A Great and Powerful Tyranny

Perfect for fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince, this dark, queer reimagining of the classic Wizard of Oz tale centers a slow-burn, sapphic enemies to lovers romance in an electrifying portal fantasy.

The first book in the Song of the Ghost Queen duology from debut author Victoria Carbol.

Falling into a world of magic and oppression, Kansas-born Thia joins three cursed companions in a quest to free them and send herself home.

Orphaned from a young age, Thia has spent her life trying to live up to her mother's legacy as a doctor. She's on track to become a promising medical student, yet she feels like she was meant for something else. The life she thought she knew comes crashing down one stormy Kansas day when Thia inadvertently uncovers clues that reveal her grandma has been lying to her: Her mother was never a doctor; she was a scholar of the supernatural, and all she left behind was a strange mirror that Thia's grandma is convinced is dangerous.

Angry with her grandma for her deception, Thia leaves in a rage and accidentally falls through the mirror, killing a witch and crashing into a terrifying land ruled by the cruel and powerful Mage King.

Joined by a heartless girl, a cowardly academic, and a boy who cannot remember his past, Thia seeks out the Mage King, the only man powerful enough to send her home and grant her companions' desires. In their quest, Thia discovers her mother was a part of the rebellion to overthrow the Mage King, and she must reckon with her mother's real legacy. With each new truth revealed, it becomes harder to ignore the undeniable connection between Thia and the cursed, heartless girl, and even harder to decide where, in the end, Thia ultimately belongs.

Author: Victoria Carbol
Publisher: Page Street YA
Published: 06/23/2026
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 8.53h x 5.76w x 1.47d
ISBN: 9798890034885
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026
School Library Journal 05/01/2026 pg. 76
Booklist 06/01/2026

About the Author
Victoria Carbol was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She has a BA in medieval history from Durham University in the UK and an MA in Theology from Regent College in British Columbia. She is also a musician known for creating cinematic theme songs for her favorite novels and is a founding member of the global book soundtrack phenomenon, Bookish Songs Collective. When not lost in the fantastic, you can find her sipping a hot beverage with her real-life found family or traipsing the woods with her small-but-mighty terrier, Bones. A Great and Powerful Tyranny is her first novel.