Reviews

Ever Alice by H.J. Ramsay

jennie_cole's review

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3.0

In a world of the "sequel"/remake genre Ever Alice is an interesting take on it. In Ever Alice, Alice is now 15 years old and living in an asylum as her family thinks that her friend the White Rabbit is a psychic hallucination. The White Rabbit comes one day to take Alice back to Wonderland in order to help save everything.

The premise is very interesting and enjoyable. There are two POV characters, Alice and the Queen of Hearts. While the story does not make you like the Queen having her as a point of view character does give you a more well rounded view. The end of the story comes with a twist (or not depending on the type of reader you are) that gives this "sequel" a little bit of something different.

If you like this genre of book definitely pick this one up.

liisp_cvr2cvr's review

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2.0

Everybody loves Alice.. and Mad Hatter and the Chester Cat and all the wondrous madness! And I was ready to be immersed in this story where Alice escapes the asylum, has to kill the Queen and ends up in danger again because OFF WITH HER HEAD but instead I found myself enjoying the start of the story, the ending of the story and some bits and bobs from the middle. The elements of Wonderland are definitely there. Uncomfortable is comfortable, unimportant is important, disgusting sounding tea is delicious and so on… but with all of the adventure for Alice to have and the big, Mission-Impossible-like plot underlining the story, I still felt the pacing was a tad slow. I wasn’t glued to the book when I wished I was…

Of scandal and intrigue there is aplenty in the court! Oh, and how much scandal and intrigue. We have a Marilyn Montague (the Wonderland copy of Marilyn Monroe down to singing an ‘unbirthday’ song in the sultry, drawn out tones) who wants to get in to the Prince of Hearts pants. Literally. It seemed like. And, we have the unexpected pregnancies – like in a proper telenovela! And, we have the Queen of Hearts who is .. you know, Queen of Hearts. Off the rocker!

When it comes to love? The attempt to make something sizzle in between 2 characters did not feel realistic, it felt more like a tool to use in advancing the plot at convenient times. Then again, they’re all bloody mad at Wonderland and if unimportant is important then maybe love is unlove, you know?! I am questioning myself now.. and for that I take my hat off to the book...

Alice herself is a solid character. The introduction of the asylum into this retelling is, in a sense, the logical thing to do to tie in with her first visit to Wonderland and how she ends up there again… But I have to say, with the twist of the asylum I also actually pity the character now. The Wonderland doesn’t seem all the wonderful and quirky no longer. The ending really left me reeling, and sad… Like, stunned silence sad. Hmm…

Ever Alice has a great, and I mean GREAT, fairy tale feeling. It has the vibe of the peculiarity that made us all love the original in the first place whilst also including the darker twists without which Wonderland wouldn’t be the same. No fairy tale would be the same without the darker undertones, come to think of it.

For me, the book was OK I am glad I read this- there was many a time it made me crack a smile, but ultimately, I found I wasn’t eager to return to the story. Maybe because it was too close to the original? Maybe. And maybe this is exactly what will appeal to the wider readership about this retelling!

sandykay's review

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

While reading this book, I wasn't sure if I was enjoying it, but after I finished, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I feel like it was a very well-done sequel. This is NOT a retelling - Alice RETURNS to Wonderland several years after the original trips created by Mr. Carroll.
Overall, I DO recommend reading this one.

Stars 3
Would I recommend? Yes 

whatallisonwrote's review

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4.0

A twist on a classic

Alice returns to Wonderland and becomes a lady in waiting to the Queen of Hearts. The Queen is obsessed with people trying to kill her and beheads them first. Alice gets into kahoots with the White Rabbit and others to save Wonderland.
The book had a slow start, but it grew on me. A little more adult but still perfectly suitable for anyone 12+. It was a fun read and I enjoyed Ramsay's take on a classic.

bookishgurl's review

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4.0

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Ever Alice by H.J. Ramsay from NetGalley and Red Rogue Press

