“The Brides of Maracoor” - Gregory Maguire

 (Another Day book 1)

🧹 It’s been over 10 years since I read “Out of Oz”, the final installment of Maguire’s Wicked series. TBOM tells the story of Rain, Elphaba’s granddaughter. Rain’s amnesia about her past matched my own as to the turmoil she left behind in Oz. As a reader, this level of sympathy isn’t ideal. I couldn’t remember how things were last in Oz. I’d suggest brushing up a bit on how “Out of Oz” ends before beginning this one.

🧹 Much of the story takes place on an isolated island inhabited by a cult of women engaged in mysterious religious practices. Many pages are devoted to there being exactly 7 women on the island and whether or not Rain may remain. But it eventually seems tangential to the main plot which is off-island. Why devote so many pages to it? The pacing is slow until the story shifts off the island. 

🧹 The gist is Rain must understand herself, and her connection to Oz and her grandmother’s magic before she can decide whether her future includes a return home. I don’t think I’ll continue this series. I loved what Maguire did with Wicked, but this one feels like he’s forcing a story where there isn’t one.