The Queen of Oz

Good is Wicked and Wicked is Good in the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series!

This digital original novella is the ninth and final installment in the series' prequel arc. It reveals the mysterious backstory of Ozma—and how she went from fairy princess to the rightful ruler of Oz.

Young Mombi was never the best witch in Oz. She wasn't the most talented, or the most powerful. But when the Wizard knocks on her door holding a baby girl who needs protection, Mombi agrees to take the job. She casts one powerful, surprising spell—hiding the baby where no one would find her. Years later, a boy named Pete goes on a journey to the Emerald City, where he learns the truth about his true identity...and his role in Oz's destiny.

Danielle Paige delivers a dark and compelling reimagining of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire, and follows some of literature's most beloved characters as their lives intertwine to bring about the downfall of Oz.

How does a simple witch's spell to protect a princess change the fate of Oz forever?

• Secret Heir: Mombi, a witch of little power, is tasked with hiding the infant Princess Ozma from those who want her gone—but her protection comes at a cost.
• Gender Transformation: To keep the princess safe, Mombi casts a spell so powerful it changes everything, transforming the future queen into a boy named Pete, with no memory of his past.
• Good vs Evil: In this dark Oz reimagining, Glinda the Good is a manipulative villain and the Wizard is a power-hungry usurper, forcing an unlikely guardian to make a world-altering choice.
• Villain Origin Story: Discover the untold story of the Queen of Oz, revealing the desperate choices and twisted magic that shaped the land's most powerful and mysterious ruler.