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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney
4.0
Tell me that a book is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, or inspired by it, and I wanna read it. So, when I found this book on twitter I ordered it right away. And then it stayed on the shelf. It happens to the best of my books and usually I hate myself later for waiting so long to read a book. But, after everything that happened the last few weeks I thought that the least I could do was finally read this book: A typical YA fantasy with a black leading lady.
In this McKinney created her own version of Wonderland, a Wonderland that's directly connected to our world. If we dream, Wonderland thrives, but we also create Nightmares and those Nightmares disrupt our world in the most horrible ways. In every way it's very much Wonderland as we know it and yet the added elements and the connection to our world make it original and unique. In a way it felt like coming home in a new world where there's so much new to discover.
On top of that we had a very amazing leading lady. I'm not a huge fan of calling characters strong because they can wield a blade and fight. You need more to be called strong. This Alice had that more. She battled with her emotions and showed them to the world, she had struggles and fears and moments of hesitation and failure. She was brave and fierce and yet she also had her weaknesses. She was realistic and it was easy to like her, understand her and root for her.
And then we also had an impressive cast of interesting side characters, both from Wonderland and our world. It was quite refreshing to see a girl, thrown into a fantasy world, still so connected to our world. Her mom was actually worried and angry when she missed curfew time after time. Her friends noticed something was wrong and were angry when she started breaking promises. Disappearing and playing the hero actually had consequences. And yet, she could also talk to her friends and they listened and respected her.
On the surface this book is a normal YA fantasy book, but Alice being a black girl did influence the story. It wasn't the plot. This book is not about the problems of the black community. But it doesn't forget those problems and issues either. And personally I think that's an amazing form of representation. I can't wait to pick up the second book in the series!
In this McKinney created her own version of Wonderland, a Wonderland that's directly connected to our world. If we dream, Wonderland thrives, but we also create Nightmares and those Nightmares disrupt our world in the most horrible ways. In every way it's very much Wonderland as we know it and yet the added elements and the connection to our world make it original and unique. In a way it felt like coming home in a new world where there's so much new to discover.
On top of that we had a very amazing leading lady. I'm not a huge fan of calling characters strong because they can wield a blade and fight. You need more to be called strong. This Alice had that more. She battled with her emotions and showed them to the world, she had struggles and fears and moments of hesitation and failure. She was brave and fierce and yet she also had her weaknesses. She was realistic and it was easy to like her, understand her and root for her.
And then we also had an impressive cast of interesting side characters, both from Wonderland and our world. It was quite refreshing to see a girl, thrown into a fantasy world, still so connected to our world. Her mom was actually worried and angry when she missed curfew time after time. Her friends noticed something was wrong and were angry when she started breaking promises. Disappearing and playing the hero actually had consequences. And yet, she could also talk to her friends and they listened and respected her.
On the surface this book is a normal YA fantasy book, but Alice being a black girl did influence the story. It wasn't the plot. This book is not about the problems of the black community. But it doesn't forget those problems and issues either. And personally I think that's an amazing form of representation. I can't wait to pick up the second book in the series!