Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, will release a new prequel novel, Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, on September 29, 2026. The book, a companion to 2025’s Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, explores the early life of Galinda Upland and will be published as a deluxe limited edition with stenciled edges and special endpapers. The novel runs 256 pages and is available for preorder through HarperCollins.
The story follows the youngest of four children in a high-born family facing financial struggles. Galinda is both pampered and overlooked until “her natural grace promises to elevate her in the district dance competitions.” Meanwhile, her father navigates tensions with local merchants “who disapprove of his business strategies,” shaping the environment in which Galinda begins to define her ambitions.
Galinda marks Maguire’s ninth novel set in the Oz universe, preceding the events of his original four-book series and the sequel trilogy Maracoor, which follows Elphaba’s granddaughter, Rain. The book serves as a sister story to Elphie, offering a parallel look at Oz’s heroines and their early lives.
The prequel announcement coincides with the theatrical release of the two-part Wicked film adaptation. Wicked: For Good, starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode, has already earned $150 million domestically and $226 million worldwide, achieving the second-biggest opening weekend of the year after A Minecraft Movie and breaking Fandango’s presale record for a PG-rated film.
The first part of the adaptation, released November 22, 2024, received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Erivo and Grande were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, and the film won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
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