Book Review: Alice by Christina Henry

Title: Alice
Author: Christina Henry
Published: 28th June 2016
Publisher: Titan Books

This was a brilliant, well executed dark retelling/reimagining of Alice in Wonderland that I simply raced through. Fairytale reimaginings are one of my favourite type of reads and Alice more than delivered by reimagining a side of wonderland that despite its darkness didn't seem far from what could have been. Although if you like a retelling a bit closer to the mark then this is very different to the original.

Some writers just know how to grab a reader and Christina Henry is one of them. The more I read the more I wanted to read on and find out what would happen. There wasn't a single moment when I was distracted or my mind wondered, I was completely gripped the whole way through.

Christina has created a world that is part Wonderland and part our own world in a place called The Old City, but very very dark and horrifying. We recognise key characters from the original; definitely not how we remember them, but in a darker and bizarrely more life like way. I didn't think this would work but it does. Be warned though, this story is not for the faint-hearted. It's violent, bloody and pretty nightmarish. This didn't deter me though as Christina's imagination and where she takes the story had me turning the pages as fast as I could. It reminded me of the Brothers Grimm Fairytale stories, darker and more intriguing.

I went into this not knowing very much about it, so I don't want to give too much away and will leave it there. Just to say that this is another book that has made it onto my favourites list this year.

Highly addictive and compelling, I cannot wait to read Red Queen now.

       

Alice is out on June 28th