Book: Alice (The Chronicles of Alice #1)
Author:Christina Henry
Pages: 325 (Paperback)
Publisher: Titan Books
Published: June 28th, 2016
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo with the screams of the poor souls inside.In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blonde, 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.
My review:
contains spoilers
I mean, basically all the Alice in Wonderland stories are kinda strange, the original also is. But this one seemed especially strange to me. I got this mainly because the cover is gorgeous. Though the book not only convinces with its cover. This Alice-retelling is really dark and brutal, with a lot of blood. This is exactly the kind of book I like. I’m still confused by the relationship the two main characters have. They got friends during their time in an asylum where they were two crazy people, forgotten and abandoned by the rest of the world, Hatcher aka Nicholas being 10 years older than Alice. But when they get out they suddenly fall in love or are in love already? But to me the Hatcher, even though is described as protective of her seems to me more like a bit obsessed with her. I couldn’t really get a touch to his character and how he acted. And the whole magic thing and the Jabberwock(y)? I mean, the concept of this city and different quarters being dictated by mafia-like bosses is good, but then suddenly everyone is a magician when Magicians are supposed to be dead and gone. And OF COURSE, the white main character girl Alice is one too and with her new-found power (which she can control pretty fast?) she destroys all her enemies and she’s so pretty and nice that everyone seems to like her. She seems to be one of those almighty main characters. And after getting medicine for 10 years in a hospital she has withdrawal symptoms once and then suddenly her body doesn’t need any medication and powders anymore? Like, no, that doesn’t go that fast. She’s a strong woman though and even though she loves Hatcher, I’m pretty sure she would survive without him easily because she is hella strong and indipendent. And all these bosses everyone is so afraid about? They are too easily done with, they seem to be almighty at first but then these two people kill everyone with such an ease? That doesnt really make sense to me.
Basically the story concept is great and the characters are pretty cool too. But the whole thing just had too many inconsistencies for my liking. What I really loved though, was the writing style. It really fit the whole atmosphere and made the world come alive in its dark, bloody beauty. And there were so many great lines. I enjoyed this book even with the inconsistencies.
Rating:
★★★/5
