After reading some of the absolute door-stoppers like Alchemised and Crescent City, this feels like a very quick read. I enjoyed every minute of it.
It takes place in The Land of Oz, but aside from that it bears zero relationship to the book (or movie, or stage play) Wicked. Dorothy is the main character here.
I liked Dorothy. She is well-written as a young woman who is torn between the desire for adventure and the loyalty that makes her want to return to the people who raised her. She is impulsive, she is brave in a fight, but anxious when she is the centre of attention. She feels very three-dimensional and real.
All the usual characters are here, but twisted from their original roles. The Scarecrow is a man without his memories and the Tinman a mercenary with a mechanical arm. We haven’t met the Lion yet, but I have a theory who it’s going to turn out to be. Even Toto very obviously isn’t a normal dog.
And the loyalties also aren’t necessarily where you would expect them – The Wicked Witch of the West was not a nice character, but also not entirely a bad guy. Glinda on the other hand – I hated her on sight even though she didn’t actually do anything, so I’m curious to find out if I’m right about her.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the rest of the series when it comes out.