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Science Fiction & Fantasy |
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Son of a Witch: A Novel
written by Gregory Maguire
Studio : Harper Paperbacks
by Harper Paperbacks
Release Date : 2006-09-26
Publisher : Harper Paperbacks
Released : 2006-10-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780060747220
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 213 reviews)
List Price : $16.00
Our Price : $6.49
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Product Description |
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Ten years after the publication of Wicked, beloved novelist Gregory Maguire returns at last to the land of Oz. There he introduces us to Liir, an adolescent boy last seen hiding in the shadows of the castle after Dorothy did in the Witch. Bruised, comatose, and left for dead in a gully, Liir is shattered in spirit as well as in form. But he is tended to at the Cloister of Saint Glinda by the silent novice called Candle, who wills him back to life with her musical gifts. What dark force left Liir in this condition? Is he really Elphaba's son? He has her broom and her cape—but what of her powers? Can he find his supposed half-sister, Nor, last seen in the forbidding prison, Southstairs? Can he fulfill the last wishes of a dying princess? In an Oz that, since the Wizard's departure, is under new and dangerous management, can Liir keep his head down long enough to grow up? For the countless fans who have been dazzled and entranced by Maguire's Oz, Son of a Witch is the rich reward they have awaited so long. |
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Worth the Trudge |
I started to listen to this audiobook without many expectations. I'd enjoyed Wicked, but had no idea what Son of a Witch would turn out to be.
Well, to be honest, at first I was very disappointed. The story dragged, and I only trudged through it out of sheer force of will. I think I even stopped paying attention a couple of times, and quickly lost track of what was happening in the immediate scenes.
Maguire reads the audiobook with great enthusiasm for the most part (at other parts he sounds about as bored as I was), creating original voices to distinguish the characters. As an audiobook-lover, I have to say that some professional actors fail to read novels as well as Maguire. The writing itself is lush with beautiful descriptions and narrative that easily capture the imagination and let the reader 'see' Oz in a way that is somehow both real and magical. Maguire has a style that is so uniquely HIS, and it's intriguing and pleasing after reading so many cookie-cutter type authors. It was these things that contributed to my will to see the story on to its end.
And I'm so glad that I did! Somewhere around the middle of this novel, the drudgery is gone and the land of Oz becomes fascinating again! Liir becomes understandable and realistic, and I found myself completely emerged in what was happening to him. The very end of the book, which I won't spoil, absolutely solidified my enjoyment. Maguire concludes the novel suddenly, but so satisfactorily. I think I might have actually gasped at the sudden understanding and surprise I felt when two particular plotlines were cleared up. They seemed so clear once Maguire briefly pulled back the curtain to show readers what had been there all along.
In short, the pay off is worth it! Trudge through the earlier chapters, and you'll be glad that you did! |
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Loved this book |
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I was actually surprised to see that not as many people appreciated Son of a Witch as they did Wicked. I loved them both very much. I was so happy to return to Maguires version of Oz. I typically read on the subway, and have now found that whenever I go underground to make my commute, the smell of the subway reminds me of the book, and I feel as though I'm going in to Oz. So few books that I've read in my life have actually taken me to another place so completely. I loved Wicked, and was excited to read about Liir's continuing story. While I DO agree with some reviewers opinions on it paling slightly in comparison to the story of Elphaba, the whole book I felt suspense to find out whether or not he really was the green one's son! I enjoyed every moment of this read! Can't wait for Lion Among Men!!! |
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Well written but frustrated for the rest of the story |
*Spoiler Alert*
We already know Liir is Elphaba's son or his presence in Wicked and a whole sequel being based on him would be completely meaningless. It's gratifying at the end that he finally knows-for-sure he's Elphaba's son. The whole book basically leads up to him knowing-for-sure what the reader already knows. Too many questions are left unanswered. He doesn't find Nor. We don't know what happens with Candle. It's left open for another sequel. The book is very detailed and well written, but stretched out and slow. Some information is unnecessary and the necessary information is left out! But I do like Maguire's style and his adult rendition of a classic series. A third book is coming out about the Cowardly Lion- I'm sure I'll pick it up and I hope it gives me my answers this time! |
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Gets better as you read |
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I highly recommend that you read Maguire's "Wicked" before attempting this book or you may easily get lost in the characters and plotlines. "Wicked" is a tough act to follow and "Son of a Witch", while good, isn't as enchanting. It tends to feel less substantial in characters and plot but isn't a bad book; it's just that "Wicked" was better. Most of the interesting things in this book happen in the last 1/8 so keep at it even if you might feel like the plot is a little slow. That last 1/8th comes at you like an arrow shot from a crossbow. If you enjoyed "Wicked" this follow-up is a must-read. I can't wait for the third book, scheduled to come out on October 16, 2008, "A Lion Among Men" I think it's called. Hopefully,some of the plotlines in this book will be wrapped up; a bit of a cliff-hanger was "Son of a Witch". |
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Lost time. |
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I liked Wicked. He did a great job creating a backstory and giving the characters depth. The "big" events in Wicked didn't need to be written as we're to remember them from the movie. Son of a Witch was written in the same way (i.e. just mentioning big events) but without giving the characters any depth. Just poorly done all the way through. Constantly waiting for something to happen, for some suspense to be created, but it didn't happen. Since I've only read two of his works, I don't know if he phoned this one in as a way of cashing in on the musical or if this is par for the course. What I do know, however, is that I won't be finding out 'cause I won't be spending any more money on his novels. Unfortunate. |
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