A review by gregsaysstuff
The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum

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.