So I read Wicked over the holidays and read Son of a Witch just now.
In general: I found both books interesting enough to read. I thought that the world was rather engaging. But I liked SoaW better.
Partly it’s because Wicked’s ending felt unresolved in such a damned lazy way. Partly it’s because Elphaba’s story was so pathetically uninspiring–she worked her whole life toward some poorly defined end and accomplished absolutely nothing. She grew somewhat as a character, then stopped and almost reverted. Meh. I liked that, in SoaW, Liir at least actually grew as a character, and that there was actual dramatic action throughout, rather than Elphie’s mere drifting. (At least, his drifting seemed to get him somewhere.)
And, of course, the ending of SoaW seems to be an actual (and successful) set-up to a sequel, whereas Wicked, like Elphie, just dissolved into a pile of goo. SoaW at least resolved itself somewhat, even if it left many questions unanswered.
Anyone else read it? Any thoughts?