I really wanted to like this book, and maybe I should have re-read Wicked which I last read over 20 years ago, but I had recently seen the movie, and forgot how different the book is. However, Elphie seems to be an unnecessary prequel to a prequel, and takes out all of the elements of Wicked that make it worthwhile. There are a couple of exciting scenes, but a lot to get through for little return. Disappointing.

If you're like me and just have to know more/can't wait to return to OZ- I have the perfect book for you!


Elphie by @gregorymaguire is out now!! Read to find out more about Elphaba - was she destined to be a witch, or is she just misunderstood?

I really enjoyed this book! Would definitely recommend to everyone who loved the original wicked series!

In Elphie, we delve even deeper into the origins of the tragic, inherited & ptsd-induced brand of narcissism that characterized Elphaba in Wicked, where we saw the culmination of Elphaba’s journey from her birth to her untimely “ending” at the hands of the blue-frocked child-traveler from Kansas. And wowee. I was still? somehow? not expecting such a bleak & brutal origin story but I think that was definitely my fault—after all, name a more chronically misunderstood, mercilessly villainized heroine than our Elphaba.

At the end of the story, however, pretty much all I could do was bow down to Gregory Maguire’s absolute refusal (much like Oyeyemi’s) to write down to a reader’s expectations, & once you make your peace with that, what we are left with is one of the most devastating & yet also insistently beautiful novels I have ever read… (CW: animal (& Animal) death & cruelty—quite a bit of it)

What fun to get a glimpse into the formative years of the person most of us know as the Wicked Witch of the West.

We are all, in part, a product of our environment—Elphaba Thropp is no different. Elphie experiences prejudice for being born with green skin, beginning within her own family. She is on the receiving end of her parents’ lack of emotional maturity and inability to meet her needs. She learns to accept solitude and neglect as her younger siblings require more attention because it grants her some freedom from her family’s criticism. She bears the scars of generational trauma. But occasionally, she encounters—maybe not kind, but kinder—souls who help alter the trajectory of her life as a traveling minister’s daughter into one that will continue to open and satiate her curious mind, sending her on her path to Shiz University where we first met her in “Wicked.”

My biggest piece of criticism is the length of the book—I think this could’ve been just as good as a novella since there are so many other books in the series that paint a great picture of Elphaba and the world of Oz, but I think learning about what planted the seeds in her mind in the years leading up to Shiz gives additional dimension to her character.

I was sorely disappointed by this books. After wicked the movie, Broadway and book all told such great stories, I thought for sure we would get another great hit. Unfortunately, this felt more like a cash grab after the success of the movie and less about the content of the story.

ELPHIE by Gregory Maguire
There were times when knowing a student’s story helped understand behavior and needs and ways to reach them. So it is with Elphie. Raised in damp wilderness, following her father’s evangelistic travels, losing her mother while still young, and marked by her green coloration, Elphie learns to cope, to strive, and to think for herself. There is much to think and wonder about in this early tale, how her sister will manage without her, will anyone take her mischievous brother in hand, how will her early fascination with Animals play out?
I was a bit reminded of POISONWOOD BIBLE, preacher father, social commentary, sisters in competition.
I seldom reread (so many new books to keep up with), but I might look for audio versions to enjoy this one a second time.

Elphie by Gregory Maguire takes the reader back into the world of OZ to take a look into the childhood of our title character. I did enjoy being back around the characters I have come to be invested in but something in the pacing and stakes felt really off kilter. I have traditionally loved this author's work and will likely add this one to my collection and will mostly be recommending mainly to hardcore wicked fans.

4/5 stars — A witchy, witty return to Oz!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of Elphie! Getting to revisit the origins of one of literature’s most complicated heroines felt like opening a long-lost diary—one written in emerald ink and probably enchanted.

Gregory Maguire is back, and he’s brought us a gorgeously detailed, emotionally rich prequel that gives Wicked fans exactly what they didn’t know they were missing: a deeper dive into young Elphaba’s chaotic, curious, and complicated childhood. From her very first scream (which no doubt had a hint of sass), Elphie is wholly herself—prickly, perceptive, and perpetually misunderstood. You don’t become the Wicked Witch of the West without a few formative traumas, and Maguire delivers them with his signature blend of dark whimsy and biting insight.

The book is at its best when it lingers in the in-between moments—Elphie observing the injustice toward Animals, testing the brittle boundaries of friendship, and trying (and often failing) to fit into the puzzle of her own peculiar family. Melena and Frex are walking contradictions (one hedonistic, one sanctimonious), and their parenting style could best be described as “mild neglect meets magical realism.” The arrival of saintly Nessarose and troublemaker Shell only further tilts Elphie’s world.

There’s something a little heartbreaking—and a little hopeful—about watching a child so full of bite and brilliance try to find her place in a world that doesn’t quite know what to do with her.

