A is for Alice

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

Focusing on an A to Z of my TBR (to be read) list, each letter will have books starting with that letter on my list, a book I’ve read and reviewed (with the review!) and one of my books matching the letter with a link about more info about the book.

I chose the books this year quite randomly from my Goodreads Want to Read page. Some are quite creatively added to letters.

If you’d rather check out my folklore post for today, go here.

You can read reviews for from previous years for this letter here, here and here, and my year-end reviews here, here, here, here and, most recently, here and here.

My TBR

About the Book I’ve Read

Alice the Dagger (The Wonderland Court #1) by Ashley McLeo

They call me the dagger.

I’m an indentured assassin, a lone wolf with capabilities that make me desirable on the black market.

Given my reputation, you can imagine that a fluffy white rabbit throwing my world upside-down was the shock of my life. Especially when he told me I was the fae heir to Wonderland. The only surviving heir because the Red Queen had brutally murdered the family that I’d one day hoped to find.

While that was devastating, I could have handled it—eventually—as long as I got revenge.

What I can’t handle is Hatter.

He’s a gorgeous and strange artist who is also working to end the Red Queen.

He makes my heart stop. He infuriates me. He touches my soul in ways no one else ever has. He sings songs in the street like an idiot.

I want to throttle him as much as I want to kiss him.

But first, I want revenge against the Red Queen. And of course, Hatter insists on sticking by my side despite my claims that I work alone.

One thing’s for sure, assassinating the Red Queen will be unlike any other job I’ve ever taken.

Alice the Dagger is a standalone fae romance and part of the Once Upon a Fairytale Night Collection. Readers who love adventure, slow-burn romances, and whimsical worlds similar to the Throne of Glass series, might also love Alice the Dagger.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I listened to the audiobook of this novel.

Alice is a snarky assassin who thought she was only part fae, who turns out to be the true heir to the Wonderland Court in Faerie – and a full-blooded, aether-blessed faery.

I liked the worldbuilding – especially the Enchanted Forest. The quest was good, the fighting okay, and iconic characters such as the Cheshire Cat and Caterpillar were great, and the twist of Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum as female pixies a fun one. But the various attacks and killing of animals were needlessly horrendous. Especially as Alice went against her gut to do these things.

An interesting take on Faerie and a retelling of Alice in Wonderland.

About the Book I’ve Read

Alice the Torch (The Wonderland Court #2) by Ashley McLeo

An assassin princess.

A shifty wizard.

A kingdom begging for freedom.

Life in the Wonderland Court is complicated . . .

Seeing as I plan on rescuing my sister from the Dark Court of Faerie, I don’t expect the complications to stop any time soon.

Especially after, Jax, a blast from my past, shows up with his killer smile. He’s persistent, and ruining one of the best things in my life—Henri Hatter.

I’m falling for Hatter, and yet, I can’t deny that I need Jax. Not if I’m going to save my sister from the Dark Court.

As much as I hate to admit it, I need all the help I can get, or else I risk losing the only family I have left.

If you love the whimsy of Alice in Wonderland and the high stakes and romance of the Throne of Glass Series, you’ll love adventuring in the Wonderland Court—and beyond!

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

I listened to the audiobook.

The adventure at the Crystal Court feels unfinished, and though I understand why they had to go there before attempting to cross the Rift, there seems to be too many loose ends, despite the story wrapping up much like a duology.

A lot of the book, it felt like Alice was merely reacting to what was going on, instead of taking decisive action. Even what happened at the Dark Court felt inevitable, if done in dramatic fashion.

Jax showing up felt like an extra bit of drama thrown in for the sake of it, but he did turn out to be useful instead of merely irritating.

The sudden love scene between Alice and Hatter felt incongruous with the tone of the rest of the story. An earlier fade to black would have been more appropriate.

And I’m not a fan of how the animals in this book was treated. Especially the conditions they stayed under in the Crystal Court, how Alice kicked her horse into action, and depriving them of water for days during their journey (when they could’ve stopped once they came to court and switched mounts before journeying on).

Great worldbuilding, loads of intrigue and Alice finally choosing herself.

My Book

Breaking the Habit (Irascible Immortals #1)

Remember that you can request all of my books from your local library!

I hope you enjoyed this. For more books I’ve read and reviewed, check out either my Pinterest board about reviews or my Goodreads profile. Alternatively, you can check out my reviews on BookBub. Have you read any of the books? Loved or hated any of them?

You can now support my time in producing book review posts (buying books, reading, writing reviews and everything else involved) by buying me a coffee. This can be a once-off thing, or you can buy me coffee again in the future at your discretion.

*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*

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