Reviews

Disney's Twisted Wonderland, Vol. 3: Book of Heartslabyul by Yana Toboso, Wakana Hazuki

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whitneymouse's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

explorebooks's review

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adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

deanlockiradall's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this volume in exchange for an honest review. (May contain spoilers.)

Twisted Wonderland is a manga inspired by a mobile game. Like Alice in the Country of Hearts, Twisted Wonderland very much plays up the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic: in this case, it draws upon the Disney animated movie adaptation, while also referencing other popular Disney films. Much like retellings of classics and beloved fairy tales, Twisted Wonderland is a retelling of classic Disney: Japanese high school student and kendo club member Yuken Enma is suddenly transported into another world. He finds himself in an elite magic school whose dorms are themed after various Disney villains, such as Ursula (The Little Mermaid), Mustafa (The Lion King), and the Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland).

In this volume, Yuken's friends, Ace and Deuce, have been banished from their dorm by their house-warden, Riddle, who is a devout rule-follower--Riddle has vowed to uphold the 810 rules set by the Queen of Hearts, no matter how nonsensical. Ace's attempts to apologize and undo his banishment fail, and conflict escalates dramatically. While this plot has continued off and on since volume one, it's nice to see some more world-building and character development, especially on Riddle's part, as well as a deeper glimpse into his relationship with Trey, his friend/lackey. It was also fun to meet this iteration of the Cheshire Cat, who briefly appears.

Overall, this is a story meant for pure entertainment, especially for manga, game, and/or Disney fans. Followers of Black Butler (manga or anime) will also recognize Yana Toboso's signature art style. In short, not earth-shattering, but fun.