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Gears of Wonderland
James Riggs lives a normal life with a mind-numbing job, an overbearing boss, and a demanding fiancée. Then he witnesses the murder of his best friend. Saved from the murderer by a strange man in a white suit, James is cast down a hole and into a world he always believed was a kid’s story. Wonderland. But things have changed since Alice’s visit. The Knave of Hearts has seized the Heart throne, conquered all of Wonderland with his steam-powered technological marvels, and rules the land with an iron fist. Aided by the Mad Hatter's daughter, James journeys to discover why he has been brought to Wonderland and how the tattoo on his arm could be the key to Wonderland’s salvation—or its destruction.
216 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2011
21 people are currently reading
2920 people want to read
About the author
Jason G. Anderson
5 books21 followersJason G. Anderson lives in Hobart, Tasmania with his wife and several cats. During the day, he helps Antarctic scientists manage the vast quantities of data they collect. At night, he dreams of other worlds and realities much different to our own. His writing interests include sci-fi, urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic and steampunk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
April 29, 2012
I liked this book and i enjoyed revisiting a different wonderland. It was a great introduction to Steampunk for me. I was never bored of this book just i do wish it was a bit more detailed perhaps and a bit longer. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking for a fun quick read.
May 31, 2012
Alice in Wonderland is my favourite children's book of all time. I've read and re-read it so often that I can quote entire passages by wrote. As such, I tend to be drawn to re-interpretations and adaptions of the source material and their characters. (To whit, America McGee's long waited for sequel Alice: Madness Returns is a must play for those into console gaming.)
I stumbled upon Gears of Wonderland by accident. Having read Clockwork Fagin, I was in the mood for a bit more steampunk and Anderson's novel popped up in a random Amazon search. The price was right, and in light of the previous paragraph, I took a punt.
Overall, I'm glad I did, though Gears of Wonderland has some very apparent first novel issues (his short stories and flash fiction aside).
Gears of Wonderland follows James Riggs, a guy who lives a normal life with a mind-numbing job, an overbearing boss, and a demanding fiancée. Then he witnesses the murder of his best friend. Saved from the murderer by a strange man in a white suit, James is cast down a hole and into a world he always believed was a kid’s story. Wonderland.
But things have changed since Alice’s visit. The Knave of Hearts has seized the Heart throne, conquered all of Wonderland with his steam-powered technological marvels, and rules the land with an iron fist.
Aided by the Mad Hatter's daughter, James journeys to discover why he has been brought to Wonderland and how the tattoo on his arm could be the key to Wonderland’s salvation—or its destruction.
Sounds intriguing, right?
There are all sorts of things to love about the book: the interesting blend of steampunk (albeit light), the rationale for the Victorian world of Wonderland, the progression of time and the characters post Alice, and some truly fantastic new characters - specifically the sky pirate, Coulter Tyrrel.
Unfortunately, the plot is pretty tepid, tired stuff. Hardly as original as you might have hope. In the interim years after Alice's visit, the Knave of Hearts (who stole the tarts, or did he as the trial was never really finished?) has usurped the King of Hearts who fell gravely ill after the death of the more memorable Queen of Hearts. Following the Knave's ascension to the throne and aided by intel from a less than reliable Cheshire Cat has overthrown all of the kingdoms of Wonderland (there are six kingdoms in this version of Wonderland - Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades, Red and White). And, as you could easily guess, he's become a despotic tyrant in the process.
Enter James, who finds his way to the resistance, all too easily, within 2 pages after entering Wonderland, and suddenly his mysterious past is resolved into a messiah-esque complex as he sets out to unseat the Knave.
No bonus points for guessing who wins. While we're at it, can someone explain why almost all post Alice novels in Wonderland find it dysfunctional and usually ruled by a new tyrant that has to be defeated???
Additionally, the characters while entertaining and sometimes exciting aren't very multi-dimensional. What you get is what you see. Very few of the characters, with the exception - possibly - of Torre, have any real character development or substantial shifts in their beliefs or substance. Re-invention or subversion of known characters, such as the Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit, takes the place of any honest development.
It's an entertaining enough read but is predictable and leaves some of the minor plot points maddeningly unresolved: Kara's backstory/subplot specifically. Kara - the daughter of the Mad Hatter and a sky pirate (naturally) - has been searching for her mother, said pirate, for years. Part of the reason she accompanies James to the Caterpillar is to gain knowledge of where to find her mother. After going through all the hassle and danger Then the subplot is dropped like a hot potato except for a coda at the end that equates to "well, maybe someday I'll find her". Now I realise that Anderson may well be storing up for book two, but a simple toss away at the start would have been enough. Fixating a character on a subplot that is then simply abandoned is a bit annoying for the reader. Additionally, the requisite romantic subplot seems to stall and go nowhere quickly.
My other gripe is that I found myself constantly thinking that many of the key moments had been lovingly borrowed from other books. The trip to the Caterpillar, for example, is straight out of The Princess Bride. The sky pirates felt awfully like Stardust. Nothing wrong with a bit of loving reference but too much just makes me wonder what else is going to be pinched.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book though it definitely has flaws. I'd read a follow up, but probably only recommend this to people with a true affection for Wonderland.
3/5
I stumbled upon Gears of Wonderland by accident. Having read Clockwork Fagin, I was in the mood for a bit more steampunk and Anderson's novel popped up in a random Amazon search. The price was right, and in light of the previous paragraph, I took a punt.
Overall, I'm glad I did, though Gears of Wonderland has some very apparent first novel issues (his short stories and flash fiction aside).
Gears of Wonderland follows James Riggs, a guy who lives a normal life with a mind-numbing job, an overbearing boss, and a demanding fiancée. Then he witnesses the murder of his best friend. Saved from the murderer by a strange man in a white suit, James is cast down a hole and into a world he always believed was a kid’s story. Wonderland.
But things have changed since Alice’s visit. The Knave of Hearts has seized the Heart throne, conquered all of Wonderland with his steam-powered technological marvels, and rules the land with an iron fist.
Aided by the Mad Hatter's daughter, James journeys to discover why he has been brought to Wonderland and how the tattoo on his arm could be the key to Wonderland’s salvation—or its destruction.
Sounds intriguing, right?
There are all sorts of things to love about the book: the interesting blend of steampunk (albeit light), the rationale for the Victorian world of Wonderland, the progression of time and the characters post Alice, and some truly fantastic new characters - specifically the sky pirate, Coulter Tyrrel.
Unfortunately, the plot is pretty tepid, tired stuff. Hardly as original as you might have hope. In the interim years after Alice's visit, the Knave of Hearts (who stole the tarts, or did he as the trial was never really finished?) has usurped the King of Hearts who fell gravely ill after the death of the more memorable Queen of Hearts. Following the Knave's ascension to the throne and aided by intel from a less than reliable Cheshire Cat has overthrown all of the kingdoms of Wonderland (there are six kingdoms in this version of Wonderland - Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades, Red and White). And, as you could easily guess, he's become a despotic tyrant in the process.
