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Son of a Witch
Unabridged
By
Gregory Maguire
Narrated by
Gregory Maguire
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Program Type
Audiobook (Fiction)
Publisher
Length
14 hrs and 16 mins
Audible Release Date
09-21-05
Audio Formats About Formats
2 3 4 Audible Enhanced Audio
Customer Rating

3.45 based on 450 ratings
 

Publisher's Summary

Ten years after the publication of Wicked, beloved novelist Gregory Maguire returns at last to the land of Oz. There he introduces us to Liir, an adolescent boy last seen hiding in the shadows of the castle after Dorothy did in the Witch. Bruised, comatose, and left for dead in a gully, Liir is shattered in spirit as well as in form. But he is tended at the Cloister of Saint Glinda by the silent novice called Candle, who wills him back to life with her musical gifts.

What dark force left Liir in this condition? Is he really Elphaba's son? He has her broom and her cape, but what of her powers? Can he find his supposed half-sister, Nor, last seen in the forbidding prison, Southstairs? Can he fulfill the last wishes of a dying princess? In an Oz that, since the Wizard's departure, is under new and dangerous management, can Liir keep his head down long enough to grow up?

For the countless fans who have been dazzled and entranced by Maguire's Oz, Son of a Witch is the rich reward they have awaited so long.

Listen to an interview with author Gregory Maguire.

©2005 Gregory Maguire; (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

What the Critics Say

"Masterfully imaginative....Ten years after Wicked (which is still on Broadway), fans will once again be clicking their heels with wonderment." (Publishers Weekly)
"A tale that adroitly mixes drama, humor, and political satire into a well-knit examination of good and evil." (Library Journal)

From AudioFile

Ten years after Dorothy "liquidated" the Wicked Witch of the West, conditions Over the Rainbow are dire. People are beaten, and their faces scraped off. The government is rotten. Rebellion goes unchecked. Liir, a kind of wandering slacker, recalls his adventures with Dorothy, encounters enchanted creatures, and undergoes gruesome hardships. Author/narrator Gregory Maguire's soft, fuzzy delivery is alive with good intentions but lacks the flair of a professional voice actor. Maguire's low-energy reading, combined with the rambling nature of the imaginative narrative, prevents this from being the top-notch audiobook it might have been. For all its moody cleverness, SON OF A WITCH feels like a setup for things yet to come. (c) AudioFile 2006

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Showing: 1-5 of 56
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Rating 2.0Rating 2.0Rating 2.0Rating 2.0Rating 2.0 "Not horrible, nowhere near as good as Wicked."
By: Brandon (Lawrence, KS, USA)
January 02, 2010
In comparison with Wicked, this work meanders and searches to find its stride. The atmosphere of Maguire's Oz is as thick and interesting as ever, but the story itself struggles to captivate the reader. Readers who hope for more development of some of the only partially resolved plot arcs from Wicked will be disappointed. In some ways this book is a companion, rather than a sequel for Wicked, except that it really is necessarry to read Wicked first. That is the trouble. This story struggles to find an identity and direction of its own and ens up leaving the reader less satisfied after reading it.

Expect futher sequels entitled perhaps "Beneath Oz", "Behind Oz", "Battle for Oz", etc.

The narration is quite sub-par. I appreciate that authors may wish to express things in their own way, but this effort does not at all go well. I was especially disappointed in this narration since the reader of Wicked (and I'm glad to see, the reader of Vol. 3) had done such a good job with it.

All in all, it's fun to spend a bit more time in Oz, but that's all this book is: a bit more time in Oz.
Rating 2.0Rating 2.0Rating 2.0Rating 2.0Rating 2.0 "I couldn't get into it..."
By: Rosario (USA)
November 06, 2009
I should have just bought the book and read it myself.. Maguire good wrighter but not a good narrator "i should have read the reviews"
Rating 3.0Rating 3.0Rating 3.0Rating 3.0Rating 3.0 "....and just to even it up."
By: Mary (Australia)
November 02, 2009
I liked it.

I really liked the story of it. When I am caught up in a story, the narration takes a backseat for me. I loved Wicked, and although not as good, this book continues the story well. I still have an unanswered question though. hmm, on to book 3.

I agree that the narration could have been better, but at no point was I ripping out my earphones. This is a story that should be listened to while you are not doing anything else. I found if I was engaged in an activity, I would lose track because the story is quite involved and intricate. If you have read Wicked, this book is a must.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
Rating 1.0Rating 1.0Rating 1.0Rating 1.0Rating 1.0 "audio version very disappointing"
By: Margot (USA)
October 27, 2009
Nobody could have written these books but Gregory Maguire. However, someone else should read them. His narrative voice is frequently monotonous and robotic. It's a good story but difficult to listen to, unlike the recordings of WICKED and A LION AMONG MEN by a different narrator.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
Rating 1.0Rating 1.0Rating 1.0Rating 1.0Rating 1.0 "Why, Why, Why didn't I read the reviews first!!"
By: Lilly (USA)
October 15, 2009
This has to be the worst reading I've ever heard! Very hard to get into the story. Please, if you're writer take the time to hire an actor to bring your story to life.

His voice is a flat hoarse whisper he uses to hiss the story to you with all the characters sounding the same. Why was he whispering?
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