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The Collectors’ Society #1
The Collectors’ Society
After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth.
It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?
It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 23, 2014
108 people are currently reading
6150 people want to read
About the author
Heather Lyons
13 books770 followersHeather Lyons is known for writing epic, heartfelt love stories often with a fantastical twist. From Young Adult to New Adult to Adult novels—one commonality in all her books is the touching, and sometimes heart-wrenching, romance. In addition to writing, she's also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
October 16, 2014
5 stars!!
Earlier this year I went gaga over this author’s The Deep End of the Sea and thought that she couldn’t possibly write another book that could top it in originality but I was wrong. Out of all the books I’ve read, I have never read a story quite like The Collectors’ Society and I love that. Reading this book recaptures that ‘firsts’ feeling: The one where you’re reading a story and it’s completely fresh content, never been explored topic and you’re both giddy and anxious to see where it goes because you truly have no idea what could happen. There are no point of references. There are no other books you can compare it to because it is one of a kind.
This book is an adult fantasy romance filled with adventurous wonders and loosely based off Alice in Wonderland. Just to clarify, you do not need to read/watch/know anything about the movie/book to understand this book. This author excels at writing retellings and spinning them into her own unique story. While romance is a heavy element in the book, it’s not the only aspect and the main couple isn’t the only one to take the spotlight. One of the things I love so much about this book is that it explores so much – from rich setting to elaborate plot to each individual character – but in a concise manner. This book gives voice to many well-known literary characters that are a part of the story and whether you know about them or not the author portrays another (fictional) side of each character that is both fascinating and refreshing.
Now for the plot. Normally I launch into a mini summary of the plot but I can’t do that with this book. The best books are usually the ones where even mentioning a little of the plot triggers the domino effect and spoils the story, which is the case with this book. All I feel comfortable saying is that the intricate plot forces both the characters and the reader to reevaluate preconceived notions and it is one so well thought out and calculated my head was spinning. It’s just so SMART and I love books that make me think and feel at the same time.
As for the main characters, I think the author did a brilliant job panning out their background and their personalities. The heroine Alice is seriously kickass in a way I’m actually jealous of how kickass she is. It’s obvious from the start she escaped from a parallel world called Wonderland and is in an asylum in order to retain some of her sanity and eventually, re-enter English society. Her plans go awry, however, when the leader of a secret organization called The Collectors’ Society recruits her for one of the most important missions in a race against a doomsday clock. It is within this society she meets the hero Finn, a quirky, enigmatic and naturally charismatic fellow who becomes her partner in this mission. And while there is an initial attraction between the two, the author doesn’t make it overshadow the book where lust and angst take over the book; it’s a rather gradual and believable romance that develops.
At this point in the book, the story is both nail-biting engaging and laugh out loud funny but the one thing that was missing was the deep emotion required if it’s to be a 5 star read. I was thinking that I would finish it with a 4-4.5 star rating in mind but then the most glorious plot twist happened and an absolutely electrifying character entered the book and my heart was a goner. I don’t think I have EVER fallen for a character in less than one page and honestly didn’t expect that to happen here but it did. This is so frustrating for me to describe because I can’t even reveal who he is and especially not his name without it being a spoiler. It’s safe to say, this man STOLE my heart and I spent the last 25% bawling like a baby.
“I love how his heart is big and beautiful and generous and that it, when circumstance demanded, allowed itself to break repeatedly rather than allow others to suffer.”
...Yeah, I can’t. *SNIFFS* Please don’t take this as someone died. Not all crying is because of death.
And that is all I’m going to say about this mystery guy and plot twist.
This book had my complete attention from the intriguing beginning to the explosive ending and I honestly think that both pure romance readers and fantasy lovers will enjoy what this book has to offer in terms of an original, mindblowing storyline and an unexpected heartfelt romance.
The Collectors’ Society is the first book in a new series and while it’s designed to be a story that continues on in the next few books, it can technically be read as a standalone as the conclusion to this book is a satisfying one.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Earlier this year I went gaga over this author’s The Deep End of the Sea and thought that she couldn’t possibly write another book that could top it in originality but I was wrong. Out of all the books I’ve read, I have never read a story quite like The Collectors’ Society and I love that. Reading this book recaptures that ‘firsts’ feeling: The one where you’re reading a story and it’s completely fresh content, never been explored topic and you’re both giddy and anxious to see where it goes because you truly have no idea what could happen. There are no point of references. There are no other books you can compare it to because it is one of a kind.
This book is an adult fantasy romance filled with adventurous wonders and loosely based off Alice in Wonderland. Just to clarify, you do not need to read/watch/know anything about the movie/book to understand this book. This author excels at writing retellings and spinning them into her own unique story. While romance is a heavy element in the book, it’s not the only aspect and the main couple isn’t the only one to take the spotlight. One of the things I love so much about this book is that it explores so much – from rich setting to elaborate plot to each individual character – but in a concise manner. This book gives voice to many well-known literary characters that are a part of the story and whether you know about them or not the author portrays another (fictional) side of each character that is both fascinating and refreshing.
Now for the plot. Normally I launch into a mini summary of the plot but I can’t do that with this book. The best books are usually the ones where even mentioning a little of the plot triggers the domino effect and spoils the story, which is the case with this book. All I feel comfortable saying is that the intricate plot forces both the characters and the reader to reevaluate preconceived notions and it is one so well thought out and calculated my head was spinning. It’s just so SMART and I love books that make me think and feel at the same time.
As for the main characters, I think the author did a brilliant job panning out their background and their personalities. The heroine Alice is seriously kickass in a way I’m actually jealous of how kickass she is. It’s obvious from the start she escaped from a parallel world called Wonderland and is in an asylum in order to retain some of her sanity and eventually, re-enter English society. Her plans go awry, however, when the leader of a secret organization called The Collectors’ Society recruits her for one of the most important missions in a race against a doomsday clock. It is within this society she meets the hero Finn, a quirky, enigmatic and naturally charismatic fellow who becomes her partner in this mission. And while there is an initial attraction between the two, the author doesn’t make it overshadow the book where lust and angst take over the book; it’s a rather gradual and believable romance that develops.
At this point in the book, the story is both nail-biting engaging and laugh out loud funny but the one thing that was missing was the deep emotion required if it’s to be a 5 star read. I was thinking that I would finish it with a 4-4.5 star rating in mind but then the most glorious plot twist happened and an absolutely electrifying character entered the book and my heart was a goner. I don’t think I have EVER fallen for a character in less than one page and honestly didn’t expect that to happen here but it did. This is so frustrating for me to describe because I can’t even reveal who he is and especially not his name without it being a spoiler. It’s safe to say, this man STOLE my heart and I spent the last 25% bawling like a baby.
“I love how his heart is big and beautiful and generous and that it, when circumstance demanded, allowed itself to break repeatedly rather than allow others to suffer.”
...Yeah, I can’t. *SNIFFS* Please don’t take this as someone died. Not all crying is because of death.
And that is all I’m going to say about this mystery guy and plot twist.
This book had my complete attention from the intriguing beginning to the explosive ending and I honestly think that both pure romance readers and fantasy lovers will enjoy what this book has to offer in terms of an original, mindblowing storyline and an unexpected heartfelt romance.
The Collectors’ Society is the first book in a new series and while it’s designed to be a story that continues on in the next few books, it can technically be read as a standalone as the conclusion to this book is a satisfying one.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2016
4 Binary stars
“In pages we find worlds. In words, we find life.”
Do you think you know your literary characters? You might not know them as well as you thought.
Locked up in an asylum in Victorian London, Alice is hiding many secrets about her past. Upon a visit from a stranger with a mission, Alice is thrust into modern day New York City with a new purpose in her life. You see, Timelines were created out of our beloved books and tales, and the characters in them brought to life. They can travel in and out of them, and many choose to remain in the modern world as a part of the Collectors’ Society. I won’t get into it too much, but basically the Timelines existence is in peril, and Alice has been drafted into the fight to help save them, so that her Wonderland can be saved before it is deleted forever.
I really loved the concept of this book. I loved the world building. I loved the idea that the novels we read are only one side of the story and the authors’ perception of the events in them. And we all know that perception doesn’t mean truth. Heather Lyons in my opinion is a master at taking well known characters (or in the Deep End of the Sea’s case, mythological characters) and making them her own with their own new personalities.
“Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somewhat precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are.”
Alice is incredibly secretive, even keeping secrets from the reader, which at times was infuriating as I was left a bit confused. All events and most secrets did reveal themselves, but mostly near the end of the book. The addition of Mary Lennox was a personal favorite of mine as The Secret Garden is a book I grew up on. And the choice Ms. Lyons made in making her into the nice bitchy girl was a wonderful touch.
Ladies, I am in the minority on the character of Finn. I didn’t care all too much for him. It may sound bad but Finn was too good of a guy, like too good to exist kind of a hero. He literally was perfect, the entire book. Handsome, fit, sensitive, caring, kind, loving. Maybe I’m just reading too much Alpha male’s in my books, but I wanted a little more from him. I honestly could not see how he fell for Alice when she exposed so little of herself to him.
“Your destiny is not in Wonderland, no matter how much we may wish differently.”
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, but at some points it was slow and a little bit confusing. I feel if more of the backstory behind Alice’s life hadn’t been kept a secret for so long, I would have understood her and her actions a lot more earlier on. I also went into this thinking it was a standalone, but after reading the ending I think there is more to come.
“In pages we find worlds. In words, we find life.”
Do you think you know your literary characters? You might not know them as well as you thought.
Locked up in an asylum in Victorian London, Alice is hiding many secrets about her past. Upon a visit from a stranger with a mission, Alice is thrust into modern day New York City with a new purpose in her life. You see, Timelines were created out of our beloved books and tales, and the characters in them brought to life. They can travel in and out of them, and many choose to remain in the modern world as a part of the Collectors’ Society. I won’t get into it too much, but basically the Timelines existence is in peril, and Alice has been drafted into the fight to help save them, so that her Wonderland can be saved before it is deleted forever.
I really loved the concept of this book. I loved the world building. I loved the idea that the novels we read are only one side of the story and the authors’ perception of the events in them. And we all know that perception doesn’t mean truth. Heather Lyons in my opinion is a master at taking well known characters (or in the Deep End of the Sea’s case, mythological characters) and making them her own with their own new personalities.
“Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somewhat precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are.”
Alice is incredibly secretive, even keeping secrets from the reader, which at times was infuriating as I was left a bit confused. All events and most secrets did reveal themselves, but mostly near the end of the book. The addition of Mary Lennox was a personal favorite of mine as The Secret Garden is a book I grew up on. And the choice Ms. Lyons made in making her into the nice bitchy girl was a wonderful touch.
Ladies, I am in the minority on the character of Finn. I didn’t care all too much for him. It may sound bad but Finn was too good of a guy, like too good to exist kind of a hero. He literally was perfect, the entire book. Handsome, fit, sensitive, caring, kind, loving. Maybe I’m just reading too much Alpha male’s in my books, but I wanted a little more from him. I honestly could not see how he fell for Alice when she exposed so little of herself to him.
“Your destiny is not in Wonderland, no matter how much we may wish differently.”
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, but at some points it was slow and a little bit confusing. I feel if more of the backstory behind Alice’s life hadn’t been kept a secret for so long, I would have understood her and her actions a lot more earlier on. I also went into this thinking it was a standalone, but after reading the ending I think there is more to come.
October 26, 2014
4,5 UNIQUE STARS
This book blew me away!It was such an interesting and unique story!I haven't read something like that!The plot is so brilliant,combining time travel and alternate universes with clasic literature!!The story developed slowly but this is perfect because you need time to understand what's going on!I really liked the fact that the characters was giving meaning to the story!!I don't want to give away anything!It's hard to talk about this book without mentioning spoilers...so I try to be careful because I think everybody must read it and experience it!!!
Alice isn't the little girl anymore,she is twenty five and she is back from Wonderland.Now she is in an asylum. She knows Wonderland is real but because no one believe her she's trying to leave it behind and start a new life...But what will happen when a mysterious man appears and ask her help...because Wonderland is in danger?
In order to save Wonderland, she must join the Collector's Society.A group that tries to protect the worlds living in famous books. In order to find the ones that want to destroy her Wonderland she has to slip into different literature worlds. In the Society she will meet interesting characters...one of them is Finn!
I loved Alice a lot!!I like her character!She was willing to fight for herself and the others.She is strong and realistic.OMG...Finn!!!This guy make me swooning all the time!!!He is a jentleman!!He is so sweet and nice!!!The romance between Alice and Finn was so sweet.
"After all I've gone through, after all I've lost, I've finally found my true north star."
If you love fairytales,suspense,adventure,romance and lots of action....then this is exactly what you need!!!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book blew me away!It was such an interesting and unique story!I haven't read something like that!The plot is so brilliant,combining time travel and alternate universes with clasic literature!!The story developed slowly but this is perfect because you need time to understand what's going on!I really liked the fact that the characters was giving meaning to the story!!I don't want to give away anything!It's hard to talk about this book without mentioning spoilers...so I try to be careful because I think everybody must read it and experience it!!!
Alice isn't the little girl anymore,she is twenty five and she is back from Wonderland.Now she is in an asylum. She knows Wonderland is real but because no one believe her she's trying to leave it behind and start a new life...But what will happen when a mysterious man appears and ask her help...because Wonderland is in danger?
In order to save Wonderland, she must join the Collector's Society.A group that tries to protect the worlds living in famous books. In order to find the ones that want to destroy her Wonderland she has to slip into different literature worlds. In the Society she will meet interesting characters...one of them is Finn!
I loved Alice a lot!!I like her character!She was willing to fight for herself and the others.She is strong and realistic.OMG...Finn!!!This guy make me swooning all the time!!!He is a jentleman!!He is so sweet and nice!!!The romance between Alice and Finn was so sweet.
"After all I've gone through, after all I've lost, I've finally found my true north star."
If you love fairytales,suspense,adventure,romance and lots of action....then this is exactly what you need!!!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2014
4.5 Stars
The Collectors' Society is such a creative story. Unique and thrilling, this story is unlike any other. I'm not sure how to even begin to review it...I'm going to have to think on it. I can say, I enjoyed it. While parts in the beginning moved a little slow, the story kept my attention, and around that 60-70% mark, I was hooked to my kindle. At one point I was in tears, the emotion was so visceral, I felt everything the characters were experiencing.... It truly was a wonderful story.
The Collectors' Society is such a creative story. Unique and thrilling, this story is unlike any other. I'm not sure how to even begin to review it...I'm going to have to think on it. I can say, I enjoyed it. While parts in the beginning moved a little slow, the story kept my attention, and around that 60-70% mark, I was hooked to my kindle. At one point I was in tears, the emotion was so visceral, I felt everything the characters were experiencing.... It truly was a wonderful story.
“Authors can only allow readers to learn so much about their characters. As much as they try to build someone three dimensionally on a page, words are still limited and subject to imagination and interpretation”
October 31, 2014
4.5 STARS
What a beautiful and fantastic book! It's part magical whimsy, part action and suspense, part romance, part fantasy but all original and addictive storytelling. The plot is so extensive yet so beautifully simple: Well loved characters from famous stories are actually real. They exist because the world loves them, therefore breathing life into them. Their books and all the subsequent characters in them are known as timelines. These timelines can range anywhere from hundreds of years ago till much recently.
The Collector's Society is an organization that's dedicated to preserving these timelines thus preserving all the people that exist within them. Famous characters like Huckleberry Finn, Sweeney Todd, Wendy Darling, Alice from Wonderland and many more truly live! The plot of this book surrounds Alice and her introduction to the Collector's Society. She's been back from Wonderland, now as an adult and must come to terms with her new surroundings. Getting offered a job to work with the Society starts out reluctantly but becomes her home, her true place in the world.
But there is someone out there deleting precious timelines thus deleting favored characters and the millions of people from those books. She's recruited to help find this person and prevent her own timeline from being erased forever. Working closely with the Society's members, she's partnered with Finn, a man that holds his own secrets and they slowly become close, finding a connection that truly binds them together through love.
This was so good, so addictive and so beautiful to read. The writing was incredible, the plot astoundingly original and the characters well fleshed out. The sexual tension between Alice and Finn was palpable. I thought the book really took off in the second half. It was good in the first half, don't get me wrong, but that part was more dedicated to world building and explanation. But the second half...WOW. Can I just say I loved Finn?! He was such a lovely man. Honorable, kind, giving, caring...he was heart-melting. And Alice, she was so reserved at first, not really feeling like she belonged, but slowly she found purpose and love, sigh.
It's best to just read this, explaining things that happened would spoil everything and probably wouldn't make sense anyway. I loved this and its originality. There's no cliffhanger but central plot threads are left open making me happy this is the first book in a series. This was intelligent fantasy, adult fantasy. Don't misinterpret Alice to be a young girl who fell into the rabbit hole. She's a grown woman with complicated feelings and a past that has scarred her. A past I must mention that contained a ridiculously wonderful man that made my heart bleed--there's a pun in there ;) You don't necessarily have to know all the history behind the books these characters are from, the author does provide a glossary of terms and timelines. But it was fun looking up characters I haven't visited in a while which made me appreciate how true to the real books this author was.
Did I mention I loved Finn? Seriously, he was such a breath of fresh air, such a strong and soothing presence. The things he said, did...ugh! Lovely.
This is highly recommended, and I have to thank Feifei for reading this gem or I probably wouldn't have found it. I can't wait for the next book in the series, loved it!
What a beautiful and fantastic book! It's part magical whimsy, part action and suspense, part romance, part fantasy but all original and addictive storytelling. The plot is so extensive yet so beautifully simple: Well loved characters from famous stories are actually real. They exist because the world loves them, therefore breathing life into them. Their books and all the subsequent characters in them are known as timelines. These timelines can range anywhere from hundreds of years ago till much recently.
The Collector's Society is an organization that's dedicated to preserving these timelines thus preserving all the people that exist within them. Famous characters like Huckleberry Finn, Sweeney Todd, Wendy Darling, Alice from Wonderland and many more truly live! The plot of this book surrounds Alice and her introduction to the Collector's Society. She's been back from Wonderland, now as an adult and must come to terms with her new surroundings. Getting offered a job to work with the Society starts out reluctantly but becomes her home, her true place in the world.
But there is someone out there deleting precious timelines thus deleting favored characters and the millions of people from those books. She's recruited to help find this person and prevent her own timeline from being erased forever. Working closely with the Society's members, she's partnered with Finn, a man that holds his own secrets and they slowly become close, finding a connection that truly binds them together through love.
This was so good, so addictive and so beautiful to read. The writing was incredible, the plot astoundingly original and the characters well fleshed out. The sexual tension between Alice and Finn was palpable. I thought the book really took off in the second half. It was good in the first half, don't get me wrong, but that part was more dedicated to world building and explanation. But the second half...WOW. Can I just say I loved Finn?! He was such a lovely man. Honorable, kind, giving, caring...he was heart-melting. And Alice, she was so reserved at first, not really feeling like she belonged, but slowly she found purpose and love, sigh.
It's best to just read this, explaining things that happened would spoil everything and probably wouldn't make sense anyway. I loved this and its originality. There's no cliffhanger but central plot threads are left open making me happy this is the first book in a series. This was intelligent fantasy, adult fantasy. Don't misinterpret Alice to be a young girl who fell into the rabbit hole. She's a grown woman with complicated feelings and a past that has scarred her. A past I must mention that contained a ridiculously wonderful man that made my heart bleed--there's a pun in there ;) You don't necessarily have to know all the history behind the books these characters are from, the author does provide a glossary of terms and timelines. But it was fun looking up characters I haven't visited in a while which made me appreciate how true to the real books this author was.
Did I mention I loved Finn? Seriously, he was such a breath of fresh air, such a strong and soothing presence. The things he said, did...ugh! Lovely.
This is highly recommended, and I have to thank Feifei for reading this gem or I probably wouldn't have found it. I can't wait for the next book in the series, loved it!
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November 4, 2014
4 stars (some spoilers)
Remember Alice in Wonderland? Now an adult she gets a job offer and a new partner at the Collector's society she cannot refuse.
Without a doubt there was a few 5 star worthy moments. However there were a few things that didnt sit well with me. One: It was a bit slow, I didn't really get into the story until 40%. Two: The villain . Three: The white king .
In all the story was unique and well written. This was one of those books you can feel the romance with an interesting plot. I liked it!
Remember Alice in Wonderland? Now an adult she gets a job offer and a new partner at the Collector's society she cannot refuse.
Without a doubt there was a few 5 star worthy moments. However there were a few things that didnt sit well with me. One: It was a bit slow, I didn't really get into the story until 40%. Two: The villain . Three: The white king .
In all the story was unique and well written. This was one of those books you can feel the romance with an interesting plot. I liked it!
September 14, 2018
Buddy Read with witty Elena Salvatore.
More like 4,5 stars but due to some minor problems I won’t give it a 5 star rating.
For Readathon-2017: 38/52
In the category "A book with purple cover"
“Along with good there is always evil. It’s just the way it is.”
What an amazing world has Heather Lyons introduced to us in this book. I think I found myself a new fantasy universe to obsess over. And it’s based on BOOKS!!! Books, people. Some of our favorite characters come alive in this new world!
I must admit that I’m not a fan of “Alice’s adventures in Wonderland” tale, I haven’t read any recent retelling either, so I went into this story blind and, to tell you the truth, I think that’s what made me so impressed with it. I had no expectations, no background to compare it to, I was free of preconceptions to appreciate the story in it’s full extend. So, I will try in this review not to give away too much, because I think it’s best to experience this journey having no previous notion at all.
What I liked best in this story is how the author took some well known characters and introduced them to the 21st century, giving them life in a very different form from their initial one. Forget what you already know about Alice, or Huckleberry Finn, or Wendy Darling and many more. And she accomplished this in an original, fresh, imaginative, non-trite manner. And the plus to this story is that it isn’t labelled YA. It is definitely an adult story and a very good one. It has action, mystery, friendship and a swoony romance.
The main character is Alice and the reader gets to see the story only from her POV. In the beginning we meet her in an Asylum were she is treated for madness which admits it herself.
“I no longer questioned the extraordinary I lived through. Day after day, year after year, my existence devolved into one dream state after another until it was all I knew, all that I hoped for.”
Alice is very guarded; she is closed into herself, keeping her secrets into her troubled mind, even from the reader. What motivates her into accepting Van Brunt’s offer is her love for the land she left behind and the desire to keep her beloved ones safe. Apparently there is a situation that must be addressed immediately, as an unknown villain is eliminating entire fictional worlds and it’s the Society’s responsibility to save them. And from then on she unfolds into one of the best fantasy heroines I’ve read about. She is strong, smart, loyal, righteous, fierce and she can land you on your butt in seconds.
As an active member of the Collector’s Society, Alice is partnered with the mysterious and handsome Finn, while becoming friends with Finn’s brother Victor and his partner Mary. The attraction between Alice and Finn is very obvious from the start and though it feels very much like instalove (and it bothered me at the beginning), somehow the author manages to make it believable in the end.
“There is an easiness between us that shouldn’t be there. One that hasn’t been earned yet. One I can’t afford to allow. One I don’t even know if I want to allow.”
Finn is a very sweet, serious and lonesome guy. He too, holds many secrets that we have yet to discover, but he is very loyal to his adopted family and would do anything to protect them. He becomes a guardian to Alice as well, even though it’s obvious almost from the start that she can hold her ground and protect herself. Will they find the way to overcome their pasts and be each other’s future?
“Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somewhat precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are, even if we want nothing more to close our eyes to them.”
“Sometimes, love is not enough, though. Not when everything else is wrong. Sometimes you must move on, even when it hurts to do so.”
We follow them in a mission to Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park” and then off to Wonderland as it becomes apparent that there is an immediate threat. Wonderland is presented exactly as her name states: a Land full of Wonder, along with bloodlust, talking animals and objects, salacity and old friends. As their mission progress, more of Alice’s secrets are revealed to her friends and to the reader.
“Sometimes, you can have something, hold it in your hands or feel it in your bones, and still never understand the working mechanisms behind it.”
I give extra credit to the author for the use of Caroll Lewis original vocabulary that adds authenticity to Alice’s character.
In my opinion, this book is seriously underrated. I think every fantasy lover should have it in his shelf and I recommend it to everyone who is tired of all the trite YA fantasy books.
More like 4,5 stars but due to some minor problems I won’t give it a 5 star rating.
For Readathon-2017: 38/52
In the category "A book with purple cover"
“Along with good there is always evil. It’s just the way it is.”
What an amazing world has Heather Lyons introduced to us in this book. I think I found myself a new fantasy universe to obsess over. And it’s based on BOOKS!!! Books, people. Some of our favorite characters come alive in this new world!
I must admit that I’m not a fan of “Alice’s adventures in Wonderland” tale, I haven’t read any recent retelling either, so I went into this story blind and, to tell you the truth, I think that’s what made me so impressed with it. I had no expectations, no background to compare it to, I was free of preconceptions to appreciate the story in it’s full extend. So, I will try in this review not to give away too much, because I think it’s best to experience this journey having no previous notion at all.
What I liked best in this story is how the author took some well known characters and introduced them to the 21st century, giving them life in a very different form from their initial one. Forget what you already know about Alice, or Huckleberry Finn, or Wendy Darling and many more. And she accomplished this in an original, fresh, imaginative, non-trite manner. And the plus to this story is that it isn’t labelled YA. It is definitely an adult story and a very good one. It has action, mystery, friendship and a swoony romance.
The main character is Alice and the reader gets to see the story only from her POV. In the beginning we meet her in an Asylum were she is treated for madness which admits it herself.
“I no longer questioned the extraordinary I lived through. Day after day, year after year, my existence devolved into one dream state after another until it was all I knew, all that I hoped for.”
Alice is very guarded; she is closed into herself, keeping her secrets into her troubled mind, even from the reader. What motivates her into accepting Van Brunt’s offer is her love for the land she left behind and the desire to keep her beloved ones safe. Apparently there is a situation that must be addressed immediately, as an unknown villain is eliminating entire fictional worlds and it’s the Society’s responsibility to save them. And from then on she unfolds into one of the best fantasy heroines I’ve read about. She is strong, smart, loyal, righteous, fierce and she can land you on your butt in seconds.
As an active member of the Collector’s Society, Alice is partnered with the mysterious and handsome Finn, while becoming friends with Finn’s brother Victor and his partner Mary. The attraction between Alice and Finn is very obvious from the start and though it feels very much like instalove (and it bothered me at the beginning), somehow the author manages to make it believable in the end.
“There is an easiness between us that shouldn’t be there. One that hasn’t been earned yet. One I can’t afford to allow. One I don’t even know if I want to allow.”
Finn is a very sweet, serious and lonesome guy. He too, holds many secrets that we have yet to discover, but he is very loyal to his adopted family and would do anything to protect them. He becomes a guardian to Alice as well, even though it’s obvious almost from the start that she can hold her ground and protect herself. Will they find the way to overcome their pasts and be each other’s future?
“Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somewhat precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are, even if we want nothing more to close our eyes to them.”
“Sometimes, love is not enough, though. Not when everything else is wrong. Sometimes you must move on, even when it hurts to do so.”
We follow them in a mission to Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park” and then off to Wonderland as it becomes apparent that there is an immediate threat. Wonderland is presented exactly as her name states: a Land full of Wonder, along with bloodlust, talking animals and objects, salacity and old friends. As their mission progress, more of Alice’s secrets are revealed to her friends and to the reader.
“Sometimes, you can have something, hold it in your hands or feel it in your bones, and still never understand the working mechanisms behind it.”
I give extra credit to the author for the use of Caroll Lewis original vocabulary that adds authenticity to Alice’s character.
In my opinion, this book is seriously underrated. I think every fantasy lover should have it in his shelf and I recommend it to everyone who is tired of all the trite YA fantasy books.
March 20, 2017
3.5 stars
This story does not do the Hatter justice, and, quite frankly, I could've gone my whole life without the image of him participating in a massive orgy. But, you know, it's New Adult so naturally there are lots of PENISES. (Also they always "came in unison" which is nice for them.)
Having said that, this was a really fun read. It's not just an Alice retelling, but features many (offspring of) characters from your favourite classics, binding them all together in a really intriguing concept. I really enjoyed this.
This story does not do the Hatter justice, and, quite frankly, I could've gone my whole life without the image of him participating in a massive orgy. But, you know, it's New Adult so naturally there are lots of PENISES. (Also they always "came in unison" which is nice for them.)
Having said that, this was a really fun read. It's not just an Alice retelling, but features many (offspring of) characters from your favourite classics, binding them all together in a really intriguing concept. I really enjoyed this.
October 24, 2014
Woooo.... I'm writing a review!
I'm actually sitting down to write a regular review.
I feel rusty... LOL! Sigh... really, really rusty. I actually messaged a friend and said, "Oh my God, I forgot how to write a review. It's so hard!!!"
So y'all will have to bear with me through my randomness as I try to lay my thoughts down for you. I want to do this book justice. It was so good.
My first thought...
THIS BOOK WAS EPIC!
I'm talking EPICCCC! Now let me explain a little something, we have a girl who most of us love. When I think of Alice, I think classic. Iconic. Someone EVERYONE knows a little something about. Alice has always been a character that I have loved, held dear to my heart. Every time there's a movie made about her I watch it. I love the whimsical, magical, extraordinary and peculiar appeal that the story itself--Alice's Adventures in Wonderland--holds. Its just a favorite of mine.
When I saw this book on Facebook the cover definitely seduced me but when I read the blurb I was completely held captive. I knew, without a doubt, it would be something that I had to read.
So when I received the book for review, I felt that bubbly excitement flicker within my belly. I wanted this. I wanted to escape into a story that held not only romance, but also mystery. And that's exactly what I got when I read The Collectors' Society. I got a riveting, refreshing, and unique plot that was not only driven by a beautifully sweet romance, but also a thriving story filled with suspense and unbounded mystery.
These characters are lovable, brave, and strong willed.
"Don't treat me gently, Finn. My looks are deceiving. I will not break, no matter how many times I am thrown to the ground." - Alice
But this isn't your average Alice from Wonderland. Oh no, this is Alice all grown up.
"My daggers are out immediately. So are both of Finn's handguns, and they're trained right on her. God, he's alluring when he's serious."
I'm still in total book hangover mode. And I'm in awe of this author because her imagination/creativity are truly incredible. I'm not sure what she was doing when she came up with the concept of the story, but holy hell, it's brilliant.
The book begins with Alice staying at an asylum called Pleasance; she's checked herself in since having to leave Wonderland. She's actually fairly comfortable where she's at. She feels as though she's been broken since leaving the place she called home.
Anyway...
While at this asylum she gets a visitor, a dark, incredibly intriguing visitor who has a very interesting job proposition. Now Alice has always been a very curious girl, but at first she's not very happy about this Mystery Man showing up. But ever the inquisitive being she is, she hears him out and this turns into a journey that Alice never saw coming. It opens her world to a whole other side of life she knew nothing about. Not only that, it tests Alice's limits and opens her mind and heart to things she thought were dead to her forever.
"Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somewhat precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are, even if we want nothing more than to close our eyes to them."
I loved everything about it from the romance between Finn and Alice, to the trip that Alice has to make to Wonderland, to the characters she meets at the Society. It was all so incredibly original and well written. This authors writing is eloquent, smart, and enthralling. The characters are kick ass and the best part is, the author did not shy away from the "sexy time" in this book. It's truly a fantastical treat, multifaceted, and something that once you start you simply can't put down.
So I say open this magical journey.
Throw yourself into the decadence of the plot and characters.
I promise you will NOT be disappointed.
Favorite Quotes:
✦ "All work and no play makes Alice a good girl. Do you want to be a good girl, Alice?"
(LMAO. I loved her thoughts. She makes me giggle.)
✦ "The most truthful answers are found through observations. Words allow lies."
✦ "Sometimes, you have to take a chance. Sometimes, you have to step over the ledge and fall, even though you don't know what's underneath you."
✦ "After all that I've gone through, all that I've lost, I've finally found my true north star." (OMG! You don''t even know!! I may have shed a tear or two here.)
✦ "Love, I think, is irrational no matter how hard we try to apply logic to it. And some love, even the kind that is not meant to be, takes root and flourishes anyway."
I'm actually sitting down to write a regular review.
I feel rusty... LOL! Sigh... really, really rusty. I actually messaged a friend and said, "Oh my God, I forgot how to write a review. It's so hard!!!"
So y'all will have to bear with me through my randomness as I try to lay my thoughts down for you. I want to do this book justice. It was so good.
My first thought...
THIS BOOK WAS EPIC!
I'm talking EPICCCC! Now let me explain a little something, we have a girl who most of us love. When I think of Alice, I think classic. Iconic. Someone EVERYONE knows a little something about. Alice has always been a character that I have loved, held dear to my heart. Every time there's a movie made about her I watch it. I love the whimsical, magical, extraordinary and peculiar appeal that the story itself--Alice's Adventures in Wonderland--holds. Its just a favorite of mine.
When I saw this book on Facebook the cover definitely seduced me but when I read the blurb I was completely held captive. I knew, without a doubt, it would be something that I had to read.
So when I received the book for review, I felt that bubbly excitement flicker within my belly. I wanted this. I wanted to escape into a story that held not only romance, but also mystery. And that's exactly what I got when I read The Collectors' Society. I got a riveting, refreshing, and unique plot that was not only driven by a beautifully sweet romance, but also a thriving story filled with suspense and unbounded mystery.
These characters are lovable, brave, and strong willed.
"Don't treat me gently, Finn. My looks are deceiving. I will not break, no matter how many times I am thrown to the ground." - Alice
But this isn't your average Alice from Wonderland. Oh no, this is Alice all grown up.
"My daggers are out immediately. So are both of Finn's handguns, and they're trained right on her. God, he's alluring when he's serious."
I'm still in total book hangover mode. And I'm in awe of this author because her imagination/creativity are truly incredible. I'm not sure what she was doing when she came up with the concept of the story, but holy hell, it's brilliant.
The book begins with Alice staying at an asylum called Pleasance; she's checked herself in since having to leave Wonderland. She's actually fairly comfortable where she's at. She feels as though she's been broken since leaving the place she called home.
Anyway...
While at this asylum she gets a visitor, a dark, incredibly intriguing visitor who has a very interesting job proposition. Now Alice has always been a very curious girl, but at first she's not very happy about this Mystery Man showing up. But ever the inquisitive being she is, she hears him out and this turns into a journey that Alice never saw coming. It opens her world to a whole other side of life she knew nothing about. Not only that, it tests Alice's limits and opens her mind and heart to things she thought were dead to her forever.
"Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somewhat precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are, even if we want nothing more than to close our eyes to them."
I loved everything about it from the romance between Finn and Alice, to the trip that Alice has to make to Wonderland, to the characters she meets at the Society. It was all so incredibly original and well written. This authors writing is eloquent, smart, and enthralling. The characters are kick ass and the best part is, the author did not shy away from the "sexy time" in this book. It's truly a fantastical treat, multifaceted, and something that once you start you simply can't put down.
So I say open this magical journey.
Throw yourself into the decadence of the plot and characters.
I promise you will NOT be disappointed.
Favorite Quotes:
✦ "All work and no play makes Alice a good girl. Do you want to be a good girl, Alice?"
(LMAO. I loved her thoughts. She makes me giggle.)
✦ "The most truthful answers are found through observations. Words allow lies."
✦ "Sometimes, you have to take a chance. Sometimes, you have to step over the ledge and fall, even though you don't know what's underneath you."
✦ "After all that I've gone through, all that I've lost, I've finally found my true north star." (OMG! You don''t even know!! I may have shed a tear or two here.)
✦ "Love, I think, is irrational no matter how hard we try to apply logic to it. And some love, even the kind that is not meant to be, takes root and flourishes anyway."
November 16, 2014
That was very intriguing and original story! Can't say I've read something like this before. Wow.
February 26, 2015
I. Mean. WOW.
I received an ARC of this book by the lovely Mrs. Lyons and that ARC blew me away.
All you need to know is this: FINN
This book is DEF New Adult, so keep that in mind those who are looking for something YA. Alice in Wonderland is all grown up!!! :)
I received an ARC of this book by the lovely Mrs. Lyons and that ARC blew me away.
All you need to know is this: FINN
This book is DEF New Adult, so keep that in mind those who are looking for something YA. Alice in Wonderland is all grown up!!! :)
October 22, 2014
One of the most inventive stories I've ever read. Brimming with sexiness and romance, magic and lore, it's a modern-day fairytale adventure that is not to be missed!
Full review coming soon.
Full review coming soon.
April 17, 2016
‘‘The book isn’t how Wonderland really is. The people there, the animals, the sights…None are silly and cartoonish, Finn. Wonderland has its mysteries and beauty, but there’s a lot of darkness there, too.’’
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars.
First of all, I want to thank Yvonne (from A World Between Folded Pages , also known as my best friend) for recommending me this book! I have a challenge with Yvonne where we recommend 10 books to each other. We basically challenged ourselves to read the list of books we got before the end of the year. The Collectors’ Society is the first book I read of this list and I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!
I have to admit, at first I was a bit suspicious about this book because I’ve never read a retelling before. But now that I devoured this book, I want more!
“Knowledge is always one of the fiercest of advantages a lady can have.”
Alice is so badass and certainly not the little girl I remembered from the children story. She’s independent and determinate. She fights as a pro and is ready for every challenge that comes into her path. She’s truly amazing. Heather made me connect with her immediately.
“AF. Alice/Finn. Goddamn my knees for being useless body parts. Why is it always my knees to go first? Don’t they know a lady needs to stand?”
But when Alice meets Finn Van Brunt, well… we both are completely awestruck of this beautiful human being. I immediately fell in love with Finn (my book boyfriend list is seriously starting to be VERY big), I mean how couldn’t I? He’s so handsome, kind, smart… He’s perfect for Alice and the way they connected to each other is so beautiful. Gosh. I just love him. Hell, I even caught myself daydreaming about him a few times!! The little romantic moments are so effortless and I just love it! I SHIP THEM SO MUCH!
“In pages, we find words. In words, we find life.”
Aaah, I don’t even know how to express my feelings about this book. It’s BRILLIANT! Heather based her story on Alice in Wonderland, but she created something even better with it. The secret community, Wonderland, the (AMAZING!!) characters, …. Heather developed everything in details. I had absolutely no problems imagining the sceneries and the characters. A few times I caught myself being stunned about the fact that everything seemed so … logic and real. I did not have the feeling I was reading a retelling or a fantasy book except when we were in Wonderland of course). The storyline is full of emotions and action. Very impressive!
“Your happiness is my happiness, even if it means your heart is held in another’s hands.”
I’m not going into the plot of this book, because I don’t want to spoil anything and I think you should definitely start this book without knowing too much about the plot. So please, please, please, GO READ THIS BOOK! You will end up fangirling like me, I’m 100% sure of that! I'm really surprised about the fact that not a lot of people have read this book. The Collectors' Society deserves soooo much more attention!
“The most truthful answers are found through observation. Words allow lies.”
PS 1: In case you were wondering why I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 stars: I don’t even know myself. 4 is too less, but I want to save my full 5 stars for one of the next books in the series. Does this make sense? Probably not… whatever haha :D
PS 2: Here’s one of the most accurate quotes EVER:
“There are multiple ways to label people, as you may well know. In the literate world, we can simplify this in that there are readers and non-readers. Within the readers category, we can further label people by how passionate they are with the books they choose. Some people escape into the stories they read. Some read for purpose or information. Some read out of resentment or necessity. But let us, in this moment, focus on those who find books to be an escape or an extension of their imagination. These readers see, within their mind’s eye, the characters and settings in the pages below their fingers. They feel the emotions woven between the words. They live through every heartache, every embrace, every terror. Books, to these people, become tangible, living things. The characters they read become genuine souls.” A half smile curves his lips. “People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these people actually do escape into books.”
Originally posted on my blog: http://melissa-reads-books.blogspot.c...
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars.
First of all, I want to thank Yvonne (from A World Between Folded Pages , also known as my best friend) for recommending me this book! I have a challenge with Yvonne where we recommend 10 books to each other. We basically challenged ourselves to read the list of books we got before the end of the year. The Collectors’ Society is the first book I read of this list and I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!
I have to admit, at first I was a bit suspicious about this book because I’ve never read a retelling before. But now that I devoured this book, I want more!
“Knowledge is always one of the fiercest of advantages a lady can have.”
Alice is so badass and certainly not the little girl I remembered from the children story. She’s independent and determinate. She fights as a pro and is ready for every challenge that comes into her path. She’s truly amazing. Heather made me connect with her immediately.
“AF. Alice/Finn. Goddamn my knees for being useless body parts. Why is it always my knees to go first? Don’t they know a lady needs to stand?”
But when Alice meets Finn Van Brunt, well… we both are completely awestruck of this beautiful human being. I immediately fell in love with Finn (my book boyfriend list is seriously starting to be VERY big), I mean how couldn’t I? He’s so handsome, kind, smart… He’s perfect for Alice and the way they connected to each other is so beautiful. Gosh. I just love him. Hell, I even caught myself daydreaming about him a few times!! The little romantic moments are so effortless and I just love it! I SHIP THEM SO MUCH!
“In pages, we find words. In words, we find life.”
Aaah, I don’t even know how to express my feelings about this book. It’s BRILLIANT! Heather based her story on Alice in Wonderland, but she created something even better with it. The secret community, Wonderland, the (AMAZING!!) characters, …. Heather developed everything in details. I had absolutely no problems imagining the sceneries and the characters. A few times I caught myself being stunned about the fact that everything seemed so … logic and real. I did not have the feeling I was reading a retelling or a fantasy book except when we were in Wonderland of course). The storyline is full of emotions and action. Very impressive!
“Your happiness is my happiness, even if it means your heart is held in another’s hands.”
I’m not going into the plot of this book, because I don’t want to spoil anything and I think you should definitely start this book without knowing too much about the plot. So please, please, please, GO READ THIS BOOK! You will end up fangirling like me, I’m 100% sure of that! I'm really surprised about the fact that not a lot of people have read this book. The Collectors' Society deserves soooo much more attention!
“The most truthful answers are found through observation. Words allow lies.”
PS 1: In case you were wondering why I gave this book 4.5 instead of 5 stars: I don’t even know myself. 4 is too less, but I want to save my full 5 stars for one of the next books in the series. Does this make sense? Probably not… whatever haha :D
PS 2: Here’s one of the most accurate quotes EVER:
“There are multiple ways to label people, as you may well know. In the literate world, we can simplify this in that there are readers and non-readers. Within the readers category, we can further label people by how passionate they are with the books they choose. Some people escape into the stories they read. Some read for purpose or information. Some read out of resentment or necessity. But let us, in this moment, focus on those who find books to be an escape or an extension of their imagination. These readers see, within their mind’s eye, the characters and settings in the pages below their fingers. They feel the emotions woven between the words. They live through every heartache, every embrace, every terror. Books, to these people, become tangible, living things. The characters they read become genuine souls.” A half smile curves his lips. “People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these people actually do escape into books.”
Originally posted on my blog: http://melissa-reads-books.blogspot.c...
Read
August 24, 2017(author review)
I can hardly wait to share this one with you all!
I can hardly wait to share this one with you all!
June 25, 2017
I had a blast buddy reading this book with the amazing Irene Sim.
But before I say anything else, let us take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the cover.
We don't get to see much of Wonderland in the first 3/4 of the book and Alice doesn't give anything away and because of that I was originaly give it a 3 Star rating.
We get snippets here and there from some memories of hers and it becomes clear that Alice didn't return on her own but was forced to but until very later we don't find out why she was sent away or who forced her.
What made this a 4 Star rating for me was Wonderland.
It was glorious and everything I hoped for. Alice fit right in with it and it containted some of the madness I was seeking.
I just wished the book was more focused on it. The other characters were well written and interesting as hell and I loved all of them but it didn't didn't contain enough Alice for me, the main focus is an entire different story that has more to do with books in general.
That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoyed the book. I did and I couldn't put it down because it's plot was so interesting and I needed to know more. What made it even more fun was to read it with Irene Sim. Can't wait to start the 2nd one.
But before I say anything else, let us take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the cover.
This isn't one of your normal Alice retellings. Alice is still the protagonist but in it we also have other book characters who play a huge part in the plot.
The book begins with Alice beeing held in an Insane Asylum after her adventures in Wonderland.
We don't have the little girl from the Lewis Carroll books but a 25 year who just recently returned from Wonderland.
After a talk with her doctor a mysterious man visits her and tells her that Wonderland and all it's population is in danger of beeing erased.
When she follows him to a new "world" she finds out that she is a character from a popular book that an author wrote and she meets other characters from other books. Her entire life was a lie.
As she struggles to accept everything she learns about herself, people are on the lose whose mission it is to find the catalysts from each book and destroy it and with it the entire world that the book was surrounded in so Alice and the other members of the Society are on the hunt for the remaining catalysts and the people who seek to destroy them.
We don't get to see much of Wonderland in the first 3/4 of the book and Alice doesn't give anything away and because of that I was originaly give it a 3 Star rating.
We get snippets here and there from some memories of hers and it becomes clear that Alice didn't return on her own but was forced to but until very later we don't find out why she was sent away or who forced her.
What made this a 4 Star rating for me was Wonderland.
It was glorious and everything I hoped for. Alice fit right in with it and it containted some of the madness I was seeking.
I just wished the book was more focused on it. The other characters were well written and interesting as hell and I loved all of them but it didn't didn't contain enough Alice for me, the main focus is an entire different story that has more to do with books in general.
That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoyed the book. I did and I couldn't put it down because it's plot was so interesting and I needed to know more. What made it even more fun was to read it with Irene Sim. Can't wait to start the 2nd one.
April 10, 2015
Such an enjoyable read, review to come!
