This is the third book in Gregory Maguire's "Wicked Years" series of Oz-revisionist novels, and is also probably the least. That's not to say it's a bad book - far from it - but it just doesn't seem to have the momentum that the first two installments had. This story focuses on the character of Brr, the Cowardly Lion, who is now working for the Emperor of Oz and has been dispatched to interview a mysterious female figure who always seemed to be present in Elphaba's life (Elphaba, of course, being the Wicked Witch of the West of the first book). The purposes behind this interview process are slowly revealed, and as part of the bargain Brr is forced to tell his own backstory, which of course is interesting and actually quite sad. I came to like Brr a lot, and definitely felt for him because, as repeated several times in the novel, his lot in life seemed definitely unlucky. However, that is the main problem with the narrative - there is simply too much repeating of scenes, sentences, and events from the first two books to qualify this tale as a total triumph. Ultimately, though, the book is worth the read if you're a fan of the first two novels, and by the end of "A Lion Among Men", several questions are answered but so, of course, new ones are asked. I hope Maguire continues his Oz series, because the dark tapestry of brooding characters, political machinations, and fantasy adventure he's created is nothing short of engaging.
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