Enter James, who finds his way to the resistance, all too easily, within 2 pages after entering Wonderland, and suddenly his mysterious past is resolved into a messiah-esque complex as he sets out to unseat the Knave.
No bonus points for guessing who wins. While we're at it, can someone explain why almost all post Alice novels in Wonderland find it dysfunctional and usually ruled by a new tyrant that has to be defeated???
Additionally, the characters while entertaining and sometimes exciting aren't very multi-dimensional. What you get is what you see. Very few of the characters, with the exception - possibly - of Torre, have any real character development or substantial shifts in their beliefs or substance. Re-invention or subversion of known characters, such as the Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit, takes the place of any honest development.
It's an entertaining enough read but is predictable and leaves some of the minor plot points maddeningly unresolved: Kara's backstory/subplot specifically. Kara - the daughter of the Mad Hatter and a sky pirate (naturally) - has been searching for her mother, said pirate, for years. Part of the reason she accompanies James to the Caterpillar is to gain knowledge of where to find her mother. After going through all the hassle and danger Then the subplot is dropped like a hot potato except for a coda at the end that equates to "well, maybe someday I'll find her". Now I realise that Anderson may well be storing up for book two, but a simple toss away at the start would have been enough. Fixating a character on a subplot that is then simply abandoned is a bit annoying for the reader. Additionally, the requisite romantic subplot seems to stall and go nowhere quickly.
My other gripe is that I found myself constantly thinking that many of the key moments had been lovingly borrowed from other books. The trip to the Caterpillar, for example, is straight out of The Princess Bride. The sky pirates felt awfully like Stardust. Nothing wrong with a bit of loving reference but too much just makes me wonder what else is going to be pinched.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book though it definitely has flaws. I'd read a follow up, but probably only recommend this to people with a true affection for Wonderland.
3/5
January 20, 2016
"Everything is a game, my boy. Life is a game. You just have to know how to play it. I mean, look at this land."
Hands down, this is the best Alice retelling I've read so far and I'm so happy about it, you have no idea! *sighs of relief*
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
"Because they're both covered in fur and go moo."
I loved every single character in this book: James was a very relatable one, his understanding of his newly found situation was gradual but believable (what I mean is, he didn't accept this steampunk Wonderland straight away but also he didn't mope about it for the entire book), Kara was a bamf and I would have loved to have a deeper glimpse into her past, Torre was rough but loyal and his oath to the crown was very moving. I found the White Rabbit charming and handsome and I would have loved to see more of him throughout the story. King Lahire was an interesting character, son of the Queen of Hearts, could have been a greater villain and actually I'd have preferred a different resolution that would have paid him much more justice. The Cheshire Cat reminded me of the one in the video game American McGee's Alice and, again, I would have loved to see more of him in the story. It could have been longer, that's what I'm trying to say!
"Revenge rarely makes us happy, even if we think it will. The best we can do is to find a reason to live, or something to strive for."
What more can I say? It was very action packed and actually it laid the ground for a possible... sequel maybe? I hope so! I'd surely read it!
Hands down, this is the best Alice retelling I've read so far and I'm so happy about it, you have no idea! *sighs of relief*
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
"Because they're both covered in fur and go moo."
I loved every single character in this book: James was a very relatable one, his understanding of his newly found situation was gradual but believable (what I mean is, he didn't accept this steampunk Wonderland straight away but also he didn't mope about it for the entire book), Kara was a bamf and I would have loved to have a deeper glimpse into her past, Torre was rough but loyal and his oath to the crown was very moving. I found the White Rabbit charming and handsome and I would have loved to see more of him throughout the story. King Lahire was an interesting character, son of the Queen of Hearts, could have been a greater villain and actually I'd have preferred a different resolution that would have paid him much more justice. The Cheshire Cat reminded me of the one in the video game American McGee's Alice and, again, I would have loved to see more of him in the story. It could have been longer, that's what I'm trying to say!
"Revenge rarely makes us happy, even if we think it will. The best we can do is to find a reason to live, or something to strive for."
What more can I say? It was very action packed and actually it laid the ground for a possible... sequel maybe? I hope so! I'd surely read it!
January 20, 2012
To begin with I didn't like the main character. James is sort of well to be honest a bit of a spineless whiny bitch. He hates his life, he can't stand up to his overbearing uptight girlfriend to be honest getting into Wonderland is the best thing that ever happens to him. Overall the book was ok. I would recommend it to anyone on an Alice in Wonderland kick or someone somewhat into steam punk. If you're a hardcore steam punk fan I'm not sure if you're going to like it because it didn't focus as much on that aspect. The story itself was reasonably predictable and to be honest I didn't hate the bad guy. He was misguided but deep down thought he was doing the right thing. It's a nice read but overall not something I will ever pick up again off my shelf. Oh and James does grow on you a little bit but he's still a whiny bitch by the end of the book, not as spineless anymore.
February 20, 2017
I began this book excited to read another re-imagining of Wonderland, not realizing that it was a steampunk novel. However, I quite enjoyed the genre and felt it worked really well with Wonderland. I also enjoyed how this novel incorporated both the red and white kingdom and suit kingdom aspects of Wonderland. I do wish it had been a bit longer, but it did an excellent job of telling the story in just over 200 pages!
December 28, 2011
If you like Alice in Wonderland, you should definitely read this book. If you like Steampunk, you should definitely read this book.
I read it on my Kindle and by 3% in, the story was off and running in a fast-paced ride. Jason is a gifted storyteller and the way that he wove threads was impressive. And while the story overtly references Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, this is a very different story. The Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit and the Heart Kingdom are all here. But what I enjoyed the most are the new characters created by the author. The main character, James, is a very likeable guy who seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds himself caught up in major conflict. I also really enjoyed Kara, the female lead character. Jason created a gritty female character (the daughter of the Mad Hatter) and she is a great counterpoint to James.
The author also created some wonderful contraptions such as the flying machines and robots that add great Steampunk detail to this story.
My only complaint is that the story seemed to lag for me toward the end and I wanted less description there and more action to pull me on toward the end. But the ending itself was satisfying and I think ends in such a way that the author has left himself room for a second book with these great characters.
I've read quite a few self-pubbed books in 2011 and this is at the top of my list as one of the most well-written (and well formatted and edited) books of the Year of the Indie. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I read it on my Kindle and by 3% in, the story was off and running in a fast-paced ride. Jason is a gifted storyteller and the way that he wove threads was impressive. And while the story overtly references Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, this is a very different story. The Cheshire Cat, White Rabbit and the Heart Kingdom are all here. But what I enjoyed the most are the new characters created by the author. The main character, James, is a very likeable guy who seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds himself caught up in major conflict. I also really enjoyed Kara, the female lead character. Jason created a gritty female character (the daughter of the Mad Hatter) and she is a great counterpoint to James.
The author also created some wonderful contraptions such as the flying machines and robots that add great Steampunk detail to this story.
My only complaint is that the story seemed to lag for me toward the end and I wanted less description there and more action to pull me on toward the end. But the ending itself was satisfying and I think ends in such a way that the author has left himself room for a second book with these great characters.
I've read quite a few self-pubbed books in 2011 and this is at the top of my list as one of the most well-written (and well formatted and edited) books of the Year of the Indie. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
January 24, 2012
I recommend Gears of Wonderland to anyone who has read the original Alice in Wonderland book/s and would like to revisit the mystical rabbit hole of adventure.
First off, the cover of this book is incredibly awesome! WOW! seriously, WOW! As a graphic artist it just sang to me. I also loved the coloring of the book pages being a beige-y yellow (not white) to better match the aged, warm feeling of the cover. Really nice. Great attention to the details there.
Gears of Wonderland is a retelling, or really, a revisit of Alice's previous journey to Wonderland. Only this time it's not Alice, it's James Riggs.
After a bad day at the office and a fight with his fiancee, James takes off and seeks refuge at the apartment of his closest friend, Melvin. Unfortunately, his friend is soon murdered and fearing he'll be next, James flees the scene and is saved from impending harm by a mysterious, white suit wearing stranger, who tackles him and pushes him down a hole that appears, just as mysteriously, as James is about to hit the ground.
What happens from there is a more grown up, or grown older, version of Alice's trip to Wonderland some centuries earlier. This new version has replaced the older Gothic style with fantastical machinery, enormous gravity-defying airships and equally as amazing robotic technology. very steampunk-y and very cool.
Lahire, the Knave of Hearts and the current ruler of the Wonderland Kingdoms, is informed a stranger from the Otherworld has turned up in Wonderland and now there's an all out search and destroy mission to locate the intruder.
James soon realizes he's in as much danger in this strange, new world as he was in his own world. With assistance from Kara (who just so happens to be the Mad Hatters daughter) and Torre, a soldier of the Red Kings elite troops - the Castle Brigade - and who also turns out to be a great new friend, James finds himself racing around all the strange lands and lost kingdoms of Wonderland trying to find Caterpillar, who can help them determine who's trying to kill James and why. During this search James begins to discover clues to his own identity, and ultimately, finds his true purpose in life along the way.
All in all, the book was great. But as awesome as it was, in my opinion, it just wasn't quite enough. I liked the authors writing style and loved where he was going. I found this Wonderland easy to believe and visualize and wanted to be immersed in his concept. However, I would have loved to see even more of this fabulous, machine driven, steampunkish world. I would have liked deeper character development and more depth in the relationships. I also think it could have done with more fantasy and adventure and marvel. more oomph.
I still quite enjoyed reading Gears of Wonderland and I would totally recommend it to others.
First off, the cover of this book is incredibly awesome! WOW! seriously, WOW! As a graphic artist it just sang to me. I also loved the coloring of the book pages being a beige-y yellow (not white) to better match the aged, warm feeling of the cover. Really nice. Great attention to the details there.
Gears of Wonderland is a retelling, or really, a revisit of Alice's previous journey to Wonderland. Only this time it's not Alice, it's James Riggs.
After a bad day at the office and a fight with his fiancee, James takes off and seeks refuge at the apartment of his closest friend, Melvin. Unfortunately, his friend is soon murdered and fearing he'll be next, James flees the scene and is saved from impending harm by a mysterious, white suit wearing stranger, who tackles him and pushes him down a hole that appears, just as mysteriously, as James is about to hit the ground.
What happens from there is a more grown up, or grown older, version of Alice's trip to Wonderland some centuries earlier. This new version has replaced the older Gothic style with fantastical machinery, enormous gravity-defying airships and equally as amazing robotic technology. very steampunk-y and very cool.
Lahire, the Knave of Hearts and the current ruler of the Wonderland Kingdoms, is informed a stranger from the Otherworld has turned up in Wonderland and now there's an all out search and destroy mission to locate the intruder.
James soon realizes he's in as much danger in this strange, new world as he was in his own world. With assistance from Kara (who just so happens to be the Mad Hatters daughter) and Torre, a soldier of the Red Kings elite troops - the Castle Brigade - and who also turns out to be a great new friend, James finds himself racing around all the strange lands and lost kingdoms of Wonderland trying to find Caterpillar, who can help them determine who's trying to kill James and why. During this search James begins to discover clues to his own identity, and ultimately, finds his true purpose in life along the way.
All in all, the book was great. But as awesome as it was, in my opinion, it just wasn't quite enough. I liked the authors writing style and loved where he was going. I found this Wonderland easy to believe and visualize and wanted to be immersed in his concept. However, I would have loved to see even more of this fabulous, machine driven, steampunkish world. I would have liked deeper character development and more depth in the relationships. I also think it could have done with more fantasy and adventure and marvel. more oomph.
I still quite enjoyed reading Gears of Wonderland and I would totally recommend it to others.
August 14, 2014
Apart from fairy-tale retellings, I really like books that retell, or are based on, Alice in Wonderland (so much material to work with!). When I saw this book in BookBlogging, the pretty cover instantly caught my eye, and the blurb sounded so enticing! And happily, the book lived up to my expectations.
James Riggs is a pushover. His boss bullies him, his fiancee is getting him to give up his favourite activities. So at the start of the book, his boss's plans and his fiance's plans collide, forcing James to just get away from them. He goes to his old friend Melvin, but sadly, Melvin is killed right in front of his eyes, and James is transported to some weird Victorian-style country.
Wonderland. It's not the same Wonderland that Alice went to, it's the Wonderland that Alice changed by virtue of being an Outsider. And the paranoid despot is desperate to catch him. In a stroke of luck, Kara, the daughter of the Mad Hatter and the first person who runs into James has ties to the resistance, and they start off on a wild and crazy adventure, aided occasionally by the White Rabbit.
The conflict in this novel comes from the rebellion and, more importantly, Jame's internal conflict. James has been pushed around for so long that he doesn't want to save Wonderland. All he wants to do is to go home where everything is safe and familiar. Through his journey, James has to find in him, the strength that everyone needs, since for some reason, they're all counting on him.
For me, my favourite character in this book wasn't James, but Torre. Torre is an elite knight from the now-defeated Red Heart Kingdom, and his loyalty to his now dead King was really touching. Plus, his character really develops in the last few chapters, and he becomes more than the touchy, prickly knight that first met James and Kara.
