And It All Makes Sense in the End

by Adam Blue

"If all, or almost all, the plays that are popular now, imaginative works as well as historical ones, are known to be nonsense and without rhyme or reason, and despite this the mob hears them with pleasure and thinks of them and approves of them as good, when they are very far from being so, and the authors who compose them and the actors who perform them say they must be like this because that is just how the mob wants them, and no other way; the plays that have a design and follow the story as art demands appeal to a handful of discerning persons who understand them, while everyone else is incapable of comprehending their artistry; and since, as far as the authors and actors are concerned, it is better to earn a living with the crowd than a reputation with the few, this is what would happen to my book after I had singed my eyebrows trying to keep the precepts I have mentioned and had become the tailor who wasn’t paid." - Cervantes, Don Quixote of La Mancha

Fans of The Alchemist, The Wizard of Oz, and the visual arts will enjoy this whimsical work. It’s gonna get weird, so remember as you change the it all makes sense in the end.

When teen twins Mariah and Zooey visit their reclusive Grandfather’s cabin, they think it'll be another boring weekend out of cell phone range. But things go sideways fast. A walk in the woods delivers them to a strange new world. Technicolor trees grow Willy Wonka fruits. Forest creatures speak in rhyme and control the air around them. The rules of physics warp and bend. Nothing’s as it was before, but everything’s like home. Because another human got there first and took it for his own.

178 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

Adam Blue is an artist, author, illustrator, and designer.

Born and raised in California, Adam has also lived in Colorado, New Mexico, New Hampshire, and Vermont. He has an AB in Biology from Dartmouth College and a MFA in Drawing and Painting from the California College of the Arts.

In addition to making contemporary art and writing experimental books, Adam is an Art Editor of the Whitefish Review, a nationally acclaimed literary and arts journal. He sits on the Board of the Helen Day Art Center in Stowe, VT. From 2008-2016, he was Education Director at AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, NH. He currently works in design and project management at CoolSnowGlobes.

Reviews

[Bookworm86 · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'And It All Makes Sense In The End' by Adam Blue

I must admit that this is not the type of book that I would normally read being more of a crime, thriller or horror reader but when it mentioned 'The Wizard Of Oz' in the synopsis and with the extremely eye catching cover I just had to give it a try and I am glad that I did as I really enjoyed it!!! If this isn't the sort of book you would pick up then don't let that out you off, expand your literature genres and grab your copy today!!! It is definitely unique and most definitely whimsical!!! With this book being just 176 pages I would probably class it as more of a novella personally and I ended up reading it in a few short hours. Adam has split the book in to 3 acts which is a bit of a mixed bad really. I personally don't mind when books are split like this but I also like to have chapters where you can read up to if you need to take a break but there is not any in this book just the three acts. The first two are quite short with the first being just 29 pages long and the second being a bit longer and 48 pages but the third act is then 87 pages long. In this book Adam transports his readers next to twins Mariah and Zooey who go for a hike with their Grandfather not long after discovering a strange book in his attic. On the hike their Grandad recalls his past to them. When their Grandad takes a rest the twins go ahead for a while and discover a cave. When they exit the other side they are transported into a whole new world where they discover animals behaving, walking, talking and walking like humans as well as several strange creatures. They meet new friends and head to Crescent City but when they get there they don't get the welcome they were hoping for and are treated more like terrorists. With dogs hunting them and a reward for their capture what will happen to Mariah, Zooey and their new friends Lutwidge, Arshile, Dahl and Matta? Well to find out more you will just have to grab your copy of this vibrant, unique and chaotic book today. With a storyline packed with fantasy, creatures, chaos, drama, action and more what are you waiting for? If you love 'The Wizard Of Oz', 'Alice In Wonderland' and 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory', fantasy and anything strange and unique you will thoroughly enjoy this!! Adam must have an extremely artistic, imaginative and vivid imagination to come up with something this fantastically whimsical and I am very pleased that he did! I am definitely looking forward to seeing what other wonders he has created in his other books. I enjoyed the ending which I was not expecting the little twist at the end which is nice to come across after reading hundreds of other books and losing the ease of which I used to be surprised with twists. i wont say any more about the storyline as I do not want to give anything away but i will say that Adam's vivid, chaotic and evocative descriptions really does put you in the storyline where it will all come to life at each turn of the page. Grab your copy today and it will all make sense in the end!

Overall a perfect read for fans of fantasy, strangeness, the whimsical and the unique!

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[Roberta Kime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I’d like to thank Adam for sending me a copy of the book to review! It was very generous of you and I am really grateful!