March 1, 2015
I am a Disney fanatic, and Alice in Wonderland has been a favorite since I was a child. So, when I read the synopsis for this book, I was expecting something far different than what I got. A lot of people are into re-tellings of popular stories, and I assumed this would be yet another; perhaps more of a modern era re-telling as has been popular in the YA genre. Instead, Heather Lyons re-created our world as we know it and completely and utterly blew me away.
I've mentioned this several times before, but I've been an avid reader since an early age. I grew up reading everything, and have always adored the classics. The way the author intertwines modern literature with some of my oldest favorites is stunningly brilliant. And absolutely shocking in some instances. Books have always been an escape for me, allowing me brief relief from life's ups and downs.
“People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these people actually do escape into books.”
Coolest thing ever. The term 'unique' is thrown around far too often today in regard to book plots. However, in this case, it is 100% true. The combination of our modern world with beloved stories of the past is something that's never been done before - at least not in this manner.
Alice is in an asylum after returning from her most recent trip to Wonderland. She has no intentions of returning, even refusing to leave the asylum in a few weeks' time. She doesn't believe herself ready to be re-integrated into society. And then, a mysterious man with an intriguing offer pays her a visit. He flips Alice's world upside-down, and completely blows our minds in the process.
"They are people who enter the worlds associated with books. We call them Timelines."
This is no normal re-telling. This is literature at its finest. It is rare nowadays for me to be consumed by a book, but The Collectors' Society has something for everyone. Classic literature is represented along with the 21st century's technology. Each appearance by a character had me gasping or nearly shouting in excitement.
“Each of us here has a story, but it’s not necessarily the one people think they know.”
Heather Lyons's novel is fantastically imagined - and will captivate you from page one. You may think you know these stories, but she puts a spin on everything and really makes you second guess all you thought you knew.
Captivating. Brilliant. Unique. Thrilling. Mysterious. Impeccable. These words describe the story, the writing, and compelling world Lyons has created. I cannot wait for the rest of the story to be told. I also wish this series would never end.
I've mentioned this several times before, but I've been an avid reader since an early age. I grew up reading everything, and have always adored the classics. The way the author intertwines modern literature with some of my oldest favorites is stunningly brilliant. And absolutely shocking in some instances. Books have always been an escape for me, allowing me brief relief from life's ups and downs.
“People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these people actually do escape into books.”
Coolest thing ever. The term 'unique' is thrown around far too often today in regard to book plots. However, in this case, it is 100% true. The combination of our modern world with beloved stories of the past is something that's never been done before - at least not in this manner.
Alice is in an asylum after returning from her most recent trip to Wonderland. She has no intentions of returning, even refusing to leave the asylum in a few weeks' time. She doesn't believe herself ready to be re-integrated into society. And then, a mysterious man with an intriguing offer pays her a visit. He flips Alice's world upside-down, and completely blows our minds in the process.
"They are people who enter the worlds associated with books. We call them Timelines."
This is no normal re-telling. This is literature at its finest. It is rare nowadays for me to be consumed by a book, but The Collectors' Society has something for everyone. Classic literature is represented along with the 21st century's technology. Each appearance by a character had me gasping or nearly shouting in excitement.
“Each of us here has a story, but it’s not necessarily the one people think they know.”
Heather Lyons's novel is fantastically imagined - and will captivate you from page one. You may think you know these stories, but she puts a spin on everything and really makes you second guess all you thought you knew.
Captivating. Brilliant. Unique. Thrilling. Mysterious. Impeccable. These words describe the story, the writing, and compelling world Lyons has created. I cannot wait for the rest of the story to be told. I also wish this series would never end.
April 26, 2017
4/5; 4 stars; A-
I really enjoyed this story. It took a bit to get going but once I was engaged I really found the characters out of 'classic literature' and the concept of trying to save their timelines very interesting.
i'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed this story. It took a bit to get going but once I was engaged I really found the characters out of 'classic literature' and the concept of trying to save their timelines very interesting.
i'm definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
January 5, 2021
Frabjous. Simply frabjous.
Wildly creative, this story will capture the hearts of Wonderland fans and then transform that story into an adult book lovers dream. This is a book that needs to be read with an open mind, as what you've read prior has been altered but is no less special.
This book is very different from what I usually read. However, its been on my radar for awhile. As I was approaching a book rut, finding fault in books everyone else was loving, I knew I needed something special to get me out of that rut. And I hit the jackpot.
If you didn't gather from the synopsis, this story centers on Alice. Yes that same Alice from Wonderland. But things aren't so good for Alice outside of Wonderland. That world has left her feeling as though she was insane, and sought treatment to help her get past the madness. One day she is offered a proposition unlike any other. She is brought in by the Collectors' Society to help save her "timeline", aka her story.
Just 15% into this story I was absolutely giddy, because I could sense the amazing journey the author was about to take me on. A world where Alice's new partner is Huckleberry Finn, and Frankenstein's son was her neighbor. This is a world where the characters created by authors truly come to life. Adding to that imaginative plot, we have the villain who is stealing timelines, and essentially ending the fate of that character in the real world.
I'm probably doing a horrible job in explaining it all, but I can promise you, this entire story was mesmerizing. It's incredible complex, but so detailed, it was easy to follow along. This part captures the spirit of the story:
“But let us, in this moment, focus on those who find books to be an escape or an extension of their imagination. These readers see, within their mind’s eye, the characters and settings in the pages below their fingers. They feel the emotions woven between the words. They live through every heartache, every embrace, every terror. Books, to these people, become tangible, living things. The characters they read become genuine souls.” A half smile curves his lips. “People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these people actually do escape into books.”
There are two main parts to the story, Alice's preparation to save her timeline, and her return to Wonderland. It is in this second part where you'll need to let go of what you've read prior and accept the liberties the author has taken with the classic. If not, than you won't enjoy it as much as it should be enjoyed. I personally loved how the author took characters we have come to know and love, such as the Hatter, and added some serious spice for the adult reader (note: most of this book would be appropriate for YA, except for the Hatter scene *smirks*). Wonderland has changed a lot since Alice left, and her time there added an interesting twist to the story-line.
So let me address one thing that some readers hate. The dreaded love triangle. Yes, there are two men in this story but the author does a good job of trying to limit the angst between them. The maturity of this situation was one many other stories are lacking. I loved how the author address this, even if it hurt, just a little bit.
"There is only my past and there is my present and future."
As book one in a trilogy, the author does leave us hanging a bit, although I wouldn't consider it a cliffhanger. The villains in this story aren't backing down, instead things are ramping up and all timelines are at risk. I know that I will be rearranging my TBR list to start book two soon. I have fallen down the rabbit hole, so to speak, and I couldn't be happier about it.
"I finally found you."
For more reviews, visit
Wildly creative, this story will capture the hearts of Wonderland fans and then transform that story into an adult book lovers dream. This is a book that needs to be read with an open mind, as what you've read prior has been altered but is no less special.
This book is very different from what I usually read. However, its been on my radar for awhile. As I was approaching a book rut, finding fault in books everyone else was loving, I knew I needed something special to get me out of that rut. And I hit the jackpot.
If you didn't gather from the synopsis, this story centers on Alice. Yes that same Alice from Wonderland. But things aren't so good for Alice outside of Wonderland. That world has left her feeling as though she was insane, and sought treatment to help her get past the madness. One day she is offered a proposition unlike any other. She is brought in by the Collectors' Society to help save her "timeline", aka her story.
Just 15% into this story I was absolutely giddy, because I could sense the amazing journey the author was about to take me on. A world where Alice's new partner is Huckleberry Finn, and Frankenstein's son was her neighbor. This is a world where the characters created by authors truly come to life. Adding to that imaginative plot, we have the villain who is stealing timelines, and essentially ending the fate of that character in the real world.
I'm probably doing a horrible job in explaining it all, but I can promise you, this entire story was mesmerizing. It's incredible complex, but so detailed, it was easy to follow along. This part captures the spirit of the story:
“But let us, in this moment, focus on those who find books to be an escape or an extension of their imagination. These readers see, within their mind’s eye, the characters and settings in the pages below their fingers. They feel the emotions woven between the words. They live through every heartache, every embrace, every terror. Books, to these people, become tangible, living things. The characters they read become genuine souls.” A half smile curves his lips. “People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books. But the reality is that some of these people actually do escape into books.”
There are two main parts to the story, Alice's preparation to save her timeline, and her return to Wonderland. It is in this second part where you'll need to let go of what you've read prior and accept the liberties the author has taken with the classic. If not, than you won't enjoy it as much as it should be enjoyed. I personally loved how the author took characters we have come to know and love, such as the Hatter, and added some serious spice for the adult reader (note: most of this book would be appropriate for YA, except for the Hatter scene *smirks*). Wonderland has changed a lot since Alice left, and her time there added an interesting twist to the story-line.
So let me address one thing that some readers hate. The dreaded love triangle. Yes, there are two men in this story but the author does a good job of trying to limit the angst between them. The maturity of this situation was one many other stories are lacking. I loved how the author address this, even if it hurt, just a little bit.
"There is only my past and there is my present and future."
As book one in a trilogy, the author does leave us hanging a bit, although I wouldn't consider it a cliffhanger. The villains in this story aren't backing down, instead things are ramping up and all timelines are at risk. I know that I will be rearranging my TBR list to start book two soon. I have fallen down the rabbit hole, so to speak, and I couldn't be happier about it.
"I finally found you."
For more reviews, visit
September 26, 2015
*Inkslinger PR kindly provided me with an ARC of the book*
Where do I even start? I want to officially and openly declare my love for Heather Lyons and "The Collectors' Society" - I loved it with all my heart and if I'm being honest it is definitely one of my favorite books of 2014, if not even of all time. I immediately fell in love with the writing style, the scenery, the overall background and the fact that it is about Alice in Wonderland was just the tip of the iceberg. Heather Lyons was able to fully draw me into the story! I could imagine every little bit of what she tried to explain - I even caught myself imagining various scenarios in Wonderland with those great characters, and yes, her characters are brilliant!
"In paginis mundus invenimus. In verbis vitam invenimus. In pages, we find worlds. In words, we find life."
First, there's Alice - she's different to the one we all heard about -, she's tough, brave and strong (like really strong!), she's badass and doesn't give a shit! She knows how to fight and defend herself and is outgoing and open-minded. She's truly a character I want to read more about and I already can't wait to meet her again!
Then there's Finn Van Brunt. My dear Finn, oh how I fell in love with him. Heather used lots of awesome phrases and words to describe him and honestly, I couldn't say it any better, so here are some of them: smart, funny, honest, maddeningly sarcastic, honorable, kind and terribly, painfully sexy. Oh, and he has a "panty-dropping grin" and is obviously a good hugger! Was that enough? I don't have to explain further why I love him, do I? No? Good!
There are various side characters we got to know throughout the story and yes, they are all equally amazing! Especially their names ... I'm sure you'll recognize lots of them and it'll be like a little guessing game (at least it was for me!), you'll smile and can't even believe about whom you're reading right now - it happened more than once, trust me!
"Along with good, there is always evil. It's just the way it is."
But let's move on to Wonderland! Also totally different to what we already know but then again not ... it's still Wonderland, after all. I could picture everything perfectly and was once again amazed by the imagination of the author! She created lots of different locations and described them so well, I had no difficulties to imagine them. I have to admit that I fell in love with the characters more than with the world ... especially one character (no, it's not Finn Van Brunt, although I probably love him equally ... I just can't choose, I think.) won my heart with only ONE chapter. Yes. I can't believe it either but it happened. I was swooning and "awwww"-ing and smiling and laughing and I felt terrible and heartbroken at the same time. Let me give you a huge compliment for your characters, Heather, they are brilliant and so, so beautiful and strong!
