Reviews

Hookah Smoking Caterpillar by Beatrix Hollow

allivenger's review against another edition

4.0

I read a lot of Alice in Wonderland retellings and not many of them are good. But I went into this with an open mind having been introduced to this book on Instagram. I did really like it. The story is pretty fleshed out in general (though there were one or two weird spots) and the story itself was good. The smut though....O.M.G. this book is super smutty. It's smut done right with just the right amount of story to keep the smut going. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it didn't quite meet my specifications for a five star read. But could easily be a five star read to others.

The story starts off straight away with Alice being infatuated with Caterpillar. He lives in a den of sin under the control of Cheshire and Alice has finally saved up enough money to spend the night with him. If he will have her. What results from this night is a back and forth between those three characters and the sexual tension they all share.

So if you like instalove, MM relationship, MMK relationship, a contract that keeps them all under Chershire's spell, then this book will really be for you. Give it a shot I think you'll definitely like it like I did.

calliek927's review against another edition

4.0

I have only read a few of Beatrix Hollow's books, and she has worked her way up on my favorite author list. Her reads tend to be dark, with humor and steam, and this was no exception.

This is an Alice in Wonderland-based story with dark humor and smut. I loved Alice and Shaheen. Of course, Cheshire got on my nerves, but wasn't that the point? The writing is beautiful in the description of the characters, as well as the location.

I will continue to read every book by this author—a solid 4-star book.

jinxei's review

4.0

Alice in Wonderland already gave the vibe of indulging in recreational drugs, but Beatrix encapsulates that feeling and ramps it higher, combining in your deepest darkest desires.

There are so many unique to even me elements. As a warning, if you have any phobias revolving around insects you might want to sit this one out. I can’t say that I wasn’t intrigued by Caterpillar, but there were so many moments I whispered “wtf Beatrix.” Being an avid fan of hers, I am aware of the depravity in her works. Each one seems to push My limits and I feel like that meme of the kombucha girl.

Cheshire was my original source favorite and clearly again in this. He was a delight, as I anticipated, and I loved the spin on both his character and the setting being his Den.

mochipandabear's review against another edition

1.0

Now you’d think an Alice in wonderland smutty retelling would be fun when none of it made sense, but all I got from it was I think I was just tricked into reading bug fetish :/ the mad hatter epilogue was kinda fun tho… but the rest? :/

The trippy feeling was fun… but I kinda wish it wasn’t smut bc it would’ve been fun without it

ritaxo's review

3.0

Ok wow. This felt like I was reading Alice in Wonderland on drugs. The writing felt extremely euphoric all throughout! The unreliable narrator was a great plot twist and I loved it!

The caterpillar??? Wow.

shibaandcrochet's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

the_sugared_bookworm's review against another edition

5.0

Such a dreamy and spicy Alice in Wonderland retelling! I read the short story in the Into The Woods Monster Anthology and was so excited that Beatrix Hollow had decided to expand it! It didn't disappoint! She never fails to deliver twists and turns with lots of spice!! It was mysterious and magical. Like Alice I found myself going deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole and never wanting to leave! It was such a unique take on the classic tale. Why has there never been focus on Caterpillar?!?! Cheshire is more maddening then ever, but he's written so well that you can't help but fall for him. Loved every minute and will definitely be one to re-read over and over!

ladyluna0402's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

poppymonster's review against another edition

4.0

Confusing, but appropriate

I don’t think Alice in Wonderland can be done well without some madness and this had that in spades. Get it? Spades? Like the playing cards?
I’ll show myself out.
Only trouble was I’m still a bit confused about some of what happened. Maybe more than some of what happened. And the identities/species of the characters. I’d honestly love pictures at this point.
Caterpillar was ridiculous and insulting, and Cheshire was villainous but also endearing. Spice was good.

Spice: 5/5

Triggers: dubcon, somnophilia, murder, violence, madness

mx_t_books's review

4.0

This book is a psychedelic trip down the rabbit hole. When we talk about monster romance, this is a great example. Not only that, but one of the MMC, Shaheen the caterpillar, is only relatively humanoid. And Cheshire, the other MMC, maintains many feline characteristics. The romance is why choose, and has darker elements. The FMC, Alice, is horny throughout the book -as with all good monster fudger novels- and the amount of smut outweighs the plot, although that doesn't mean that there is no plot.
It's quite a trippy book but quick to read.
An interesting take on Alice in Wonderland.
Recommended if you like monster romance with a psychedelic touch, why choose and dark romance.