Scan barcode
hookerkitty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I mostly enjoyed this book (obv minus when the above kept getting brought up). I don’t remember if I ever actually read the original book, and it’s been a long time since I’ve even seen the movies, so that may be a factor in why I enjoyed it more lol. I say “mostly” though, because I thought the end was rather anti-climactic, which was hella disappointing. I don’t know if the author ran out of steam and time before the deadline, but I was hoping for much more than there was.
However I really enjoyed how they showed Alice learning to find herself again after a deeply traumatic event. I’ve been through a lot of similar events that Alice went through, and found that the representation of being deeply scarred and the struggles of trying break out of that cocoon you placed yourself in to be rather accurate. I would’ve been annoyed if they instantly made her a girlboss™️ once she escaped the institution. I find it incredibly frustrating when stories (books/movies/anything) force toxic positivity down our throats like that actually solves all our problems, so this was a refreshing (albeit triggering) change.
Anyway, hopefully this makes sense. I not only have a migraine, but even rehashing this stuff is taxing mentally and emotionally. So keep your furry friends (or stuffed animals) nearby to help you through those portions if it’s triggering (and it’s totally okay to skip this book for now, or ever, if you don’t want to encounter those parts of the storyline), and check in with your body to see if you need a break. I’m now curious to read the original book(s) to compare different aspects of the storylines.
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Blood, Sexual assault, and Confinement
Moderate: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Animal death, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Slavery, Kidnapping, and Gun violence
consistentlyinconsistent's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Gore
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Body horror, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Physical abuse, Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Violence
wikks's review
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Classism, Animal cruelty, Blood, Gore, Rape, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Trafficking, Vomit, Confinement, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Slavery
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
jonsnowsmanbun's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Classism
chemicalpink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Rape, Classism, Toxic friendship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
laurakathariiina's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Child abuse, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Vomit
baileyloveless's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | STORE
For details on entering my giveaway for a copy of the first book Alice, click here by July 31st, 2016
Wow. I almost don’t even know where to begin. This retelling of Alice in Wonderland is one crazy, dark, wild ride. And I loved every minute of it. Even the parts that made me squirm.
First, I’d like to thank the staff at Ace for allowing me to review this. The Chronicles of Alice is a duology, the first part entitled Alice and the second part entitled Red Queen. I requested Red Queen on Netgalley, not realizing it was the 2nd part. Ace was kind enough to mail me a physical copy of Alice and will be partnering with me for a giveaway. They’re amazing! And I’m so grateful because this story was brilliant.
Picture this: Alice is a patient in an asylum with a cruel scar running from mouth to ear. She doesn’t remember why she’s there or how she got the scar. Just something about a rabbit, a tea party, and a lot of blood. Hatter is not a hatter, but Hatcher, the axe murderer who’s room in the asylum is adjacent to Alice’s. Cheshire, Rabbit, Caterpillar, and Walrus are all underground bosses terrorizing the streets of the crumbling Old City.
Alice begins with Hatcher and Alice’s escape from the asylum. As the hospital is ravaged by a fire, they watch it burn to see a dark shadow rise from the ashes. “The Jabberwocky!” cries Hatcher. Alice and Hatcher are forced into the dangerous streets of the Old City to find the one the one thing that can stop the Jabberwocky and where the Rabbit waits for her return.
“RABBITS DON’T FORGET.”
This first book is creepiness to the max. I am not entirely sure how I got through it being a squeamish person. Perhaps it was the morbid curiosity that took hold of me as I read. I was horrified, but I couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for the whimsical Wonderland, you will not find it here. I will fully disclose what you’re about to get into: this book is adult, dark, and horrifying. But if you can get through it, it is worth the read. I just wouldn’t recommend reading it alone at night.
The characters come to life in new and interesting ways. Making Hatcher an axe murderer was a brilliant choice. The relationship between him and Alice is amazing. This passage to me really speaks for the intensity between the two of them, yet the tenderness despite their utter madness:
“I WON’T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU, ALICE. I WILL KILL YOU BEFORE I LET THE WALRUS OR ANYONE ELSE TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ME.”
SHE GAVE A CHOKE THROUGH HER TEARS, A GRIM AND NOT-SO-MERRY SOUND. “MOST MEN GIVE A GIRL A RING YOU KNOW, NOT THREATEN THEM WITH MURDER.”
HATCHER PUT HIS HANDS ON HER FACE SO HE COULD LOOK INTO HER EYES. “A RING WON’T SAVE YOU FROM THE MEN WHO WOULD USE YOU AND BREAK YOU. I DON’T WANT YOU TO SUFFER, ALICE, NOT ONE MOMENT. I WON’T LET THEM TAKE YOU.”
Cheshire is my favorite character, and I thought the characterization was perfectly done. He still retains the mad qualities of the original character while retaining the poise and grace of a cat.
I must offer a trigger warning for this first book though. Feminism is none existence. Male dominance and objectification of women are a huge theme throughout this first book, and the subject of rape is prevalent. It is not fun to read, though I can understand why it was included.
This book is disturbing. Period. But it’s also so well done that it’s hard to put down.
Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship