Will Taylor’s Wicked Never Waits is a charming and clever middle-grade fantasy that casts a spell with its mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes magical mischief. Picking up after her dramatic escape from the School for Wicked Witches, Ava finds herself back where she started—but this time with a new perspective. Her journey of self-discovery is both relatable and compelling, especially as she grapples with fitting in, falling behind, and learning that sometimes the “wrong” path may still lead you home.

The dynamic between Ava and Tinabella, her former best friend turned reluctant ally, adds rich emotional depth. Their uneasy partnership brings plenty of snark, tension, and growth, delivering a satisfying arc of forgiveness and teamwork. The school itself remains a deliciously wicked backdrop—equal parts eerie and enchanting.

Though the pacing occasionally stumbles, particularly in the early chapters, the plot soon accelerates into a suspenseful and magical climax. Taylor’s voice sparkles with wit, and the themes of redemption, identity, and friendship are woven seamlessly into the story.

Perfect for fans of The Worst Witch or Nevermoor, Wicked Never Waits proves that even the most misunderstood witch has the power to change her story.

I requested this book because my daughter got the first one at her school’s book fair and I am enjoying reading it with her. This book is just as good as the first one. I enjoyed Ava and her journey back to Swickwit. This book, while it does have refences that allude to the first book, is written well enough so that you can read the books out of order and not get lost. This is extremely important for a kid’s book. I love the references to Oz lore even though it is written during a different time than the original Oz stories. Overall, just a great quick read that keeps kids wanting to read more.
Thank you so much to Scholastic Inc and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I recieved a free eARC of this book

“We did know each other…I mean, our paths did cross…at school” (Galinda, Wicked)

Return to Oz and to Swickwit, the school for Wicked Witches, in the second book in this series which is perfect for young Wicked fans who aren’t quite ready for Gregory McGuire yet, or anyone who enjoys a look behind Oz.

West Oz Witch Academy isn’t quite what Ava, Crow, and Henry really expected. While they’d made their escape from Swickwit and gotten back into WOW, it seems…boring. So, of course, the answer is to, somehow, escape BACK to Swickwit. But, there are a few….loose threads from their past adventures that might just interfere a bit. Including Ava’s former friend and roommate, turned enemy Tinabella.

This is an enjoyable book and would probably make sense read out of sequence, but will be best enjoyed by people who have read both the first book in the series and are familiar with the original Wizard of Oz.