Words can barely describe my disappointment and frustration at Son of a Witch. I've read and enjoyed many of Mr. Maquire's other work, but I can't help but wonder if in his haste to capitalize on the phenomenal success of Wicked, he failed to come up with a decent idea or sympathetic character to keep his readership interested. The dark themes and political murkiness of Oz continue, but that is where the similarity to Wicked ends. There is no reason given for the follies of Oz, and there is certainly no reason to follow the futile exploits (if one can call them that) of the thoroughly unlikable protagonist. This is a novel about a non-person living a non-life of non-discovery, non-ambition, and non-compassion. I was left feeling empty and even a bit angry at the end of this book, and would dearly love the hours of my life that were wasted in reading it given back!