I actually totally forgot to write a review on this book. As soon as I finished it, I read the next two prequels and forgot to even update repov lmao This is probably my second favorite prequel from the series, the first favorite being ‘Return to Oz’ as it retold Dorothy’s descent to corruption. This one comes second though because I just wissshhh it were longer, I enjoyed the lion’s story so much! Though, in a literary sense I understand why it couldn’t be dragged on. The lion’s character encapsulates how pride can take central focus when you’re looking to justify your vanity. The lion is very similar to Dorothy in that sense, wherein the struggle of wanting more puts into question what there is to live for—that maybe a little evil can create something to be brave for. It’s not wrong to want more, but where Dorothy and the Lion stumble is that they completely forget that there is virtue in our actions, virtue they’ve been missing while living. He corrupts his bravery when his courage is turned into spite when Ozma literally spells out that he cares more about his pride than good and evil—that he likes the thrill of fighting, not the purpose of the fight itself. I think it’s also about time that I name out a gripe I have with the entire prequel series, though. All of the backstories show us how the villains chose evil, but it’s like none of them are self-aware enough to question whether they’re being wicked, when Oz (even in the original books) has put so much importance is discerning whether one is Wicked or Good. Mombi eventually says the “Wicked vs Good” has completely been thrown out the window, but it’s like nobody has learned from it. I can excuse farmers, winkies, animals, or other Ozians turning on each other because they’re not exactly in positions of power, but the LION, SCARECROW, and TINMAN just having 0 self-awareness AFTER being given gifts????? sometimes u guys just pmo