Alice in the Country of Hearts: The Mad Hatter's Late Night Tea Party, Vol. 02

Alice in the Country of Hearts: The Mad Hatter's Late Night Tea Party #2

by QuinRose

"BUT HERE, IN HIS ARMS... I'M NOT SCARED."

In the midst of a fling with Blood Dupre, Alice has discovered that he may be cheating on her with the beautiful Queen of Hearts. But when Alice leaves Hatter Mansion to gather her thoughts at the Clock Tower, Blood chases her down! And it's not just the the Hatter who's stalking Alice -- the mysterious Faceless also have her in their sights. A bloody Mafia battle is about to begin, dragging Alice down a path that will end in a difficult choice. Her future in Wonderland may depend on the mad Hatter's loving whispers...

Genres: Manga, Romance, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Retellings, Comics, Magic

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2011

About the author

Quinrose is a games company which is also responsible for the manga based on their games.

Reviews

[Laura A. Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the first volume, even though I enjoyed that one too!

I thought this was more engaging when it came to Alice's backstory and her overall struggle of feelings. It made more of her actions in the first volume make sense because we see how she feels she isn't being her "real" self and feels all twisted inside. It was a really interesting look at Alice and found that was probably my favorite part, outside of her feeling like she IS part of the mafia family.

Out of all the places, the Hatters' mansion has always been my favorite, and really love how Alice's relationship grew with all of them specifically in this volume. How they made her happy made me happy because despite how Elliot and the twins are always fighting, their shenanigans usually always make me laugh.

Blood is still an…interesting character. I still didn't love him as much as I did in the original series, but it was nice to see him actually speak his mind to Alice when she was struggling with jealousy. Alice's words were true that you never know what he's thinking unless he speaks it, and that is true for the reader too.

I still didn't love the innuendo in this one (though thankfully it was toned down due to the VERY good action), but I'm glad I read this spin-off! It was fun overall.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been so much better. The interesting parts were only short while the parts that felt like a recap of everything we already know were so much longer. The pacing was just off.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was a great continuation from the first volume and had a lot of different characters in it. The chapter were Alice was kidnapped and saved by the Hatters was especially interesting.

I also enjoyed the special preview of "Dragonar Academy" at the end of the volume and I plan on looking into that series as well.

[Adriana · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's nothing new or particularly interesting in this book.
I admit that my rating might be particularly low because I was expecting a whole lot more out of a Blood centric story, but it doesn't even deserve an average.
The art gorgeous and I liked some moments, but it could have been a skip.

[Chiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like I'm getting progressively more disappointed as more of these "Alice in the Country of X" stories come out. Which sucks because they started off so good.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for complete series

This spin off focuses on Blood, the Mad Hatter, and it is the definition of OK. The art isn't amazing but it's pretty enough, definitely above average compared to the other spin offs. It is just told in quite a jumpy and rushed way and there's essentially no chemistry between Alice and Blood. At the end of the day, it doesn't bring anything new to the table and if you like Blood, you might as well just stick to the main series where he is the main love interest anyway. While I won't be picking this up again, I do think it is better than several of the other spin offs available.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like to say this was a sweet story, but I still can't get over the fact that Blood is a huge jerk! Yes, he saved Alice. But everything else about him is just awful; HE POINTED HIS GUN AT HER! Which in my mind is worse than Ace choking her that one time.

Not to mention that every time I tried to sit down and read this book, something else caught my attention. It was that bad. I finally had to finish it while I was pooping so I couldn't be distracted by anything.

Note: The Alice in the Country of Hearts series is based on an Otome dating game. The resulting manga (by the same title) has spawned many different spinoffs. This is one of those stories.

This spinoff has 2 volumes.

[Kelly Paradise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This two-volume set could have easily been a single volume and nothing of value would have been lost. In fact, Hatter may have been more likable if he spent less time being manipulative and intentionally dancing the misunderstanding tango. Elements of the Country of Hearts universe were re-explained that didn't add to the story and we also had the "joy" of more of Peter being creepy while the author tries to play him as sympathetic. One of the weakest stories I've read in this canon so far.

[~Cyanide Latte~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad follow-up volume. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting, considering I don't like Blood and I'm not sure I like him with Alice as a possible endgame. I do feel like there's more that could have been explored here, rather than rehashing a lot of what we've already encountered, but again, this wasn't bad for what it is.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book picks up exactly where we were left hanging in the previous. There's a little suspense, some good times and new questions popping up as you read this one. I kind of wish there was a little more to add a little more development, but i'm content with the ending all the same.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted this to be go off the original series but it did not. It was not a full disappointment but I thought that it could either build off the original story or rebuild a story to read from. Otherwise all the characters I love is still in it and overall it was good.

[Meme · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the twist and ending. I will admit I am a huge fan of Julius and I felt like he was cheated a bit.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

More plot than the first one in the series, so that was nice. Blood is still kind of frustrating, though. It's hard to know what's going through his head. 

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice comes back to find Blood threatening Julius. She refuses to go back to the mansion with him but does agree to visit. When she visits, she, Elliot, and the twins decide to have a picnic lunch together (Blood is too "tired" to go). Blood deals with some rival mafia, but not before Alice is kidnapped as bait. She's sure she isn't important enough to Blood for him to come get her, but he does. After that, he finally explains who Vivaldi is to him. The volume ends with Alice trying to figure out what Blood's "type" is: she's worried she's too young-looking for him, not sexy enough.

This was a vast improvement over volume 1, but it was still essentially a rehash of the first English-translated Alice in the Country of Hearts release and at least one other entry in the franchise that I can't currently recall.

This felt like someone looked at the first volume and said "we need a do-over." The beginning even recapped how Alice arrived in Wonderland. It was kind of weird, actually.

This had nicer artwork than the first volume, but story-wise it still crammed a lot into one volume. For example, there were little creepy bits that indicated that Peter and Nightmare were teaming up to keep Alice in Wonderland, steering her to the point of taking her ability to choose away from her. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough space to both include this stuff and also explain it, so I imagine it'd be terribly confusing to newbies. Actually, I'd only recommend this to Alice in the County of completists like myself.

Am I done with this franchise yet? I think I have a little more to go, but it'd be nice to know how much. I feel like I need a guide of some kind.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, simple spin off series that focuses on Alice and Blood's relationship. And is honestly the ONE time I can almost buy their romance. Blood is as, well, bloody as ever, and certainly intimidating, but the amount of slut-shaming, emotional manipulation, and other horribly abusive traits he normally emits in these manga is narrowed to barely noticeable. The only other times he's tolerable are in the Elliott spin-offs, so this was a pleasant surprise, to say the least. Considering how everyone else in "Wonderland" is barking mad with violent tendencies, that may not seem like much, but it's still refreshing to get a slightly less despicable version of Blood Dupre, let alone a Blood x Alice romance. So, despite my general hatred of this ship, I still enjoyed this spin-off.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to reading Alice In The Country of Hearts manga beforehand, the whole sibling twist wasn't a big shocker to me. It just feels obvious to those beyond the tween years. Their relationship is fairly unhealthy but that is to be expected as they have the typical, popular powerful man falling for the seemingly average girl and the fights that pursue amidst her potential lovers as well. I got the book for the witty remarks. I love Blood and his sarcasm but it was nothing more than a typical manga in its own element.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh gosh were to begin, I really love this story line but I'm not a fan of Blood. All that flirting is nice and alurring but come on he is so mean to Alice. Yeah it meant to come off as teasing. I'm not buying it. Come paired to Love Labyrinth of Thorns and Julius...ah. Now he is my kind of guy. The dark a burtting and really passionate about the people he cares about. The next review will come as no hock at it might being all about joinning the team Julius.

[Nic · Rating 2 out of 5]

The art's nice and all, but I hate the Hatter as a love interest sooooo muuuuuch . . .

My NFNT review is up here.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely my second favorite story after the Clockmaker's Story. Interesting to read and you don't really know how it's going to end.

OOPS! Third favorite now that I've read The Nightmare Trilogy!!

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. I still prefer the Clockmaker though and Alice is a lot more bold in the Mad Hatter spin off! Ah, this was a good adventure. I think I need to read either Nightmare's or Ace's story next. These are so addictive.

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta say: it's pretty par for the course. I'm still not sold on Blood being in love with her, but it was still a fun read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the ending!!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just love Blood.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aww Hatter's kind of cute. Anyway, this one was kind of good. Also that cover is adorable. Basically another good volume.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the Bloody Twins. This is a cool take on both Alice in Wonderland and the harem manga genre.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really special, solid story. I kind of want to read a whole arc about Elliot, is that a thing?

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blood saves Alice from a hostage situation and they kiss. Alice tries to find out what Blood's taste in women is, so she can change into it.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...