Wicked was one of those novels that, upon finishing, I was disappointed to have to leave the characters behind. So naturally I was happy to learn I could return to Gregory Maguire's well-crafted revision of Oz in Son of a Witch.I must confess, I didn't find this follow-up as compelling as the original, but I enjoyed it for what it was - a fast-paced, rollicking tale set in a deeply detailed environment.I suspect that those who haven't yet read Wicked will find themselves a bit lost. But then again, that is completely in keeping with the feeling of the main character, Liir, as he tries to determine who he is and what he should do next.