Speaking of James and Kara, I found their romance to be very predictable. Thankfully, it didn't take up much of the book, although I suspect that the next book will talk about it more. But since it's not instalove, I'm looking forward to seeing how the author will handle their romance. I'd also like to know much more about Kara in the next book - there simply isn't enough backstory about her in this book.
All in all, I really like this retelling. I enjoyed this version of Wonderland, and the adventure was fun and easy to read.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the author via BookBlogging in exchange for a free and honest review.
This post was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
James Riggs is a pushover. His boss bullies him, his fiancee is getting him to give up his favourite activities. So at the start of the book, his boss's plans and his fiance's plans collide, forcing James to just get away from them. He goes to his old friend Melvin, but sadly, Melvin is killed right in front of his eyes, and James is transported to some weird Victorian-style country.
Wonderland. It's not the same Wonderland that Alice went to, it's the Wonderland that Alice changed by virtue of being an Outsider. And the paranoid despot is desperate to catch him. In a stroke of luck, Kara, the daughter of the Mad Hatter and the first person who runs into James has ties to the resistance, and they start off on a wild and crazy adventure, aided occasionally by the White Rabbit.
The conflict in this novel comes from the rebellion and, more importantly, Jame's internal conflict. James has been pushed around for so long that he doesn't want to save Wonderland. All he wants to do is to go home where everything is safe and familiar. Through his journey, James has to find in him, the strength that everyone needs, since for some reason, they're all counting on him.
For me, my favourite character in this book wasn't James, but Torre. Torre is an elite knight from the now-defeated Red Heart Kingdom, and his loyalty to his now dead King was really touching. Plus, his character really develops in the last few chapters, and he becomes more than the touchy, prickly knight that first met James and Kara.
Speaking of James and Kara, I found their romance to be very predictable. Thankfully, it didn't take up much of the book, although I suspect that the next book will talk about it more. But since it's not instalove, I'm looking forward to seeing how the author will handle their romance. I'd also like to know much more about Kara in the next book - there simply isn't enough backstory about her in this book.
All in all, I really like this retelling. I enjoyed this version of Wonderland, and the adventure was fun and easy to read.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the author via BookBlogging in exchange for a free and honest review.
This post was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
September 5, 2012
3.5 stars. Both the Wonderland setting and the steampunk aspects feel thin, but it's an enjoyable tale nonetheless.
James Riggs is a quiet, mousy sort of man who is often taken advantage of. One night, he goes to his friend Melvin's for consolation. Unfortunately he discovers Melvin to be murdered, and flees the scene. But with the help of a mysyerious stranger, he ends up in Alice's Wonderland. Wonderland is changed from what it used to be before, and is now under the rule of the dictator Lahire. Can James survive and get back home?
The book doesnt make good use of either Wonderland or steampunk ideas. While the characters in Wonderland have some clever twists to them, they are made slightly more mundane, and there is little of the nonsense in the original book. This actually is justified by a plot point: apparently Alice's time in Wonderland changed it into a more Victorian kind of world, and James changes it slightly as he enters. It's not used well otherwise though.
Same with the steampunk. It's very lightly done, and there's not much of a Victorian feel to the book. However, the tale itself is pretty good. Lahire especially makes for a good antagonist, as he believes he is doing what he does to promote Wonderland's stability. The plot is good action-adventure stuff, although a couple of plot threads are dropped. The characters work well, although some seem to be stock types.
I found myself liking the book more than not. It's good, light genre fiction. It won't blow you away, but it was fun to read and has enough clever twists to rise above just being okay.
James Riggs is a quiet, mousy sort of man who is often taken advantage of. One night, he goes to his friend Melvin's for consolation. Unfortunately he discovers Melvin to be murdered, and flees the scene. But with the help of a mysyerious stranger, he ends up in Alice's Wonderland. Wonderland is changed from what it used to be before, and is now under the rule of the dictator Lahire. Can James survive and get back home?
The book doesnt make good use of either Wonderland or steampunk ideas. While the characters in Wonderland have some clever twists to them, they are made slightly more mundane, and there is little of the nonsense in the original book. This actually is justified by a plot point: apparently Alice's time in Wonderland changed it into a more Victorian kind of world, and James changes it slightly as he enters. It's not used well otherwise though.
Same with the steampunk. It's very lightly done, and there's not much of a Victorian feel to the book. However, the tale itself is pretty good. Lahire especially makes for a good antagonist, as he believes he is doing what he does to promote Wonderland's stability. The plot is good action-adventure stuff, although a couple of plot threads are dropped. The characters work well, although some seem to be stock types.
I found myself liking the book more than not. It's good, light genre fiction. It won't blow you away, but it was fun to read and has enough clever twists to rise above just being okay.
June 18, 2013
I really enjoyed this, it was something different and had adventure in it just like the orignal Alice books.
The story was a good concept that gave a different take while in so many ways been the same as previous Alice books. I was unsure about a male lead and was thinking how they gonna do it?, maybe a male desendent of Alice but as I read further and who James was was revieled I thought yes thats a good idea and it worked.
I thought the author built a great version of wonderland and it was described so well that you really thought you were there and I like books like that that allow you to immers yourself in the world created.
James was ya typical nerdy guy who turns into the reluctant hero and discovers himself and who he trully is, the author describes him in away that you feel that your there for his growth from nerdy boy to hero.
Kara was just a likeable character. I liked her strong sassy attitude and was happy she wasn't written to begin strong then turn all damsel but she stayed that strong female lead.
I thought how the orignal Alice characters like white rabbit, mad hatter and caterpillar had bit parts that really helped the story grow.
The cheshire cat all I will say is never saw that coming.
My only draw back is the final battle was over too quick to the point I thought I'd missed a page but hadn't and it is sold as a steampunk fantasy which it is there just wasn't enough steampunk influences for my liking and I believe this book could have gone more seampunk!
All in all I loved this book and if another book continuing the adventure was to be written I would read it.
It was a light hearted adventure and I really enjoyed it.
The story was a good concept that gave a different take while in so many ways been the same as previous Alice books. I was unsure about a male lead and was thinking how they gonna do it?, maybe a male desendent of Alice but as I read further and who James was was revieled I thought yes thats a good idea and it worked.
I thought the author built a great version of wonderland and it was described so well that you really thought you were there and I like books like that that allow you to immers yourself in the world created.
James was ya typical nerdy guy who turns into the reluctant hero and discovers himself and who he trully is, the author describes him in away that you feel that your there for his growth from nerdy boy to hero.
Kara was just a likeable character. I liked her strong sassy attitude and was happy she wasn't written to begin strong then turn all damsel but she stayed that strong female lead.
