Dystopian fantasy is big in YA now so it can be easy to just chuck any of them up to just that. I really enjoyed the take on Oz in this story as well as the main players and what happened to them after the events of the story. What happened after Dorothy's return to Oz to make her evil and her friends? What turned them from heroes to tyrants and is it really all their fault or is there something else there? Who is really Wicked, good, or just out for personal gain? It is said many times in the story but it is very true that Amy (and the reader) can really trust no one in this new Oz so I think as the series continues that will be played on a lot (it will be interesting to see if the author even plays with the idea of Amy as an unreliable narrator).

It was a bit drawn out in some places I will admit but even on that it played into the "trust no one" aspect since a lot of the turns were made because Amy made a choice not knowing what the large plan was and no one telling her. You also have to factor in this is the first book and as with any of those a lot of seeds need to be planted to set the stage for the other stories. I am also interested in reading the prequels to see if there is a reason Dorothy is the way she is. It is also (sadly) one of those books where you probably shouldn't get overly attached to anyone because well ultimately it is about the prelude, action, and aftermath of a war. A very good read and new spin on the Oz folklore so if you like YA, dystopia, and Oz you'll enjoy it.