A Lion Among Men

The third and penultimate instalment in The Wicked Years series by Gregory Maguire A Lion Among Men, as its title indicates, tells the sad story of the Cowardly Lion from his earliest memories up to almost two decades after Elphaba and Dorothy disappeared. This is the book where the bigger picture and the grander scheme of things comes into view, of course only right in the last 10 pages so for the remaining two hundred and something you’re just slowly making your way through memories and I won’t lie, it can become a little tedious and boring. But it’s all worth it in the end: just like with The Shining, good things come to those who persevere. 

Whilst Civil War looms between the Emerald City and the Munchkinlanders, a cantankerous old oracle named Yackle prepares for and awaits death only to leap from her sarcophagus at the appearance of a Lion named Brr, infamously known as the Cowardly Lion, searching for information about Elphaba Thropp, her believed-to-be son Liir, and her mysterious magic book: the Grimmerie. Unwilling to give up something for nothing, Yackle demands some answers of her own from the Lion and so, as payment, he surrenders his story: abandoned as a cub, his earliest memories are hazes and his life’s path has been no walk along the Yellow Brick Road. 

This is the book where a few of the more intricate details of the series are surrendered all for the greater good and climax that is sure to come in Out of Oz. The character of Yackle has always been a bit of a question mark right from her earliest featuring in Wicked. Within the pages of this book lie the answers to many readers’ questions regarding this seemingly integral character that hovered like a bird of prey over the lives of both Elphaba and Liir. 

At the end of the day, I look at this book as a sort of filler because, as becomes obvious within the last few chapters, the Cowardly Lion is to play a role in the final book. Thus, this book (his back story) is in existence to fill in the gaps that would undoubtedly spatter the last book as well as convey a scope as to just how much time has passed since Son of a Witch. 

Written in the third person register, various segments of chapters jump about from narrative to reality, from past to present, and oftentimes it’s quite difficult to keep the mind on track. Ultimately, it’s all written very well and succeeds in the reader being able to just power through without really desiring to put the book down for extended periods. Having said this, I did as I figure it’s best to place uni reading above recreational so that why it’s been so long between reviews (for those who were wondering). 

Filled with action, trauma, drama, war, memories, comedy, and romance, A Lion Among Men is a fine book that still manages to keep the reader enthralled even though the subject matter doesn’t always tickle interests. I know that, personally, I read faster and become more alert when I read parts pertaining to Elphaba and Dorothy, the rest I just find less fascinating, which does blind me somewhat as to the wider picture and hidden meanings. Many questions are answered, if not the answers are hinted at with greater clarity so it cannot be denied that this book holds the power to keep the reader turning pages, eager to learn more about what’s to come.