Step into the twisted, thrilling world of Dorothy Must Die, where the Land of Oz is no longer a place of rainbows and munchkin sing-alongs! In this dark fantasy series by Danielle Paige, the iconic Dorothy Gale has morphed into a power-hungry tyrant, and it’s up to a rebellious teen from Kansas, Amy Gumm, to take her down. Packed with action, magic, and a subversive twist on L. Frank Baum’s classic, this young adult saga hooks readers with its gritty reimagining of a beloved fairy tale.
Blending high-stakes adventure with a punk-rock edge, Dorothy Must Die flips the script on good and evil, making you question everything you thought you knew about Oz. Ready to dive into a world where wicked might just be wonderful? Let’s explore this spellbinding series!
How Dorothy Must Die Began
Danielle Paige, a Columbia University graduate and former TV writer, crafted Dorothy Must Die as her debut novel, published by HarperCollins in 2014. Inspired by her love for Baum’s Oz and modern retellings like Wicked, Paige wanted to explore what happens when a hero goes rogue. The result? A dark, cinematic saga that started with a prequel novella, No Place Like Oz, setting the stage for Dorothy’s villainous transformation. Paige’s television background shines through in the series’ vivid world-building and fast-paced plotting, earning her a Writers Guild of America Award and Daytime Emmy nominations.
The Heart of Dorothy Must Die
The series spans four main novels and nine prequel novellas, each diving deeper into a corrupted Oz. Dorothy Must Die (2014) introduces Amy Gumm, a tough Kansas teen whisked to Oz by a tornado. Recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, Amy’s mission is to kill Dorothy by first taking out her allies: the Tin Woodman’s heart, the Scarecrow’s brain, and the Lion’s courage. The Wicked Will Rise (2015) follows Amy’s quest as she grapples with her own darkness, while Yellow Brick War (2016) brings the fight back to Kansas. The End of Oz (2017) wraps up the saga with shocking twists, as Amy faces the Nome King and Dorothy’s lingering threat.
Themes of power, identity, and rebellion pulse through the series. Paige subverts Baum’s moral simplicity, blurring the lines between good and wicked. Oz itself is a dystopian wonderland, with crumbling yellow brick roads and enslaved winged monkeys, painted in gritty, immersive detail. The series’ style—action-packed, darkly humorous, and emotionally raw—appeals to fans of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles or Gregory Maguire’s Wicked, offering a fresh lens on a classic tale.
Why Dorothy Must Die Resonates
Dorothy Must Die struck a chord with young adult readers, landing on the New York Times bestseller list and sparking buzz for a potential CW TV series. Its feminist edge, with complex female leads like Amy and a villainous Dorothy, earned praise for empowering women to be flawed, fierce, and anything but predictable. Fans love its bold reimagining of Oz, blending nostalgia with modern grit, and its exploration of how power corrupts resonates in today’s world. Though the TV adaptation never materialized, the series remains a cult favorite for its daring take on a timeless story.
- Publication Years: 2014–2017
- Number of Books: 4 novels, 9 novellas
- Genre: Young adult, dark fantasy, retelling
- Author: Danielle Paige
Grab Dorothy Must Die and dive into a wickedly fun adventure where Oz is darker, bolder, and utterly unforgettable!