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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
I appreciated that this book had multiple story lines so as to keep the plot from getting dry. However, there seemed to be some continuity errors. In a previous book, I thought someone had taken away the Glass Cat's vanity so that she stopped repeatedly saying "I've got pink brains and you can seem 'em work!" - yet in this book that phrase is said often. Also, near the end, Professor H.M. Wogglebug, T.E. is talking about his invention of the Square-Meal Tablets as if this is the first time we've heard of them, which it's not. Also I felt like Ruggedo and Kiki were very easily conquered even though they were the main antagonist of the story.
It feels rather silly to review Oz books--they're mostly just fluff, after all. That said, this one isn't one of my favorites, maybe because the new character introduced, Kiki Aru, is a boy. Baum's boy characters are uniformly either dull or sullen, with the exception of one who's actually a girl in disguise), so following him from one disastrous mistake to another becomes annoying, and it's a relief when he's turned into a hazelnut about 75% of the way through and pretty much forgotten until the end of the book (no kidding!)
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not my favorite of the series but I thought it was clever.
The penultimate novel in the 14 book original Oz series ranks among my favorites. It's a nice return to the classic story form of the early Oz books and serves as a nice way to visit with old friends from the earlier stories. Two main plot lines weave together, one involving the return of Ruggedo, former Nome King, who tries to conquer Oz again with the help of a Munchkin boy, Kiki Aru, the only new character to be introduced in this volume. Meanwhile, it is also Princess Ozma's birthday, (the girl ruler of all Oz) and all of Oz's citizens are searching for the most unusual present for her. Not just any present will do so adventures ensue with various groups of Ozma's friends trying to present her with truly unique gifts.
The author of this series, L. Frank Baum, was nearing the end of his life (this book was actually published a little after his death) when he wrote this one and it seems to me he was waxing nostalgic throughout this book. He would go on to write one final Oz novel and even though it is purported to be the darkest of the batch, I look forward to it as well.
The author of this series, L. Frank Baum, was nearing the end of his life (this book was actually published a little after his death) when he wrote this one and it seems to me he was waxing nostalgic throughout this book. He would go on to write one final Oz novel and even though it is purported to be the darkest of the batch, I look forward to it as well.
Up into about halfway through the book, maybe even two thirds of the way, I thought this was going to be my favourite in the series since the first. The structure was tight and the plot seemed to be going places. But then the climax came too soon and fizzled out and the rest was just sort of a pleasant stroll across the finish line.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced