Alice in the Country of Hearts: The Clockmaker's Story

by Mamenosuke Fujimaru, QuinRose

Julius Monrey is the grim Clockmaker of Wonderland, responsible for controlling the world's time from his lonely Clock Tower, not to mention fixing the stopped clocks of the dead. When the beautiful Alice Liddell comes to live with and rely upon him, will her warm personality melt through his cool, apathetic heart, and bring about romantic feelings he never knew he had?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Retellings

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2010

About the author

FUJIMARU Mamenosuke
Name (in native language): 藤丸豆ノ介

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read both released English versions of Alice in the Country of Hearts (the Tokyopop and Yen Press versions) Julius was by far the most interesting character to me. I had always toyed with the pairing of Alice and Julius, so it was a great delight for me to come across this single volume that caters to this particular pairing. It does not disappoint.

While the artwork is provided by a new artist from the original series, it is still nonetheless lovely, and I felt it conveyed emotion quite well. The story itself veers a bit from the setup of the original series, but not so much that I couldn't wrap my head around the slight changes and buy into it. Essentially, it is a story that reworks the original manga to some degree to give us an alternative where it is the Clockmaker that Alice falls in love with instead, which in my opinion, made for a far better read.

This a 'must have' book for fans of Alice and Julius, but it is also a lovely piece to add to the collection of any 'Alice in the Country of Hearts (or Clover or Joker) fans. I only wish the story could have been played out in more volumes, but I'm still content with just a single book because while only one volume, it had everything I needed to feel satisfied as a reader.

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another manga I read last month but forgot to review!

I really enjoyed this one! While Alice in the Country of Hearts: Labyrinth of Thorns in Love is still my favorite Julius spin-off, this was another engaging one where I definitely appreciated Ace pointing out how they act like a married couple! LOL! I very much agree with that statement and think it's why I really enjoy them as a couple.

I think the only thing that DID hinder me from enjoying this more is one scene where I felt was super out of character for Julius. He has NEVER pressured Alice in any of her decision-making, which is why I have deeply loved his character. However, in that one moment, he did PRESSURE Alice and it was actually why this review was so late in getting up because I didn't know how to rate this volume as of result. I loved loved loved all the cameos and seeing Julius secretly express his love for Alice throughout the volume, but that one moment was so unlike him. :/

Overall though, I did really enjoy this! It was a very solid and enjoyable read with seeing the Julius x Alice ship sail!

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julius is one of my favourite characters from the Alice series and, while sadly only a oneshot, this spin off does not disappoint. Unlike most of the other characters, I find that the main story already establishes a solid relationship between Alice and Julius that makes a romantic development plausible. As a result, even a oneshot spin off can deliver something that feels more than superficial.

Julius is probably one of the more rational and levelheaded inhabitants of wonderland - despite his rejective seeming nature, he is very caring towards Alice and it's always nice to see them together, in a romantic sense of otherwise. This story definitely focuses a lot more on their romantic relationship rather than any goings ons of wonderland and that's more than fine by me.

The only drawback of this oneshot is that the beginning is relatively slow whereas the ending is a bit rushed - had this been balanced a little better this could have been as near a perfect oneshot as they can get. Nevertheless, this is one of my favourite spinoffs of the main series.

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of me is glad that The Clockmaker's Story was one volume (concentrated AWESOME!) and part of me wishes that it was a tad longer (because I love Julius's character).

If you like Julius, you'll like this book. If you can't stand Alice getting together with Julius, don't read it. Pretty basic. Because it's so short, it's pretty focused on their relationship and coming to know each other better.

I like Julius, so of course I loved this.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THE JULIUS INSTALMENT, I CANNOT EVEN EXPRESS MY HAPPINESS AT THIS VOLUME.
Seriously. From the first time I read Alice in the Country of Hearts, I shipped these two. And then I found out that this volume was being published. *cue happy dancey dance*
I loved this volume. Perfect. <3

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

dialogue could be a bit cringey and the romance wasn't nearly developed enough (also sadly no clockmaker backstory) but the little bit we got to see of my favorite ship from the og series was nice

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga series is one of my ultimate guilty pleasures. They're just straight up reverse-harem fantasies, Wonderland-style. Most of the "members" are fairly shippable with Alice (considering they're all a bit.... twisted), but my personal favorite of the bunch is Julius, the stoic Clockmaker. I love the mutual respect and trust they have in one another, and the little bantering they do. This was a one-shot deeper insight of AlicexJulius romance, and I ate up every bit of it. <3

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haha, "boy parts", I nearly fell out of my chair. These Alice manga are racy, violent, and incongruously funny. This one had a "bonus" story that took up nearly half the volume (that I really hated and had nothing to do with the Alice storyline). Reading this series totally make me want to play one of the video games they are based on.

[Just a Girl Fighting Censorship]

Loved the first series but these books have been declining ever since. Once the initial whimsy has worn off, nothing new or exciting ever happens. I got about half way and realized that this is just the same story over and over again. Mild sexual tension drawn out to a ridiculous length.

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julian is such a cutie. There needs to be a few more books for him!

[~Cyanide Latte~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was rather a shorter installment within this overall franchise, but I think it's safe to say that it's probably one of my favorites so far. Personally I have always found that Alice has a very natural chemistry with Julius, so jumping right into a story where the two of them get together feels like a pretty apt progression. There isn't much more to say here overall; it's a very self-contained little story, and I sweet one, in my opinion. I suppose the only reason that anyone would not want to read this particular manga is if you're not a fan of Julius or you especially dislike Alice with him (though frankly I'm a little baffled at the thought anyone might hate Julius, as he's arguably one of the best characters, including from an objective standpoint.)

I did not read the unrelated bonus story or the manga preview at the end, as that's not what I came here for.

[Heather Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did like this story as well as the other one. Out of all of the characters, Julius is my favorite and this book/manga tells you why.

The art is still the same. I love the look of Julius and Alice in this manga as well. The story goes into depth a bit more with Julius/Alice story and I love it! I reviewed a similar book (The Labyrinth of Thnors?) but I still like Julius' character. I love how Alice and him interact with each other. They are both stubborn characters so it makes hilarious dialogue between the two of them.

All in all, it is a good read. I recommend on reading this one as well.

[Danali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Alice in the Country of Heart and its many spin offs when I was in high school and loved them all. Now as I reread many of them as an adult my tune is changing a little.

I am so thankful this spinoff was as good as I remembered. While many of the other stories showed, let’s be honest, very toxic (don’t even get me started on Ace) relationships this one was sweet. I like that Julius liked Alice for Alice not just because she was an outsider.

Always a quick read and the art is A+.

[Leigh Kimmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This manga is part of a spinoff series to Alice in the Country of Hearts. It's almost entirely Alice and Julius (the titular Clockmaker, who repairs the mechanical clocks which function as hearts for the people of this magical dimension, which may actually be Only A Dream), with some trouble from the cute but mischievous catboy Boris.

It's a fun read, and stands alone reasonably well, but I think it would probably read better for most people if it were read after the main series.

[Maverynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more because of Julius. However it seems that Alice is only a maid and a servant to him in the relationship.

There is also a part about how "men will be men" even in her dreamworld and will try to rape women or some shit.

It really killed any kind of feeling I had for any of the characters.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted to read this book for ages and after reading Alice in the Country of hearts i was obsessed with Julian and wanted Alice to fall for him. This short story is amazing and beautiful and the love between them didn't feel forced or wrong. It felt right and I love it.

[Meme · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Jamie Lerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the art style a d the story of these books

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is a great book!

[Rebecca Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read any manga in such a long time, and this story is pulling me back in. I can’t wait to read more!!!

[Lydia]

I like this pairing so much 😳❤

[Rebecca Dawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this the most satisfying out of all the Alice in the Country of Hearts stories that I've read.

[Tamara Van dishoeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

hij draait om Alice en Julian en hoe hun relatie groeit als ze bij hem in de klokkentoren komt wonen. een leuk kort verhaal waar ik erg van heb genoten maar ik mag hem wel. je leert ook wat beter kennen.
er zat nog een ander verhaaltje in maar heb die niet gelezen en ook een preview van een andere manga.

[E.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS THE ALICE BOOK THAT I WAS WAITING FOR. I honestly never thought of Julius as a viable option for Alice--he seemed so much older than her, but after reading this story, I like this coupling better than Blood Dupre/Alice and Boris/Alice. He's mature, troubled, misunderstood, and less violent and crazy than anyone else in Wonderland. Also, when Alice is with him, she is less annoying so that is a plus! I honestly would read a full length series about Julius and Alice. I think there is actually another Julius/Alice spin-off so I'm super pumped to read that. It was such a breath of relief after reading that disturbing one about the twins.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! For those who don't know, this is a branch off from the "Alice in the Country of Hearts" manga series that explores the possible romantic relationship between Alice and the taciturn clockmaker Julius. The manga series is based off a game that allows the player (as Alice) to form relationships with any of the other male characters, so there is no real "canon" pairing for Alice. The first Alice series, consisting of 6 volumes, I think pairs off Alice with Blood Dupre (the Hatter), and the subsequent series such as "In the County of Clover" are retellings or alternate storylines. "The Clockmaker's Tale" is one of those alternatives.