"Love, I think, is irrational no matter how hard we try to apply logic to it. And some love, even the kind that is not meant to be, takes root and flourishes anyway."
Some last words maybe? I'm deeply in love and can't wait for the second book to come out. I'M ALREADY MORE THAN READY! "The Collectors' Society" is definitely one of the best books this year and you should all read it! It's beautiful and draws you in with amazing worlds, great characters and a fantastic storyline. And especially if you've already had a thing for fairy tales/re-tellings and classics, you really should check it out! Give it a try, I promise you won't regret it!
________________________
I'm speechless! THIS WAS SO GOOD AND DESERVES A LOT MORE STARS! ♥
Seriously, I'm in love with the world, the storyline, the characters in general and everything else! Heather Lyons created amazingly beautiful, strong and unique characters and damn, I just added 2 more book-boyfriends to my list. Oh well. *sigh* ♥
www.aworldbetweenfoldedpages.blogspot.com
July 8, 2016
Original and absolutely fantastic. This picture describes exactly how I felt while reading this book!
Summary:
Feelings:
I recommend this book for people who love Alice in wonderland because this is a great addition to that wonderful tale.
Summary:
Alice has entered her self in an asylum. After everything that she has been through in wonderland, she thinks that that is the best course of action. But then a mysterious stranger comes to talk to her and offers her a deal. Her curiosity gets the better of her and that is how she gets involved with the collector's society. As she gets more tangled with this society, she begins to find love and friends. But they are battling a very sinister enemy that is threatening the life of those she cares about not only in the present day but also in wonderland.
Feelings:
This book was incredibly well written. The world of wonderland was incredible. There is a really great cast of characters too. I have so many feelings about this. Alice was such a great complex character. She is really kick-butt and she backs it up with actions. Even though she is a very strong female lead, I think that her many flaws and her past make her that much more likable in my opinion. All that she has lost makes her be afraid to open up her heart. Finn was such a great character too but he is hiding so many things and i want to know what they are.
I recommend this book for people who love Alice in wonderland because this is a great addition to that wonderful tale.
September 25, 2017
How can you not love a novel that includes a bibliography. I liked the characters that classic authors created and that the author has re-imagined and now populate the tale. The story moves along at a furious pace in the beginning, but slows down once the Alice starts to wrestle with her feelings. I don't want to spoil the surprise of characters but one of my favorites is A.D. hopefully that character is obscure enough you won't guess the source.
October 23, 2014
** As posted on KindleObsessed blog **
I’ve always found that starting reviews is much harder than finishing them. More often than not I try to make them personal. Share an experience, or funny antidote. Something to draw my readers in, bring them down to my level. See the book from where I am sitting.
I’ve talked about my love of books. I’ve shared quotes that move me to tears. I’ve even ranted from a place of complete and utter annoyance, but I have NEVER been able to put down (eloquently) into words what books actually DO to me. I’ve never been able to find the words that describe the world I live in while entranced by a few letters, masterfully put together to create something beautiful, whimsical, enchanting. But yesterday I found someone who could.
A few pages into Heather Lyons newest novel “The Collectors’ Society” I found this passage. And I’ve decided to share it with you, because honestly…it best describes my frame of mind while reading this book. It also speaks to those of us who read for pleasure, not a place of “resentment or necessity.”
So read it. Embrace it. Own it. And then let me tell you a little more about this magical, uniquely perfect book that I can’t seem to stop thinking about.
“Let us, in this moment, focus on those who find books to be an escape or an extension of their imagination. These readers see, within their mind’s eye, the characters and settings in the pages below their fingers. They feel the emotions woven between worlds. They live through every heartache, every embrace, every terror. Books, to these people, become tangible, living things. The characters they read become genuine souls. – People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books.”
I guess I’m one of these people.
"After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth.
It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?"
This book could have gone two very different directions. South, to the pits of fiery book hell, where plots are confusing and classic characters are abused for the sake of convenience OR to the clouds, where impractical ideas create breathtaking stories. “The Collectors’ Society” was the latter.
Describing what actually made this books so wonderful is a difficult task, one I’m not entirely sure I’m going to be able to do justice, but I will try.
Imagine for a moment that every book creates people. Not just characters, but honest to goodness people. The moment a reader falls in love with a story, that person created of words and ideals springs to life, and an alternate world, where this character resided, is born. AND…as long as the love continues, that world will thrive.
Now imagine what would happen if a person learned how to destroy these alternate worlds? He/She never really cared for the story inside “Treasure Island” so poof! They can make Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver disappear. All it takes is destroying the story’s catalyst. Jim’s treasure map. Mary Poppin’s carpet bag. Harry Potter’s wand. The story is gone. The people inside the story are gone. The decedents of the people inside the story…GONE.
What would you do?
That is the premise behind Lyon’s leap into Wonderland. She took all the characters we loved growing up with (Huck Fin, Alice Liddel, Emma Knightly, Wendy Darling, Henry Fleming, Jack Dawkins…etc) and made them save themselves. She took them from their stories and breathed new life into them. She asked them to look beyond the stigma of their past in order to preserve it. She made Classic Literature romantic again.
She didn’t step on the bones of her predecessors, she embellished them. And she did so in a truly remarkable way. So much so that I found myself unable to put the book down. Even for a moment.
I was so intrigued by the comings and going of characters such as Sweeney Todd, and Mary Lennox that I forgot about a person’s need to eat for survival. My heart broke from the unexpected personal depth of Victor Frankenstein and Abraham Van Brunt. I screamed in triumph for Alice and Huck Finn’s ability to discover hidden strength. My nose was, quite literally, stuck inside this book. And I stood in awe as the words Lyons said above, came to life and lived inside of me too.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about a book.
It’s been a while since I’ve blabbed uncontrollably to my family and friends. Dusted off familial obligations for the chance to read just one more chapter. And then one more.
It’s been a while since I truly, honestly, loved a book. Which I did. I LOVED this book. And I can’t wait for these characters to come alive in my life again with book 2.
It was unique. It demanded attention, and (though some might find this daunting) tested my knowledge of some of literature’s most famous faces. It was everything I want in a book, and more.
So my advice to you?
Snatch it up. You won’t be sorry.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Books need love too. They won’t survive without it.
I’ve always found that starting reviews is much harder than finishing them. More often than not I try to make them personal. Share an experience, or funny antidote. Something to draw my readers in, bring them down to my level. See the book from where I am sitting.
I’ve talked about my love of books. I’ve shared quotes that move me to tears. I’ve even ranted from a place of complete and utter annoyance, but I have NEVER been able to put down (eloquently) into words what books actually DO to me. I’ve never been able to find the words that describe the world I live in while entranced by a few letters, masterfully put together to create something beautiful, whimsical, enchanting. But yesterday I found someone who could.
A few pages into Heather Lyons newest novel “The Collectors’ Society” I found this passage. And I’ve decided to share it with you, because honestly…it best describes my frame of mind while reading this book. It also speaks to those of us who read for pleasure, not a place of “resentment or necessity.”
So read it. Embrace it. Own it. And then let me tell you a little more about this magical, uniquely perfect book that I can’t seem to stop thinking about.
“Let us, in this moment, focus on those who find books to be an escape or an extension of their imagination. These readers see, within their mind’s eye, the characters and settings in the pages below their fingers. They feel the emotions woven between worlds. They live through every heartache, every embrace, every terror. Books, to these people, become tangible, living things. The characters they read become genuine souls. – People like this are often accused of living within their fantasies. They’re said to have their noses stuck in books.”
I guess I’m one of these people.
"After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth.
It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?"
This book could have gone two very different directions. South, to the pits of fiery book hell, where plots are confusing and classic characters are abused for the sake of convenience OR to the clouds, where impractical ideas create breathtaking stories. “The Collectors’ Society” was the latter.
Describing what actually made this books so wonderful is a difficult task, one I’m not entirely sure I’m going to be able to do justice, but I will try.
Imagine for a moment that every book creates people. Not just characters, but honest to goodness people. The moment a reader falls in love with a story, that person created of words and ideals springs to life, and an alternate world, where this character resided, is born. AND…as long as the love continues, that world will thrive.
Now imagine what would happen if a person learned how to destroy these alternate worlds? He/She never really cared for the story inside “Treasure Island” so poof! They can make Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver disappear. All it takes is destroying the story’s catalyst. Jim’s treasure map. Mary Poppin’s carpet bag. Harry Potter’s wand. The story is gone. The people inside the story are gone. The decedents of the people inside the story…GONE.
What would you do?
That is the premise behind Lyon’s leap into Wonderland. She took all the characters we loved growing up with (Huck Fin, Alice Liddel, Emma Knightly, Wendy Darling, Henry Fleming, Jack Dawkins…etc) and made them save themselves. She took them from their stories and breathed new life into them. She asked them to look beyond the stigma of their past in order to preserve it. She made Classic Literature romantic again.
She didn’t step on the bones of her predecessors, she embellished them. And she did so in a truly remarkable way. So much so that I found myself unable to put the book down. Even for a moment.
I was so intrigued by the comings and going of characters such as Sweeney Todd, and Mary Lennox that I forgot about a person’s need to eat for survival. My heart broke from the unexpected personal depth of Victor Frankenstein and Abraham Van Brunt. I screamed in triumph for Alice and Huck Finn’s ability to discover hidden strength. My nose was, quite literally, stuck inside this book. And I stood in awe as the words Lyons said above, came to life and lived inside of me too.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way about a book.
It’s been a while since I’ve blabbed uncontrollably to my family and friends. Dusted off familial obligations for the chance to read just one more chapter. And then one more.
It’s been a while since I truly, honestly, loved a book. Which I did. I LOVED this book. And I can’t wait for these characters to come alive in my life again with book 2.
It was unique. It demanded attention, and (though some might find this daunting) tested my knowledge of some of literature’s most famous faces. It was everything I want in a book, and more.
So my advice to you?
Snatch it up. You won’t be sorry.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: Books need love too. They won’t survive without it.
October 23, 2014
**ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review**
There’s absolutely nothing I can say that will convey how much I absolutely love and adore The Collectors’ Society. I was in absolute awe the entire time I read it. Watching the story unfold made me realize how brilliant Heather Lyons is. The story is original, the writing is flawless, the details are intricate, the romance is beautiful, and overall, there is nothing about this story that you will not love. It’s obvious that Heather put lots of time and effort into interweaving this complex and amazing story. The world of The Collectors’ Society is a world I wish I could live in.
“What say you, Alice? Are you up for another adventure?”
“Madness. I must be dreaming right now. Either that, or you’re all just as mad as I am.”
“I assure you that you are awake, my dear.”
“Now or never, Ms. Reeve. Countless souls are relying upon you, as unaware as they may be of who their savior is.”
You know, I say this a lot, but seriously I can’t say anything about this plot. Everything is a major spoiler. The plot starts unraveling pretty fast, but until then my lips are sealed. TCS starts off with Alice all grown up. No longer in Wonderland, but instead we find her in an insane asylum. She’s mostly recovered from her time in Wonderland, and she is thinking about what she’s going to do with herself when she gets out of there. Then, one visit from an unexpected stranger will change her life. Because she’s Alice, she gets sucked into a whole new world like nothing before. A new adventure that even she can barely comprehend—and she’s freaking Alice from Wonderland.
“Knowledge is always one of the fiercest advantages, and can be the differences between failure and achievement of purposes.”
You don’t have to like or even know anything about Alice and her classic story before reading TCS. I sure as hell didn’t know much about Alice, and this is one of my all-time favorite books ever. And how could it not be? Alice is one of the best heroines ever. She’s strong, she’s feisty, she’s a badass, and overall, an extremely likeable book character. Lately, it’s been hard for me to find non-whiny heroines that don’t make me want to punch them in the face. Alice is definitely not one of them. She’s determined and guarded, and throughout the book we watch her find her purpose again.
