(3.25 Stars)

I liked this retelling and continuing of the original. It adds a lot of grit, darkness, and backstory that isn't in the original. I won't say that I loved it... but I did find it interesting enough to continue with the series. I do like the premise, and I love fanfiction like this, like Gregory Maguire, but the characters... even while you learn more of their stories still seem a little "flat" (I don't know how else to describe it). ( )

Wow. This was awesome.

This can pretty much be read as the story of a paranoid schizophrenic who has escaped from a max security mental hospital and is rapidly withdrawing after being heavily medicated for years on anti-psychotics. It truly has the hall marks of full blown psychosis.

Of course, you can read it as a fantasy novel that bears no relevance to the real world if you don't want to think about why people in full blown psychosis due to rapid withdrawal of anti-psychotic meds go around killing people.

Whichever way you want to read this, it's a fantastic re-telling of the Alice in Wonderland story.

Straight onto Red Queen now. So looking forward to more of Alice and Hatcher. ( )

A darkly imagined retelling of Alice in Wonderland as a pretty steamy (and steampunkish) horror story. Lots of grisly scenes, plenty of sadness and implied sexual torment. Not for young people, and probably not for most older people either.

But if you like like crazed retellings of classic children’s books and don’t mind some graphic violence, author Henry will take you on a wild ride that will creep you out. But don’t look for many endearing, or even tolerable characters. ( )

I was engrossed enough in this that I wanted to keep reading it, but I don't think I'm invested enough to continue the series. Honestly a well thought out adaptation - I love the way there are so many references to Carroll's work throughout it - but it was a bit grittier and bloodier than I expected. If you're looking for dark gaslamp fantasy this is a good contendor. ( )

A weird and wonderful read

I don't quite know how to describe this book without giving some of it away or doing a type of book summary book review, so I will simply say it is a very strange retelling of Alice in Wonderland, sort of kind of.
It has all of the Alice characters, but they are completely reimagined and redone. It is a pretty sexual book that is also a thriller. It begins with Alice, who is a mental patient, escaping her prison with an ax wielding man named Hatcher. I think if you can get through that much, you won't have a problem with the book.
It is ultimately an adventure type book where Alice and Hatcher are seeking the Rabbit while being chased by the Jabberwocky.
I found the writing quite well done and I read it fairly quickly. The storytelling was fun although there were a few parts that I kind of phased out on and had to reread them because they were part of the plot.
I picked up the book because it was on Amazon's best of 2015 Sci Fi category and it was well worth it. Glad I picked it up. ( )