Code Red

Reclaiming Wonderland #1

by Taila Cantrell

Forty years ago, the last standing city on Earth, known as Wonderland, changed. A corrupt government has taken control of the citizens through fear. Alice has lived quietly, careful to avoid any issues with the Red Party. A single night on the town changes everything. Alice will stop at nothing to save the people she loves. The Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, March Hare, and Caterpillar lead the Resistance, and now Alice must contend with the Red Party and her growing feelings for four men.

Genres: Retellings

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2024

Reviews

[Eryn McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has such a great premise: Dystopian Wonderland! I loved the reappearance of the King and Queen of Hearts, the Red Queen, the White Queen, Hatter, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar and March Hare. Alice of course, had to be there.
The suits and the world started with a bang and it kept going.
It's a RH story and for me, it worked well enough, although I like more story with my romance. I liked the different characters although I would have liked to see a content warning for some of the characters' backstories.
It's open door romance, a handful of spicy scenes.
It ends on a cliffhanger so if that's not your thing... you're welcome.
My main criticisms are that it could do with a proofread, and that the action is all solved fairly easily. I would think the Suits and the society would have been harder to beat.
But past that, I enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for a good Dystopian though!

[Stephanie Abelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I am a big fan of fairytale retellings and Taila knocked this out of the park! Such a good story that sucked me in right from chapter 1. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

[Kaylee Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line to this is very good, i enjoyed the characters and the plot and im excited to see what else is in store for Alice and her dudes

[Rachel Sloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was well thought out and amazingly written. It had a few twists thrown in throughout the story that kept you on your toes. It ended on a cliffhanger so I hope to be seeing a book 2 very soon.

[E.J. Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was super excited to read this one, I love a good dystopian book and the thought of a dystopian Alice in Wonderland really drew me in.

I really enjoyed the story, it was fast paced with enough twists to keep me turning the pages. The further I went in the most invested I got. The characters were all great with FMC Alice and March being my particular favourites. I loved how each characters backstory was explored, it really helped me relate to and care more about them.

At times I found it a little hard to keep track of all the characters with each one having two names (both real names and code names) and the conflict/fight scenes seemed slightly rushed/easy at times which is the reason for the missing star. But overall it was a really great read and a big cliffhanger, which has left me needing book 2 now!!

[Linsey Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Code Red is book 1 in the Reclaiming Wonderland series. 18+ Read Warnings MMFMM

OMG! Ok, so I'm not even gonna lie when I say I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book or not because I thought I wasn't a huge fan of retellings. Well I can say I was so wrong! This is one of the best steamy retelling I have ever read. I couldn't put this book down! . It is absolutely fantastic! I loved the story and character development. If you haven't read it yet RUN don't walk to add it to your TBR because if you enjoy steamy MMFMM books then I promise this is one you will not want to miss! I can't wait to get my hands on book 2!

[Lavender.and_literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Captivating and Fresh Take on a Classic

This was such an enjoyable read! It was my first experience with a retelling, and I loved how the author reimagined familiar characters in a whole new light. The story flowed effortlessly, keeping me hooked from start to finish, and I found the plot both engaging and full of surprises.

Alice is an absolute standout—her strength and wit make her a truly memorable character. I also really appreciated the dynamic between her and her men; their banter added a fun, lighthearted layer to the story that I couldn’t get enough of.

I’m thrilled to have discovered this new author, and I’m already looking forward to diving into the next book in the series!

[Leah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐️
1.5/5🌶

Debut Novel? Really this book did not feel like a debut novel at all!!!

This is such a fast paced book it keeps you hooked and wanting to know what happens next the whole time! Alice is the perfect FMC being as she's strong willed and very independent!!! Her men were also great! They were protective of her and each other and made the love story feel complete! I can't wait for the next book in this series since of course this one left on a HUGE cliff hanger!

Favorite Quote:
Curiosity might have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.

[Jordynn Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action in this book starts right away sinking you right into Wonderland! As I read all I keep thinking is damn I need to see character art of these characters they sound so beautiful!!

March and Hatter have the cutest relationship and all I want is for them to bang! Their slow burn is gunna be the death of me.

I actually really enjoyed this boom and am looking forward to book 2!

(I found a discrepancy in chapter 3 and 4. In chapter 3 it’s says she slept and mopped for two days then in chapter 4 at the bar the guy said he’s glad she escaped last night.)

[Brendan Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC for Code Red, and I’m so glad I did. This book was honestly so much fun. It was full of adventure, humor, romance, spicy scenes, and a few surprise twists. As a huge Alice In Wonderland fan (both the original books and the movies), I was not disappointed. It had everything that kid AIW fan me wanted, as well as everything that adult AIW fan me wanted too. Can’t wait for the next one!!!

[EP Gazette · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐
1🌶️ some open door scenes but not really graphic

A thrilling read that just keeps surprising! I loved how the RH was done, the men are all appealing in their own ways and mesh well. While there definitely is romance and budding relationships, the action is the main focus. The Alice in Wonderland references are brilliantly done! Taila also introduces a unique magic system that I'm excited to learn more about!

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 men, you say?

This spicy Wonderland retelling is an absolute blast to read. Taila Cantrell takes the familiar world of Wonderland and gives it a daring, seductive twist. The why choose element adds extra excitement, while the slow-building tension keeps you hooked as the battle for Wonderland’s freedom unfolds. A fun, steamy, and imaginative read from start to finish! Off to Code Blue I goooo!

[Brooklynn Wofford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book is a wild ride from start to finish. It’s an incredible retelling of Alice and Wonderland. The characters find a way to worm their way into your heart! There were several parts in this book that had me grinning like a fool, screaming (internally) at my kindle, and almost had me in tears! I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Ashton Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored reading Code Red! The characters are very complex, and it is very hard not to fall in love with them. I loved the plot structure, and how the story flowed, especially in the latter half. I wish there would’ve been a bit more detail when it comes to the setting and plot- I wanted to know more about certain places and why certain things were happening.

[Danielle Nielson, Book Therapist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Book Therapist Reviews

This is great for those that love a Wonderland spin off with low detail spice, especially for a why choose. It has drama and tr@m#, it has mental health, it has a w@r to win. It isnt high intensity in any of the categories, but I adore the FMC and her group of men. Looking forward to reading book 2 and how they will keep growing as a unit.

[Kimberly Rahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book. I couldn’t put it down. Alice and her men make a perfect combination and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[Lamia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree there could have been more detail and that the fight scene was resolved fairly quick, but I loved the premise and it kept me hooked the whole time.

[Karen Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a book full of twists then this is your type of book! This book was amazing! I highly recommend it. The tropes and everything are just fantastic!

[iris muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking loved this book!! Such a good retelling !!!

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHH this book's prolong was so sad but the book itself was such a good one! I was crying and laughing at certain parts. I felt so connected to the characters, the drama was soo good that I couldn't put the book down. The Spice was spicy!

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! In Code Red, Taila Cantrell's debut novel, we have Alice, along with Hatter, March, Caterpillar, and Cheshire, navigating a dystopian world in this re-telling of Alice in Wonderland that features all the main characters as humans. I quickly fell in love with the character depictions and their interactions with each other. There is banter, sass, tension, and some spice sprinkled in. Oh, and MMFMM. I am here for all of it! My only wish, more spice. But what Taila did give us for spice still had my stomach doing "the thing"! 😊

The book also includes some trauma, war, and magical aspects. As always, check triggers if you have concerns. 🙂

Are there some grammatical errors? Yes. Did it take me out of the story? Nope! I had trouble putting this one down once I started. I'm definitely happy this is a series so I can get more of these characters!