Son of a Witch

I begin by saying that "Son of a Witch" was traditional Maguire. Read that as "nothing like I thought it could have turned out to be". Maguire appears to have the talent to not only make mesmerizing storytelling, but to twist away the traditional formula of the craft.

Son of a Witch follows the formula that Wicked did. We watch Elphaba grow not into the Wicked Witch of the West, but the Witch of the West. She loved and presumably gave birth, she had a brother and a sister, and an unlikely cast of Animals, Nanny, and Yackle. In Son, Liir acknowledges that he might be Elphaba's son, but how would he know? Other than the homage of some claims his resemblance to Elphaba's nature and Shell's features, which is where his lineage ends. Except for the peculiar way he can ride her broomstick.

I'm in awe of the book, not in an adoring manner- but that creativity still exists, even in sequels. Banish all thoughts of revivals, and traditional revenge. Liir is a moving force of his own unsure devices. But it is still a tale worth telling with all of Maguire’s tongue no so subtly in cheek humor. The heavily satirical work that was in Wicked is heavily absent, which is gracious since Liir has no satellites in that orbit. But he still manages to find himself in Oz quite often around the likes of Glinda, dragons, and the Home Gaurd.

A small but successful romp through the lands after the death of Elphaba. Worth a pick-up for the very least at the scathing view on Dorothy and he bumpkin glory! Hail, Liir- the unlikely anti-hero!