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A review by aceofknaves88
Alice by Christina Henry
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What a weird, weird book.
First off, and this is a minor thing, I couldn't settle into the setting. It was a blend of the real world and Wonderland. Like, there was no Wonderland that Alice went to, just...the world of the book was kinda real kinda fantasy.
Secondly, this book is FULL of CHOICES! Making Alice start out in an insane asylum because her parents thought she was imagining the horrible things that happened to her? Interesting place to start and I dig that.
Making this book SO rapey? Don't love that. Most of the original Wonderland citizens that show up in this book are violent gang bosses who deal in sex trafficking. Except Cheshire. He doesn't deal in women.
But The Rabbit? A violent sex trafficker who held Alice captive and raped her. The Caterpillar? Violent sex trafficker. The Walrus? Not only a violent sex trafficker but a cannibal. And they are all humans. And Cheshire and The Caterpillar are magicians. The Walrus and Mr. Carpenter are just humans.
And Alice is a magician, too.
Oh, and the Mad Hatter is now Nicholas, "The Mad Hatcher of Heathtown", so called because he loves to hack people up with a hatchet. He is Alice's partner.
First off, and this is a minor thing, I couldn't settle into the setting. It was a blend of the real world and Wonderland. Like, there was no Wonderland that Alice went to, just...the world of the book was kinda real kinda fantasy.
Secondly, this book is FULL of CHOICES! Making Alice start out in an insane asylum because her parents thought she was imagining the horrible things that happened to her? Interesting place to start and I dig that.
Making this book SO rapey? Don't love that. Most of the original Wonderland citizens that show up in this book are violent gang bosses who deal in sex trafficking. Except Cheshire. He doesn't deal in women.
But The Rabbit? A violent sex trafficker who held Alice captive and raped her. The Caterpillar? Violent sex trafficker. The Walrus? Not only a violent sex trafficker but a cannibal. And they are all humans. And Cheshire and The Caterpillar are magicians. The Walrus and Mr. Carpenter are just humans.
And Alice is a magician, too.
Oh, and the Mad Hatter is now Nicholas, "The Mad Hatcher of Heathtown", so called because he loves to hack people up with a hatchet. He is Alice's partner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Trafficking, and Cannibalism