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lacyparrish's review against another edition
4.0
Randomly served up by the algorithm overlords, I snagged this from KU and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this retelling/re-visioning of Alice in Wonderland. We are in a steampunk, Victorian England, just as the Crystal Palace has been built in Hyde Park. Alice has left her previous life of crime to work for a mid-level lord but is drawn back in when his pocket watch is stolen. Her former love and now crime boss, William, needs her help to plan and execute a heist of pretty impressive proportions. They end up in a second-chance romance while trying to right a job gone wrong ... but it went wrong for reasons explored via flashbacks. I enjoyed where this story left off, but it does leave the door ever so slightly open for a future for everyone.
Full Rating (out of 10 possible): 7.143 (based on a modified CAWPILE system)
Romance level (out of 5 possible): 1 (for full closed-door, chaste intimacy scenes)
Full Rating (out of 10 possible): 7.143 (based on a modified CAWPILE system)
Romance level (out of 5 possible): 1 (for full closed-door, chaste intimacy scenes)
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
3.0
Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite stories ever. Or better said: It's one of my favorite worlds and concepts ever. I've read a lot of retellings during the last few years, some better than others, but I don't think I came across a Steampunk one yet. Let me start this review with the fact that I'm not that into Steampunk and don't know that much about it, but I was curious anyway.
And although the book is totally not bad, it's written quite well and especially Alice is very clearly recognisable as such, I discovered that this book was not really the book for me. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it was, it's more a feeling, a feeling that something was missing, that something lacked, that it didn't give me the Wonderland feeling that I usually get when I read the original tale or a retelling.
I think that the answer lies in the fact that the story and especially the world, for my taste, isn't weird enough, or mad enough, or twisted enough. One of the things that makes Alice in Wonderland so amazing, is the absurdity of it, the extremes, the unimaginable, the weirdness. In a lot of cases it would be a compliment to have your plot called sane and logical, but in this case it's maybe not. The plot, the world, everything that was going on, it made too much sense. There were a few weird and odd elements, but for me it wasn't enough.
On top of that, this plot focusses a lot on crime life and I've never really had a click with that either. I can totally appreciate a clever plot (which is one of the reasons that I ended up liking Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom), but the plot in this book felt a little too simple to be really called clever. Too many things were an accident instead of planned, there was not enough outsmarting, plotting, planning and executing to impress me much.
I think that there are totally people out there who will love this book to pieces, because my issues with the book are mostly a matter of personal taste, so if the blurb appeals to you, just give it a try. It's a nice and easy read, so you have not much to lose!
And although the book is totally not bad, it's written quite well and especially Alice is very clearly recognisable as such, I discovered that this book was not really the book for me. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what it was, it's more a feeling, a feeling that something was missing, that something lacked, that it didn't give me the Wonderland feeling that I usually get when I read the original tale or a retelling.
I think that the answer lies in the fact that the story and especially the world, for my taste, isn't weird enough, or mad enough, or twisted enough. One of the things that makes Alice in Wonderland so amazing, is the absurdity of it, the extremes, the unimaginable, the weirdness. In a lot of cases it would be a compliment to have your plot called sane and logical, but in this case it's maybe not. The plot, the world, everything that was going on, it made too much sense. There were a few weird and odd elements, but for me it wasn't enough.
On top of that, this plot focusses a lot on crime life and I've never really had a click with that either. I can totally appreciate a clever plot (which is one of the reasons that I ended up liking Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom), but the plot in this book felt a little too simple to be really called clever. Too many things were an accident instead of planned, there was not enough outsmarting, plotting, planning and executing to impress me much.
I think that there are totally people out there who will love this book to pieces, because my issues with the book are mostly a matter of personal taste, so if the blurb appeals to you, just give it a try. It's a nice and easy read, so you have not much to lose!
mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
Melanie writes Alice with the feel we would expect. A curious young lady with thoughts of her own to share. The story isn't as much falling down a literal hole like in the original story. But Alice living in a world full of wonder, and following a boy nicknamed Rabbit. The world created is full of steamwork and clockwork items. This blended with the steam and smoke draws a world of danger and mystery in which Alice is pulled back into. This is a talent as Melanie very craftily wrote the story in the actual living of the characters.
