No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige
Release Date: November 12, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairy Tale
ISBN: 9780062280763
Source: Bought
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After returning to Kansas, Dorothy Gale has realized that the dreary fields of Kansas don’t compare to the vibrant landscapes of Oz. And although she’s happy to be reunited with Aunt Em, she misses her friends from the yellow brick road. But most of all, Dorothy misses the fame and the adventure. In Kansas she’s just another prairie girl, but in Oz she was a hero. So Dorothy is willing to do anything to get back, because there really is no place like Oz. But returning to the land she left comes at a price, and after Dorothy is through with it, Oz will never be the same.
Perfect for fans of Alex Flinn, Marissa Meyer, and Gregory Maguire, No Place Like Oz is a dark reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Building off of its rich mythology, Danielle Paige creates an edgy, thrilling story for teens that chronicles the rise and fall of one of the literature’s most beloved characters. This digital original novella is a prequel that sets the stage for the forthcoming novel Dorothy Must Die.
No Place Like Oz is not like you’re average fairy tale retelling. Mainly because it’s not exactly a retelling. No Place Like Oz takes place AFTER Dorothy’s Oz adventure. This time, 16 year old Dorothy Gale returns to Oz with two loved ones and at first, it all seems exciting but quickly her company turns into a bit of a burden and later, regret. Not only that, Dorothy discovers that while it’s been two years since the tornado in Kansas, it’s been far longer in Oz. It’s been so long that everything is not the way it was when Dorothy left and everything is not the way it seems when she arrives. In fact, a dear friend of hers is in trouble and has been missing for ten years! Dorothy’s friend got her back in Oz but will Dorothy’s actions once she’s arrived be good for Oz or herself? This is the question that will rattle in your mind when you finish reading this novella.
I was hooked from the very first page. I was excited to see this magical world on the page, what a wonderful job Paige has done bringing this world, this after to life. What stunning imagery. It was such a treat to see Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and Lion in the aftermath of Dorothy’s former triumph. Scarecrow and his friends are cautious of Princess Ozma who currently holds the power of Oz and it seems they may have had good reason to. But were Glinda’s actions to resolve the conflict right or do Glinda and Dorothy’s decisions only create more problems? Well. Something tells me it’s the latter as this IS the prequel to Dorothy Must Die and suddenly the title of the book frightens me more than it did before. Scarecrow was cautious around Princess Ozma but he may have to switch his focus on power hungry Dorothy. Whatever’s ahead, it’s not looking good and I can’t wait to dive into a much darker Oz in Dorothy Must Die when I read it this fall in book club.
No Place Like Oz was a fabulous introduction to Danielle Paige’s reimagining of a tale we all know and love. This was such a great teaser. We got a hint of what we can expect moving forward in this series and I am so excited for more. More of Dorothy losing control, losing sight of the important things in life and finding the true meaning of love and happiness and home. More from Oz and the people of Oz after the power trip that Dorothy is on, whether she realizes she’s on it or not. Oh, magic. Paige has given herself so much to work with, especially setting this story after the happenings of this classic tale and because this can go in oh so many dark directions, I am just dying to open up Dorothy Must Die. But I know that I must wait for my book club! Ah! Why oh why did I tease myself reading this prequel? So good!
No Place Like Oz by Danielle Paige is available today.