The Wicked Will Rise

The Wicked Will Rise follows Amy Gumm's mission to defeat Dorothy Gale, who has corrupted the magical land of Oz with her tyrannical rule. In this second installment of the Dorothy Must Die series, Amy must gather power and allies after a failed assassination attempt leaves her on the run from the Emerald City. Amy travels through dangerous territories of Oz with Princess Ozma and her companions, facing encounters with transformed versions of familiar characters like the Lion. The journey leads them to the Queendom of the Wingless Ones, where new revelations about Oz's past emerge and alliances shift. This dark reimagining of L. Frank Baum's world combines fantasy action with questions of power, identity, and the nature of good and evil. The novel explores how circumstances and choices can transform anyone - hero or villain - while examining the costs of revenge and revolution.

Readers found this second book in the Dorothy Must Die series slower-paced than the first, with more character development but less action. Many noted that protagonist Amy Gumm shows growth and complexity in her journey through Oz. Readers appreciated: - Dark reimagining of familiar Oz elements - Complex moral questions and character motivations - World-building details and magical system - Strong supporting characters, especially Pete and Ozma Common criticisms: - Middle-book syndrome with less plot progression - Too much internal monologue - Uneven pacing, especially in middle sections - Cliffhanger ending felt abrupt Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ reviews) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (200+ reviews) One frequent reader comment notes: "The story meanders but the character development makes up for slower sections." Multiple reviews mention the book works best as part of the series rather than standalone.

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🌪️ The concept of an evil Dorothy Gale first came to Danielle Paige while working as a television writer, inspired by the trend of reimagining classic villains 🧙‍♀️ The novel draws from both L. Frank Baum's original Oz books and Gregory Maguire's "Wicked" series, creating a unique blend of classic and contemporary interpretations 🌈 Unlike the 1939 film's technicolor Oz, Paige's version features a darker, post-apocalyptic landscape that reflects the story's more mature themes 📚 The series sparked such interest that it spawned a prequel novella titled "No Place Like Oz," explaining Dorothy's transformation from Kansas farm girl to corrupt ruler 🎭 The character name "Amy Gumm" is a tribute to Judy Garland, whose real name was Frances Gumm - creating a subtle connection between the original and reimagined stories