Sadly this book seems to be experiencing a form of review bombing resulting from the very predictable fact that people who like the Wicked musical are not necessarily going to enjoy the books.

I personally am no great fan of musical theater but did enjoy Maguire’s original Wicked novel, so I thought this might be of interest.

I can’t say I think it was as enjoyable as the original novel, but I also think it’s important to remember that way back when that book was published, it was based on a pretty original concept. The fact that Wicked is pretty much everywhere now means this book isn’t going to be anything that feels especially unusual.

That said, I think if you liked the original novel, you’ll like this well enough. I love the tone of these books, and Maguire has stayed true to that here in his prequel that covers Elphaba’s childhood.

Please don’t ask this book to be a prequel to a musical that is somewhat loosely based on the original novel. Though it’s not Maguire’s most creative novel, it’s enjoyable and very much of a kind with his other Wicked books.

I love anything Wizard of Oz, and was so excited to read this after reading Wicked! Elphie is a character who is misunderstood by many, and reading her childhood story helps to answer a lot of questions. I enjoyed reading about where she came from, how she became who she was, and her family life. The writing style is different than most books, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the story!

As someone who is a fan of Wicked (the musical, I haven’t seen the movie yet), I was intrigued to read Elphie’s “origin” story. I have never read any of Maguire’s other books, but based on other reviews I’ve seen, most (if not all) of his books have this kind of quirky and lyrical writing style - something I had to get used to while reading. I was definitely confused for some parts of the book, but it was interesting to read more about Elphaba.

Elphie was an excellent read. The writing was propulsive and the character development was rich. I would read more from this author.

“Elphie” by Gregory Maguire is pure magic—a five-star return to Oz that had me absolutely spellbound!

Receiving this book as an ARC was the highlight of my year. I’ve been a longtime fan of Wicked, not just the book but the Broadway musical that has lived in my heart since I first saw it with my cousin at 16. That experience was unforgettable, and I honestly thought nothing could ever top that feeling—until Elphie came along.

Maguire once again proves his mastery in reimagining the world of Oz, bringing depth, heart, and a fresh perspective to a story that has captivated readers for decades. The writing is immersive, the characters are rich with complexity, and the themes resonate deeply. This book felt like coming home, yet with enough surprises to keep me hooked from start to finish.

If you’re a fan of Wicked, or if you just love a beautifully crafted, thought-provoking fantasy, Elphie is a must-read. It’s a love letter to Oz, to those who have ever felt misunderstood, and to the magic that books can bring into our lives. I can’t recommend it enough!

“Maybe it doesn’t matter how we’re made, in the end; it matters only who we are.” Gregory Maguire

This story closely follows Elphaba and her family during her childhood years. It details the family’s vagabond lifestyle as well as the lack of love, care, mothering, fathering, sisterhood, and kindness that she experienced through that time. There are flashes of who our girl comes to be through out this book.

Interesting enough I think that the play overrode the storyline from the book I read so long ago. I had to look up quite a few questions I had that differed from stage to page. I forgot how sad this story is… Elphaba’s childhood isn’t any different.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for this #advancedreaderscopy - book is out now!

#2025bookchallengebook24of100
#netgalley
#stillteamelphaba

I found this one rather slow moving, but did a pre-appreciate the closer look into her childhood and upbringing before she went to Oz. The writing style is sometimes hard to follow but subject matter is good.

It has been a long time since I first read Wicked. Wicked for me was an incredible world unlike anything I had read up to that point in my life. It was a deliciously interesting twist on a classic that tackled so many essential themes that parallel our world which made it relatable. The writing was poetic and immersive, and I just fell in love with the entire world and the characters. I quickly read the books that followed and still to this day, think it’s one of the best series I’ve ever read.

Reading Elphie not only brought me back into that world, but brought me back to the unique experience of reading Maguire‘s writing. Granted, it takes a minute to get back into because it’s so different and immersive, but once I did, it was like coming home again. I loved the story and I loved getting reacquainted with some old friends and meeting some new characters as well. It definitely makes me want to go back and read the whole series again.

But that being said, I’m really not sure why this book had to be made. With all the hype surrounding Wicked recently (which, by the way, as a lover of the series, hate how different the movie is and how it is not made clear enough that although the movie is kid friendly, the books are definitely definitely not) it’s hard for this not to feel like a cash grab. The original stories felt complete and I don’t feel like this book was needed. And therein lies my problem because as much as I loved the story and loved being brought back into this world, I can also recognize that there wasn’t a need for it and hate that it seems the author fell into this trap of trying to resurrect something because it’s become popular again. Therefore, I will settle on a 3.5 as my rating.

***Thank you NetGalley, Gregory Maguire, and William Marrow for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.***

3.5*

The writing in Elphie was more palatable to me than Wicked. It's still a very pretentious style. While I felt there was a lot of repetition, the underlying story of how Elpheba grew up was interesting. I think this is a good read for Wicked fans.

Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for the chance to review this ARC.

Although I enjoyed the nostalgia of Elphie and other classic characters like Nessa Rose, this book was a bit slow. For superfans, it’s a must read. I enjoyed watching Elphie come into her own. I couldn’t help but laugh every time I read her mother’s name “Melena”. Melena is the medical term for bloody poop so….. But actually, the name fits for that cold hearted woman 😂

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am such a big Greg Maguire fan! Both as an author and a person. I was so excited to be able to read Elphie.

As someone who often reads rom-com style stories, it’s always a treat to pick up one of Greg’s books. His writing style is so unique and always feels like reading a nostalgic story tale book, with some dark humor of course.

For example: “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.”

The story definitely starts off slow and there’s a lot of focus on the characters surrounding Elphie, however, it was such a treat to be able to see her grow and evolve as she ages. Her relationship with animals in this book was one of my favorite parts. I also found it interesting to see the complicated dynamic between Elphie and Nessa as well as her relationship with Nanny.