I thought how the orignal Alice characters like white rabbit, mad hatter and caterpillar had bit parts that really helped the story grow.
The cheshire cat all I will say is never saw that coming.
My only draw back is the final battle was over too quick to the point I thought I'd missed a page but hadn't and it is sold as a steampunk fantasy which it is there just wasn't enough steampunk influences for my liking and I believe this book could have gone more seampunk!
All in all I loved this book and if another book continuing the adventure was to be written I would read it.
It was a light hearted adventure and I really enjoyed it.
July 22, 2012
I absolutely loved this book!!! When I heard the synopsis of the book I thought it was going to be some kind of modern retelling of the old Alice in Wonderland story. That wasn't the case at all. Instead of a new twist on an old story it was more like a continuation of the original story.
Anderson did a great job getting my attention and I was emotionally attached to the story immediately. I thought that the main character, James, was a wuss and couldn't stand his fiance or his boss and couldn't believe he would let them push him around like he did. I was getting very irritated and looked down to discover I was only 1% of the way into the book. I knew right then that I was going to really like this book. I was glad to discover that it didn't take James long in Wonderland to grow a backbone and start figuring out what he wanted from life.
It was fun to see the old characters from Alice's adventures and see how they played into the new story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story. It's even clean and has no bad language or behavior. I am going to recommend it to my 9-year-old daughter. I think she would like it too. Not very many books that can interest both the child and the adult. :)
Anderson did a great job getting my attention and I was emotionally attached to the story immediately. I thought that the main character, James, was a wuss and couldn't stand his fiance or his boss and couldn't believe he would let them push him around like he did. I was getting very irritated and looked down to discover I was only 1% of the way into the book. I knew right then that I was going to really like this book. I was glad to discover that it didn't take James long in Wonderland to grow a backbone and start figuring out what he wanted from life.
It was fun to see the old characters from Alice's adventures and see how they played into the new story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story. It's even clean and has no bad language or behavior. I am going to recommend it to my 9-year-old daughter. I think she would like it too. Not very many books that can interest both the child and the adult. :)
August 12, 2014
I loved, loved, loved this book. It was among the best I ever read, up with Neil Gaiman, Alexander Wolkow, Michael Ende, Diana Wynne Jones and Astrid Lindgren.
The author managed to deliver bits of information in a way that I rediscovered “Alice in Wonderland” from a completely new angle. The world the main character visits is grittier that the Wonderland of Alice stories, but every difference has a reason. And the reasons are explained throughout the book without being preachy or dumped at the reader. It was a lot of fun to try and figure out which direction the story would take next (and believe me, I’m really good at that, often seeing twists and turns long before they are revealed – I’m an author and should be able to do that, right?). But this story managed to surprise me over and over again. I read breathlessly until late at night and just couldn’t put it down regardless how tired I was the next day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the twisting of familiar tales, for all those who love characters that grow up during a story, and for those that love steampunk. This story has everything. I’m now off, looking for more stories by this author.
The author managed to deliver bits of information in a way that I rediscovered “Alice in Wonderland” from a completely new angle. The world the main character visits is grittier that the Wonderland of Alice stories, but every difference has a reason. And the reasons are explained throughout the book without being preachy or dumped at the reader. It was a lot of fun to try and figure out which direction the story would take next (and believe me, I’m really good at that, often seeing twists and turns long before they are revealed – I’m an author and should be able to do that, right?). But this story managed to surprise me over and over again. I read breathlessly until late at night and just couldn’t put it down regardless how tired I was the next day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the twisting of familiar tales, for all those who love characters that grow up during a story, and for those that love steampunk. This story has everything. I’m now off, looking for more stories by this author.
January 7, 2012
The book was great and entertaining, as the first Outsider since Alice finds his way into Wonderland and finds that all is not quite as it was when she left it all those years ago. Many of the classic characters are still there, but years of war have changed everyone. The adventures the protagonist, James, goes on with the Mad Hatter's daughter as they try to overthrow the evil King of Hearts are fun and exciting. I just wish that there was more whimsy and wordplay and nonsense like the original story. Instead, there were a few quotes thrown in from the stories to remind you that you were still in Wonderland. Don't get me wrong though, it was a terrific story with an open ending. Hopefully more with come for these stories.
October 3, 2012
I can never pass up an opportunity to read a book that is a remake of a classic that has been updated or placed in a different era. The ingenuity of the authors doing this just amaze me ... and this book is another good example of that.
While I would have liked a little more detail in some areas, but maybe the author is going to delve into those areas in later sequels.
Overall, it was an interesting read and the liberties it took with the original storyline only helped to make the story more plausible and enjoyable.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone. It is worth the price of admission.
While I would have liked a little more detail in some areas, but maybe the author is going to delve into those areas in later sequels.
Overall, it was an interesting read and the liberties it took with the original storyline only helped to make the story more plausible and enjoyable.
All in all I would recommend this book to anyone. It is worth the price of admission.
May 23, 2012
I couldn't wait to start this book, being a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland.. I liked it and liked how the author brought the original Alice in Wonderland characters into it. It's an easy and fun read. However, I wish there were more details and complexity in the characters and the plot.
December 21, 2018
A fun ride through a Wonderland that's been radically changed since Alice's visit. Wonderland's become a Victorian Steampunk world ruled by a mad king. James, an outsider, is dragged into Wonderland, and finds himself on the run.
October 20, 2012
Amazing book until you get to the last few chapters and realise that there is not enough time to give this book the ending it deserves. I was slightly disappointed with the end.
February 3, 2025
I'm always up for a fairy tale retellings, and I haven't read many Alice in Wonderland versions. And well...this isn't Alice's wonderland.... Fractured kingdoms, a usurper in power, and a lot of flying ships. Caterpillar, Gryphon, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, The queens and more familiar characters make cameos. Yet the story centers around an outsider (ie : British citizen from modern times...at least I think British), who finds himself unexpectedly in Wonderland...and target of an assassin. Like any good quest, he meets friend and enemies, and nothing is as it seems.
The story itself was intriguing and the plot was well thought out and the right balance of predictable and non predictable. However, the writing was a little choppy which made it hard to stay engaged in some places.
A fun read for Wonderland fans, but not one of my top recommendations to dive into the world of fairy tale retellings
The story itself was intriguing and the plot was well thought out and the right balance of predictable and non predictable. However, the writing was a little choppy which made it hard to stay engaged in some places.
A fun read for Wonderland fans, but not one of my top recommendations to dive into the world of fairy tale retellings
August 12, 2020
I only had the basic knowledge of the Alice/wonderland stories....basically just the main characters. With that said, I really enjoyed this book. People either love or hate retellings, and maybe it was a benefit that I didn’t know too much to start out with. Steampunk meets fairytale—not my ideal selection, but wasn’t disappointing. I wish the last quarter of the book was more detailed. A WHOLE LOT happened in it and it was just skimmed over. But overall it was a good read!
