Review of By the Oz.

[Samantha Keeney]

[Following is a volunteer review of "By the Oz." by Henry Summers.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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What a wild ride! I felt like Dorothy on this adventure jam-packed with travel, drug use, helpful spirits, and a tangle of bad guys on the way to Oz. This journey is narrated by an acquaintance of the main character, a spirit new to his form. The spirit learns many lessons on the way to help guide the main character to his fate. The main character, naive about the spirit’s assistance, faces numerous life questions and unexpected threats on his journey to pay for his last semester of school. This is the ultimate dangerous college road trip. The road is long, the entourage grows at every turn, and the action is fantastic.
The author did a great job creating an immersive story and showing the experiences and thoughts of a person under the influence of drugs. There was a lot of driving time, and it was rare the pacing felt slow. The characters’ minds were active during the ride or while experiencing the effects of drugs; the dialogue and banter between characters were great. The point of view was interesting as well. The spirit narrator allowed for an omniscient point of view, allowing us a closer relationship to the minds of all characters involved. Through the story, the narrator’s spirit would give us glimpses of his discoveries in his new spirit form. It was a really interesting perspective on how spirits can have a presence and impact in the human world.
I give this novel a four out of five rating. It was a joy to read. I enjoyed the plot and how immersive the story was. The author did a great job describing the settings and characters with their different backgrounds. The point of view was a little confusing at times; there were not always clear indications whose mind we were in, but it was still enjoyable. I also enjoyed the three-lined poems at the chapter’s introduction, preluding us to the scenes ahead. I would recommend this book to most adult audiences. Keep in mind the topic of drugs is frequent, and some violence, so please take note if you are sensitive to these topics.

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By the Oz.
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