Glinda, the Witch of the North, is a character from L. Frank Baum's famous novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." As one of the central figures in the story, Glinda plays a vital role in helping Dorothy navigate the magical land of Oz and eventually find her way back home. Glinda, also known as the Good Witch of the North, is portrayed as a wise and powerful sorceress. She is described as being beautiful and majestic, with a kind and gentle demeanor. Glinda is often depicted wearing a flowing white gown and a crown adorned with sparkling jewels, emphasizing her regal presence.
Gwyn’s character is the one saving grace of the book. There’s been a lot of Discourse in some reviews because she was portrayed as queer in book one. Well, she’s still queer here, even if she ends up with a guy, and I feel like you can be sad about the ignorance of f/f relationships on a larger scale within trad publishing (something that is actually changing) without taking it out on queer m/f pairings, which are also heavily stigmatized and misunderstood.
I don t expect a ton of plot from romcom books, but given there is some sort of paranormal presence, I wish that part had been developed a little more. I would definitely recommend you read The Ex Hex before picking up a copy of The Kiss Curse as many conflicts and relationships between the Jones and Penhallow witches from The Ex Hex carry over into The Kiss Curse.
Glinda is often depicted wearing a flowing white gown and a crown adorned with sparkling jewels, emphasizing her regal presence. In the story, Glinda first appears to Dorothy after her house is swept away by a tornado and lands in Munchkin Country. Glinda informs Dorothy about the slippers she is wearing, which hold great power and can help her return home.
“The Kiss Curse” (The Ex Hex #2) by Erin Sterling (ARC Review)
The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.
Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.
Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.
When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.
In the series
Review
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
While book one was fun, I feel like The Kiss Curse failed to recapture the same magic for me. My standards already weren’t super-high, but even with that in mind, this one felt very bland.
Gwyn’s character is the one saving grace of the book. There’s been a lot of Discourse in some reviews because she was portrayed as queer in book one. Well, she’s still queer here, even if she ends up with a guy, and I feel like you can be sad about the ignorance of f/f relationships on a larger scale within trad publishing (something that is actually changing) without taking it out on queer m/f pairings, which are also heavily stigmatized and misunderstood.
I also really liked seeing Gwyn in her magical element, training some young witches. While the magic stuff is still very much “developed as the story goes along,” it’s quirky and fun, and I love seeing the characters interact with it.
But Wells…did we really need another Penhallow brother as a hero who happens to have animosity with the heroine? As much as I will defend the right for Gwyn to be with a man in theory, I just didn’t care for him. I also felt their romance wasn’t anything special…no real sparks at any point. I was mostly neutral-to-“they’re kinda cute” where Vivi and Rhys are concerned, and Wells and Gwyn can’t even measure up to that.
And it’s such an oddly paced book. I don’t expect a ton of plot from “romcom” books, but given there is some sort of paranormal presence, I wish that part had been developed a little more. The “Big Bad” shows up really late into the book, only to be defeated very quickly and anticlimactically.
This book was ok, but it just didn’t work for me for the most part. I do feel that if you’re more of a fan of the paranormal romcom style, you might like it more than I did.
Author Bio
Erin Sterling also writes as Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books for young readers. Her work has been sold in more than a dozen countries. She studied gender and sexuality in Victorian literature at Auburn University and currently lives in Alabama.
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She advises Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, where she can seek assistance from the powerful Wizard of Oz. Throughout the story, Glinda appears at key moments to aid Dorothy and her friends. She provides them with guidance and protection, using her magical abilities to overcome obstacles and defeat the wicked witches they encounter along their journey. Glinda also reveals important information that helps Dorothy realize that the power to return home was within her all along. Glinda's character represents goodness, kindness, and leadership. She exemplifies the notion that true power lies not in magic or illusions but in the strength of one's character. As the Witch of the North, Glinda embodies hope and represents the positive and optimistic aspects of the magical world of Oz. In the various adaptations of "The Wizard of Oz," Glinda's character has been portrayed with different nuances, but her essential qualities of benevolence and wisdom remain unchanged. Whether in the classic 1939 film adaptation or the more recent stage productions, Glinda's role as a guiding and nurturing figure is always essential to the storyline. Overall, Glinda, the Witch of the North, is a beloved and iconic character in "The Wizard of Oz." Her presence in the story not only serves as a mentor and protector for Dorothy but also showcases the importance of inner strength and the triumph of goodness over evil..
Reviews for "Glinda vs. the Wicked Witch of the West: The Battle of the Witches"
- Sarah - 2 out of 5 - I was really disappointed with "Glinda Witch of the North". The pacing was all over the place, and the characters were not well developed. I found it difficult to connect with any of them. The plot was also quite confusing, and it felt like the author was trying to jam too many ideas into one story. Overall, it was a very underwhelming read for me.
- John - 1 out of 5 - "Glinda Witch of the North" was a complete letdown. The writing was juvenile, and the dialogue was cringe-worthy. I couldn't get past the clichéd characters and predictable plot. It felt like a cheap knockoff of better fantasy novels. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
- Emily - 2 out of 5 - I had high hopes for "Glinda Witch of the North", but it quickly fell flat. The world-building was lacking and left me confused about the setting. The story lacked depth and the plot twists felt forced. The main character, Glinda, was portrayed as shallow and one-dimensional, making it difficult to root for her. Overall, it was a forgettable read that did not live up to its potential.
- David - 2 out of 5 - I found "Glinda Witch of the North" to be a mediocre read. The writing style was uninspiring, and the prose felt dull. The plot was predictable and lacked any real surprises. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth. It was a disappointing book that did not captivate my interest.