February 17, 2023
This is a fresh and unique take on Wonderland. Alice's visit has set in motion changes that she never could have imagined and the Wonderland that James encounters is a Victorian/steampunk world where mechanical men act as assassins and flying ships roam the skies. All the familiar characters are here: The Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat... but these are not the lovable if mad characters that Alice encountered. Viewed through an adult's eyes they are quite different.
October 16, 2019
At first I was sucked in. But then it became really slow and I put the book down and pretty much forgot about it for a couple months. I picked it up again and forced myself to trudge through the horribly slow 50% of the middle of the book. And lo and behold...it finally became good again. If there was a way to Cliff Notes only parts of books I think it would be handy here.
November 21, 2020
Wonderland steampunk. Good story could have a bit more meat to it but if you are looking for a quick read or buffer between heavy books this is a good choice.
I tend to lean to deconstructed Alice stories and like that i took a chance on this one.
I tend to lean to deconstructed Alice stories and like that i took a chance on this one.
January 27, 2018
Interesting, fun, steampunk twist on Alice in Wonderdland. Quick read. However, a bit predictable and I skimmed a few chapters.
December 21, 2019
I loved this book. A beautifully original retelling of Alice. The foreshadowing came together nicely. Steampunk Wonderland? I’m sold!
June 21, 2023
"Everything is a game, my boy. Life is a game. You just have to know how to play it."
The story is about James who, after getting into an argument with his fiancee, is sent out to have a cooldown with this best friend. James turns up unannounced at his best friend's place, only to witness him getting murdered by an intruder. Unfortunately for James, the killer noticed him in the appartment and set of to eliminate the witness. James sets off on a run, falls into a hole, and ends up in a weird, Steampunk vibe town.
He meets Kara, the Mat Hatter's daugther, who is dressed totally out of style (at least for what James is used to). From here, James and Kara set off to investigate what happened, where he is, what is going on and end up in all kinds of weird and dangerous situations. It wouldn't be an Alice in Wonderland retelling if their wasn't a Chesire cat, White Rabbit and Caterpillar. Throughout the story we get to meet all of them at least once, but mind you, this is also quite different than the original story. It reminded me more of American Mcgee's Alice Madness Returns (computer game which is soooo good!).
"Do you think you could be any more mysterious?"
Caterpillar smiled. "Oh yes, quite easily."
Wonderland has changed since the visit of Alice, the first outsider. It is now ruled by the Knave of hearts, who has embellished all of Wonderland with steam-powered technological marvels. He rules Wonderland with determination and more than an iron fist, and does not want what he created so dearly to be messed up , most certainly not by another outsider, which in this case is James.
I do wish the book was a little bit longer, and although we get a good look on who James is, I would also have liked to learn a bit more about Kara and Torre. Both characters have a decent presence in the book, but you don't really get to know all that much about them. I find the book to inspire you to invest in yourself, push through when times get hard and use the tools at hand to turn a situation to your hand. And most of all, be true to yourself and not letting anyone change your values, hopes and dreams.
The ending of the story might hint at a sequel, which I would certainly read, but was also a bit abrupt and didn't feel final to me.
All in all I really enjoyed this read and would certainly recommend it to Alice in Wonderland and Steampunk lovers!
https://bookalyptic.com/
The story is about James who, after getting into an argument with his fiancee, is sent out to have a cooldown with this best friend. James turns up unannounced at his best friend's place, only to witness him getting murdered by an intruder. Unfortunately for James, the killer noticed him in the appartment and set of to eliminate the witness. James sets off on a run, falls into a hole, and ends up in a weird, Steampunk vibe town.
He meets Kara, the Mat Hatter's daugther, who is dressed totally out of style (at least for what James is used to). From here, James and Kara set off to investigate what happened, where he is, what is going on and end up in all kinds of weird and dangerous situations. It wouldn't be an Alice in Wonderland retelling if their wasn't a Chesire cat, White Rabbit and Caterpillar. Throughout the story we get to meet all of them at least once, but mind you, this is also quite different than the original story. It reminded me more of American Mcgee's Alice Madness Returns (computer game which is soooo good!).
"Do you think you could be any more mysterious?"
Caterpillar smiled. "Oh yes, quite easily."
Wonderland has changed since the visit of Alice, the first outsider. It is now ruled by the Knave of hearts, who has embellished all of Wonderland with steam-powered technological marvels. He rules Wonderland with determination and more than an iron fist, and does not want what he created so dearly to be messed up , most certainly not by another outsider, which in this case is James.
I do wish the book was a little bit longer, and although we get a good look on who James is, I would also have liked to learn a bit more about Kara and Torre. Both characters have a decent presence in the book, but you don't really get to know all that much about them. I find the book to inspire you to invest in yourself, push through when times get hard and use the tools at hand to turn a situation to your hand. And most of all, be true to yourself and not letting anyone change your values, hopes and dreams.
The ending of the story might hint at a sequel, which I would certainly read, but was also a bit abrupt and didn't feel final to me.
All in all I really enjoyed this read and would certainly recommend it to Alice in Wonderland and Steampunk lovers!
https://bookalyptic.com/
February 3, 2012
Review by Ashley Rosenberg
In Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson, James, our main character, has a typical life like any normal human being; a job with a horrible boss and an over-bearing fiance that believes his whole world should revolve around her every whim. We soon come upon events that quickly spin out of control. James finds himself falling through a giant hole and landing in an entirely different world. His day only seems to get worse when he realizes this is in no dream; he has just been brought to Wonderland, but it is no longer the Wonderland he read in fairy tales. Wonderland is falling apart and he is the pawn in a massive chess game; he has an evil king after his head and the resistance believes he is the means that will save their world. Can James restore the land to peace and bring down the reign of a tyrant or will this mysterious and magical world he has come to appreciate be ruled in tyranny forever?
This book was written very well, the story flowed effortlessly and grasped my attention from the very beginning. There were one or two editing mistakes that I caught, but otherwise this book has an amazing level of editorial work and is nearly flawless. The characters in Gears of Wonderland were very well developed and had very distinct personalities and distinguishable dialogues. Also, the plot line in this story was absolutely wonderful and kept me in the fantasy world long after finishing the book! There were numerous twists and turns that I never would have suspected and that made it all the more enjoyable. The ending left a few loose ends; it would have been nice to see the way everything panned out with more detail but it wasn't a major problem. Overall the ending was satisfactory and the book was a joy to read!