"…a wonderfully whimsical and fun story inspired by Alice and Wonderland …"

The author has created a brilliant and unique take on Lewis Carroll’s, Alice in Wonderland. A unique plotline, quirky characters and an interesting interpretation of the characters Carroll is famous for. Ramsay creates a humourous story about 15-year-old Alice whose parents are concerned with her rantings about her friend “the white rabbit”. Her parents fear that after a near-drowning, the trauma has caused her to lose her mind and as a result commit her to an insane asylum for treatment. Alice endures the asylum and after a while, when just on the verge of being released home, a nasty nurse exposes Alice by sharing her journal filled with rants about the white rabbit and a place called Wonderland. At a loss, the asylum staff decide to take her to see a doctor famous for curing individuals with a surgical procedure. After seeing other patients Alice realizes this procedure isn’t going to be as easy as she is told, luckily at the direst moment, her friend the “white rabbit” appears and whisks her away to Wonderland where her adventure begins.

Filled with humour, this is a wonderfully whimsical and fun story inspired by Alice in Wonderland and although a YA novel I would recommend to young and old alike.

endalia's review

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dark funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

_nems's review

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2.0

I really need this author to understand that nonsense does not simply mean opposite. If I didn't think that certain parts would be useful for my dissertation, I don't think I would have finished it.

avoraciousreader68's review

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dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

3.5

 
3.5 
 
Book source ~ BBNYA 
 
Alice is 15 now and her parents have tried everything to get her help for the stories she tells of her time in Wonderland. Nothing works so they reluctantly stick her in an asylum where she undergoes shitty “treatment” in an effort to cure her. When that doesn’t work the Dr. in charge rushes her off to a Dr. in Switzerland who has had “amazing” results with his breakthrough cutting edge controversial treatment. Yeah, it’s not specifically stated, but we all know what he’s going to do to Alice. Before it happens though the White Rabbit pulls her back to Wonderland. He and his resistance pals need her help in killing the Queen of Hearts. Oh, dear. Do you think she can? 
 
Man, the mentally ill have been mistreated for so long that it’s just unreal to read about it. And this experimental procedure they want to do to Alice is the absolute worst. Ugh. No wonder she retreated back to Wonderland. Or is Wonderland real, too? Hmmmm… This story reminds me a lot of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode titled: Normal Again (S6:E17). It totally fucks with my mind. 
 
This story is confusing, silly, heart breaking, and uplifting all at the same time. It’s been over four decades since I read Alice in Wonderland so I only have the vaguest of memories to compare to this retelling. I do enjoy getting more than just Alice’s POV and finding out more about the Queen of Hearts and Wonderland with all the Houses, politics, and scheming that surrounds them all. If you’re a fan of Alice in Wonderland then I think this is a story you won’t want to miss. 

jlb_x's review

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4.0

This book was such a magical read that it had me hooked from the very beginning. The writing style is so good that it honestly felt like I was reading more about Alice's story.

This novel allowed us to see Alice from an altogether different perspective, whilst learning even more about Wonderland and all that goes on within it.

Throughout this story we get to meet quite a few new characters and they truly do help to make this quite a remarkable tale. I especially liked the nod within to other fairytales and love the idea that it is a shared universe.

I would happily read more books of this nature, as after finishing this story, I am curious to see what else could happen both with Alice and within Wonderland.

jenniefromthebook's review

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4.0

This was such a fun read ! It starts with Alice post wonderland adventures . She’s in a mental facility because no one has ever believed her . Thanks to the good ol trust white rabbit showing up .. She breaks out right before being transferred into a very aggressive facility and ends up back in the wonderful wacky world we all know and love . With a few character changes and world edits here and there . A fun retelling of a story we have all loved growing up. I loved the twists and turns we took with this adventure.

It was great to be in the head of the Queen of hearts as well as Alice . Very witty writing . I strongly recommend this book to all Alice in wonderland fans . Thank you Netgalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review .