Book 14: The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Here is book fourteen from my Book List 2010. The link leads to a more detailed review in my journal.
14. Title: The Looking Glass Wars
Author: Frank Beddor © 2006
Pages: 358
Thoughts: Link
Review in five words or less: Highly imaginative; fascinating concepts.
Personal Rating: «««« out of five.
This story unfolds with the premise that Wonderland is a real place and that Lewis Carroll completely messed up Alyss Heart's story by putting his own spin on things in his books. The Looking Glass Wars is the "true" account of Alyss' history, starting with the murders of her parents at the hands of her vicious Aunt Redd. To escape, bodyguard Hatter Madigan, takes seven-year-old Alyss through the Pool of Tears, but they become separated. Alyss must find a way to survive Victorian London-a place where no one believes her story with the exception of an aspiring author. However, he gets the story wrong. Meanwhile, Hatter has spent years looking for Alyss. He needs to bring her back to Wonderland to face Redd and take her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.
It was so hard for me to read the first few pages of this book and to muster any enthusiasm for them. Lewis Carroll's books were childhood favorites that I read over and over again. In order to read The Looking Glass Wars, I had to put aside my love for classic tales and focus on this book as something completely new. It was difficult at first because the changes Beddor made chafed, but I eventually warmed to the story.
Beddor's Wonderland is filled with familiar elements and characters from Carroll's books, but it is edgier, more political, and so much more violent. Alyss is a good protagonist-she is spirited and determined, but I found myself much more intrigued by the mysterious and dangerous Hatter. The Looking Glass Wars is the first book in the trilogy of the same name, and I hope there are more chapters featuring Hatter in the next two books. Recommended with a few reservations.
14 / 50 books. 28% done!
4803 / 15,000 pages. 32% done!
14. Title: The Looking Glass Wars
Author: Frank Beddor © 2006
Pages: 358
Thoughts: Link
Review in five words or less: Highly imaginative; fascinating concepts.
Personal Rating: «««« out of five.
This story unfolds with the premise that Wonderland is a real place and that Lewis Carroll completely messed up Alyss Heart's story by putting his own spin on things in his books. The Looking Glass Wars is the "true" account of Alyss' history, starting with the murders of her parents at the hands of her vicious Aunt Redd. To escape, bodyguard Hatter Madigan, takes seven-year-old Alyss through the Pool of Tears, but they become separated. Alyss must find a way to survive Victorian London-a place where no one believes her story with the exception of an aspiring author. However, he gets the story wrong. Meanwhile, Hatter has spent years looking for Alyss. He needs to bring her back to Wonderland to face Redd and take her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.
It was so hard for me to read the first few pages of this book and to muster any enthusiasm for them. Lewis Carroll's books were childhood favorites that I read over and over again. In order to read The Looking Glass Wars, I had to put aside my love for classic tales and focus on this book as something completely new. It was difficult at first because the changes Beddor made chafed, but I eventually warmed to the story.
Beddor's Wonderland is filled with familiar elements and characters from Carroll's books, but it is edgier, more political, and so much more violent. Alyss is a good protagonist-she is spirited and determined, but I found myself much more intrigued by the mysterious and dangerous Hatter. The Looking Glass Wars is the first book in the trilogy of the same name, and I hope there are more chapters featuring Hatter in the next two books. Recommended with a few reservations.
14 / 50 books. 28% done!
4803 / 15,000 pages. 32% done!