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brookhorse's review against another edition
4.0
I was worried that Baum had lost his touch, as I found Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz and Road to Oz a little flat and tedious. But he's back in this one--hilarious dialogue, engaging plot, weird and whimsical lands. I must have read this one a lot as a kid, as much of it was quite familiar to me. I knew I remembered some explicitly socialist details about Oz, and this is the book that laid them out and likely had a significant influence on my viewpoint. I also enjoyed the parallel story structure, though the way they converged and ended was a bit abrupt. Highly enjoyed this nonetheless.
gregsaysstuff's review against another edition
4.0
I think a good alternative title for this book might have been "In Which Frank Baum Makes a Valiant Effort to Stop Writing Oz Books, to the Fanbase's Utter Dismay." It's a genuinely solid attempt at a conclusion, containing more content than previous installments and, most notably, a deviation from how the majority of the books typically begin. Seriously, four out of the first six Oz books started with Dorothy getting herself spirited away to some fairy world, so he really set the bar high starting this one with the Nome King instead. I came in with actual expectations this time and wasn't even disappointed.
My biggest disappointment is that Baum had neither the fortitude nor the finances to stick to his guns and leave it finished, but maybe the latter nine of his Oz books are actually worth the trouble. Maybe. I'm keeping my expectations low, though.
My biggest disappointment is that Baum had neither the fortitude nor the finances to stick to his guns and leave it finished, but maybe the latter nine of his Oz books are actually worth the trouble. Maybe. I'm keeping my expectations low, though.
noteworthy_fiction's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cspeet's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun book. A bit more plot than some of the earlier Oz books, and I liked the incident in Utensia, when the author developed a quirky sense of humor and started throwing around all kinds of puns. Overall, I liked this one a little better than some of the others so far...
natalie001's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
meaghanpalmer's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
kvanhook92's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
katharine_whitfield's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lejoy's review against another edition
3.0
This book was clearly written to be the final in the Oz series. It very much isn't, so I guess Baum went through a similar thing to Doyle.
Anyway, at first I was shocked and excited to discover A PLOT. It was like Baum was answering all my wishes (complaints) from the previous instalment (or two). First of all we revisit an old antagonist, the Nome King from Ozma of Oz, who wants revenge on Ozma and Dorothy. Then we learn that Uncle Henry can't afford the mortgage on the farm in Kansas due to the costly events from the first and third books. Already this is tonnes more depth and story than any of the previous Oz books. I was overjoyed.
Dorothy asks Ozma if she and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em (and Toto) can live in Oz instead, while the Nomes start gathering evil allies to help them defeat the people of Oz.
And then the plot peters out and you're back in familiar dull territory. Dorothy spends the rest of the novel travelling around Oz with her guardians and some random established Oz characters that I'm pretty sure Baum chose out of a hat. Many of the villages they visit are just an excuse for some puns or satire about the type of people Baum finds annoying. That's it. Total surface level stuff. EVENTUALLY Dorothy and co learn about their impending doom, but that gets sorted out so easily, using something that is just made up right at the end, that it is an infuriating way to write a story. A simple solution is fine if it is set up, but if you just make stuff up in the final chapter that's... cheating. It's certainly lazy.
And that's that, Ozma wants to cut the land of Oz off from the rest of the world so that Baum doesn't have to write about it any more. Oh, and the Wizard can do ACTUAL magic now which is much less interesting than him being a humbug. Also, Toto is a murderer but whatever. Glinda remains terrifyingly all-powerful.
Although the plots often contradict this, Oz is a utopia of pacificism, communism and vegetarianism and everyone is immortal. May they all live happily ever after. Until Book 7 that definitely exists anyway.
Anyway, at first I was shocked and excited to discover A PLOT. It was like Baum was answering all my wishes (complaints) from the previous instalment (or two). First of all we revisit an old antagonist, the Nome King from Ozma of Oz, who wants revenge on Ozma and Dorothy. Then we learn that Uncle Henry can't afford the mortgage on the farm in Kansas due to the costly events from the first and third books. Already this is tonnes more depth and story than any of the previous Oz books. I was overjoyed.
Dorothy asks Ozma if she and Uncle Henry and Aunt Em (and Toto) can live in Oz instead, while the Nomes start gathering evil allies to help them defeat the people of Oz.
And then the plot peters out and you're back in familiar dull territory. Dorothy spends the rest of the novel travelling around Oz with her guardians and some random established Oz characters that I'm pretty sure Baum chose out of a hat. Many of the villages they visit are just an excuse for some puns or satire about the type of people Baum finds annoying. That's it. Total surface level stuff. EVENTUALLY Dorothy and co learn about their impending doom, but that gets sorted out so easily, using something that is just made up right at the end, that it is an infuriating way to write a story. A simple solution is fine if it is set up, but if you just make stuff up in the final chapter that's... cheating. It's certainly lazy.
And that's that, Ozma wants to cut the land of Oz off from the rest of the world so that Baum doesn't have to write about it any more. Oh, and the Wizard can do ACTUAL magic now which is much less interesting than him being a humbug. Also, Toto is a murderer but whatever. Glinda remains terrifyingly all-powerful.
Although the plots often contradict this, Oz is a utopia of pacificism, communism and vegetarianism and everyone is immortal. May they all live happily ever after. Until Book 7 that definitely exists anyway.
ljenkins09's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this, it's not anything different than Baum's previous Oz work but it's a quick and delightful read.