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slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, Drug use, Trafficking, Gore, Blood, Terminal illness, Death, Body horror, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Torture, Slavery, and Toxic relationship
simon_woods's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Up until the last 70 or so pages it was pretty good though it veers a little far from the Alice in Wonderland theme at times.
There were some interesting adaptations of the characters from the Alice world and it has a unique take on this that I was not expecting when I picked it up.
The tone is a bit mixed - at times can be very dark and graphic but then other times it can be kind of an average fantasy novel.
I think the depictions of characters like The Caterpillar and The Walrus were really interesting and grotesque however, I felt like the author had a fun time building them up until we finally meet them and then it's over very quickly, and onto the next thing. It was a little annoying and convenient.
The Hatcher/Alice romance felt a bit off, like it was forced in there. I felt if they were just good buds it would've worked better. Not all lead characters need to have a romance, especially ones as traumatised as these two.
I also wondered if it had used original characters instead, would it likely be able to still tell the same story? Probably. For example, the original by Lewis Carroll plays mind games and messes with you and plays with logic whereas this one didn't really have any of that and felt a bit more straightforward. If you changed the names of some of the characters, I would think you wouldn't even realise who they were based on.
The story wasn't set in Wonderland really, it was set in Alice's version of the real world where everyone experienced the same events, no trip to any alternate dimension/world, so I feel it loses a little magic this way as you're not really left wondering what was real and what everything meant.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the Alice references and interpretations though I'm not in a huge rush to read the sequel - Red Queen.
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Gore, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
naisdayz's review against another edition
the book had a very interesting premise, that it didn't really succeed to deliver.
there was a lot of pointless violence, during the entire book (or as far as I read) I was just thinking, "why?" I think there are far better ways of portraying a cruel and dark place as the Old City. maybe it would start to make more sense if I finished the book, but I don't have the patience.
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Blood, and Death
lexybexy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Sexual violence
Minor: Pedophilia
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Animal death, Blood, Kidnapping, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Child death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Eating disorder, Torture, Abandonment, Addiction, and Body horror
raythecatlover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Rape, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Misogyny, Murder, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Genocide, Alcoholism, Grief, Ableism, War, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, Body horror, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Hate crime, and Drug abuse
georgiagrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Trafficking, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use
bitesizedbeet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Violence, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Murder, Classism, and Trafficking
Minor: Suicide, Abandonment, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
rinitealeaf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I happened to come across this book in my local nerd store cafe and got myself a copy as I love Alice in Wonderland and horror so this book was right in my alley.
I'm always a little sceptic of retelling the old fairytales and stories but this was amazing.
One of the best books I've read this year.
It's dark, it's disturbing and scary CW: rape, drugs, kidnapping, human and sex trafficking, gaslighting and mental health illness.).
Yes it had some flaws like Hatcher's character could have been bit more in depth but it didn't bother me when looking at the book as a whole.
I highly recommend it if you like dark and twisty easy reads!
Graphic: Medical trauma, Kidnapping, Medical content, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Gaslighting, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
sar_castic's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Murder, Slavery, Kidnapping, Torture, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Drug use