As a little girl, Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite movies to watch. Jason G. Anderson does an amazing job of reinventing Wonderland long after Alice has left; a classic story mixed with a modern day/steam-punk twist. The different characters in the book and the image created of this world was what prevented me from putting the book down! Anderson does such an amazing job giving his characters their own personas and Gryphon, my favorite character, wasn't an exception. Reading the book and Gryphon's dialogue I could hear the gruffness in his voice and see his tanned, dirty face aged with worry and the loss of loved ones. Anderson has provided readers with a fantastic story and one that will be added onto my personal shelf of favorite books. The world that he has re-imagined and twisted comes off as a much more sinister, dark place than the classic Disney tale that many have grown up watching. Readers of all genres, including steampunk genre fans, will love this imaginative take on events that leave Wonderland searching for a hero to end their darkened days.
Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson has received 5 out of 5 stars.
In Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson, James, our main character, has a typical life like any normal human being; a job with a horrible boss and an over-bearing fiance that believes his whole world should revolve around her every whim. We soon come upon events that quickly spin out of control. James finds himself falling through a giant hole and landing in an entirely different world. His day only seems to get worse when he realizes this is in no dream; he has just been brought to Wonderland, but it is no longer the Wonderland he read in fairy tales. Wonderland is falling apart and he is the pawn in a massive chess game; he has an evil king after his head and the resistance believes he is the means that will save their world. Can James restore the land to peace and bring down the reign of a tyrant or will this mysterious and magical world he has come to appreciate be ruled in tyranny forever?
This book was written very well, the story flowed effortlessly and grasped my attention from the very beginning. There were one or two editing mistakes that I caught, but otherwise this book has an amazing level of editorial work and is nearly flawless. The characters in Gears of Wonderland were very well developed and had very distinct personalities and distinguishable dialogues. Also, the plot line in this story was absolutely wonderful and kept me in the fantasy world long after finishing the book! There were numerous twists and turns that I never would have suspected and that made it all the more enjoyable. The ending left a few loose ends; it would have been nice to see the way everything panned out with more detail but it wasn't a major problem. Overall the ending was satisfactory and the book was a joy to read!
As a little girl, Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite movies to watch. Jason G. Anderson does an amazing job of reinventing Wonderland long after Alice has left; a classic story mixed with a modern day/steam-punk twist. The different characters in the book and the image created of this world was what prevented me from putting the book down! Anderson does such an amazing job giving his characters their own personas and Gryphon, my favorite character, wasn't an exception. Reading the book and Gryphon's dialogue I could hear the gruffness in his voice and see his tanned, dirty face aged with worry and the loss of loved ones. Anderson has provided readers with a fantastic story and one that will be added onto my personal shelf of favorite books. The world that he has re-imagined and twisted comes off as a much more sinister, dark place than the classic Disney tale that many have grown up watching. Readers of all genres, including steampunk genre fans, will love this imaginative take on events that leave Wonderland searching for a hero to end their darkened days.
Gears of Wonderland by Jason G. Anderson has received 5 out of 5 stars.
January 22, 2012
Full disclosure, I have never read Alice in Wonderland, I’ve never watched the movies, and my knowledge of all things Wonderland in general are based purely on high-level references absorbed through regular media channels over the years. So I admit that I started reading with a bit of trepidation given I don’t have a lot of exposure to the Alice story.
Good news- it makes no difference! I think the author balanced the introduction of familiar characters (the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Catepillar, etc.) for fans of Alice in Wonderland and a reader like me, who had previously had little exposure to the story very well.
I got hooked into James’s plight right from the get go. He’s just a regular guy who I think anyone can easily identify with: he’s in a job he doesn’t like, engaged to a woman who isn’t right for him, and is basically just plodding through life. That is, until his best friend is murdered in front of him and he ends up getting pushed down a hole into Wonderland.
This is Wonderland 150 years after Alice’s visit and things have changed; for the worse. James is caught up in the rebellion against the Knave of Hearts who has declared himself King of Hearts and has either destroyed or taken over the other five kingdoms of Wonderland. He rules with fear through the use of advanced technological machines, and at first glance appears unstoppable.
But you discover that it appears fate intervened by bringing James to Wonderland, and as he meets more Wonderland natives and learns more about himself, he embraces a whole new destiny.
I always like the “David vs. Goliath” type theme that is woven into this story. Considering James lands in Wonderland with nothing but the clothes on his back, and a few weeks later is overthrowing the most powerful man in Wonderland, it would be easy to be pushed beyond the boundaries of believability. But the author handles this well. James needs a lot of help along the way, and if I have any critique of the story at all, it’s that the very first person he encounters in Wonderland is the one that sets all of the other dominoes up for him (pretty convenient).
But I loved exploring Wonderland through James’s eyes and getting to know all of the other characters. James is a likable protagonist, but it’s the supporting cast who really make the book.
Good news- it makes no difference! I think the author balanced the introduction of familiar characters (the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, Catepillar, etc.) for fans of Alice in Wonderland and a reader like me, who had previously had little exposure to the story very well.
I got hooked into James’s plight right from the get go. He’s just a regular guy who I think anyone can easily identify with: he’s in a job he doesn’t like, engaged to a woman who isn’t right for him, and is basically just plodding through life. That is, until his best friend is murdered in front of him and he ends up getting pushed down a hole into Wonderland.
This is Wonderland 150 years after Alice’s visit and things have changed; for the worse. James is caught up in the rebellion against the Knave of Hearts who has declared himself King of Hearts and has either destroyed or taken over the other five kingdoms of Wonderland. He rules with fear through the use of advanced technological machines, and at first glance appears unstoppable.
But you discover that it appears fate intervened by bringing James to Wonderland, and as he meets more Wonderland natives and learns more about himself, he embraces a whole new destiny.
I always like the “David vs. Goliath” type theme that is woven into this story. Considering James lands in Wonderland with nothing but the clothes on his back, and a few weeks later is overthrowing the most powerful man in Wonderland, it would be easy to be pushed beyond the boundaries of believability. But the author handles this well. James needs a lot of help along the way, and if I have any critique of the story at all, it’s that the very first person he encounters in Wonderland is the one that sets all of the other dominoes up for him (pretty convenient).
But I loved exploring Wonderland through James’s eyes and getting to know all of the other characters. James is a likable protagonist, but it’s the supporting cast who really make the book.
June 27, 2013
Finally got my hands on this book! Met up to my expectations and also exceeded some.
Gears of Wonderland was a great blend of adventure, fantasy, steampunk, mystery, and romance. It WAS a tad short though; I think the scale of epic-ness would have increased if it was written like a Brandon Sanderson or Robert Jordan novel.
But nonetheless, it was still a great read.
At the beginning, I was a bit annoyed at how cold Kara acted towards James. Yeah, I get that Anderson wanted to portray a (typical but cute) romance where the guy and girl can't stand each other at first, only to gradually fall in love, but did she have to be thaaaaat hostile? I don't even get why she acted like that in the first place!
