Somewhere along the way I became obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. Not quite sure when and why. Well, I think it's the weirdness and the color of theSomewhere along the way I became obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. Not quite sure when and why. Well, I think it's the weirdness and the color of the world. The darkness is there, but this book definitely brings it to the forefront. I am continually looking for more stories built on the Alice in Wonderland concept. This really fits the bill.
What if there truly was a war between the Red Queen and the White Queens? What if being queen endowed the ruler with unfathomable powers of imagination that can be used for good or bad? What if two sisters became mortal enemies, even to the degree that one would plot and execute a bloody takeover? That's the plot of this book.
I liked how Alice in Wonderland is treated as a real story that was wrongly interpreted. Alyss is taken by her bodyguard (when Wonderland falls to Queen Redd's assault) to Victorian England through a magical fountain to save her life. She's separated from her bodyguard and has to fend for herself in England. Initially she has her power of imagination but it fades the longer she is away from Wonderland. She ends up getting adopted by a vicar's family and goes under the name of Alice Liddell (the girl to whom Lewis Carroll first told his Alice in Wonderland story). She tells her story to another young vicar who plagarizes and changes some information. For instance, Alyss's name was spelled wrong. Alyss's bodyguard is Hatter Madigan, sort of what would happen if the Mad Hatter was a ninja and used his hat as a glaive spinning weapon. That part was really cool. I liked Alyss. She's young and strong-willed, and grows a lot over the course of this book. She was a bit spoiled at first, but tremendous loss shapes her into a young woman who will be an excellent ruler.
This is a dark and bloody read. Queen Redd is irredeemably evil. She wreaks a lot havoc due to her corrupt, hate-filled heart and need for revenge and constant adulation. She has no qualms about murdering her family, including her young niece. She makes a lot of people miserable, even when she doesn't kill them.
I liked how Beddor takes the story of Alice and Wonderland and creates his own series around it. Most of the elements are there, but with nice twists. The romance aspect is new to this story, but it was likeable, as well as the character of Dodge Anders, who is Alyss' love interest. The Cheshire Cat becomes a genetically modified assassin with nine lives who claims more than a few lives. The White Rabbit is a learned adviser to the Queen. The playing card army is divides into two factions, one loyal to the original queen and become freedom fighters in Alyss's name, and the genetically modified and degenerate creation of Queen Redd's black imaginations.
This is a good book for tweens and teens who like this sort of fantasy. It's too scary and bloody for younger readers. It has a lot of good action sequences and that magic of Wonderland is exquisitely illustrated through the narrative. I enjoyed listening to it, and I will pick up the next volumes on audiobook as well....more
I finally finished this. I have been so busy and distracted, it took forever. However, I enjoyed this a lot. Sexy for sure and with memorable characteI finally finished this. I have been so busy and distracted, it took forever. However, I enjoyed this a lot. Sexy for sure and with memorable characters and welcome diversity. If you like American Victorian historicals, check out the Knickerbocker series.
This book was good stuff. Dynamic leads with sexy and intense romantic chemistry and vivid history combined into one tasty package. This series is on This book was good stuff. Dynamic leads with sexy and intense romantic chemistry and vivid history combined into one tasty package. This series is on my radar and tbr list.
I hate that I am so late writing this review. It's in no way a reflection on this book, because I loved it. Christopher Argent is the real deal. He isI hate that I am so late writing this review. It's in no way a reflection on this book, because I loved it. Christopher Argent is the real deal. He is in every way a lethal assassin. Yes he really does almost kill Millie. But he can't do it. Something about her, he just can't. They form a bond that is terribly inconvenient to Christopher, he's a damaged soul who has vowed not to love anyone or anything since he lost his mother in such a horrible way. He is rich beyond calculation, has a fearsome reputation, is at the top of his game as an assassin, but inside he's a prisoner. He is truly a tortured hero in every way. I love tortured heroes. I love dangerous heroes. I love assassins. And he's a redhead. Bingo! It's Christmas.
Millie is a great heroine. She's strong and intelligent and loving and determined. She's able to work past her fears or rejection and rightfully fear of being with a cold, ruthless man like Christopher, to try to reach his heart. He's the man for her and she knows it very quickly. The question is how to conquer his arctic heart and soul.
Kerrigan Byrne knows how to write a spicy romance that will burn the pages up. She doesn't disappoint in this book. However, because Christopher is so damaged, it takes a while for them to get intimate and even longer before it's truly satisfying. I liked how she shows the ice melting around his heart, and how it's a painful process, much like when one has frostbite and hypothermia and must be warmed slowly. Millie is so good about giving Christopher space, but not giving up on him. She also has some wounds of the soul, but in contrast, she has gotten healing for her wounds. And she has her adorable son who anchors her and gives her a reason for being.
The action is very good and the villains are very evil. There are some quite violent moments. Nothing gory, but it's done in a way that cements the authenticity of the dangerous world that Argent lives in, and the seriousness of the thread that Millie is facing. I loved seeing Farah and Dorian from The Highwayman, and we get to meet the heroine for the next book The Highlander. I confess I read that one first, so I'm excited to look back and see where Mena came from. Her story is very sad. I'm glad she gets her happy ending in the next book.
If you're a historical romance fan and you're not reading this series, you need to rectify that immediately. This is a great series. I've loved every book I've read. Dangerous heroes and strong, intelligence, loving heroines in an authentic historical setting with plenty of action and intrigue. Oh and some hot loving. What more can you ask for?...more
Okay, this is a five star book. I can't lie to myself about it. Loved it so much. The kind of fated romance makes me feel gooey inside. My Kryptonite Okay, this is a five star book. I can't lie to myself about it. Loved it so much. The kind of fated romance makes me feel gooey inside. My Kryptonite is a lethal and scary hero who is really soft and sweet and vulnerable inside. And the way that Farah and Dorian have loved each other their whole lives, I can't even.
Kerrigan Byrne packs so much story in this short book, with so many delicious moments that will make a romance fan beg for more. Lovely sexytimes when it was appropriate, and a delicious surprise in there. If you like tortured heroes and steadfast heroines who are independent but sweet, you need to check this out. Although the love story makes one's heart melt, there is a dark and edgy quality that is part and parcel to this story. Byrne doesn't shy away from the seedy aspects of London life, nor the ugliness of humanity that would subject children to the unspeakable. She speaks to social inequalities and the failures of the legal system in seeing justice done equally, regardless of social status. Historical romance remains one of my favorite genres because of the window it provides into the past with characters you can connect to.
Dorian might be my favorite hero of 2016. He's so very. And I loved Farah so much as well.
Dark, delicious, heartwarming and oh so satisfying. Highly recommend this book. Check out this series. Not one to miss....more
I was verra much enamored with this book. A great match between the very tortured hero and heroine. I like my Highlanders brawny and intense, and LiamI was verra much enamored with this book. A great match between the very tortured hero and heroine. I like my Highlanders brawny and intense, and Liam definitely fits the bill. I have found another historical romance series to follow!
I am a huge fan of western and Scottish historical romances. It's a lovely double whammy to get both in the same book. I liked Fletcher's authenticityI am a huge fan of western and Scottish historical romances. It's a lovely double whammy to get both in the same book. I liked Fletcher's authenticity (and sometimes crassness) and Rosalyn's feistyness. They made a good couple. This felt a little short to me. I was like, "is that it?" when it ended. I would definitely keep reading this series.
Danielle The Book Huntress
>
Books:
victorian
(282)
Loading...