“Sometimes, love is not enough, though. Not when everything else is wrong. Sometimes you must move on, even when it hurts to do so.”
The secondary characters in TCS are all so wonderful. And this is where I start raving about how much I’m in love with Finn Van Brunt. Seriously. He’s a perfect match for feisty and witty Alice. He’s a good guy. The brand of good guys that Heather writes are incomparable and he’s another one for the top book boyfriends list. He’s a gentleman, he’s mature, he’s sexy, and I just swoon, swoon, swoon so hard just thinking about him. His chemistry with Alice is off the charts. AF (Alice/Finn—you’ll get it once you read it) have some of the sexiest scenes I’ve ever seen Heather write and it’s so perfect *swoons*. There’s so many other characters to love. Every time you meet a new one, you’re going to be shocked. And it’s too difficult to explain without giving anything away.
“Us. Two letters combine to make a tiny word whose connotation is massive. There is an us here. He and I, we’re partners… But when he says this word, when these two letters combine to make a single syllable from his mouth, it feels more than that. It feels both broader, more significant. And yet smaller and exclusive all at once. Us is a heady, dangerous word.”
Every page, every word, made me fall more and more in love with the book. By now, I bet you’re thinking that there’s no way everything I’m saying is true. I must be over-exaggerating right? Wrong. I mean, you could just read for yourself. But, it’s all true. It’s adventure, it’s a fairy tale, it’s a romance, and it’s a whole new world like you’ve never seen before. Heather is one of my absolute favorite authors and this is one of my top books of the year. AF owns my heart. The Collectors’ Society owns my soul.
“I was lost, without purpose when I left Wonderland. I feared I would never find my footing again. Never find anything that would help me move past the confusion and desolation and helplessness of my past. But then I came to the Collectors’ Society. I met you. My feet found solid ground. A fixed star shines in my sky.”
See full review here http://www.romanceaddictbookblog.com/...
There’s absolutely nothing I can say that will convey how much I absolutely love and adore The Collectors’ Society. I was in absolute awe the entire time I read it. Watching the story unfold made me realize how brilliant Heather Lyons is. The story is original, the writing is flawless, the details are intricate, the romance is beautiful, and overall, there is nothing about this story that you will not love. It’s obvious that Heather put lots of time and effort into interweaving this complex and amazing story. The world of The Collectors’ Society is a world I wish I could live in.
“What say you, Alice? Are you up for another adventure?”
“Madness. I must be dreaming right now. Either that, or you’re all just as mad as I am.”
“I assure you that you are awake, my dear.”
“Now or never, Ms. Reeve. Countless souls are relying upon you, as unaware as they may be of who their savior is.”
You know, I say this a lot, but seriously I can’t say anything about this plot. Everything is a major spoiler. The plot starts unraveling pretty fast, but until then my lips are sealed. TCS starts off with Alice all grown up. No longer in Wonderland, but instead we find her in an insane asylum. She’s mostly recovered from her time in Wonderland, and she is thinking about what she’s going to do with herself when she gets out of there. Then, one visit from an unexpected stranger will change her life. Because she’s Alice, she gets sucked into a whole new world like nothing before. A new adventure that even she can barely comprehend—and she’s freaking Alice from Wonderland.
“Knowledge is always one of the fiercest advantages, and can be the differences between failure and achievement of purposes.”
You don’t have to like or even know anything about Alice and her classic story before reading TCS. I sure as hell didn’t know much about Alice, and this is one of my all-time favorite books ever. And how could it not be? Alice is one of the best heroines ever. She’s strong, she’s feisty, she’s a badass, and overall, an extremely likeable book character. Lately, it’s been hard for me to find non-whiny heroines that don’t make me want to punch them in the face. Alice is definitely not one of them. She’s determined and guarded, and throughout the book we watch her find her purpose again.
“Sometimes, love is not enough, though. Not when everything else is wrong. Sometimes you must move on, even when it hurts to do so.”
The secondary characters in TCS are all so wonderful. And this is where I start raving about how much I’m in love with Finn Van Brunt. Seriously. He’s a perfect match for feisty and witty Alice. He’s a good guy. The brand of good guys that Heather writes are incomparable and he’s another one for the top book boyfriends list. He’s a gentleman, he’s mature, he’s sexy, and I just swoon, swoon, swoon so hard just thinking about him. His chemistry with Alice is off the charts. AF (Alice/Finn—you’ll get it once you read it) have some of the sexiest scenes I’ve ever seen Heather write and it’s so perfect *swoons*. There’s so many other characters to love. Every time you meet a new one, you’re going to be shocked. And it’s too difficult to explain without giving anything away.
“Us. Two letters combine to make a tiny word whose connotation is massive. There is an us here. He and I, we’re partners… But when he says this word, when these two letters combine to make a single syllable from his mouth, it feels more than that. It feels both broader, more significant. And yet smaller and exclusive all at once. Us is a heady, dangerous word.”
Every page, every word, made me fall more and more in love with the book. By now, I bet you’re thinking that there’s no way everything I’m saying is true. I must be over-exaggerating right? Wrong. I mean, you could just read for yourself. But, it’s all true. It’s adventure, it’s a fairy tale, it’s a romance, and it’s a whole new world like you’ve never seen before. Heather is one of my absolute favorite authors and this is one of my top books of the year. AF owns my heart. The Collectors’ Society owns my soul.
“I was lost, without purpose when I left Wonderland. I feared I would never find my footing again. Never find anything that would help me move past the confusion and desolation and helplessness of my past. But then I came to the Collectors’ Society. I met you. My feet found solid ground. A fixed star shines in my sky.”
See full review here http://www.romanceaddictbookblog.com/...
June 17, 2015
"Sometimes our pasts are chains we cannot let go of, even if the key is in our hands. They define us in ways we resent, and yet they are somehow precious, too. Because, logically, we understand that our pasts have made us who we are, even if we want nothing more to close our eyes to them."
OMG!!!! What a great book this was!!! Original and amazingly written - a different take on Alice in Wonderland entwined with other great and some forgotten/overlooked classic books - some we read in our childhood and some that we've only discovered in our adulthood.
Alice in Wonderland has been one of my favorite stories for a long time and I'm always surprised to see how fellow readers or authors, script writers, directors etc try to recreate this timeless piece of literature, and I was amazed to see the Ms Heather Lyons didn't disappoint.
We get to meet Alice after she left Wonderland and is back in England. She's a 25 year old and is a patient at Pleasance Asylum, run by Dr. Featheringstone when she's suddenly visited by a mysterious Mr. Van Brunt who offers her the possibility to save her beloved fantasy land from an unknown villain if she goes with him to NYC. Alice being one always up for an adventure does just that, but now find herself thrown into a new 'Wonderland' - the twenty first century NYC.
Here she gets to meet new people - new to her, but not as much to us as readers as they are characters we might have read about, only the author is now presenting them in a new and fresh way - gets to learn about a 'secret society who helps book timelines from being deleted - this is where the story gets interesting and I feel like the more I'll say the more I'll give away. This society is more like a kickass band of book characters who work together to protect books and characters to continue their existence way beyond the actions taking place in said books. She's in awe of every new thing she learns about - from laptop computers to the mighty Starbucks - and step by step gets to love this 'magical' world with the help of the 'light' and mysterious Finn, her partner and sort off appointed 21st century teacher.
Alice, along side Finn, Mary, Victor and many more try and find and stop the villain, S. Todd from 'deleting' classic book timelines, including Alice's own one. We also get to see how Ms Lyons imagined Wonderland herself and it's simply .... creepy .... and I loved it :) nothing is what it seems in this book and I can't wait to see where she'll take this series next....
June 24, 2015
So I have a confession to make...
Alice in Wonderland is probably one of my least favorite stories... I think it has to do with the way the movies portrayed this fantasy land, I always felt like I was on drugs while watching them...
Even Johnny Depp couldn't turn me on to it and I love me some him...
Don't throw things at me because even if I didn't care for this particular children's story, I did LOVE The Collectors' Society!!
I don't think LOVE is a big enough word for this story... It's more like obsessed, I want to capture Heather Lyons and hold her in my basement until she produces the next edition, kind of love...
Too Much??
Ehh... I am sort of kidding, I don't have a basement..
This book entranced me so much that once I started, it was 6 hrs later before I realized it was dark outside, my husband was snoring next to me and I didn't even remember the last time I went pee (which is a feat on it's own because I have a baby always pushing on my bladder)... I couldn't believe I had lost myself so wholly that I didn't even remember my husband coming to bed or that I had lost so much time.
But I also didn't care, I needed to keep reading and finish what I started...
I couldn't put the book down!
The characters, storyline, the way everything was presented and explained...everything about this book just kept me present and not wanting to put it down. Even after I finished reading it, I was left thinking about timelines, books I loved as a kid, what I would do if I met one of my favorite characters.. I was just so lost in this world and I am a little depressed to be done, because I didn't want it to be over!
Heather has an amazing knack for making you travel inside her books and taking you on a journey that you never want to end! The imagery that is produced inside your mind is so refreshing and unique. Her stories may have similar elements to stories past (like the legend of Medusa or Alice in Wonderland) but she puts her own spin on it that makes it completely her own. She isn't retelling old stories, she is creating new ones with new experiences, and new adventures!
Plus, her characters are older so I have more in common with them and it's not kid-like because certain scenes wanted to melt my panties off!! BUT at the same time, this book and her previous works have given me a sense of nostalgia by bringing characters to life that I haven't read about in so long. I wanted to reintroduce myself to the old books I have long since put away because it is like she is continuing their stories by keeping them alive in her own books.
I know I will never be disappointed with anything she writes and she quickly became one of my favorites, go to, must read everything she writes even her grocery list kind of author!! If you haven't read anything by her yet, I HIGHLY URGE you to do so!! You will not be disappointed, I guarantee it!
No surprise, I give this amazing story 5 "I can't wait for more" Stars!!! Oh and even though it is a series, this first book DOES NOT end on a cliffhanger, but you will be salivating for the next book!
Alice in Wonderland is probably one of my least favorite stories... I think it has to do with the way the movies portrayed this fantasy land, I always felt like I was on drugs while watching them...
Even Johnny Depp couldn't turn me on to it and I love me some him...
Don't throw things at me because even if I didn't care for this particular children's story, I did LOVE The Collectors' Society!!
I don't think LOVE is a big enough word for this story... It's more like obsessed, I want to capture Heather Lyons and hold her in my basement until she produces the next edition, kind of love...
Too Much??
Ehh... I am sort of kidding, I don't have a basement..
This book entranced me so much that once I started, it was 6 hrs later before I realized it was dark outside, my husband was snoring next to me and I didn't even remember the last time I went pee (which is a feat on it's own because I have a baby always pushing on my bladder)... I couldn't believe I had lost myself so wholly that I didn't even remember my husband coming to bed or that I had lost so much time.
But I also didn't care, I needed to keep reading and finish what I started...
I couldn't put the book down!
The characters, storyline, the way everything was presented and explained...everything about this book just kept me present and not wanting to put it down. Even after I finished reading it, I was left thinking about timelines, books I loved as a kid, what I would do if I met one of my favorite characters.. I was just so lost in this world and I am a little depressed to be done, because I didn't want it to be over!
Heather has an amazing knack for making you travel inside her books and taking you on a journey that you never want to end! The imagery that is produced inside your mind is so refreshing and unique. Her stories may have similar elements to stories past (like the legend of Medusa or Alice in Wonderland) but she puts her own spin on it that makes it completely her own. She isn't retelling old stories, she is creating new ones with new experiences, and new adventures!
