Dorothy Must Die

In L. Frank Baum’s original books, Oz is described as a magical fairyland cut off from the rest of the world by the Deadly Desert, a cursed land rumored to turn anyone touching it to sand. Oz is divided into five lands—Munchkin Country in the east, Winkie Country in the west, Gillikin Country in the north, Quadling Country in the south, and the Emerald City in the center. These lands are mentioned throughout Dorothy Must Die, though Amy’s time is split between only Munchkin Country, Gillikin Country (where the rebellion’s base is), and the Emerald City. The book’s ending suggests Amy will visit the rest of Oz on her mission to destroy Dorothy.

Paige’s dystopian twist on the Land of Oz transforms it from the vibrant and colorful place of the books to a dying wasteland. Aside from the Emerald City where Dorothy hordes magic, the only part of the landscape that retains its vibrancy is the Yellow Brick Road. In Chapter 3, Pete explains that the road wants Amy to go to Oz, which implies the road has magic beyond Dorothy’s understanding or capabilities. Dorothy may have tried to steal the road’s magic but was unsuccessful, which may mean the road is the key to saving Oz.