Gregory Maguire’s writing is old timey fantasy at its core. Which means it can either read as magical or dry. I was bored immediately. I kept thinking that it being a prequel was a cash grab, which turned me off from continuing.

Thank you William Marlow for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

This story definitely made me sympathetic to Elphie. The first bit of it was a lot of world and character building. That was necessary for the story . I am hoping going into reading Wicked that I will look at the storyline differently and objectively. It makes you think that if you just switch out her being green with any number if race or disability then it is no different than what is happening in this day and age. 3 Stars

This was a 3 star for me. I was really excited about this book when I got the arc ( little late with reading it) Cause I had very high hopes. I loved the Wicked Series but a lot of this story I felt we already knew from the first novel. Most of this book was tracking down where turtle heart came from… and he is a character I never really liked in the original series. For a book that was so short I felt like it dragged on.

Nessarose still lives up to a character who is just not likeable, even as a child. Frex still is a piece of crap, but I liked that we see a bit more of him because I think his hardness shapes the dynamic between Ness and Elphaba. But to be completely honest, for a book about Elphie, I feel like there wasn’t enough of her in it, or at least things we already didn’t know.

Was this book necessary? No, and would have rather had a book about Glinda’s upbringing, Or a book on Madam Morrible, but that’s just me. But I will always be an Elphie stan so I’m happy we got a little extra for her.

Thank you Netgalley for granting me the ARC for an honest review.

I’ve loved the whole Wicked series and this was no exception. We get to see what Elphaba’s childhood years were like and how they helped shape her. I think this is a must read if you are a fan of the series or even just Wicked. I feel like it’s rare to get insight into a character’s early life which makes the story feel even more special. If you haven’t read the series yet I think this would be a fun way to start it!

Follow Elphaba Thropp through Quadling country as her missionary father drags his family around trying to find converts for The Unnamed God. Fans of the original series might be disappointed with the lack of substance in the plot, but the story provides insights into Elphie's childhood that informs the later novels. The writing read more like vignettes than a fully formed narrative, but I think fans of Elphie, new and old, will enjoy these glimpses. From Elphie's first encounters with talking animals to the Quadlings who pushed her to get a formal education, there are a range of interesting characters and Easter eggs of important things to come. I don't think this will bring new fans to world of Oz, but those already committed will find something worth reading.

Not bad but also not my favorite in the Wicked series. Still a good book by an author who can really weave an interesting tale.

⭐️: 2
DNF. I tried to get into it, but it didn’t hold my interest Maybe I’ll give it another chance at a later time.

I was so excited when I was approved for this ARC. As someone who has read the entire series, this was truly the cherry on top. I absolutely loved it and hope that there will be more in the future.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I didn't find this to be as good as the former Wicked books, rather I found it a bit hard to read and nonsensical unfortunately.

However, your mileage may vary, don't let my personal opinion dissuade you from giving this book by this talented author a read, if you are a follower of this series! 😉

I loved getting to see Elphaba’s childhood in depth. I really enjoyed getting to see her life before her powers showed up.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNF'ing this because I just couldn't get into it. I had thought it would be a nice re-entry into Elphaba's world in advance of the Wicked movie coming out, but this honestly felt more like a collection of unused backstory elements from Wicked than a true standalone on its own merit. Maybe you'd enjoy it if you had just recently read the Wicked books, but this wasn't it for me.

I've spent the last few months getting deeply back into the Wicked universe and, for the first time, reading the fantastic, sprawling depictions of Oz in The Wicked Years. I was midway through the series when I first heard of its prequel, Elphie, and midway through the final book of The Wicked Years, Out of Oz, when I was given the privilege of an early copy. As such: I wanted to wait, to finish the Wicked Years, and then dive into Elphie. And so, I did.

This book is very aware of what-Elphie-knows and can conceptualize as through the stages of her life and what WE, the reader, know. It has a narrating voice that is honestly enchanting, diving into the past, hinting at the future, knowledgeable about the pieces in the story, and at the same time often denying omniscience and power in it. As Elphie grows, you see the seeds planted that define the rest of her life. Theres the Elphaba who can't look her hurt in the eye, who turns to independence as self-defense, with her halting and intense attitudes towards friendship. There is her keenness towards injustice, her interest in the plight of the Animals, her hunger to learn, to get at the truth of the world. All of this is laid over their humid, unsteady setting of Quadling country, their father's stubborn, desperate, guilty missionary aspirations, and the people they meet. There's Boozy the cook, there's Unger and To'or and the Dwarf Bears Lollo-Lollo and Neri-Neri and of course the classic Maguire players of Chance, of Introspection, of Reunion, of What Is Revealed By Wandering, of Surviving A Childhood.

By the end of the novel, Elphaba has grown into herself, her voice so distinct and ringing and familiar I felt a surge of love, and of pain, knowing what was to come. But that's a bit of the magic in this book. In a way she is there forever, striding into Shiz, a leaf gusting boldly with the win, a girl on the edge of possibility. Waiting to see how it plays out.

