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mamalovesfour's review
3.0
I wanted to love it more than I did, but I am always a sucker for anything Alice in Wonderland.
tatyanavogt's review
4.0
Okay, this was really good.
I loved the Alice and wonderland twist. The bad-ass monster hunter black alice. I even didn't mind the high school aspect and the issues of our main character being a teenager (although as an adult I would have preferred that to not have been an issue and got a little annoyed by it a few times).
I loved the relationships and the drama, the action and the wonder. It was a good time for sure. Enough that I'm planning on continuing the series.
I loved the Alice and wonderland twist. The bad-ass monster hunter black alice. I even didn't mind the high school aspect and the issues of our main character being a teenager (although as an adult I would have preferred that to not have been an issue and got a little annoyed by it a few times).
I loved the relationships and the drama, the action and the wonder. It was a good time for sure. Enough that I'm planning on continuing the series.
kaybee23's review
At the time this was published, national events of police on black violence was the focus. I found it to just be a reminder of those situations, instead of an escape. It wasn't enjoyable so DNF for me.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review
4.0
Tell me that a book is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, or inspired by it, and I wanna read it. So, when I found this book on twitter I ordered it right away. And then it stayed on the shelf. It happens to the best of my books and usually I hate myself later for waiting so long to read a book. But, after everything that happened the last few weeks I thought that the least I could do was finally read this book: A typical YA fantasy with a black leading lady.
In this McKinney created her own version of Wonderland, a Wonderland that's directly connected to our world. If we dream, Wonderland thrives, but we also create Nightmares and those Nightmares disrupt our world in the most horrible ways. In every way it's very much Wonderland as we know it and yet the added elements and the connection to our world make it original and unique. In a way it felt like coming home in a new world where there's so much new to discover.
On top of that we had a very amazing leading lady. I'm not a huge fan of calling characters strong because they can wield a blade and fight. You need more to be called strong. This Alice had that more. She battled with her emotions and showed them to the world, she had struggles and fears and moments of hesitation and failure. She was brave and fierce and yet she also had her weaknesses. She was realistic and it was easy to like her, understand her and root for her.
And then we also had an impressive cast of interesting side characters, both from Wonderland and our world. It was quite refreshing to see a girl, thrown into a fantasy world, still so connected to our world. Her mom was actually worried and angry when she missed curfew time after time. Her friends noticed something was wrong and were angry when she started breaking promises. Disappearing and playing the hero actually had consequences. And yet, she could also talk to her friends and they listened and respected her.
On the surface this book is a normal YA fantasy book, but Alice being a black girl did influence the story. It wasn't the plot. This book is not about the problems of the black community. But it doesn't forget those problems and issues either. And personally I think that's an amazing form of representation. I can't wait to pick up the second book in the series!
In this McKinney created her own version of Wonderland, a Wonderland that's directly connected to our world. If we dream, Wonderland thrives, but we also create Nightmares and those Nightmares disrupt our world in the most horrible ways. In every way it's very much Wonderland as we know it and yet the added elements and the connection to our world make it original and unique. In a way it felt like coming home in a new world where there's so much new to discover.
On top of that we had a very amazing leading lady. I'm not a huge fan of calling characters strong because they can wield a blade and fight. You need more to be called strong. This Alice had that more. She battled with her emotions and showed them to the world, she had struggles and fears and moments of hesitation and failure. She was brave and fierce and yet she also had her weaknesses. She was realistic and it was easy to like her, understand her and root for her.
And then we also had an impressive cast of interesting side characters, both from Wonderland and our world. It was quite refreshing to see a girl, thrown into a fantasy world, still so connected to our world. Her mom was actually worried and angry when she missed curfew time after time. Her friends noticed something was wrong and were angry when she started breaking promises. Disappearing and playing the hero actually had consequences. And yet, she could also talk to her friends and they listened and respected her.
On the surface this book is a normal YA fantasy book, but Alice being a black girl did influence the story. It wasn't the plot. This book is not about the problems of the black community. But it doesn't forget those problems and issues either. And personally I think that's an amazing form of representation. I can't wait to pick up the second book in the series!
briarsreviews's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Want me to be honest? I judged this book by it's cover. The cover and title got my attention and I was like... "Yep, I'm buying it!"
I do that sometimes, because why listen to that old trope of not judging a book by it's cover? I work in Marketing! The whole point of a cover is to grab attention! And this cover is just so beautiful....
And, to make things ever better, the story was great! I need the sequel now! Like, yesterday! I found a new author out of judging covers, so that's a win.
A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney is a modern, urban fantasy intertext of Alice in Wonderland. Real life Alice tackles monsters with the help of the Mad Hatter, all while trying to maintain the reality of being a teenager in Atlanta. Definitely not easy! This debut book had me GLUED to it and I binged. I binged HARD. I really liked how easy this book was to read and how it wasn't a play by play of the typical Alice story. It changes a lot up, and I really liked it for this book. It works really well.
I highly recommend this Alice retelling as YA! It's also a BIPOC authored book, so representation!
Five out of five stars. Help me find this sequel!
I do that sometimes, because why listen to that old trope of not judging a book by it's cover? I work in Marketing! The whole point of a cover is to grab attention! And this cover is just so beautiful....
And, to make things ever better, the story was great! I need the sequel now! Like, yesterday! I found a new author out of judging covers, so that's a win.
A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney is a modern, urban fantasy intertext of Alice in Wonderland. Real life Alice tackles monsters with the help of the Mad Hatter, all while trying to maintain the reality of being a teenager in Atlanta. Definitely not easy! This debut book had me GLUED to it and I binged. I binged HARD. I really liked how easy this book was to read and how it wasn't a play by play of the typical Alice story. It changes a lot up, and I really liked it for this book. It works really well.
I highly recommend this Alice retelling as YA! It's also a BIPOC authored book, so representation!
Five out of five stars. Help me find this sequel!
szalvr's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lexi_lovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
bioda's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0