Plus, her characters are older so I have more in common with them and it's not kid-like because certain scenes wanted to melt my panties off!! BUT at the same time, this book and her previous works have given me a sense of nostalgia by bringing characters to life that I haven't read about in so long. I wanted to reintroduce myself to the old books I have long since put away because it is like she is continuing their stories by keeping them alive in her own books.
I know I will never be disappointed with anything she writes and she quickly became one of my favorites, go to, must read everything she writes even her grocery list kind of author!! If you haven't read anything by her yet, I HIGHLY URGE you to do so!! You will not be disappointed, I guarantee it!
No surprise, I give this amazing story 5 "I can't wait for more" Stars!!! Oh and even though it is a series, this first book DOES NOT end on a cliffhanger, but you will be salivating for the next book!
November 18, 2014
I honestly do not think that I can do this book justice even if I were to write a fantastic review based on the plot, characters, action, drama, and love present in this book. Heather Lyons deserves so much praise for concocting such a brilliant world that revolves around our childhood stories. I have to admit that I was in awe the entire book, and I mean the entire book. While delving into the first chapter, I had no idea what was in store. The synopsis sounded intriguing and I really enjoyed Lyons’ “The Deep End of the Sea” so I knew that I would like this book, but I didn’t know that I would absolutely fall in love with this book.
The Collectors’ Society is one of those rare books that pick you up and drop you down into a fantasy-woven world, mixed with some reality and that you become a part of and can feel the guttural emotions written on the pages. Lyons did an amazing job interweaving the fictional characters of popular childhood stories and turning them into factual being that I either immediately loved or tremendously hated. She also kept the surprises ever-present and held her cards close to her heart and played them at just the right time to keep this story uniquely entertaining.
I’m not going to say a lot about the plot or characters specifically because I want you, the reader, to be able to learn and love them like I did, which was blindly. Again, the synopsis sounded intriguing but I had no idea what a wonderful world I was about to step into. I will say that each character is written to be extremely different and rare than what you will expect. I found myself gravitating towards those at the Society and those in Wonderland (the White King especially) and falling in love with them. As for the plot, it was brilliantly mapped out and written to be seamless and thrilling.
This book doesn’t deserve just five stars – it deserves a heck of a lot more! Also, the two books that I have read from Lyons have both been rated five stars because she is a brilliant writer with an imagination that beyond compare. What does this mean? It means read her books because you will not be disappointed!
Let me leave you with a heartfelt quote from the book that touched my heart while I was reading.
“I think you are my north star. Wonderland doesn’t have one. The stars above move on a nightly basis. One night’s sky is always different from the next’s. It’s hard to anchor yourself when you can’t find a north star. Sometimes, you would feel like you’re floating, lost in space. I was lost, without purpose when I left Wonderland. I feared I would never find my footing again. Never find anything that would help me move past the confusion and desolation and helplessness of my past. But then I came to the Collectors’ Society. I met you. My feet found solid ground. A fixed star shines in my sky.” Truly beautiful.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer MC~
The Collectors’ Society is one of those rare books that pick you up and drop you down into a fantasy-woven world, mixed with some reality and that you become a part of and can feel the guttural emotions written on the pages. Lyons did an amazing job interweaving the fictional characters of popular childhood stories and turning them into factual being that I either immediately loved or tremendously hated. She also kept the surprises ever-present and held her cards close to her heart and played them at just the right time to keep this story uniquely entertaining.
I’m not going to say a lot about the plot or characters specifically because I want you, the reader, to be able to learn and love them like I did, which was blindly. Again, the synopsis sounded intriguing but I had no idea what a wonderful world I was about to step into. I will say that each character is written to be extremely different and rare than what you will expect. I found myself gravitating towards those at the Society and those in Wonderland (the White King especially) and falling in love with them. As for the plot, it was brilliantly mapped out and written to be seamless and thrilling.
This book doesn’t deserve just five stars – it deserves a heck of a lot more! Also, the two books that I have read from Lyons have both been rated five stars because she is a brilliant writer with an imagination that beyond compare. What does this mean? It means read her books because you will not be disappointed!
Let me leave you with a heartfelt quote from the book that touched my heart while I was reading.
“I think you are my north star. Wonderland doesn’t have one. The stars above move on a nightly basis. One night’s sky is always different from the next’s. It’s hard to anchor yourself when you can’t find a north star. Sometimes, you would feel like you’re floating, lost in space. I was lost, without purpose when I left Wonderland. I feared I would never find my footing again. Never find anything that would help me move past the confusion and desolation and helplessness of my past. But then I came to the Collectors’ Society. I met you. My feet found solid ground. A fixed star shines in my sky.” Truly beautiful.
~BookWhisperer Reviewer MC~
October 28, 2014
I do not believe it possible for a person to encounter another that has not heard of Alice in Wonderland. Whether it is the classic story, a Disney version or even perhaps a modern take on the fairy tale, everyone has a version of Alice in their head. Until now….the Alice we meet in The Collectors’ Society is a sassy, modest, beautiful, confused and all encompassing heroine. At first glance you wonder how much of what Alice has experienced is real and how much of her experience is perhaps a hallucination. Regardless of that first impression, we soon find Alice to be nothing short of intriguing.
We first encounter Alice years after her departure from Wonderland. She has taken up residence in an asylum and it is there that she meets a man that will change her world. A simple offer of employment has never set into motion a stranger set of circumstances as it does for our Alice.
Writing a review of this book is one I have struggled with. Normally that comment would lead you to believe I didn’t enjoy the story. This is far from the truth. I almost cannot put into words the amount of affection and love I have for each of the characters introduced to us in The Collectors’ Society. The ability to review this story, one that encompasses fantasy, adventure, mystery, intrigue, humor and romance, without a spoiler is almost impossible. I will simply say, like Alice and her time in Wonderland, the adventure she takes us on in this story is a mystery, fantasy and the ride of a lifetime.
As a newbie to the world of fantasy I must say Heather Lyons continues to draw me in and make me ask for more. Not only does she give us an Alice that I want to be friends with but she gives us Finn. Oh Finn….what more can I say than he is quickly making his way to the top of the Book Boyfriend list! The witty banter between Alice and Finn and their friends is both funny and with an underlying sexual tension that is undeniable. The added splash of a few villains and the promise to keep the adventure going Ms. Lyons has me on pins and needles until the next installment of this series.
“Sometimes life is more extraordinary than we might first imagine, and today is going to test your limits of imagination and acceptance.” - The Collectors’ Society
We first encounter Alice years after her departure from Wonderland. She has taken up residence in an asylum and it is there that she meets a man that will change her world. A simple offer of employment has never set into motion a stranger set of circumstances as it does for our Alice.
Writing a review of this book is one I have struggled with. Normally that comment would lead you to believe I didn’t enjoy the story. This is far from the truth. I almost cannot put into words the amount of affection and love I have for each of the characters introduced to us in The Collectors’ Society. The ability to review this story, one that encompasses fantasy, adventure, mystery, intrigue, humor and romance, without a spoiler is almost impossible. I will simply say, like Alice and her time in Wonderland, the adventure she takes us on in this story is a mystery, fantasy and the ride of a lifetime.
As a newbie to the world of fantasy I must say Heather Lyons continues to draw me in and make me ask for more. Not only does she give us an Alice that I want to be friends with but she gives us Finn. Oh Finn….what more can I say than he is quickly making his way to the top of the Book Boyfriend list! The witty banter between Alice and Finn and their friends is both funny and with an underlying sexual tension that is undeniable. The added splash of a few villains and the promise to keep the adventure going Ms. Lyons has me on pins and needles until the next installment of this series.
“Sometimes life is more extraordinary than we might first imagine, and today is going to test your limits of imagination and acceptance.” - The Collectors’ Society
March 1, 2015
Absolutely wonderful!
October 23, 2014
Heather Lyons is an amazing author and I have loved every book she has written. I could not wait to delve into this story and had extremely high expectations. I would like nothing more than to crawl in Heather’s mind and look around. I have read over 200 books this year, and this is hands down the most unique one I have read. The book does not fit into any one genre; there is adventure, mystery, SciFi, and romance. Forget everything you think you know about Alice and Wonderland. Take a deep breath and simply enjoy this intriguing journey!
“What say you, Alice? Are you up for another adventure?”
The story begins as Alice is recovering in a mental institution after her return from Wonderland. As she prepares to return home, she is approached about joining a “secret society” located in New York. Her beloved Wonderland is in danger and she must rely on The Collectors’ Society for assistance. The most accurate way to describe this eclectic group is: Justice League meets Classic Literature. To tell you anymore would simply spoil this unique world that Heather has so amazingly created.
“Each of us here has a story, but it’s not necessarily the one people think they know.”
Once I began this book, I could not stop reading and devoured it in one night. While I usually do not prefer single first person Point Of View, it works perfectly here. Alice is a badass heroine and she depends on no one to rescue her. The reader does not need anyone but Alice to tell them her story. She is quite unlike the timid and often, silly Alice from the storybook creation. She is the definite center of this book. She is her own savior. Of course, the story becomes more interesting with a possible love interest. Finn is fabulous and loved him more than I could imagine. (Do not tell anyone, but nearly trumphs Kellan as my all time hero from Heather Lyons.) He does not attempt to change Alice or make her be something she is not; he simply lets her be and has faith in her abilities. He has the potential to be her perfect balance, but could past events interfere with them?
“Sometimes, you have to take a chance. Sometimes, you have to step over the ledge and fall, even though you don’t know what’s underneath you.”
The adventure unfolds in different worlds and different time periods. There is a spectacular cast of supporting characters; both good and evil. Do not fret if you do not recognize them all, Heather has placed a detailed guide at the back of the book for assistance. While there is no cliffhanger, this story is far from finished. Heather has confirmed there will be at least one other book in the series. I can not wait to see what adventures lie ahead for Alice, Finn, and the Collectors’ Society!
“What say you, Alice? Are you up for another adventure?”
The story begins as Alice is recovering in a mental institution after her return from Wonderland. As she prepares to return home, she is approached about joining a “secret society” located in New York. Her beloved Wonderland is in danger and she must rely on The Collectors’ Society for assistance. The most accurate way to describe this eclectic group is: Justice League meets Classic Literature. To tell you anymore would simply spoil this unique world that Heather has so amazingly created.
“Each of us here has a story, but it’s not necessarily the one people think they know.”
Once I began this book, I could not stop reading and devoured it in one night. While I usually do not prefer single first person Point Of View, it works perfectly here. Alice is a badass heroine and she depends on no one to rescue her. The reader does not need anyone but Alice to tell them her story. She is quite unlike the timid and often, silly Alice from the storybook creation. She is the definite center of this book. She is her own savior. Of course, the story becomes more interesting with a possible love interest. Finn is fabulous and loved him more than I could imagine. (Do not tell anyone, but nearly trumphs Kellan as my all time hero from Heather Lyons.) He does not attempt to change Alice or make her be something she is not; he simply lets her be and has faith in her abilities. He has the potential to be her perfect balance, but could past events interfere with them?
“Sometimes, you have to take a chance. Sometimes, you have to step over the ledge and fall, even though you don’t know what’s underneath you.”
The adventure unfolds in different worlds and different time periods. There is a spectacular cast of supporting characters; both good and evil. Do not fret if you do not recognize them all, Heather has placed a detailed guide at the back of the book for assistance. While there is no cliffhanger, this story is far from finished. Heather has confirmed there will be at least one other book in the series. I can not wait to see what adventures lie ahead for Alice, Finn, and the Collectors’ Society!
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