prose is elegant in a way that makes you feel like you’re stilling through the woods in deep conversation with a philosophy professor. Thank you to #netgalley and #williammorrow for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so pleased to be approved by NetGalley to read an ARC of Elphie. Overall I rated this 3 stars. As per usual I throughly enjoyed Gregory Maguire's writing style. I am however confused by the point of this book. It does not seem to have a story, rather it felt as though I was sitting in a class many many years after the events of his book Wicked, listening to a history lecture where they are trying to humanize the past. I found myself not caring for Elphie or her family. But it does allow for a brief glimpse into why she was the way she was....even if it is just conjecture.

DNF

I tried. I have read all of the other books in the series. I love the world, the premise, the characters. But this book was just to off course for me. The writing style was difficult. We start as Elphie as a baby but she is sometimes narrating the events. Other times we are just observing what is happening. There really wasn't a plot to speak of. Just lots of words and wonderings. I made it until she turns 13 and then I just couldn't stay with it.

Love the author and his other works. This one missed the mark for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! I loved reading this book and getting to know Elphaba more as a child. I have always been intrigued with the story and this was JUST what I needed.

I loved this book almost as much as I loved Wicked which is one of my favorite books I have ever read. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone. I loved reading about Elphaba when she was younger it definitely gives another view to her that I love.

I was so excited to read Elphie's backstory! Unfortunately, the book did not do anything for me. I read Wicked around 15 years ago, and fell in love with the story and the characters. I hoped this would be a wonderful addition to the Wicked stories, but I ended up feeling like it wasn't really necessary. I do think that Gregory Maguire has such a unique writing style and I have enjoyed books by him. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital arc of this title.

2.5/5 for me. Readers who are wholly immersed in the world of Wicked will enjoy this shorter tale of Elphie's childhood. It is a quicker read and gives a bit more depth to Elphie and Nessa as children but is not necessary if you want to just start with book 1.

This prequel was a major disappointment. As someone who grew up loving Wicked the Musical and appreciated Maguire’s original novel, I was eager to dive into more of Elphie’s story. Unfortunately, the writing style was choppy and overly flowery, making it difficult to follow and adding little substance to the narrative. Worse, nothing significant happened, leaving the story feeling unnecessary and failing to deepen my connection to Elphie. A prequel should enhance the original experience, but this one fell flat. Two stars. Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy for an honest review.

I loved Wicked but I couldn't finish this one. I made myself read 20% before I gave up hoping it would get better. The writing style was difficult to understand and I wasn't sure exactly what was going on. I hate giving bad reviews, so let me just say this...It isn't a bad book it just wasn't for me and I hope others love it.

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 The Musical.

As always, Gregory Maguire's writing style is stunning. I appreciated the opportunity to check this out, getting backstory on this character was really enlightening as a person who has never seen the hit Broadway musical. I do think it would be worth the read.

4.0/5.0

I really enjoyed this one! It was interesting to learn even more about Elphaba's back story and the overlap with Nessa's. Thank you for the opportunity to read this one.

This was such a good read! I read this after reading the OG Wicked and it was the perfect combination. Loved reading the wicked witches side of thing, great job!

3 / 5 Stars

Thank you, Harper and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.

This was supposed to be about Elphie’s childhood and while I DNF’d toward the beginning (10% in), I felt I knew little about her from such a small yet superfluous description.

All I know about her is that she’s curious and thinks about others. Okay? Cool.

The other parts of what I read were about her parents who didn’t have much substance either, especially when they met at the ball. And it was hard to decipher because of the language being utilized.

I’m giving this 3 stars because there is an audience for this and I really want it to be reached. There is something here but that something is not for me. I hope its audience is found, but it’s not with me. Thank you, though.

