Dorothy Must Die

I know there is some controversy with this author, along with the publisher, but I don't want to judge this book based on any of that. I went into this book with no expectations, I was just looking forward to reading a book about an alternate Oz. Right off the bat, this book impressed me with its vivid descriptions and its world. I loved the idea of this almost post-apocalyptic Oz, where Dorothy has run rampant and has enslaved the people.

I appreciated that like the Wizard of Oz, we got to see a little bit of Amy in her own world and the hardships she goes through pre-tornado before she is thrown into Oz. Then once she is in Oz, we get this amazing back-story on what happened after Dorothy left and then when she came back.

I really enjoyed our main character, Amy. She was reluctant at first, and slowly saw why she was needed. I appreciate a hero who does not agree to fix everything right away and has to grow into their role. As for the other characters, I have no idea who you can trust and who is on what side, and I really like that. I like that there is the potential for so many twists and turns.

One last thought, I'm beyond peeved by the back cover of this book. It gives away a huge plot detail that you literally do not find out until the last like 10 pages of the book. This was horrible marketing for the book and incredibly disappointing to me that something that is revealed that late in the story is blatantly put on the back. So as an FYI for everyone who wants to read this, do not look at the back of the book (hardcover at least) or you will be spoiled.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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So, imagine a world where Baum's books (and that movie) are present and beloved – but also, are non-fiction (not that anyone who isn't from our world gets that). I think that made sense. Anyway...in modern-day Kansas, there's a girl, Amy Gumm, who isn't having the best time. Her mother lives (well, exists) in a drug and alcohol-induced stupor. She has a pet rat (who she hates), and not much else in her life, other than a dream of getting out.

This being a story about Oz that starts in Kansas, a tornado hits. And, lo and behold, it transports Amy, her trailer house and the rat to Oz. But it's not the Oz Dorothy landed in anymore.

There's a new ruler – Ozma and the Wizard are out (well, Ozma's technically in charge, but she's not). Magic is being changed – corrupted, stolen. The realm is in ruins – Oz is a dystopia, and the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow are mutated, monstrous versions of themselves and Dorothy is behind it all. Amy is recruited – as an otherworlder, it has to be her – by a group of rebels to kill Dorothy.

It's got all the makings of something interesting, and just isn't. It's not bad, it's just dull. The excesses that Dorothy and her friends indulge in are predictable and unimpressive. The last chapter or so really only existed to push things into a sequel.

Actually, I'm just going to stop at this point – I don't care enough to carry on. And if I did, I'm afraid this would come across as a critique or a tearing-down of the book. And I don't want it to be, because I wasn't provoked enough to do that. I was generally (not wholly) unmoved.

As far as the audio performance goes – I just didn't appreciate whatever Sorvari was doing. The narration seemed angry, clipped. And yes, that matches Amy (especially early on) – fine. But I don't need to hear 14 hours of ticked off descriptions of scenery, character appearances, etc.

I may, if the Library has a copy, get around to the next volume – but I'm not going to worry too much about it. It wasn't a waste of time, I liked bits of it, but on the whole – it just didn't do anything for me. The story was okay; the narrator was frequently annoying, but otherwise was okay. With such a promising premise, it's disappointing that nothing much was done with it.

More like a 4.75, but who cares.
I was really drowned in this story, I really liked how Paige make this dark and twisted Oz, giving the old and know-by-everybody characters in something completely different, with a deep and unique personality every single one of them (or at least most of them).

I really enjoyed the fast pace of the book, and it got me out of my reading slump! So extra points for that.

The only thing I didn't enjoy that much was the main character, Amy Gumm. I just didn't buy the ‘I do the good thing because it's the right thing to do' stuff. And she didn't shut up about how terrible her mother was, and how she forgot about her and bla bla bla. Okay girl, I know you had a shitty life, but PLEASE STOP.

Anyway, this was a really fun read, full of magic and bitchiness (wich personally I really do enjoy). PERHAPS it would win a spot in my top reads of 2015.

Original rating: 3/5 stars
New rating: 2.3/5 stars

I originally thought it was well written when I first read it years ago. Now that I have read it again, I am so glad that I didn't continue to read this series years ago. The writing made this book boring. The first few chapters were alright and probably where I paid the most attention. This is where I liked Amy's character the best. All the characteristics, flawed yet well-balanced, that I liked about her were lost as soon as she came to Oz. Also, I realized that this book also included the insta-love trope. Considering everything that was going on during this book, the romance aspect made no sense to me. I feel like if done well, this series could have been resolved in just one book. This series is not worth reading, so I can't recommend it.