Speaking of romance, I really do wish the novel had been longer! That way we could've seen a deeper development to James and Kara's relationship. I felt that it had room for further development.
And seeing as how there probably won't be a sequel, (although I really really hope there will be one and that we get to see James and Kara on more adventures and ), it would've been great if the characters traveled around Wonderland a bit more. I would LOVE to see more of it! (My favourite part was when James, Kara, and Torre were in the Tugley Wood.) And maybe some other characters too, such as the Jabberwocky.
And speaking of other characters, I was kinda disappointed how the Tweedles only appeared in the one chapter; it would've been great if they had a bigger role. (I've always liked them.)
I really liked the idea of being ranked in society by a tattoo. (Like, a Wonderlander with the Nine of Spades is probably superior to someone with the Three of Diamonds or something.)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was a fantastic retelling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass, blended with an interesting mixture of steampunk.
Gears of Wonderland was a great blend of adventure, fantasy, steampunk, mystery, and romance. It WAS a tad short though; I think the scale of epic-ness would have increased if it was written like a Brandon Sanderson or Robert Jordan novel.
But nonetheless, it was still a great read.
At the beginning, I was a bit annoyed at how cold Kara acted towards James. Yeah, I get that Anderson wanted to portray a (typical but cute) romance where the guy and girl can't stand each other at first, only to gradually fall in love, but did she have to be thaaaaat hostile? I don't even get why she acted like that in the first place!
Speaking of romance, I really do wish the novel had been longer! That way we could've seen a deeper development to James and Kara's relationship. I felt that it had room for further development.
And seeing as how there probably won't be a sequel, (although I really really hope there will be one and that we get to see James and Kara on more adventures and ), it would've been great if the characters traveled around Wonderland a bit more. I would LOVE to see more of it! (My favourite part was when James, Kara, and Torre were in the Tugley Wood.) And maybe some other characters too, such as the Jabberwocky.
And speaking of other characters, I was kinda disappointed how the Tweedles only appeared in the one chapter; it would've been great if they had a bigger role. (I've always liked them.)
I really liked the idea of being ranked in society by a tattoo. (Like, a Wonderlander with the Nine of Spades is probably superior to someone with the Three of Diamonds or something.)
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was a fantastic retelling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass, blended with an interesting mixture of steampunk.
February 29, 2012
It has been years since I have read Alice in Wonderland and I, honestly, don't think I ever read the other books. I will have to fix that literary faux pas. I am, however, very familiar with the story and its various characters.
In Jason Anderson's Gears of Wonderland, we are thrust into the world of Wonderland with a new human visiting from the outside world. James inadvertently enters Wonderland and is immediately thrust into an adventure that he never thought possible complete with The Hatter, the Griffin, the White Rabbit and a plethora of characters from Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland, all with a bit of a twist to their original character. The world of Wonderland comes from story books, it's not real...ah, but it is and James plays a very big role in aiding the characters of Wonderland with their plight against the The Knave of Hearts who usurped the throne from the King of Hearts.
Anderson has taken a world we are all familiar with and added a Steampunk feel to it, hence the title Gears of Wonderland. Now, I have read only a few Steampunk tales and I hope to read more as I rather enjoy the genre. Therefore, I am not well versed in Steampunk. but let me tell you Wonderland is a PERFECT outlet for Steampunk. It's already a crazy haphazard place and then add in various gadgets, cogs, clockworks that combine to create flying machines, new guards and weapons. It was AWESOME!
Seriously, if you like Alice in Wonderland and you enjoy Steampunk or you're just looking for a fun and entertaining adventure. Put down the java, just for a second and click on one of the links to get your copy of Gears of Wonderland.
In Jason Anderson's Gears of Wonderland, we are thrust into the world of Wonderland with a new human visiting from the outside world. James inadvertently enters Wonderland and is immediately thrust into an adventure that he never thought possible complete with The Hatter, the Griffin, the White Rabbit and a plethora of characters from Lewis Carroll Alice in Wonderland, all with a bit of a twist to their original character. The world of Wonderland comes from story books, it's not real...ah, but it is and James plays a very big role in aiding the characters of Wonderland with their plight against the The Knave of Hearts who usurped the throne from the King of Hearts.
Anderson has taken a world we are all familiar with and added a Steampunk feel to it, hence the title Gears of Wonderland. Now, I have read only a few Steampunk tales and I hope to read more as I rather enjoy the genre. Therefore, I am not well versed in Steampunk. but let me tell you Wonderland is a PERFECT outlet for Steampunk. It's already a crazy haphazard place and then add in various gadgets, cogs, clockworks that combine to create flying machines, new guards and weapons. It was AWESOME!
Seriously, if you like Alice in Wonderland and you enjoy Steampunk or you're just looking for a fun and entertaining adventure. Put down the java, just for a second and click on one of the links to get your copy of Gears of Wonderland.
May 10, 2015
James Riggs is a guy letting his boss and his fiancé boss him around. One evening his fiancé gets upset about a chess set he purchased when he promised to give up the ‘silly game’ and then his boss calls to tell him he has to cancel his planned vacation to come into work and cover for him. She kicks him out and he walks to his old friend’s apartment to stay the night there. However, just after he gets there a strange man comes to the apartment, murders his friend then chases James out to the street where a yet another strange man in a white suit grabs him and sends him down a hole into Wonderland. That’s when things get even stranger.
James is now in Wonderland, but in a very different one than Alice was in. The Knave of Hearts has taken the throne, conquered the other kingdoms and is mass-producing stream-powered machinery. Steampunk Wonderland has emerged, but James arriving from Otherworld has thrown a massive spanner in the works.
I haven’t read Alice in Wonderland in um, *cough* many many years (let’s leave it at that) and I haven’t watched the Disney® movie since the kids were little, so many of the references to the original book were probably lost on me. However, I do remember enough to know that this book is a clever take of a favorite tail. Well-written and fast-paced, with a twisty plot, interesting world and likeable characters, I enjoyed this book very much.
*Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
James is now in Wonderland, but in a very different one than Alice was in. The Knave of Hearts has taken the throne, conquered the other kingdoms and is mass-producing stream-powered machinery. Steampunk Wonderland has emerged, but James arriving from Otherworld has thrown a massive spanner in the works.
I haven’t read Alice in Wonderland in um, *cough* many many years (let’s leave it at that) and I haven’t watched the Disney® movie since the kids were little, so many of the references to the original book were probably lost on me. However, I do remember enough to know that this book is a clever take of a favorite tail. Well-written and fast-paced, with a twisty plot, interesting world and likeable characters, I enjoyed this book very much.
*Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
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