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restlessreason17's review
adventurous
dark
fast-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
1.0
Update: this book literally put me in a reading slump, do not recommend ๐
Oof, this is a rough rating. Super strong beginning, and then at about 15-20%, it went downhill fast for me.
Why?
The love triangle. Oh my gosh. I hated the romance. I hated Jeb. He was INSANELY controlling. Like let girly live her life and make mistakes, it's literally none of your business what she can and cannot do. Morpheus was at least more interesting (he has an insurrection hat, which is pretty cool), but he had weird vibes. Like, he was 75 and visiting her dreams when she was 3? It was weird. I can't tell if time works differently in Wonderland or not, but I'm saying yes because otherwise it's really really weird. (I mean, he manipulated her most of the book, but him being super older than her would be worse)
Alyssa's logic was often weird? I dunno, she flip flipped a lot and I was so done. Like girlie. Bestie. Miss. You said you wanted Jeb and then immediately went ๐ฅฒ but Morpheus...
Also, there was a weird motif of food horror? I don't even know if that was what it was called, but I shouldn't have been snacking whenever she mentioned food ๐ญ The flowers wanted to eat them, the octobenus eating the still-alive and screaming clams, the clam eating the alive octobenus, the live goldfish meant to be eaten, the still-alive roasted duck... I dunno man, it just makes me super uncomfortable every time
The middle sorta dragged, and tHEN JEB AND ALYSSA GOT SEPERATED ๐๐๐ AND JEB GOT KIDNAPPED ๐๐๐๐ AND THE STORY GOT A LOT MORE INTERESTING NOW THAT THE CHEMISTRY-LESS RELATIONSHIP WASN'T TAKING UP MOST OF THE BOOK'S ATTENTION
Seriously, they kissed SO MUCH
Like the first time they kissed or whatever (around 190, so around halfway) they literally started making out and then Morpheus walked in and was all ๐คจ
AND PLS, WHAT WAS THAT BELLY DANCING SCENE???? VERY WEIRD
Wish they had to keep up the Elfin knight charade longer, would've been more interesting. Relationship could've been better developed, especially considering that Morpheus's relationship to her was way more interesting, but not very explored.
The end sorta just piled twists on top of each other ๐งโโ๏ธ I got confused fast
Golden Quotes:
Oof, this is a rough rating. Super strong beginning, and then at about 15-20%, it went downhill fast for me.
Why?
The love triangle. Oh my gosh. I hated the romance. I hated Jeb. He was INSANELY controlling. Like let girly live her life and make mistakes, it's literally none of your business what she can and cannot do. Morpheus was at least more interesting (he has an insurrection hat, which is pretty cool), but he had weird vibes.
Alyssa's logic was often weird? I dunno, she flip flipped a lot and I was so done. Like girlie. Bestie. Miss. You said you wanted Jeb and then immediately went ๐ฅฒ but Morpheus...
Also, there was a weird motif of food horror? I don't even know if that was what it was called, but I shouldn't have been snacking whenever she mentioned food ๐ญ
The middle sorta dragged, and tHEN
Seriously, they kissed SO MUCH
Like the first time they kissed or whatever (around 190, so around halfway) they literally started making out and then Morpheus walked in and was all ๐คจ
AND PLS, WHAT WAS THAT BELLY DANCING SCENE???? VERY WEIRD
Wish they had to keep up the Elfin knight charade longer, would've been more interesting. Relationship could've been better developed, especially considering that Morpheus's relationship to her was way more interesting, but not very explored.
The end sorta just piled twists on top of each other ๐งโโ๏ธ I got confused fast
Golden Quotes:
"Yummy navel"
"Come back to be. Be my skater girl again."
"Her breath smells of freshly dug graves and loneliness..."
"Between the suit and the punkish hair, he looks like an emo gangster."
"He spoke with enough sweet sincerity to melt all of Greenland" (paraphrasing here, but I swear she said Morpheus could melt all of Greenland)
"Careful. That's my Insurrection Hat. I've ne'er had the occasion to wear it until today. The red represents battles and bloodshed, in case you were wondering."
"Your geek undies are showing" (I demand financial compensation from whoever let this stay in the book)
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
siglerbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I truly loved this book. It was super cute and very unique. I find it hard to define this book or describe it in a way that does it justice. It was odd but cute, unique but felt classic, twisted and sinister yet somehow still a comforting read. I love the premise and setting. I adored the twisted changes to wonderland and all the little punk details. I really liked Alyssa as a main character. Both Jeb and Morpheus felt a little forced to me, but I still enjoyed their characters. I can definitely see myself reading this book again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
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