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 to 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?


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Would like to turn this book into a book ray. I'm trying to make an effort to keep those books moving, esp those that I didn't register. I really enjoyed this book and would like the chance for other people to enjoy it as well.

To help ensure that things run smoothly (or that is the plan anyhow), I've put together a few rough guidelines for this one. I know that some people take longer to read a book (busy, got a bunch of books to read before, work, etc)...

1. Please try to have this book read within 3 weeks. I know this isn't possible, but if you make an effort to try that is all I can ask.

2. Please journal when you receive the book.

3. When about halfway through, please contact the next person on the list for their mailing address.

4. Please journal again when you've read the book and it is on its way.

5. Have fun! Reading is supposed to be fun!

6. To the last person in the ray: Please keep this book moving... RABCK it, give it to a friend, etc... just please keep it moving once you're done reading it. Thanks!



If interested, please PM with your location and shipping preferences. I'll PM back. If you don't hear from me after a few days, then I didn't get your PM. My computer isn't set up yet due to lack of space in my current location, so I have to check my email at work. If you don't hear from me right away, please be patient. Thanks!

Sending order:
symphonicca-Peru
scotsbookie-UK (Inter)
Virgulina-Portugal (Inter)
concertina8-Austria (Int)
TheLetterB-New Zealand (Aus/NZ only) <--- book is here

Soooooooooooooooooooo excited to read this!! Actually, i recently read another MacGuire book--- Mirror Mirror. Anyway, I just got back from christmas holidays and immediately checked my mailbox--- and this was waiting for me!! Have one book ahead of it that I have just started, and then this one will be on my night stand!! Thanks so much for doing an international version of this bookray, thegoaliegirl! I LOVED "Wicked" and am really looking forward to reading the sequal!

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Update Jan 26: Just finished reading A Fine Balance, so will be starting "Son of a Witch" asap! Thanks!

Finished this a few days ago but am just getting to journal now. As usual, i thoroughly enjoyed MacGuire's writing--- he is so good at creating a whole new world that feels so real, and that draws you in so quickly and thoroughly. I have to say that i enjoyed "Wicked" a bit better than this book--- Elphaba was such a more interesting character than Liir--- she owned everything she did, was strong and angry and wouldn't accept the status quo. Liir, in contrast, floated around a bit, both literally and psychologically. He had opportunity to be more than what people asked of him, but until the end never really went there until the situation demanded it.

I liked some of the things that got pulled through from the first book--- especially Yackle, whose character and subtle influence i loved---- i still maintain my submission about the Yackle/Yaweh connection. :) I also liked the new character of Candle--- she was mysterious, but she was not trying to be so. The intense connection she had with the present--- an interesting way to paint a character.

Anyway, good book!! A big huge thanks to thegoaliegirl for creating this international bookray!! I am really happy to have finally gotten a chance to read this book, and look forward to hearing what other people have to say about it.

I already have scotsbookie's mailing address, so will be popping this in the mail this afternoon.

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Mailed Feb. 10, 2007 (holy freg that was expensive!!) :)

Arrived safely all the way from Peru!!!! Thank you symphonicca & thegoaliegirl. It's #2 on mount TBR.

Finished this a couple of days ago. Great read I enjoyed the continuing of the Witches story & wonder evn if there's another tale to come. I loved the contrast between the characters of Liir & Candle, her quietness & strength & Liir's insecurity. I agree with symphonnica in that I enjoyed Wicked more.

Thank you thegoaliegirl for the chance to read thi book.

I've already PM'd Virgulina.

12 Mar 2007 ETA:Virgulina has asked to be skipped so PM'ing concertina8

Popped in the post to concertina8 this morning. Happy reading!

arrived safely today. have to finish another book, first - but then i'll get right to it.

hm, i don't know about this one. the story was interesting and entertaining enough but somehow one is left with too many untied strings in the end (what is the story with shell? candle? trism?). if feels more like the setting for yet another book (the wicked witch trilogy?) than a finished story in itself.

i have read three maguire books so far and my favorite still is "confessions of an ugly stepsister".

anyway, i have the next address. seems like i always end up sending books to the other side of the world (mostly, australia or - in this case - new zealand) :-/. will try to send this off sometime this week.

RELEASE NOTES:

started its loooooong trip to new zealand

My second bookring to arrive in two days! I think that's what they call an embarrassment of riches ;)
I'm looking forward to reading this, although as I want to skim Wicked again first (as it's ages since I read it), and I have another ring, a bookclub book, and a book to review before then, I won't get to it for several weeks. Still, as I'm the last on the list, I'm assuming no one will mind!
Goaliegirl, I've been hanging on to Wicked, and was thinking about sending it off with Son of a Witch on a NZ/Australia bookring or ray, when I'm done, and if there is enough interest. Would that be OK with you?

RELEASE NOTES:

Sorry to have hung on to this book so long, I intended to email round and set up a book ray in NZ, but just never got around to it. Released with Wicked into the very eager hands of FutureCat at today's meet up.

Snatched out of TheLetterB's arms when she arrived at the meetup this morning - Gregory Maguire is an author I've been wanting to read for ages!

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After enjoying Wicked so much, I was a bit worried the sequel wouldn't live up to it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Another great book, that explores even more of what was really going on behind the scenes in the Oz books.

I think Lytteltonwitch had her eye on this next.

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To be added to my reading pile

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Never did get around to reading the book and if it was smaller I would take it with me. My storage space at home is limited to one wardrobe. Given to a fellow bookcrosser.

The Christchurch bookcrossers meet up on a regular basis,the information is on BCNZ Yahoo NZ The main organizers are FutureCat and myself and we welcome new members to our very friendly group.

Lytteltonwitch dropped off a "few" more books that she hasn't had time to release.

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WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left on the OBCZ shelf after our meetup.

Happy bookcrossing to the finder!

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P.S. If you live in the Christchurch area, you might like to join us at our monthly bookcrossing meetups. For details, see the BCNZ Yahoo Group.

Picked up while dropping off some pre-nums.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

OBCZ shelf re-stock.