Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. Firstly, I haven’t read Wicked and thought with Elphie coming out I’d start here. There were some good insights into parts of her childhood that were touched on in the film / theatre show but also this book was quite slow moving. Enjoyable, if it’s your thing, I’m not sure it’s mine but grateful to have read it nonetheless

I really wanted to love this book, but wow did I not love it.

It is the story of Elphaba's childhood, except story is a generous word. I spent most of this book waiting for the actual plotline to start - and then realised there wasn't going to be one. The writing style is really not to my taste. I am absolutely certain there are people who will love it, but I am not one of them. Lots of flowery words and elaborate sentences to hide an utter lack of depth, like a university student aiming for a good grade despite not understanding any of the material.
And the characters. Oh, the characters. After reading 288 pages about her life I still don't feel I know Elphaba any better. I couldn't put my finger exactly on what made me uneasy in the descriptions of children until the author wrote an oddly sexual paragraph specifying that a young child knocking over tomato plants was enjoying the violence in a non-sexual way because he's too young to enjoy it in that way. That really helped narrow it down.

Many parts of this book I think were meant to be clever and funny and like interesting social commentary - and for those who appreciate Maguire's writing style, it might read that way. It just didn't work out that way for me. The animals were alright though. That's all I got. I'm sorry, I really tried.

Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for a honest review.