The Alice x Julius pairing is my favorite because he's the ONLY guy in this entire Wonderland universe who ISN'T a creeper. (Okay, Gowland isn't a creeper either, but we see a LOT more of Julius's interactions with Alice over the course of the manga. And honestly, I like Julius the best.) Julius actually considers Alice's feelings, doesn't try forcing himself or his restrictions on her, and generally treats her like a human being. The development of their relationship is both sweet and natural-feeling, although some readers might find it tame or even dull compared to the more violent or ridiculous courtships made by Blood Dupre, Peter White, or Boris the Cat. The sad part is, even though the story is high-quality, "The Clockmaker's Story" is only one volume. Which is great for my pocketbook, but means less time is spent exploring Julius with Alice than with other characters.

I definitely recommend reading this manga, but you should be acquainted with "Alice in the Country of Hearts" beforehand, otherwise you might be a little confused.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alice in the Country of... series are adaptions based on the otome (maiden) games of the same name. Each installment places the lead character Alice amongst a reverse-harem where her decisions change so that she becomes romantically involved with a different character for that story. Loosely based on Alice in Wonderland, the original six volume set, Alice in the Country of Hearts, explains her arrival and introduces us to the entire cast. Unlike some of the others titles, the Clockmaker's Story is a standalone volume. It provides a brief introduction to the events of the original, but refrains from going into detail, rather starting at the point where both Julius and Alice have a fluttering in their hearts. Julius is the cool, megane (glasses) type, and a bit of a tsundere (a harsh character that becomes warm and caring). He is dependable, dedicated, and the most "normal" one according to Alice. These are the things that attract her to him. Not only does this Wonderland work wonky, but it is violent in a semi-serious, semi-comedic way too. Every volume of this series has this exciting dual nature alongside its heart-pounding romance elements, especially as it reveals new elements of this world. Aside from these moments that build on the setting, the story is all about developing and experiencing relationships. Screentones play a huge part in creating the right atmosphere for such diverse aspects, easily shifting between softer times, to more serious parts. Even for a single volume, the pace remains consistently natural, and every title from this series has the same quality writing. A reader's enjoyment of any one volume depends entirely on their own character preferences.

[Jody Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Wonder World story so far! It would make me sad that Julius and Alice get only one volume for their story, but honestly, the tale was told absolutely perfectly in that single volume, and no more was needed. The build up of their relationship was natural and convincing, and seeing Julius resist her, and himself, only to lose control time and again - and even smile! - it was so beautiful, breath-taking, wonderful! And oh, that ending, it was so perfectly in character for them, so heart-achingly sweet! And I do believe it was the only one that had a sort of 'guaranteed' happily ever after - as much as can ever be in the Wonder World - where the vial shatters and she definitively decides to stay with him forever. I have read it over and over, going to have to buy a new 'nice' copy, because my reading copy is getting loved apart already! I love all the role holders, but this story convinced me that the only one for Alice is Julius! ♥

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of two versions (each with their own volume) of the Julius ending to the Alice in the Country of Hearts storyline. He's my favorite character for Alice but this wasn't my favorite version of the Alice ending up with Julius.

I liked the inside art but the color pages were terrible! Julius face was drawn more like the original manga as well.

I was disappointed how much of their original interactions that were gone over again in this volume - I had such a strong feeling of dejavu reading this volume and felt like it wasn't an original story so much as a quick new ending volume to make money off of Julius fans. On top of it the story was cut short and didn't use all the pages.

**Mild Spoilers**
A big deal is made of the clocks and jealousy is used to get Julius to admit his feelings. I just wasn't feeling it. I did like the inclusion of Peter White in this ending but why not include all the other male characters if you aren't even going to use all the pages.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 14-8-2022: Seeing the relationship between Alice and Julius develop in this one was a lot of fun, especially because that's what's missing in Alice in the Country of Hearts: Labyrinth of Thorns in Love. The difference between these two books show how extensive the original game is, as they portray completely different routes. Reading these two back to back just made me want to play the game again, because having more than one route per character just makes it even more exciting.

Original Review Cute, adorable, loved it. I'm a sucker for the Alice series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as huge a fan of the artwork in this, but the story makes up for it. Having been disappointed by the ending of Alice in the Country of Hearts, Vol. 06, I thought of the prospect of other lovers for Alice, and Julius was totally my favorite male character in the series. He's actually rational and is the only guy who doesn't threaten/pull a gun on Alice at some point in time. If you weren't completely satisfied by the way the original Alice run went, I'd pick up this extra volume. It reworks the story a bit as well.