West of Wicked by Nikki St. Crowe

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dorothy Gale doesn’t know where she came from. She has only the vaguest memory of her life before landing in the dull, gray world of the vast Kansas prairie.

Then a cyclone rips through the night and carries her, her dog, and the farmhouse somewhere a lot farther than Dorothy imagined. She’s in a strange land that’s apparently cursed, shrouded in shadow. And to get home, Dorothy needs to seek out a wizard, following a treacherous path and watch out for a never-ending list of forest beasts, witches, a cursed mercenary, and perhaps most dangerous of all, the wizard himself.

Nikki St. Crowe vividly reimagines the world of the Wizard of Oz, where the villain gets the girl…and the girl gets the power.

A Storm, a Secret, and a New Oz

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩷💚❤️💙
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎
Character development: 😋🙂😁😛
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Full Cast Dual Narration

Audiobook Review: West of Wicked (The Great and Terrible Land, #1)

Author: Nikki St. Crow
Genre: Romantasy, Retelling
Narrator(s): Amy Hall, Connor Crais, Ellie Gossage, Samantha Brentmoor, Sean Masters, Shane East, Stella Hunter

Characters and Plot

Dorothy Gale arrives at her aunt and uncle’s Kansas farmhouse during a violent summer storm, carried in the arms of a mysterious woman with blood on her face. Dorothy remembers almost nothing about the woman who left her there, only that she was told the woman would return. Even as a child she sensed that would never happen. Life on the farm becomes her anchor. There is always work to do, and work keeps her from thinking too much about the past she cannot access.

Aunt Em and Uncle Henry have their own complicated history. Henry once traveled as a busker and Emily was a painter who captured him on canvas before falling in love with him. Now the spark in them has faded, and Dorothy sees how age and hardship have worn them down. She loves them deeply, yet she keeps a careful emotional distance. Therapy has been part of her life since she was thirteen because she has always feared losing everything she cares about.

Her closest companion is Edward Gilbert from the neighboring farm. He is her best friend and romantic partner. He is kind, handsome, and steady. Dorothy appreciates his gentleness, but she longs for something more intense. She craves passion and color in a life that often feels muted. She has tried to uncover her origins with no success, and she worries that settling down with Edward will lock her into a life that never answers the questions that haunt her.

Just as she decides to give Edward an answer about their future, a powerful storm erupts. Dorothy rushes to find Toto and fight her way back to the house. What happens next changes everything.

Elsewhere, Cleo, a young woman bound to serve a powerful witch, is sent on a strange errand along the yellow brick road. She does not understand the purpose of her task until something extraordinary falls from the sky and alters the balance of power in Oz.

Highlights

• The story mirrors the Wizard of Oz in some early moments, yet the author adds fresh twists that make the world feel new.
• The men feel grounded and human rather than fantastical. The history of Oz, especially the aftermath of a devastating war, adds weight and texture to the setting.
• The Tin Man’s emotional loss and the Scarecrow’s punishment create compelling backstories that deepen their roles.
• Dorothy and Cleo share intriguing parallels. Both have missing pieces in their histories, which adds mystery and emotional tension.

Limitations

• Cleo’s purpose in the larger narrative feels unclear. Her arc has potential, but the payoff never fully arrives.
• The middle section slows down. The story seems to want more magic or whimsy to balance the darker themes. Though things really picked up at the end and the surprise reveals made me want to know what will happen next. The ending was a huge cliffhanger, most of which I never saw coming.
• The tone is not as dark as expected for a retelling. There is romance and some heat, but the overall atmosphere stays lighter than the premise suggests.

Narration

The audiobook uses multiple points of view in a dual style format performed by a full cast that includes Amy Hall, Connor Crais, Ellie Gossage, Samantha Brentmoor, Sean Masters, Shane East, and Stella Hunter. It is an unusual combination since full cast productions are typically done in duet style. The performances are strong across the board. Connor Crais remains a standout with his deep and expressive voice. Shane East, Stella Hunter, and Samantha Brentmoor also deliver excellent work. The cast brings emotional clarity and personality to each character, even within the unconventional structure.

Final Opinion

This retelling offers an imaginative take on Oz with rich character backstories and a world shaped by conflict and control. While some pacing issues and unclear character motivations hold it back, the mysteries surrounding Dorothy and Cleo keep the story engaging. The narration is a major strength and adds depth to the experience. It is a solid choice for listeners who enjoy reimagined classics with romance, intrigue, and a touch of magic.

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