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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
DNF at p. 118 (36%)
I knew this would be a dark retelling, but it is unfortunately way too dark for me if not even disturbing. For me personally it was more like „inspired“ by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland than rather a „retelling“. I wanted a more mature and slightly dark take on the original story and immerse myself in the beauty and dangers of Wonderland. But it was very cruel, gruesome and without any joy. The world in which this book is set is so horrible.
To sum up: not my cup of tea at all, sadly
I knew this would be a dark retelling, but it is unfortunately way too dark for me if not even disturbing. For me personally it was more like „inspired“ by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland than rather a „retelling“. I wanted a more mature and slightly dark take on the original story and immerse myself in the beauty and dangers of Wonderland. But it was very cruel, gruesome and without any joy. The world in which this book is set is so horrible.
To sum up: not my cup of tea at all, sadly
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An intriguing and well written retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Perfect for readers who like dark academia, gothic literature, or dark mysteries. The story draws on the themes of mental health, insanity, a girl's place in the world, courage, honesty, and reality. Alice and her trusted companion, Archer escape from their insane asylum and must undertake a dark and twisted journey to destroy the Jabberwocky and take revenge on The Rabbit, a man who raped and disfigured young Alice. The two meet dark and mysterious characters such as The Walrus, The Caterpillar, Cheshire, and the White Rabbit, in addition to other characters inspired by Caroll's story; although this story is anything but a children's bedtime story. It weaves violence, sexual violence, magic, and the seedy side of human nature into the characters and their lived experiences.
The story is refreshingly free from extreme language and does contain references to sexual violence towards women, human bondage and trafficking, and violence.
The story is refreshingly free from extreme language and does contain references to sexual violence towards women, human bondage and trafficking, and violence.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I already read Lost Boy by Henry, loved it, and honestly had a lot of fun with this one too, so I will continue to read Henry's books and stories, because I think they're very interesting, I just also didn't really connect to this one. Maybe because I've never cared much about Alice (and never even read the original, I just know what everyone knows about her shrinking and growing, a rabbit, some tea party, and there's wonderland, and that's it), so I wasn't as invested as I was with Lost boy, but I don't actually think so.
The writing itself was pretty good again and the story was really dark, and as somebod who just discovered this year that they enjoy horror a lot, I did really like this book. But also at some point I realized, that Alice (the book) was a little to direct for me, and also Alice (the character) was a little too passive. I don't really want to spoil anything, so I won't quote the book, but moost of the time when somebody in the story said that something is happening/being done, than that's exactly what happens, and there's nothing subtle about it. You know how in the original Red Riding Hood the wolf eating her isn't actually about him eating a girl? Couldn't be this book. Okay, that sounds mean, I don't mean it like that, it's as I said quite the enjoyable read, it's just also I found out I appreciate horror that's more about the creepy vibe and less about gore, and in Alice while I was creeped out by some things, it was more a gorey kind of read, and that made me feel uncomfortable, but not in the right way?
Also I will admit that while I liked Alice (the person) it was quite annoying that she had to be told what to do a lot of times/a lot of the time only went along with other people, or at least that's what it felt like.
I did like the world though, did like the story, did like the way it was written in general, and I don't regret reading the story at all (and will as I said continue reading Henry's books), I just also felt it lacking at some points and could have enjoyed it more/compared to Lost Boy it felt a lot weaker.
The writing itself was pretty good again and the story was really dark, and as somebod who just discovered this year that they enjoy horror a lot, I did really like this book. But also at some point I realized, that Alice (the book) was a little to direct for me, and also Alice (the character) was a little too passive. I don't really want to spoil anything, so I won't quote the book, but moost of the time when somebody in the story said that something is happening/being done, than that's exactly what happens, and there's nothing subtle about it. You know how in the original Red Riding Hood the wolf eating her isn't actually about him eating a girl? Couldn't be this book. Okay, that sounds mean, I don't mean it like that, it's as I said quite the enjoyable read, it's just also I found out I appreciate horror that's more about the creepy vibe and less about gore, and in Alice while I was creeped out by some things, it was more a gorey kind of read, and that made me feel uncomfortable, but not in the right way?
Also I will admit that while I liked Alice (the person) it was quite annoying that she had to be told what to do a lot of times/a lot of the time only went along with other people, or at least that's what it felt like.
I did like the world though, did like the story, did like the way it was written in general, and I don't regret reading the story at all (and will as I said continue reading Henry's books), I just also felt it lacking at some points and could have enjoyed it more/compared to Lost Boy it felt a lot weaker.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
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