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gilroi's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 20%

i am generally easy to please with grimdark bullshit, but i admit i was a bit disappointed when i realized this author does NOTHING but gritty retellings. just made the whole thing feel kind of hollow. writing and characterization wasnt really winning enough to keep me interested once i realized its just chasing a publishing trend? maybe im harsh but here we are.

Very dark and graphic (too much for me!)

2.5 Fabuła ciekawa ale fakt że w tej książce wszyscy mężczyźni (oprócz głównego bohatera) molestują lub wykorzystują seksualnie każdą kobietę która się napatoczy, lekko zniechęca. Dosłownie w co drugiej scenie jest ktoś kto został zgwałcony lub jakaś naga kobieta którą wszyscy macają, a czasem w niektórych przypadkach gwałcą i zjadają żywcem. No ludzie czy nie da się w inny sposób pokazać mroku dystopii niż poprzez gwałt i powtarzanie że bez protekcji mężczyzny kobieta by nie przeżyła w tym mieście. Aż mi się nie chce wierzyć że takie miejsce mogłoby realnie istnieć.
dark mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Alice by Christina Henry was an interesting and dark twist on the classic Alice in Wonderland tale, and while I found it to be a gripping and unique read, there were a few things that kept it from fully blowing me away. It’s definitely a book that’s worth reading if you’re a fan of re-imagined classics or enjoy a darker, more twisted version of familiar stories.

First of all, the world-building in this book is incredibly unique. Henry creates a gritty, dystopian version of Wonderland that’s far from the whimsical land we all know from Lewis Carroll’s original tale. The Wonderland here is filled with danger, madness, and corruption, and it’s almost like a nightmare version of the classic world. I loved the darker atmosphere and the way Henry took the original characters and reinterpreted them in such a raw, twisted way. It definitely gave the story a fresh, edgy feel, and I was hooked by how different and unexpected it was.

Alice, as a character, is definitely an interesting protagonist. She’s been through so much trauma and hardship, which makes her a very complex and at times unreliable narrator. I appreciated her strength and resilience, even though she can be a bit hard to connect with at times. Her journey of self-discovery and vengeance is compelling, and I liked how her character evolved over the course of the story. However, I did find myself struggling to fully empathize with her at times, as she can be a little cold or distant in her reactions to certain situations.

The plot is definitely one of the book’s strengths. It’s action-packed and filled with tension, and I liked how the story unfolds as Alice tries to navigate this dark, broken Wonderland. There’s a constant sense of urgency as she gets caught up in a world of violence, madness, and betrayal. The pacing was solid for the most part, although there were some slower moments where the plot felt like it was dragging a bit. Some of the twists felt a little predictable, but I was still invested in seeing how everything played out.

One thing that kept me from loving this book fully was the character development. While Alice herself is well-developed, I felt that a lot of the side characters were a little one-dimensional. They were interesting but didn’t feel as fleshed out as they could’ve been, especially given the depth of the world around them. I wanted to see more growth from the supporting cast, particularly in terms of their motivations and how they interacted with Alice.

The tone of the book is definitely dark and intense, which I enjoyed, but at times, it felt a bit overwhelming. The violence, psychological trauma, and overall grim atmosphere can be a lot to take in, and I found myself needing breaks from it every so often. While it’s definitely not a light read, I think the mood is consistent with the story Henry is trying to tell.

In conclusion, Alice by Christina Henry is an interesting, gritty re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland that offers a unique take on a well-known story. While I didn’t love it as much as I hoped, I can definitely appreciate its dark atmosphere, action-packed plot, and complex main character. It’s a fun read if you’re into twisted retellings and don’t mind a bit of bleakness along the way. I’m giving it 3.5 stars, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something different and a little out there, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me on all fronts.
adventurous dark medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced
dark 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark mysterious tense 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: Complicated