ashleighbeanxo's review
5.0
This book is, as you would guess, a retelling of the classic Alice in Wonderland story, but it's very dark. Oh, so very dark. Maybe the darkest retelling I've ever read. At the beginning of the story, our titular 'heroine' is imprisoned in a 'hospital' (more like a prison/asylum) at the age of 16, where she stays for 10 years. Her only friend is the murderous man in the cell next door who has been nicknamed Hatcher. A fire spreads throughout the hospital one day, freeing Alice and Hatcher, where they find out the monstrous Jabberwock has also been released, and oops, they need to stop him. Now this isn't a straightforward boy and girl set out to save the day story.
As mentioned before, this is dark. The disturbing topics explored in this book include rape, sex slaves/slavery rings, murder, and cannibalism. I was shocked at how dark this book was. I just can't get over it..
For me, the ending was a little rushed, and I would like to have seen the final battle to be a little more.. exciting. Dramatic. Action-based. But it wasn't bad enough to make me mark the book down. Looking forward to picking up the next book.
As mentioned before, this is dark. The disturbing topics explored in this book include rape, sex slaves/slavery rings, murder, and cannibalism. I was shocked at how dark this book was. I just can't get over it.
Spoiler
Never have I read a retelling where the main character was actually raped, and was almost sold into slavery to a man who enjoys eating woman while he's raping them. Yepp that's a sentence I never thought I was type outFor me, the ending was a little rushed, and I would like to have seen the final battle to be a little more.. exciting. Dramatic. Action-based. But it wasn't bad enough to make me mark the book down. Looking forward to picking up the next book.
dreamyari's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this book, but it's in the category of "I loved this piece of media but would never recommend it". I understand people's distastes towards this book and why they might find it exploitative or a form of torture porn, though as a victim myself I didn't feel this was the case, it just felt very deeply dark and horrible and gripping. I fell in love with our protagonists and haven't rooted so hard against antagonists in a long while. The ending felt a bit too lacklustre/rushed for my tastes, but otherwise this retelling was exactly what I needed to get me out of my slump and I will be picking up the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking, Rape, Child abuse, Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Murder, and Cannibalism
tori_torido's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
richardparker's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chrissyp's review
5.0
Fantastical Adventure!
I've always loved Alice In Wonderland, but now I have a new favorite version to love. I can't wait to read more adventures by this author.
I've always loved Alice In Wonderland, but now I have a new favorite version to love. I can't wait to read more adventures by this author.
kreestin's review
2.0
I would have given this a 1.5 if half-stars were available. I read this because I read "Lost Boy" by Christina Henry and really loved it, but this book did not do it for me. "Lost Boy" has some violence & gore, but in this book it felt more like it was for shock value than anything else. Things like rape & sexual assault are used a LOT and in a really shallow way that seem like they're meant to make the book as edgy as possible.
Other than that, I found a lot of the allegory to the original Alice store to be pretty cheesy, but I knew to expect that going in.
On the positive side, I do enjoy Henry's writing style. It's quick and concise, and I definitely never found myself bored reading this. This one just wasn't for me.
Other than that, I found a lot of the allegory to the original Alice store to be pretty cheesy, but I knew to expect that going in.
On the positive side, I do enjoy Henry's writing style. It's quick and concise, and I definitely never found myself bored reading this. This one just wasn't for me.
travelreader85's review
3.0
While I enjoy a dark twist on fairytales, this book I found excessively rape-y. Not all of it is necessary for the story. But otherwise the world of lost magicians and corrupt street gangs and size changing potions were good. I like the voice of the person who reads the audible audiobook.
ellieems's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
what_jo_read's review
4.0
TW: rape and violence
Do not go into this book expecting a fairytale, or some type of YA fantasy (this is not YA, this is classified as adult and horror). This is a dark and twisted retelling of the classic story. The world Alice escaped from is not Wonderland, but rather a nightmarish land of terrorizing overlords like the Walrus, the Carpenter and the Caterpillar, and, of course, The Rabbit, who commit some horrifying acts.
Alice at 16 escaped what is known as the Old City, from the clutches of a man called The Rabbit, with pieces of her memories missing and blood on her thighs. She has been institutionalized for the past ten years, with her only friend being a man that is called Hatcher, to whom she talks to through a mouse hole in between their cell walls. There is also the intriguing character of Cheshire, and the threat of the fearsome Jabberwocky.
That being said, if you are not faint of heart, this book is a dark and fascinating story. I was intrigued and loved reading the depths of the two main characters, Alice and Hatcher. The story is dark and brutal, but imaginative and immersive.
I will say that I was expecting the final act to be a bit more climactic, and I was a bit underwhelmed with how it ended up playing out. But things are never exactly what you would expect with Alice.
This was the first book by Christina Henry I have read, but I look forward to reading more.
Do not go into this book expecting a fairytale, or some type of YA fantasy (this is not YA, this is classified as adult and horror). This is a dark and twisted retelling of the classic story. The world Alice escaped from is not Wonderland, but rather a nightmarish land of terrorizing overlords like the Walrus, the Carpenter and the Caterpillar, and, of course, The Rabbit, who commit some horrifying acts.
Alice at 16 escaped what is known as the Old City, from the clutches of a man called The Rabbit, with pieces of her memories missing and blood on her thighs. She has been institutionalized for the past ten years, with her only friend being a man that is called Hatcher, to whom she talks to through a mouse hole in between their cell walls. There is also the intriguing character of Cheshire, and the threat of the fearsome Jabberwocky.
That being said, if you are not faint of heart, this book is a dark and fascinating story. I was intrigued and loved reading the depths of the two main characters, Alice and Hatcher. The story is dark and brutal, but imaginative and immersive.
I will say that I was expecting the final act to be a bit more climactic, and I was a bit underwhelmed with how it ended up playing out. But things are never exactly what you would expect with Alice.
This was the first book by Christina Henry I have read, but I look forward to reading more.