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Prisoners of Oz is the forthcoming fourth book in The New Oz Chronicles series by David M. Keyes. It is scheduled to be released in digital, paperback and hardcover editions on August 12, 2024.

Unlike the earlier novels which involved several geographical jumps between different territories in the land of Oz, Prisoners takes place entirely in the Emerald City while it is under lockdown. It is also the first book in the series to not feature illustrations, a decision that was made after it's artist, Jackson Smith, had to drop out of development late in the post-production cycle.

Plot[]

Official Synopsis:

An enigmatic new king has assumed rule of the Emerald City, bringing with him an assembly of ominous new faces who hover over his court with mysterious intent. But while the long-time residents of the city itself ponder what it all might mean for the future of their metropolis, a terrible phenomenon begins to manifest – several members of Ozma’s inner circle begin to vanish without a trace!

Seeking answers and navigating the obstacles placed on them by their unsupportive new leader, Betsy, Dorothy and Trot band together in unraveling the mystery of the vanishings and bringing their friends home. But what will this all reveal as King Ozwald, seeking to undo the ideology of his predecessor, tries to cut the city entirely off from the outside?

Two worlds collide as defenders of the old Ozian ethos battle wits against a new movement of power-hungry usurpers, all with the very soul of the Emerald City itself placed on the line. Meanwhile, far below the city streets lies yet another lost secret – one that promises to turn the tides of the conflict in favor of whoever comes to possess it!

Characters[]

The primary heroes of the first three books -- Dorothy Gale, Trot, and Betsy Bobbin -- are the main players of the narrative of Prisoners of Oz, while the supporting cast consists of a handful of carry-overs from the previous volume, including Nick Chopper, the Scarecrow, Oscar Diggs, Locasta of the North and the Cowardly Lion. Princess Ozma, who was front and center in the first three books, is absent from the new story, to be explained in a later novel.

Meanwhile, a few famous faces from the original Baum lineage that have not yet featured in the new chronicles make their first appearance. Among them: Bungles the Glass Cat, Eureka the Pink Kitten, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Frog Man and Scraps, the Patchwork Girl. The Saw-Horse, who was only briefly seen in A Nightmare in Oz, is also briefly featured in the early act of the book.

Newer characters that figure heavily into the intricate mystery of the story are Inspector Ozark, the leader of the city's royal defense faction, Abel Randhorn, a columnist and investigative reporter from the city's periodical The Emerald Courier, Darius, a mysterious knight from the borderlands who is cloaked in a silver mask and armor, and King Ozwald, apparent heir to the city throne (and long-lost sibling to Ozma).

Among the new characters featured, the most Ozian presence belongs to Emma, the Porcelain Princess, a city consort who also serves as the primary liaison between the city government and the China District, which came to reside in the Emerald City prior to the start of the series.

Art Style[]

Though plans for the book cover and illustrations initially involved the return of series regular Jackson Smith, it was announced at the beginning of June that he would not be returning due to life complications. The original post that was shared on Instagram is as follows:

Our gifted illustrator, Jackson Smith, has been tied to some personal matters that have required his complete focus in these last few months. What that means, alas, is that he will not be able to contribute his artistic talents to the pages (or the cover) of this upcoming novel. A new source has been tapped to design the next book cover, but time limits and budget constraints have also led us to an added decision: we must forego the route of illustrating this novel. In hindsight, we believe this is the proper route to ensure the book still arrives on time. Furthermore, with these stories gradually progressing in maturity and tone, illustrations almost seem a bit too redundant at this point. In the meantime, we wish Jackson the absolute best and hope that in the foreseeable future, the door will remain open for him to return, should he decide he would like to.

The source who was tapped to do the artwork for the cover was Miblart.com, a design service that specializes in design work for many independent authors. Miblart finished their design concept by the start of July. The finalized package was released to the public on July 9, 2024, which also came with the official release date announcement.

Promotion[]

Coming soon.

The New Oz Chronicles
1. A Nightmare in Oz 2. The Black Rainbow of Oz 3. Shadows Over Oz
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