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Quick answer: If you liked Out of Oz, read Gregory Maguire's Wicked, Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men, then The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Heartless and Cinder. All are fairy-tale retellings that give familiar stories a darker, more political twist.
Gregory Maguire's 2011 novel concludes The Wicked Years, set in a version of Oz that began with Wicked. It follows Rain, the granddaughter of Elphaba, as war and politics shake the land. It is long, intricate and full of invention. The books below offer similar retellings, strange worlds and storytelling that questions who is wicked.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicked | Gregory Maguire | Adult | the series start |
| Son of a Witch | Gregory Maguire | Adult | the second book |
| A Lion Among Men | Gregory Maguire | Adult | the third book |
| Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister | Gregory Maguire | Adult | Cinderella retold |
| Mirror Mirror | Gregory Maguire | Adult | Snow White retold |
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Ages 8-12 | the original |
| The Marvelous Land of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Ages 8-12 | more Oz |
| Heartless | Marissa Meyer | Teen | Alice in Wonderland origin |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | Teen | fairy-tale science fiction |
| Beauty | Robin McKinley | Adult | Beauty and the Beast |
| Ella Enchanted | Gail Carson Levine | Ages 9-13 | fairy-tale heroine |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | Adult | fairy-tale romance |
| Ash | Malinda Lo | Teen | Cinderella retold |
| Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | Adult | Rumpelstiltskin retold |
| Circe | Madeline Miller | Adult | witch of the Odyssey |
1. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
The story of the Wicked Witch before Dorothy. Dark, political and the basis for the musical.
Best for: the series start.
2. Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
Liir, Elphaba's possible son, wanders through a war-torn Oz. Quieter and sadder.
Best for: the second book.
3. A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
The Cowardly Lion's story. Odd, witty and inventive.
Best for: the third book.
4. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
Cinderella told from the stepsister's side in Dutch Golden Age Haarlem. Dark and clever.
Best for: Cinderella retold.
5. Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
Snow White in Renaissance Italy. Dark and lyrical.
Best for: Snow White retold.
6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
A Kansas girl is carried to Oz and journeys to find a wizard. A foundation for all later Oz stories.
Best for: the original.
7. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Scarecrow returns to rule, and a boy named Tip gets caught in a revolt. Silly and strange.
Best for: more Oz.
8. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Catherine, who dreams of a bakery, meets the Jester. Whimsical and tragic.
Best for: Alice in Wonderland origin.
9. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A cyborg mechanic is drawn into a royal plot. Fast and romantic.
Best for: fairy-tale science fiction.
10. Beauty by Robin McKinley
A quiet girl goes to live in an enchanted castle. A gentle, classic retelling.
Best for: Beauty and the Beast.
11. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
A girl cursed with obedience fights to be free. Funny and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale heroine.
12. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A young man crosses a wall to find a fallen star. Witty and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale romance.
13. Ash by Malinda Lo
A girl befriends a huntress in a retelling of Cinderella. Quiet and lyrical.
Best for: Cinderella retold.
14. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
A moneylender's daughter strikes a deal with frost. Rich and layered.
Best for: Rumpelstiltskin retold.
15. Circe by Madeline Miller
The goddess Circe tells her story from exile to power. Lush and thoughtful.
Best for: witch of the Odyssey.
How to Choose
To finish the cycle read Wicked, Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men in order. For more Maguire choose Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister or Mirror Mirror. For the original Oz stories read Baum. For young adult retellings pick Heartless, Cinder or Ash. For gentler classics read Beauty or Ella Enchanted. Maguire's novels are dense, so these picks suit readers who like fairy tales with grown-up depth. Wicked has become better known through the Broadway musical and films, but the books are very different in tone, more political and much darker than the stage versions. Fans of the musical often find the novels a surprise. Maguire is known for taking old stories and finding the shadow behind them, so his books suit readers who like to question heroes and villains. If you enjoy the political side, read Wicked first and then follow the sequels in order. If you want something lighter, Ella Enchanted and Beauty are gentler. Audiobooks help with the long, strange names.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Out of Oz about?
The final novel in The Wicked Years, following Elphaba's granddaughter as Oz faces war.
Who wrote it?
Gregory Maguire.
When was it published?
2011.
Do I need to read the earlier books?
Yes, since it concludes a four-book series.
How many books are in The Wicked Years?
Four: Wicked, Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men and Out of Oz.
Is it like the musical?
No, the novels are darker and more political.
Is it for teens?
Written for adults, it suits mature teens.
What should I read next?
Try Wicked if you haven't, or Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.
Is Out of Oz a good place to start?
No, read Wicked first.
Is the ending satisfying?
It ties up the cycle, though readers disagree about its pace.