Description

Once upon a time, the Scarecrow's only wish was to have a brain. This digital original novella is the fifth installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and thrilling New York Times bestsellers Dorothy Must Die and The Wicked Will Rise and follows the Scarecrow after he finally gets his wish.

In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Scarecrow received the gift of a brain from the Wizard and was appointed the new ruler of Oz. In The Straw King, the Scarecrow's tale takes a crooked turn when his reign is threatened. With faith in his newfound wisdom shaken, the Scarecrow will turn to anyone who can help—even if others have their own interests at heart.

The Straw King by Danielle Paige is a dark and compelling reimagining of a beloved classic and is perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.


But in a land where magic is corrupt and allies are treacherous, who can a straw king truly trust?


  • Dark Fantasy Retelling: This isn’t the Oz you remember. When a violent coup threatens his reign, the Scarecrow discovers that power comes with a price paid in blood.
  • Political Intrigue: With enemies at the gates and supposed allies like Glinda the Good Witch playing a long game, every offer of help is a potential trap.
  • A Beloved Character’s Twisted Tale: The Scarecrow wanted a brain, but the gift of intelligence brings with it paranoia, ambition, and the terrifying knowledge of just how easily a kingdom can be lost.
  • A Thrilling Prequel: Discover the shocking events that set the stage for the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series.

About the author(s)

Danielle Paige is a graduate of Columbia University and the author of the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series. Before turning to young adult literature, she worked in the television industry, where she received a Writers Guild of America Award and was nominated for several Daytime Emmys. She currently lives in New York City.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR DOROTHY MUST DIE: “Debut novelist Danielle Paige fantastically flips the fantasy script on the wonderful land of Oz. Paige doesn’t reinvent the wheel but instead takes a world that most of pop culture has been raised on and builds from it her own modern mythology. Gone are the days of rainbows, Lollipop Guilds and pretty much anything to sing about in a major key. For those willing to go on a quest with a heroine more attuned to our times than the Dust Bowl era, there’s no place like it.” - USA Today

“Readers of Baum’s books will take special delight in seeing new twists on the old characters, and they will greet the surprise climactic turnabout with the smugness of insiders.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Dorothy Must Die is kind of the ultimate in girl-powered literature. You’ve got empowered heroines, sure, but Paige also conjures a formidable villainess in Dorothy and some manipulative lady revolutionaries. Here, women and girls are allowed to be anything. This is a step beyond the one woman up front: Katniss flanked by her boyfriends and a bunch of men who want to take her down. This really is a woman’s world.” - Nerdist.com

“Debut author Paige doesn’t hold back in this fast-paced action novel. Give this cinematic upper-YA novel to fans of A. G. Howard’s Splintered, Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars, and TV shows such as Once Upon a Time and Grimm.” - School Library Journal

“Paige delivers a solid, intense, and strange narrative that draws deeply on its source material.” - Publishers Weekly

“Amy’s dry wit and snarky narration makes a nice counterbalance to the darker events, and she’s believably complex. This strikes a similar tone to Marisa Meyer’s Cinder series, with its blend of fantasy, humor, and horror, and it will likely inspire fans of that series to make their way to the Emerald City.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Paige has spirited readers back to The Wizard of Oz. It’s a classic made more sinister.” - ALA Booklist

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