Admittedly, the pacing stumbles in parts, and the prose occasionally leans more philosophical than necessary for a coming-of-age tale, but the emotional payoff is worth the journey. And for longtime fans, the ending—leading right up to Shiz and the first glimmer of Galinda—is nothing short of enchanting.

If you loved Wicked, Elphie feels like slipping on an old, green glove. Unconventional, slightly abrasive, and utterly unforgettable.

(P.S. I’ll be needing that deluxe limited edition, immediately. Stenciled edges and a color map? Yes, please!)

I am one of very few people I know who loved Wicked (the book, not the musical), so I was very excited to see the prequel that would give us Elphaba’s origin story. That said, I’m not sure it really delivered said “origin”. This story occurs largely outside munchkin land in Ovvels where Elphie and her siblings are mostly with their nanny and their father is proselytizing. Elphie does meet some talking animals, but the engagement is brief but clearly impactful to our protagonist. This is perhaps the biggest connection to “who elphaba will become”. I’m not sure what the ultimate point of the family’s venture to Ovvels is. I am still not clear on the relevance of Turtle heart, who was mentioned often yet seemed no one cared much about. Ultimately I don’t feel that I learned much about Elphaba.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty interesting prequel to Wicked. It moved along quickly and fleshed out some parts of Elphaba's backstory. I read the original novel a long time ago, so I feel like I'm more familiar with the musical these days. I had to refresh my memory a couple times. I don't think this book would really appeal to anyone who isn't familiar with the story, but the chapters are short in a way that sped things up.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Wiked has always been a favorite of mine for many years, and this book is no different. I loved reading the story and looking into Elphies world I just cannot get enough. Now I need to go back and rewatch the movies and maybe stop by the theatre again for another fix.

Thanks to University Press of Kentucky and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This is perfect for fans of Wicked. Great characters, great setting, great story

Elphaba will grow to have a feisty and somewhat uncompromising character as the Wicked Witch of the West in adult life. But even as an infant, she was always a one-off. Elphie is the riveting coming-of-age story of a character that spawned a saga of books, a musical, and an award-winning movie.
Starting from the dedication page, you understand what kind of book you are getting. Dedicated to Idina Menzel and Cynthia Erivo as well as all those who play Elphie past and future, we know we are not getting the gritty Elphaba from the original books. We are getting an Elphie that will tie into the movie better than the original book (that has scared many movie fans).
From page one, you get Gregory Maguire’s voice with a unique writing style. His narration ages up with Elphie. Many complained about this beginning, saying they couldn’t read it. While I had no trouble, I also understood what the author was doing. The writing becomes conventional as Elphie ages. It’s quite beautiful and genius. The story itself provides new info while hinting at what’s to come. He also adds homage to the musical and the actors/singers he mentioned in the dedication. This book is both well written and made me, as a book fan, happy. But it is also a wise move as it’s a nice step down to allow musical/movie fans into the world before they get into the true nitty gritty of the book’s universe.

This was a disappointing read. I have read books from this author before and have enjoyed them. I was really drawn to the idea of a prequel for Elphaba, however this was pretty terrible. The plot went nowhere. The prose is what I would expect from this author, however it just really didn't add anything to the character's backstory other than a bunch of unidentifiable drivel that was nearly impossible to follow. Thanks for the Arc, NetGalley.

I’ve never read the Wicked book, but I still plan to. I saw the Broadway musical and movie multiple times. I knew going in that the books were nothing like what was adapted for the musicals. I was underwhelmed. This story felt unnecessary.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I’m DNFing at 18%.

I was so excited for this book. I read and enjoyed Wicked and Son of a Witch but the writing style in this book I did not understand. I found it slow and choppy. I thought maybe I would come back to it but I think it’s a lost cause for me.

I couldn’t get into this. I felt like the author was jumping around a lot and barely scratching the surface with the characters and events. I feel like Wicked wasn’t written like this. DNF at 15%

If Gregory Maquire writes it, I"m going to not only read it but also pre-order it way in advance! I love that we continue to visit the story of Elphaba. With Wicked turning 30, I think it's a great time to introduce what Elpaba's childhood was like. There are so many references throughout other books that it was nice to finally focus on it for a solid book.

Having just finished the original Wicked, I thought it lovely to have received an ARC of Elphie. Was excited to delve more into her character and personhood but this fell remarkably short. It felt like a stiff biopic at the best of times, and a meandering exploration of other characters and politics at others. There elements worth praising and integrating some more of Elphaba's connections with Animals and her family, but overall, the book felt stilted and awkward. It felt like the author just had more words to write, regardless of whether they advanced a plot (there was none) or character development (also felt lacking). Maybe if you really love Wicked and this terribly choppy writing style that lacks any cohesion, this is for you. But if you care to find me, it won't be near this book.

I did enjoy Elphie by Gregory Maguire.
I can’t say it was my favorite book for the Wicked universe. I did however enjoy seeing Elphabas life a bit more closely