bookboundblogger 's review for:

Wars in Wonderland by E. J. Pepino

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective fast-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

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Alice thought her nightmares were just that: dreams. But twenty years after they began, the rabbit has returned and he's not alone. Thrust into a twisted version of Wonderland, Alice quickly realizes that the strange creatures haunting her sleep are terrifyingly real. As she struggles to make sense of her shifting reality, she meets Red. Red has been waiting a long time for revenge against the monster who shattered her world. With two sirens at her side and nothing left to lose, Red’s fire had started to die out until Alice reignites it. Together, these women are on a dangerous mission fueled by vengeance, fate, and the bonds they didn’t expect to form.

I’m such a sucker for fairytale retellings, and this one completely delivered. Wars in Wonderland takes the wild world of Alice and throws it into something darker, sapphic, and way more intense in the best way. I didn’t expect cameos from other fairytale characters and supernatural beings, but that just added to the magic and mayhem. Think Wonderland meets a spicy fantasy rebellion.

What really made this book special for me is the FFF storyline. It’s not every day I find a sapphic fantasy that hits hard emotionally and has enough action to keep me turning pages. Sapphic representation shouldn’t be this rare in fantasy, but here we are, and I’m thrilled I got to read this ARC from E. J. Pepino. The romance is there, and yes, there’s spice, but it doesn’t overshadow the plot. It enhances it.

Also, can we talk about how this is Pepino’s debut? The writing is vivid, emotional, and just sucked me right in. I loved the morally grey characters, the layered relationships, and that mix of pain and power that kept things unpredictable. I’m already stalking for news of a sequel or whatever Pepino does next.

The Vibes It Brings:
🧚‍♀️ Fairytale retelling with a twist
🌈 Sapphic (FFF) romance that actually delivers
🐰 Alice in Wonderland reimagined
🧜‍♀️ Supernatural creatures and mythical beings
🫂 Found family feels
🔥 Touch her and die
🤝 Bonded mates
🖤 Morally grey bada$$ FMC
🗡️ Vengeance, loyalty, and a hint of madness

If you’re looking for a dark fantasy full of emotion, tension, and fierce sapphic energy, Wars in Wonderland needs to be on your TBR. It’s bold, beautifully written, and the kind of retelling that completely flips the original on its head while keeping its heart. Whether you're here for the fantasy, the romance, or the monsters, there's something wild waiting for you down the rabbit hole.