I appreciated NetGalley providing this ARC for my honest review. As someone who only watched The Wizard of Oz once and never saw the hit Broadway musical Wicked, I was intrigued enough to read a prequel to Wicked. “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood” by Gregory Maguire offers readers a more profound insight into Elphaba’s early life and the events that shaped her character. Maguire’s detailed depictions of Munchkinland and the social elements at play make the world feel immersive and authentic. The narrative examines Elphie’s complex relationships and struggles, making for an emotionally engaging read. Whether you are already a fan of the “Wicked” series or looking for a new, character-driven fantasy to dive into, “Elphie: A Wicked Childhood” has much to offer. This book is projected to be released on March 25, 2025. #Elphie #Netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'd give this book 3 stars. I think it's a good story, but I just did not enjoy the writing style. The timeline in this book bridges the gaps between Elphie's childhood and her time at Shiz. This book brings up topics that were only mentioned in Wicked. The pacing of this book feels really slow and it made this book draaaaaag. If you are a fan of the musical, I honestly don't think this book would be for you unless you are really interested in the lore behind everything. This writing style is just so different and it makes the book kind of hard to get into it. If I hadn't wanted to finish the story, I would have DNF'd it early on.

Thank you! I’ve wanted to read this since I heard it was in the works and I was so mad when it got pushed from October to March. So I am happy to see it on NetGalley. I will say it’s definitely Gregory Maguire's usual style. Same writing style as Wicked where he uses lots of esoteric words, leaves lots of things ambiguous, and doesn’t always quite make sense. But it was fun to get more anecdotes about Elphie’s childhood and (really dysfunctional) family, and it helps explain why she turned out the way she did and is so antisocial. And I thought the section where her mother dies was well done and poignant. I have to say it cracks me up how I feel like 99 percent of people who read this book or Wicked after seeing the movie are going to absolutely hate them. They are so drastically different. But I loved it.

Elphie
By Gregory Maguire

💚🩷 I want to start this by saying that I am definitely the target audience for this book. An elder millennial who grew up 20 miles from the Gershwin theater. An avid reader who read and loved the Wicked novels long before the Broadway play existed. I was a philosophy major who saw the musical the first time and left going “but wait, the book was better”. Now, 20 years later, I have seen the musical on Broadway three times and the movie four times. I am a super fan. This book was for me. Being blessed with the eARC is a dream come true and seeing all these poor reviews are breaking my heart. If you didn’t love this prequel, you’re not a true Wicked fan. I said what I said. 💚🩷

The blurb describes the book as a novel about young Elphaba before her witchy powers took hold. Elphie is the coming of age story of a very peculiar and relatable young girl. The book gives fans of Wicked a first person glimpse into Elphaba’s world that in years past were only alluded to. We get to meet promiscuous Melina, pious Fred, annoying Nessarose, and (the wickedest of them all and the character that is most underrated) Shell.

The story follows the life of Elphie, whose life begins in the jungle as the child of a missionary in the middle of war times. We see Elphie grow into a young adult dealing with all of the trials and feelings of a normal preteen - who maybe isn’t so normal. Without spoiling anything, we get to see where her interest in politics first comes from (yes! These novels are political!), as well as her love of academics.

It’s a story of childhood and the age old question of nature vs. nurture. Was Elphie always destined to be Wicked? Or did her circumstances make her that way?

I would recommend this story to anyone who likes strong female characters, political undertones that can relate to today’s current events, morally grey characters, and literature that makes you think. For this elder millennial philosophy nerd who perhaps comes from questionable circumstances herself - it was pure magic.

🌙 🌙 🌙 🌙 🌙

This novel takes you on a journey into Elphabas childhood and gives a great perspective of how she developed into the character we have come to know. There is quite a lot of this book dedicated to seeking out “Turtle Hearts” family on behalf of the father, which in my opinion was over amplified and anti-climactic.
I did love reading about Elphabas development of the animal speech as well as her relationships with her siblings.
A novel as a whole was quite good, but I felt it could have given us more of Elphaba and less about her father’s mission work.