Thank you again to NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading Elphie!

I really wanted to love this book but it felt a bit unnecessary. You get a lot more Oz politics and some more time with Elphie and Nessa but there wasn’t a a plot really. Lots of wicked Easter eggs that were fun to spot.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“A green girl in a green, green world”.
We go back in time and see how the Wicked Witch of the West- Ephaba was raised and her childhood. Before she was known as the Wicked Witch herself and her powers took over. What was her childhood like? Did she have one that was so different than ones of normal kids?

Thank you to the Publisher and the author for the advanced reader copy! I don't think this book was for me, as much as I love Wicked and Elphie's story. I will say, if you enjoy audio, the narrator does a wonderful job adding whimsy to the story overall. This book is definitely for fans of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz novels.

As someone who was very swept up in all the wicked buzz least year, this was a great read to tide me over to this fall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I read the first Wicked book quite some time ago, maybe 13 or more years ago & remember being surprised at how much I liked it, and how dark it was. This iconic piece of American culture/history, twisted into the "villains" POV - I liked it a lot. With this book being an origin story, I was excited to read it.

I think overall I am giving this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I felt good being immersed in this world again, especially when the world is so fleshed out. There were a lot of in-world wizard of Oz references that I found myself googling since I haven't read L. Frank's original novel (it's on the list now). I enjoy the way that Gregory writes in terms of themes, language, plot, etc. but have always disliked the way he writes female characters.

Elphie is a complex and deep character, but we lack emotional empathy for her in a connected way. We feel it more in an "outsider looking in on a poor child" sort of way, but it doesn't help with the immersion as much. I think a lot of the characters end up feeling this way, where we are just watching things play out instead of feeling emotionally invested as a participant in it. It's hard to explain, but is common enough in literature, especially older novels.

I picked up on a lot of subtle nods to both L. Frank's original series and Gregory's later books in the wicked series. There were a couple of lines that I liked a lot (especially at the end). It definitely felt foreboding and prophetic which I liked a lot. I wouldn't say that the plot is entertaining or dynamic, in fact it is a little boring and meandering, but despite that I personally just like the concept and vibe of the entire series, especially Elphie as we see her later in Wicked.

So, all that to say, 4 stars from me!

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really wanted to like this story, and while it had a promising start, it just didn't live up to expectations.

It's split up into four parts, with each part focusing on a different part of Elphie’s childhood. It felt more like a collection of random short stories featuring Elphie rather than a flowing, fleshed-out, and in-depth look into her childhood, which is what I was expecting.

The writing style took some getting used to. It was overly wordy in places, which kinda took me out of the story at times. I don't remember struggling as much with Wicked or the other books in the series. Maybe I did and I'm just not remembering, but I definitely struggled with it here.

Despite my issues with this book, there was never a moment where I thought about not finishing it. In fact, I kept thinking about it when I’d have to set it aside to do other things. And I was always eager to get back to it. I enjoyed visiting this world and these characters again. I also really liked seeing the sisterly bond between Elphie and Nessa. It was complicated, but you could tell that they really did care for each other.

As you can tell, I have mixed emotions about the book. It wasn’t bad. I think my expectations were just a little off. I'd recommend it to people who have already read Wicked. I don't think this would be a good starting place for someone new to it.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Elphie by Gregory Maguire ⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of my most anticipated of the year because I love Wicked and have for years. Returning to this land and seeing Elphie grow up was a treat.

Maguire has his own writing style and it really was present in this one. The flow and pace and descriptions were very Maguire and took some getting used to. But nonetheless, when I got into it, I was pulled back into this storybook land.

Perfect addition for all the Wicked lovers.

I really wanted to like this. Wicked the play was amazing, the movie was good but I thought that maybe learning more about Elphie would help. It would bring more insight and life to the character, the movie or just in general. But there were so many holes, puzzle pieces that don’t fit and even more questions then I started with. Although the writer writes well, the character falls flat in general. No development, or quality to her. I have enjoyed other of the authors works…but not this one. I could take or leave this book but as a recommendation to others, I would say leave it. #Elphie #Netgalley

As a lover of all things Oz, I was excited for the opportunity to read Elphie as an ARC. Having finished, I have lots of mixed thoughts.

If you enjoyed the rest of the Wicked series, this follows the same third person, direct and unemotional narration. We get to see Elphaba grow up through the eyes of the world around her, but aren’t let in on many of her own thoughts.

The characters, like in the other books are not particularly likable or easy to root for. They don’t see to like themselves or each other very much either.

The most interesting part of Wicked for me was being shown the world and politics of Oz, since the characters were hard to connect to. This book lacked much of that. It was still present, but not much of the main focus.

The plot pacing reminding me more of Son of a Witch, characters on a journey for a LONG time, without actually progressing in the plot much for the entire book. And not much resolution or a satisfying conclusion.

While it was hard to connect with Elphaba, it was easy to see why she struggled to make emotional connections, as everyone in her life was pretty apathetic toward each other as well. Except for when it came to what they could do to help provide. Sometimes Elphaba is portrayed as an outcast, but really she may have been the most feeling of her family? And that’s not saying much as I don’t think she cared for any of them or anyone for that matter.

I struggled with picking this one up, even if it is the shortest of the series. I didn’t really get interested at all until about 80% in, and then only mildly so.

While I think this book wasn’t for me, I did decide to give it 3 stars as I do think it is in line with the other books of the series. But definitely not my favorite of the ones I have read (I have finished Wicked, Son of a Witch and DNFd A Lion Among Men at this review writing). I don’t think this one is dramatically worse, just didn’t go in a direction I hoped it would have.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for the advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.