So, the story follows twins Zooey and Mariah who go and stay with their reclusive grandad in a cabin deep in the woods. One day, they go for a hike, find a cave to explore and are transported to another world- Circle Island. They meet a whole host of different characters and embark on a mission to over throw the President!

The story telling and world building was fantastic, and Adam really does have a crazy imagination for some of the characters he has come up with! It was a short and enjoyable read, with the right balance of humour, action and fantasy!

The writing style was simple and easy to read- as I am assuming it is aimed at the younger audience! I particularly enjoyed Lutwidge’s character as he spoke in verse and these were well written and super cute and brought a different element to the conventional way of writing! The pace was quite fast as it was just a short book (less than 200 pages).

Finally, I don’t really know how to rate this book as it was wacky for me! I can appreciate a wild imagination and how much time went into the characters and storyline, however, for me it didn’t all make sense in the end! Saying that, I would read another installment by this author as I would like to see where his imagination takes him next!

Overall ratings:
🌟 3.5/5
☠️ 1/5 (TWs MCs captured, imprisonment)

[kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since childhood I have adored Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and Roald Dahl for their absurd nature and whimsy and how they let me escape into a world that felt like ours but also wasn't, so when I saw that this took inspiration from these things and that the reader would feel like they were on an absurd and whimsical ride I knew I had to jump in.

The book instantly drew me in and made me want to keep reading and the more I read the more I felt like I was there. The book was full of rich imagery and vivid descriptions that made me feel like this world was right in front of me. I still remember the moments that I entered Oz with Dorothy, Wonderland with Alice and Wonkas factory with Charlie and this gave me the same feeling that something amazing was going to happen that would also have a hidden brilliance, and, I think this was captured in the writing style of the author where he was portraying something so whimsical yet also portraying things such as what we do, the actions and decisions we make and the impact that has on others. Which I also think is a massive theme in those other whimsical absurdist books that I love.

I really enjoyed my time with this book andI also appreciated that everything did make sense in the end. I would definitely be interested in reading something else by the author.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst the bright cover would catch my eye and probably cause me to pick this book up in a shop, I have to be completely honest and say that I wouldn't buy it because the blurb on the back doesn't explain what it's about. I do love the 'quote' on the front from Robin Hood though. And that's a real shame, because what's inside the pages is delightfully bonkers!

Reading this book put me in mind of various other books I've read and loved, including Alice In Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and poems by Spike Milligan and Edward Lear.

And It All Makes Sense In The End is not only full of an eclectic mix of interesting characters and an exciting adventure, I also found it to have interesting insights into society, the class structure and the gods of consumerism.

And so, did it all make sense in the end? Too be honest, I'm not sure it did for me. I'm not entirely sure what Grandpa meant by it all. But I'm not actually sure that it bothered me either. At I said at the beginning, the book was delightfully bonkers, and sometimes that means things don't need to make sense.

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book at lot! It was a fairly quick read which I liked. All I could think about the whole time was Roald Dahl and different elements that were fun like his books. So many of his books came to mind reading this. It was a great reminder.

The book is well written and flows nicely. I like how it's split up into three acts but isn't a play and there are no chapters. That was fun! There were no plot. Just one unanswered question which for me is more a theory. The ending is very open to interpretation I think.

The world building was done so well and it was so descriptive and helped use the imagination to its full potential!

The characters were fun and unique. I liked the twins Zooey and Mariah. They had a great brother/sister relationship. They make wonderful friends and form strong bonds with the characters they meet along the way. The characters definitely complimented each other and made it a top read.

The book is written in the style of a narrator almost telling the story. There is no specific point of view and it's not in first person. It worked well.

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn into this book when it said The Alchemist and Wizard of Oz fans would appreciate this book - I’d also add Alice in Wonderland. With a rhyming rhino and a slick cat, I got Alice in Wonderland vibes for part of it. I also appreciated a character named Dahl given Roald Dahl books are a bit kooky too. Some things I liked were that there were some quotable lines that I felt could align between the book and today’s political climate. I also think the amount of characters was just right to be interesting but not so many you can’t keep track.
I will say this book is shorter so the story happens quick so I did feel jolted into different settings fairly quickly which made me really hope it all made sense in the end. I won’t tell you myself - why don’t you take your turn at reading it to see… DOES it all make sense in the end?

[Gail Pocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. I flew through it in 2 sittings & couldn't get enough as I was always wondering what crazy thing was coming next!

The visuals that this book gave me were insane! ( The characters are larger than life, some literally 0) My fav was always going to be Arshile (for obvious reasons) but Lutwidges little rhymes made me smile throughout!
Also, can we get a Kippenbergers Kanteen is real life because I'd be the first in line! if they can't make it you don't need it!
The social element around the CC & the magician was very well done & almost feels a little hidden at times but it does make you stop & think, especially during current times!
Overall it was a crazy whimsical journey & I'm not sure I have the words to explain it because it really was a wild ride! Even though it did all make sense in the end!

