Son of a Witch

By: Gregory Maguire

Narrated by: Gregory Maguire

Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins

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

Critic reviews

"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)

amazing book

ok in so many word this book is amazing I will always enjoy listening to it.

very disappointing

struggled to finish was not as good as wicked didn't like main character. There were good parts but ended up hating characters.

Great story, but horrible oral reading!

The book was a great addition to the wicked series, but the gentleman who is reading this novel, sounds like William Shatner! He pauses and ends his words and sentences with a hard stop.

Good book, weird narrator.

I read this as a book when it first was published so I knew the story going in. The narration was okay, not great. I found his voice to be slightly stilted and not a smoothly flowing oration. The voices he does for characters are also a little off and not too much different from his normal voice. I didn’t find it too difficult to follow along though I understand others’ critique when they say it was unlistenable. Definitely an example of how he makes a good author but not so great of a narrator. Happy to be done with this one and start the next one with the other narrator.

Loved Loved This Book

I hope there will be another one.... Very good book.

Not bad

I like the narrator from the Wicked audiobook. Gregory's voice didn't fit well for the different characters.
To soft spoken

if John McDonough Narrated this would be 5*'s

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

NO! Gregory Maguire is a genius author but a HORRIBLE narrator! He should have left this one ESPECIALLY to The Pros.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Son of a Witch?

I can't remember. I never got through the audio book. I tead this many moons past but remembered that it was great

Would you be willing to try another one of Gregory Maguire’s performances?

NOT. IF. MY. LIFE. DEPENDED. ON. IT.

Was Son of a Witch worth the listening time?

please go for a walk, pet your dog, jump on a moving train or drive to Nova Scotia instead of using your time to listen to this book. After doing all of those things, go to the library or Amazon and READ it with your eyes. Even ask your adult children to read it to you, just don't let this audiobook touch your listening device.

Any additional comments?

I didn't realize i could return audio-books until today and it is too late to return this audio book or get my three miserable hours of my life that i spent listening to Mr. Maguire.

I actually like Maguire's narration

I really enjoyed listening to Maguire tell the tale of Liir and how he came to the place he was in. The story had incredible descriptions and I really liked Gregory Maguire's voice of different characters....Shell and Sister Apothecary were a couple of favorites of mine. The book takes us to what life is in the land of Oz. I found it most captivating how we learn more of the Lion, Tin Woodman and Scarecrow as well as how other characters develop and emerge onto the scene. Everything blends beautifully and takes you on a journey in your imagination that will have you wanting to listen to the entire book all at one sitting! I realize the many negative narration reviews might be a deterrent for some, however whether you get the audio or paper version, it is a book that I would recommend for Wicked lovers. Give it a try and go into the story with an open mind.

A hard listen but...

I love the series and I wish this book was also read by John McDonald, the pacing of Mr.Maguires 's reading made the book feel longer than its 14 hour run time. I had a hard time listening for more than a half hour to a hour at a time. The music was nice in the parts where Candle was playing but was not needed in others and was often overpowering Mr.Maguire when he was speaking through the music making it hard to hear what he was saying. I feel this book if it was better paced I could give it five stars but the performance and overwhelming music interludes ruined the book and my overall experience so I gave it four. If I do listen to this again it'll be as a sleep aid.

loved it

Loved this book. I wasn't sure I was going to a d now I can't wait to listen to "A Lion Among Men".