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ninahuynh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ooo wee! That twist at the end with Wardley *gasps with hand on chest* I was suspicious of Wardley in book 1 and this curveball was not what I expected from him. And also the twist with Cheshire! So many things just piling on for Dinah, I wonder how her mentally and emotions would fare in the war. I enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland aspects, but some parts felt forced or could do without.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, War, Blood, Alcoholism, Cursing, Infidelity, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Classism
aceofsphades_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Death
Minor: Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent
christyx's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I gave this book 3 stars because I thought the plot twists were was interesting, I like how they linked back to the first book and integrated themselves in this book. The characters were quite likeable and the author did a good job building the tension for the third book. BUT:
What decisions did she make that were her own? All the characters around her made all the decisions for her. Even when preparing for battle, she made no contributions to the plan or negotiations. She is meant to lead an army to battle but has everyone around her make all the smart decisions while the only decisions she made were angering everyone around her with her entitledness and naivety. Yes, she grew up in the palace where everything was given to her, but,she is revealed to be Cheshire's daughter and is therefore supposed to be "intelligent" and "crafty". And yet, the only smart decision she made is following the advice of everyone around her because she cannot do anything else besides tell herself she is fit to rule a whole kingdom. She comes to the same conclusion:
"This was who she was, who she had always been."
"I am the Queen of Wonderland and I will have the crown that my brother made for me."
"I am the Queen of Hearts," she thought, "and I will take my thrown."
Over and over again. Each time she made big statements about being the Queen and being respected, she went right back to being an entitled girl, upsetting someone who was doing her a huge favour, and then being called out on it. This could be bearable if she learned from these mistakes but it was an endless loop throughout the book right until the very end. I can only hope that the third book conveys her character development better because, so far, we have not been given a reason as to why she would be fit to rule Wonderland other than blood relation.
What decisions did she make that were her own? All the characters around her made all the decisions for her. Even when preparing for battle, she made no contributions to the plan or negotiations. She is meant to lead an army to battle but has everyone around her make all the smart decisions while the only decisions she made were angering everyone around her with her entitledness and naivety. Yes, she grew up in the palace where everything was given to her, but,
"This was who she was, who she had always been."
"I am the Queen of Wonderland and I will have the crown that my brother made for me."
"I am the Queen of Hearts," she thought, "and I will take my thrown."
Over and over again. Each time she made big statements about being the Queen and being respected, she went right back to being an entitled girl, upsetting someone who was doing her a huge favour, and then being called out on it. This could be bearable if she learned from these mistakes but it was an endless loop throughout the book right until the very end. I can only hope that the third book conveys her character development better because, so far, we have not been given a reason as to why she would be fit to rule Wonderland other than blood relation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, and Violence
Minor: Animal death
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