****FULL REVIEW****
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Alice follows the boy who stole her employers pocket watch, Rabbit, back into the life she left behind. Into the rough part of town she returns, summoned. The love she once felt for William surfaces as the man he is now needs her help. Blackmailed into helping to save her sisters love, The Hatter, from his debt, Alice agrees to help Caterpillar.
Lesley's tone when speaking as Alice feels to fit her curiosity, which is the feel we get from Alice in many stories of her adventure. She has an opinion that she voices, not mean or rude, just a thought to add to the discussion.
Melanie writes Alice with the feel we would expect. A curious young lady with thoughts of her own to share. The story isn't as much falling down a literal hole like in the original story. But Alice living in a world full of wonder, and following a boy nicknamed Rabbit. The world created is full of steamwork and clockwork items. This blended with the steam and smoke draws a world of danger and mystery in which Alice is pulled back into. This is a talent as Melanie very craftily wrote the story in the actual living of the characters.
We see the world full of clockwork and steampunk from the beginning. There is a darkness to the story as well, particularly with one of the characters. Creepy, dark. But fits in the harsh life of the characters here. There is even a touch of magic present. Just a touch. Mostly the world is steam and clockwork.
There is a feel of double meaning to words, it's not confusing but tricky. Listen closely to catch it. I love how people have two names; real name and a nickname. Like William who's known as Caterpillar in town. Each name goes with a different part of his life. Which person is he when talking to Alice? William or Caterpillar? Both are of a different nature and are known for different things to Alice. This gives the twisty feel that we get from Wonderland.
Melanie touches on all the main characters from Alice in Wonderland in her remake. It was a nice game for me to see about spotting them all, though their names do give them away.
I was pleasantly surprised with Melanie's creation here. She captured so many important elements from Alice in Wonderland yet wrote a different story that feels true to the world. So well done!
****FULL REVIEW****
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Alice follows the boy who stole her employers pocket watch, Rabbit, back into the life she left behind. Into the rough part of town she returns, summoned. The love she once felt for William surfaces as the man he is now needs her help. Blackmailed into helping to save her sisters love, The Hatter, from his debt, Alice agrees to help Caterpillar.
Lesley's tone when speaking as Alice feels to fit her curiosity, which is the feel we get from Alice in many stories of her adventure. She has an opinion that she voices, not mean or rude, just a thought to add to the discussion.
Melanie writes Alice with the feel we would expect. A curious young lady with thoughts of her own to share. The story isn't as much falling down a literal hole like in the original story. But Alice living in a world full of wonder, and following a boy nicknamed Rabbit. The world created is full of steamwork and clockwork items. This blended with the steam and smoke draws a world of danger and mystery in which Alice is pulled back into. This is a talent as Melanie very craftily wrote the story in the actual living of the characters.
We see the world full of clockwork and steampunk from the beginning. There is a darkness to the story as well, particularly with one of the characters. Creepy, dark. But fits in the harsh life of the characters here. There is even a touch of magic present. Just a touch. Mostly the world is steam and clockwork.
There is a feel of double meaning to words, it's not confusing but tricky. Listen closely to catch it. I love how people have two names; real name and a nickname. Like William who's known as Caterpillar in town. Each name goes with a different part of his life. Which person is he when talking to Alice? William or Caterpillar? Both are of a different nature and are known for different things to Alice. This gives the twisty feel that we get from Wonderland.
Melanie touches on all the main characters from Alice in Wonderland in her remake. It was a nice game for me to see about spotting them all, though their names do give them away.
I was pleasantly surprised with Melanie's creation here. She captured so many important elements from Alice in Wonderland yet wrote a different story that feels true to the world. So well done!
nikmad's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
janereads10's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
shanabiggs's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
5.0
Alice & William (Bandersnatch & Caterpillar)
London
Spice: 0
London
Spice: 0
jlaynereads's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book. A fun take on an old tale but well done. This is well written with great world building and well developed characters.
I received this as an Advance Reader Copy.
I received this as an Advance Reader Copy.
simoneclark's review against another edition
5.0
I love reading retellings. So naturally, I had to read this one and boy, did it NOT disappoint!!! Honestly, this is one of the best Alice retellings I've read! Now I can't wait to see what Melanie Karsak did with the Snow Queen. On to book No. 2 in the series!!!
akkaraboo's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0