Monday, July 6, 2015

[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Alice


Christina Henry is the author of the national bestselling BLACK WINGS series (BLACK WINGS, BLACK NIGHT, BLACK HOWL, BLACK LAMENT, BLACK CITY, BLACK HEART and BLACK SPRING, Ace/Roc) and the forthcoming ALICE and RED QUEEN (Ace Trade). She enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.



Alice

Release Date 8/4/15


A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll...

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.

In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.

And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

Our review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
*Copy received in exchange for an honest review

A dark, dangerous, and delightfully gritty trip through the looking-glass. Christina Henry absolutely enthralls with Alice! This is one dark fantasy that I will be returning to again and again.

Once upon a time, there was magic in the world. Not only magic, but those lucky enough to wield it. Magicians. Things happened to change the world, and Magicians were thought to have died out. Mob-style bosses took over the quarters of the Old City, and utter depravity ran rampant. When two unlikely companions meet and set about on a journey of discovery and vengeance, secrets are revealed, and lives are forever changed.

Alice is beautifully written, completely captivating, and utterly unique. Most of our favorites from Carroll's amazing tales are used as inspiration for the characters in Alice, but turned on their head to make it more of a dark fantasy versus the trippiness we all remember from Lewis's tales. I felt hints of dystopia, some connections to Once Upon A Time in Wonderland TV show (more so given what I am assuming book #2 will be about) and, most importantly--and above all else--the gripping and action-packed storytelling I've come to know and love from Christina Henry.

This book has a little bit for everyone - there's danger, mystery, intrigue, suspense, a little bit of romance (subtly hinted at), action, magic, mayhem, and even a bit of a happily ever after, though there is plenty left to be resolved! If you like Alice in Wonderland and/or Through the Looking Glass even a little bit, give Alice a shot. But be warned, this tale is not for the faint of heart. It is dark. It is dangerous. It makes you take a look at some of the more tainted sides of the human psyche. But it is entertainment at its best, and I am honored to have had a chance to read it. I absolutely cannot wait for more!

Alice









No comments:

Post a Comment