Gregory Maguire's Elphie expands upon the events presented in its predecessor, Wicked, which inspired the hit musical and film. Elphie provides deeper insights into Elphaba's thoughts and feelings, along with events not included in Wicked; there is a significant period in Elphaba's life left unaccounted and unexplored in Wicked. Elphie addresses this gap and highlights the importance of these events in shaping and influencing her later years. Elphie begins around age four and concludes with her acceptance to Shiz, including her first encounter with Animals and as she explores herself and her priorities as an individual and within her family dynamics.

The writing style in Elphie mirrors that of Wicked and other novels by Gregory Maguire. Readers need to be attentive and intentional in their reading, as it's easy to become lost and confused, as there are many words to say little. While Elphie is shorter than his other novels, it appears to have a more evident and engaging storyline, which enhances the overall reading experience.

Thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow, and Gregory Maguire for the free eArc in exchange for an honest review.

For fans, like me, looking to fill their “Wicked” obsession, “Elphie,” the fifth book in the Wicked Years series, provides the perfect escape into the world of Oz, with a new look at Elphaba Thropp, the beloved green heroine, before she was known as the Wicked Witch of the West.

From her struggles with familiar jealousy, her thirst for knowledge and her encounters with the marginalized talking animals of Oz, “Elphie” explores the moments in Elphaba’s life that shaped who she is. Devoted fans and readers new to the series will be able to dive in deeper to the social and political issues of Oz and gain a deeper insights into Elphaba’s plight for sentient animals, a cause that will later mark her as wicked.

With a subtle political distress throughout the novel and lack of love in Elphaba’s life, the novel can feel melancholy at times. But, that is the core of who Elphaba is.

Elphaba’s progress from child to an adolescent with better understanding of the world, her wants and needs, guide Gregory Maguire’s novel. As Elphaba starts her journey of discovery the novel’s pace is slow and steady. But as she begins to understand herself and the joy and wonders of Oz, the novel’s becomes a tad more lively.

In contrasts to the rest of the series, in “Elphie” Maguire takes to writing in short chapters with short sentences, reflecting the overall dysfunction occurring in Oz and in Elphaba. The rhythm Maguire create also make the book easy one to breeze through.

Compared to previous books in the series, there is less happening to drive the narrative. Instead, “Elphie” serves as a psychological backstory to understand Elphaba’s character, explaining what made her one of the most iconic witched in literacy, theater and film.

Making the novel one Elphaba fans must hold space for.

https://apnews.com/article/elphie-gregory-maguire-wicked-book-review-4cda002d332915d610501e33e62a022a

Elphie is a charming retelling that offers a fresh perspective on the classic story through a witty and heartfelt lens. The characters are cleverly crafted, and the whimsical tone makes it a delightful read. Some parts feel a bit slow, but overall, it’s a lovely and imaginative book. Perfect for fans of playful, character driven storytelling with a touch of magic.

A quick read and yet a more in-depth tale of Elphaba's early years. It expands on her relationship with her family and her childhood. If you are strictly a fan of the musical Wicked, this will be completely different from what you expect. If you enjoyed Gregory Maguire's other OZ books, then Elphie is definitely for you.

While I love the original Wicked novel, its many sequels, and now prequel, have been an utter disappointment. There are some things in the original that don’t age well, but somehow the sequels got more and more racist, and less comprehensible, both in prose and thematically.

For this prequel, I was already apprehensive because of Elphie’s childhood in a missionary family, written from the perspective of a white writer. Unfortunately, he did not prove me wrong, and does not handle dealing with the colonization of native peoples with tact.

I don’t know what this book adds to Elphie’s story, as much as I wanted it to. There were some enjoyable moments, but it seemed unnecessary.

I'm a little disappointed in this one -- it was fine, but it didn't have me enthralled the way I had hoped.
Maybe it's just been a while since I read a Gregory Maguire book, or maybe I had just built up too much expectation. Elphie was slow and unengaging. I didn't like the chapters from her younger years at all. It picked up a little more in the later half of the book though.

*I did like the occasional Wicked lyric thrown into the narrative though.

Elphie is a prequel to Gregory Maguire's series based in the world of OZ and the source material for the movie Wicked. If you are a fan of the musical, but have not read Maguire's original books, this look into the early life of Elphaba and her sister Nessa will likely surprise you. All of Maguire's books have a dark tone, deal with disturbing and adult subject matter, and are told in a type of narration that can be difficult for some folks to follow. Here, Elphie is no different. If you enjoy Maguire's style of writing and his thought provoking themes, you will likely enjoy this book. We do get to see scenes from Elphie;s childhood and follow her to the point where she finds herself about to attend Shiz, and Maguire explores some interesting questions about what it means to be innocent or corrupted. But if you are a fan of the musical and are looking for a linear story with a lot of plot, this book will not be for you. While I did enjoy much about the book, I can't say that it adds a tremendous amount to what we have in the original Wicked, but it was fun to return to the world and see more of how Elphie came to be where she is when we meet her at Shiz.

From the giant overarching themes right down to his individual word choices, Gregory Maguire’s writing is so complex yet so precise. If you’ve read the series, you’ll enjoy this “prequel” but if you want to start the series, don’t start with this book. Start with Wicked to get your footing in the world and then double back to read this.