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hookerkitty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I mostly enjoyed this book (obv minus when the above kept getting brought up). I don’t remember if I ever actually read the original book, and it’s been a long time since I’ve even seen the movies, so that may be a factor in why I enjoyed it more lol. I say “mostly” though, because I thought the end was rather anti-climactic, which was hella disappointing. I don’t know if the author ran out of steam and time before the deadline, but I was hoping for much more than there was.
However I really enjoyed how they showed Alice learning to find herself again after a deeply traumatic event. I’ve been through a lot of similar events that Alice went through, and found that the representation of being deeply scarred and the struggles of trying break out of that cocoon you placed yourself in to be rather accurate. I would’ve been annoyed if they instantly made her a girlboss™️ once she escaped the institution. I find it incredibly frustrating when stories (books/movies/anything) force toxic positivity down our throats like that actually solves all our problems, so this was a refreshing (albeit triggering) change.
Anyway, hopefully this makes sense. I not only have a migraine, but even rehashing this stuff is taxing mentally and emotionally. So keep your furry friends (or stuffed animals) nearby to help you through those portions if it’s triggering (and it’s totally okay to skip this book for now, or ever, if you don’t want to encounter those parts of the storyline), and check in with your body to see if you need a break. I’m now curious to read the original book(s) to compare different aspects of the storylines.
Graphic: Confinement, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Minor: Gun violence, Slavery, and Kidnapping
consistentlyinconsistent's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
wikks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
raythecatlover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body horror, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jonsnowsmanbun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Classism
chemicalpink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
laurakathariiina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Vomit
baileyloveless's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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For details on entering my giveaway for a copy of the first book Alice, click here by July 31st, 2016
Wow. I almost don’t even know where to begin. This retelling of Alice in Wonderland is one crazy, dark, wild ride. And I loved every minute of it. Even the parts that made me squirm.
First, I’d like to thank the staff at Ace for allowing me to review this. The Chronicles of Alice is a duology, the first part entitled Alice and the second part entitled Red Queen. I requested Red Queen on Netgalley, not realizing it was the 2nd part. Ace was kind enough to mail me a physical copy of Alice and will be partnering with me for a giveaway. They’re amazing! And I’m so grateful because this story was brilliant.
Picture this: Alice is a patient in an asylum with a cruel scar running from mouth to ear. She doesn’t remember why she’s there or how she got the scar. Just something about a rabbit, a tea party, and a lot of blood. Hatter is not a hatter, but Hatcher, the axe murderer who’s room in the asylum is adjacent to Alice’s. Cheshire, Rabbit, Caterpillar, and Walrus are all underground bosses terrorizing the streets of the crumbling Old City.
Alice begins with Hatcher and Alice’s escape from the asylum. As the hospital is ravaged by a fire, they watch it burn to see a dark shadow rise from the ashes. “The Jabberwocky!” cries Hatcher. Alice and Hatcher are forced into the dangerous streets of the Old City to find the one the one thing that can stop the Jabberwocky and where the Rabbit waits for her return.
“RABBITS DON’T FORGET.”
This first book is creepiness to the max. I am not entirely sure how I got through it being a squeamish person. Perhaps it was the morbid curiosity that took hold of me as I read. I was horrified, but I couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for the whimsical Wonderland, you will not find it here. I will fully disclose what you’re about to get into: this book is adult, dark, and horrifying. But if you can get through it, it is worth the read. I just wouldn’t recommend reading it alone at night.
The characters come to life in new and interesting ways. Making Hatcher an axe murderer was a brilliant choice. The relationship between him and Alice is amazing. This passage to me really speaks for the intensity between the two of them, yet the tenderness despite their utter madness:
“I WON’T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU, ALICE. I WILL KILL YOU BEFORE I LET THE WALRUS OR ANYONE ELSE TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ME.”
SHE GAVE A CHOKE THROUGH HER TEARS, A GRIM AND NOT-SO-MERRY SOUND. “MOST MEN GIVE A GIRL A RING YOU KNOW, NOT THREATEN THEM WITH MURDER.”
HATCHER PUT HIS HANDS ON HER FACE SO HE COULD LOOK INTO HER EYES. “A RING WON’T SAVE YOU FROM THE MEN WHO WOULD USE YOU AND BREAK YOU. I DON’T WANT YOU TO SUFFER, ALICE, NOT ONE MOMENT. I WON’T LET THEM TAKE YOU.”
Cheshire is my favorite character, and I thought the characterization was perfectly done. He still retains the mad qualities of the original character while retaining the poise and grace of a cat.
I must offer a trigger warning for this first book though. Feminism is none existence. Male dominance and objectification of women are a huge theme throughout this first book, and the subject of rape is prevalent. It is not fun to read, though I can understand why it was included.
This book is disturbing. Period. But it’s also so well done that it’s hard to put down.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Grief, and Toxic friendship