If you need a fun little escape (literally) then please pick this up!

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

... Does it? I don't think I had a clue what was going on at the end, and it made more sense before then! Still loved it though. Thank you to the author and Love Books Tours for my copy.

This book has the same energy as Labyrinth, which is obviously one of the greatest films of all time. It was fun and bizarre and delightful, and quite simply, it made me smile. The poetry was one of my favourite quirks - never explained, and why on earth should it be? - but wonderful rhyme and rhythm that really added to the charm of the story.

The plot was dystopian, despite the presentation being so fluffy, and I loved the way the author presented those horrors alongside the childhood hope of the main characters. Overall, this was a really enjoyable novella.

[The Little Book Corner]

This book is in the Young Adult category and is greatly suited to older children who can read to themselves and my children really enjoyed reading this with me. It is not typically the genre I would normally read but I loved the sound of the book and the bright cover.
If you like fantasy and have older children, this book would be great to read together. The main characters are twins and after walking in the woods with their Grandfather they go on ahead and through a cave. Through the other side they are transported to a magical land full of animals walking like humans and talking and technicolour trees, however when they reach Crescent City they are treated like intruders and hunted.

[Alice]

And it all makes sense in the end - except I'm not too sure it does! In the beginning, during the middle and at the end, I didn't fully know what was going on. But, what I do know is that the book conjures up the most vivid imagery, and it has very interesting, curious characters.

From the moment the twins went through to the other world, it was like going into the wardrobe, then falling down the rabbit hole and landing in Munchkin land - all rolled into one!

It's difficult to explain the storyline, but it's a short book and worth a read if you are looking for something whimsical and fun.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When twins Zooey and Mariah go to visit their reclusive grandfather at his secluded cabin in the woods, they get more than a bargained for. While on a hike with their granddad, they find themselves transported to the world of Circle Island. The world is full of incredible creatures and magnificent things. I loved Lutwidge and Arshile . I thought they were magnificently quirky characters and I’d love to meet them for real! The twins were great as well. I loved their sense of adventure. The storyline was very entertaining and enjoyable. Vivid descriptions from the author really brought the story and characters to life. An awesome read from a new author for me.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenage twins Mariah and Zooey visit their Grandpa in his weird and wonderful cabin in the woods. On a hike in amongst the trees they meet many talking animals including bespectacled Lutwidge, the talking rhino! With blueberry pancakes and maple syrup in abundance this is a wonderful, whimsical, wholesome adventure book where nonsense becomes the new normal and timeless morals are understood. This is a book for any age of reader who has a large heart, endless imagination and a huge sense of adventure. I loved it, it made me warm and made me smile.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

And It All Makes Sense In The End by Adam Blue.
This was a good read. I got into this book straight away. I loved the writing style and the story. I liked Mariah, Zooey, Arshile, Dahl, and Matta. Full of action. There was nothing I didn't like about this book. I was surprised by this book. It wasn't what I expected. This was a quick and easy read for me. I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Marie Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This portal fantasy had some strong Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland vibes. I'm pretty sure I get what the author was going for here, and even though "it all makes sense in the end," it wasn't really very fulfulling.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book by its super bright front cover and that title!? What does it mean, what will make sense and will it really?

Well, I think I can confirm that I really don't think it will!?

 

Now, first of all, I never read blurbs before I read a book - which meant that I went into this totally blind.

I didn't even know whether this was going to be fiction or non-fiction!

What I found though, was a wonderfully fun and crazy story that I could not put down.

 

At just under 200 pages, this was a super quick read anyway, but I was totally hooked from the start.

I loved the writing style which flowed beautifully, especially the poetry with a really lyrical and easy to read rhyme.

The descriptive passages had me conjuring up a clear and vivid image in my head and I was completely transported to the forest too.

 

The characters were well presented and I enjoyed journeying into the unknown with the girls.

This gave me nursery rhyme and wonderland vibes throughout.

 

A great read - something totally different and a brilliant palate cleanser in-between some meatier reads.

I'd love to read more from this author.

 

 

[Ash_reads24]

Now this was a suprise read for me, the blurb didn’t give much away but the cover drew me in,

With a great character cast of Mariah, Zooey, Arshile, Dahl and Matta. It was a nice quick and easy read to follow which is rare got a fantasy book. A journey home & a whimsical rollercoaster in a short book what a genius the author is.

If you’re looking for a book that’s easy to follow where you can escape in and read in a short time then this is for you.

Credit to the author for creating a fantasy book in a short read!