The Librarian (Book Two: Unhappily Ever After)

Initially I had difficulty getting into this story. While it seemed well conceived, something about the surface execution was a bit off-putting. In terms of genre, the best I can do is say that it does for the Wizard of Oz what Lev Grossman's The Magician did for/to the Narnia series. There too it took several volumes before I saw the reworked source material as more than lazy writing, cribbing from an existing mythology.

Now that I've read more, the disconcerting part is that he does a much better job writing adults, even fictional ones, than children. They invariably sound petulant and irrational.

This sequel picks up from the cliffhanger ending of the previous book. Having made changes within the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wesley and Taylor discover that the real world has been changed as well. They had back to the library to correct what they've done, and find themselves in the dystopian world of Oz under control of the Wicked Witch. This novel is grimmer in tone than it's predecessor with violence in Oz and tensions among the lead characters. There's also an interesting shift from Wesley to Taylor as the primary protagonist. I thought this book improved upon Little Boy Lost and that Hobbs' sometimes-pedestrian writing and shallow characterizations are picking up as well. I look forward to the next installment which show more will be set in Alice's Wonderland. show less

It’s such a great concept to have adventures begin in a library, don’t you think? After all, don’t libraries hold within their walls some of the greatest adventures? And the very best librarians are those who not only know the secrets within the books that surround them but who, rather than reveal them outright, simply point adventurers in the right direction.

I really enjoyed the fact that Hobbs chose to have very small, bite-sized chapters in The Librarian Saga. They helped me compartmentalize what was happening to the various characters. The pacing of the story was wicked fast … so much so that I finished Part 1 in one sitting because I just couldn’t wait to get to the ending.

What’s in store for you in Part 2?
• more show more action
• greater character development of the main characters
• two main characters whose friendship is put to the test
• a bully you might just feel something for
• an adventure down the yellow-brick road

Hobbs has a great love for books and the art of storytelling. His passion seeps through every page of his work. I'm very interested in reading what happens next in Part 3! show less

I received a copy of Unhappily Ever After from the author for an honest review.

Unhappily Ever After begins with Tay and Wes's return to the 'real' world. Unhappily is a perfect way to explain their return. Both kids keep saying things are 'off'. A quick return to the library offers an explanation and once again the kids are going back to Oz. Except, everything is different. Oz is a much darker place.

The story is wonderful. Ms. Hobbs has included aspects of Oz that are unique to the book, things not from the movie. I loved the way in which we saw both Wes and Tay grow as characters. These are not the same kids we saw in the first book. These kids are well aware their actions caused horrible consequences. All the changes in Oz are a show more result of their visit. They must fix the problems.

We see some familiar characters, Scarecrow, Tinman and of course (my favorite) the Lion. Alas, Dorothy is no longer around. The Wicked Witch controls Oz, along with her flying monkeys.

If you enjoyed the first book The Librarian, you will enjoy the continued adventures of Wes and Tay. This is not the end of the story. I look forward to the third book. I would love to see Wes and Tay resolve the problems they have created. By the way, I went back and reread my copy of The Wizard of Oz...Enjoyed it much more after reading Eric Hobbs books.

I give this book 5 stars. show less

This is the second book in The Librarian series by Eric Hobbs. My son and I both enjoyed it very much, just as we did the first book. However, this book is darker and a little more graphic than the first in the series. It's portrayed as a middle school book, and I think that fits pretty well for age. My son is 8 though, so as I read this to him a couple chapters per night, I watered down the more graphic scenes to be appropriate for a younger child. He was very sad that there wasn't a book 3 for us to purchase and continue the story with right now. I'll continue to keep an eye out for it. =)

middle-grades, fantasy, witches, wizard, paranormal

I really liked this one, but think it is for a slightly older crowd than the first one. We raised a houseful of boys and now they've got boys in that bloodthirsty age group, so I think that they will gleefully enjoy reading it on their own or with friends. The story line picks up where the first one left off, and I surely wish I could find the next one!

An action-packed sequel that is sure to grab your attention! Although definitely darker than the first in the series, Unhappily Ever After was right up my alley. There were a few typos, but I can't wait to read the next book! What a captivating series!