Gregory Maguire has written a dozen novels for children, and four adult novels, of which Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West was the first, published in 1995. Like two of his later novels, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror, Mirror, Wicked is a re-telling of a classic story, in this case The Wizard of Oz.

I read this book after seeing the show on stage, so I was very interested in what changes had been made to the story, and it turns out that these are numerous and vital. Nearly every character's role has been changed, along with major plot points and the ending! It's hardly the same story at all! Just a few of the changes: Boq and Nessarose don't really have anything to do with each other, Glinda has no feelings for Fiyero, Nessarose is not in a wheelchair but has a different affliction, Elphaba's father is not the governor, Madame Morrible does not become the Wizard's press secretary, and it just go on...

I hadn't liked Mirror, Mirror when I read it a few months prior, but I enjoyed Wicked much more. It is much darker than the musical, and much more concerned with the true nature and origin of evil. It also fits better into the Wizard of Oz story. If I had been a big fan of the book before seeing the show, I might have some issues with the complete rehaul of the story, but as it is, I enjoy them both, as completely different entities. Whether you are a fan of the show or not, I would recommend this book!