Wars in Wonderland

by E.J. Pepino

Join Alice as she ventures into this dark new Wonderland with a mash-up of fairytales in a way you've never seen them before...


𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦’𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭. 𝘈𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘴𝘩ȸ

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Retellings, Queer

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2025

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book?? Ruined me in the best way possible (i feel like i start all my reviews the same way BUT GUYS IT DID RUIN ME!!) Wars in Wonderland  is what happens when you take the madness of Wonderland, add a feral sapphic "i can fight everyone idc dont piss me off" coded queen, throw in TWO sirens that want to devour her (literally and emotionally), and then top it all off with a mentally spiraling Alice who’s just trying to go home but keeps ending up emotionally wrecked and covered in someone else’s blood.
Alice?? Babygirl is NOT okay. And I mean that in the most “wow this character is written SO well” way. The voices in her head?? Her convincing herself that this world isn’t real while it clearly is?? Her absolutely gut-wrenching fear and desperation?? Peak unreliable narrator. I genuinely believed she was spiraling into full-blown psychosis and I was seated for EVERY second. Pepino makes you FEEL her dread, her dissociation, and then yanks you back into chaos the moment you breathe.
Now let’s talk about Red. RED. I want her. I want to be her. I want to sit on her throne and kiss her and cry. She’s bonded to two sirens—Aurora (soft girl with bite i fucking love her)and Snow (bad bitch energy with sharp teeth DUDE I LOVE HER??)—and they are OBSESSIVE AND JEALOUS AND EVERTHING YOU WANT!!  And Red's so fucking into it. The blood kink?? The feeding?? Her being all “yk.. i've been w sirens before i dont mind [..]” while clearly LOOOOVING it?? I was on the FLOOR. Pepino, if you’re reading this: I would like to be next in the queue for siren feeding, thanks. (no seriously i want my own personal obsessed bonded to me siren 😭😭) Also yes, we get spice. Not constant, but just enough to make you feral and keep the tension so sharp it cuts. IT WAS EVERYYYYTHING!! And the ENDING. WHAT WAS THAT. Alice makes it home… sees her younger self through the window… gets scared… runs back to her friends who she JUST said goodbye to MINUTES AGO?? and THE WORLD IS ON FUCKING FIRE??? My jaw? On the floor. My heart? Shattered. My brain? Screaming. I want to fight the author for this but also kiss their forehead because THAT’S storytelling. THIS IS HOW I WANT MY FANTASY BOOKS!! THIS IS HOW YOU RETELL ALICE IN WONDERLAND GUYS!!
This book is queer, chaotic, and completely unhinged in the most beautiful way. If you like morally gray characters, girls kissing girls, trauma, blood, teeth, madness, and A LIITTLEEE SPRINKLEEE of found family—you need this. I needed book two yesterday. Alice deserves peace. Red deserves to js be happy with her sirens!! AND I? I DESERVE A 2ND PART OF THIS BOOK!!!

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of reading an ARC of Wars in Wonderland by E.J. Pepino.  This book had me in a chokehold from the first chapter on. The characters are dynamic and well developed. I loved their interactions and banter. They are deliciously flawed, and I want to hug each of them. The world devolopment pulled me right in and kept me immersed in this fantasy dimension. This is my favorite retelling of Alice in Wonderland that I've ever read. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in a dark fairytale retelling

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Do you like fairytales? Are you a fan of a retelling? Did you like the show "Once upon a Time"? If the answer is yes, then do not hesitate to read this one.

This book does take place in the Alice in Wonderland universe but pulls in characters from many different stories. You'll see Alice. the red queen, the rabbit, the Cheshire cat. You'll also see Red Riding Hood, Ariel, Snow, and others. The world contains sirens, mermaids, werewolves, and a menagerie of otherworldly creatures.

I was highly impressed by this debut novel. I can't wait for the second book to see where this ends up. This book is on high on world building. Spice is about a 2.5🌶 but man, this was a fun ride.

I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved every minute of this book. It drew me in from the start with a grown up Alice in therapy and trying to convince herself that her nightmares are not real. Add in a badass Red and two Sirens who would do anything for their mate. A great twist on the fairy tails we all grew up with. Didn't want to put it down. I can not wait to see what Alice gets up to next.

[Melissa Ruzik · Rating 4 out of 5]

*sapphic/fff
*Alice in Wonderland reimagined
*found family
*bonded mates
*morally grey badass fmc
*touch her and die
*magic, sirens and shifters

Entering the world of Underland with a twisted version of some of our favourite fairytales. Alice stumbled into a world with Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Aurora and Ariel and helped them seek vengeance against an enemy.

A sapphic why choose romance, with badass women, banter and the occasional unaliving. This book was a lot of fun and different from what I was expecting annnnd the twist at the end was completely unexpected. I'm looking forward to book two!

[Jen Betchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t express how much I loved this book! The world building, character and story pull you in immediately and don’t let go! I loved how well all the characters were developed, all with their own flaws and pasts, fighting for what they love. The banter and sarcasm throughout is flawless. I also loved how the characters explored their own trauma and mental health in a way that that didn’t feel forced or surface level. I just loved everything about this book and can’t wait for the next installment!!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wars in Wonderland is a departure from my usual genre—I tend to gravitate toward historical fiction and epic sagas. So when I sat down to read this story involving fairy tale characters and fantasy elements, I truly wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was delightfully surprised by how quickly I was drawn in.

From the opening pages, the author builds a dark, gripping world where nightmares bleed into reality. The reimagined Wonderland setting is imaginative and full of surprising elements, and I found myself completely invested in Alice’s journey. The relationships - platonic and romantic - between characters brought emotional depth and complexity to the plot, especially as their relationships evolve against a backdrop of danger and discovery.

The pacing was spot-on, with enough twists to keep me flipping pages eagerly. I found the book to be creative, heartfelt, suspenseful, and well-written, telling a story that surprised me in the best way. Highly recommend!

[Mari Menne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have dipped my toe into some sapphic fantasy before, and with Wars in Wonderland by E.J. Pepino, I am ready to jump into the fantasy world with both feet. This is a remarkable retelling of a fairy tale I am sure most of us already know – Alice in Wonderland. But make it dark. And sapphic.

Along with Alice, we meet several other characters with names you are probably familiar with. Having no fewer than 4 main characters, one would think it would be easy to confuse them all. This is not at all the case with Wars in Wonderland. E.J has beautifully managed to give them each their own, very distinct voices and personalities, and I loved getting to know each one of them throughout the book.

The story has a dual timeline, with the majority of the story taking place during present time, and with some chapters going back a few years, giving background information on some of the characters, giving us an even better understanding of the characters’ relationship and history.

While this is an f/f/f, it is most definitely not a ‘why choose’. It is more like a ‘you do not have a choice, deal with it’. And boy, do they deal with it. There might not be a lot of spice, but the spice you do get … shew!🌲🥵

And, my god, that ending? I am going to need book 2 yesterday, please and thank you😌

[Jade Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a mastery of fairytale characters, each with their own unique spicy twist with an engaging plot that you'll just whizz through. Never before have I read a book so fast and deeply and been so emotionally invested with every facet. It's a story of past trauma, of found-family and love, of fighting for what you believe in, and never giving in despite the odds. Quite simply, I found it perfect.

Wars in Wonderland cleverly introduces characters that you'll love and recognise e.g. Alice, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Red Riding Hood, but all with their own unique edgy twist that makes this story more than just a simple fairytale-retelling but it's own complete beautiful tale. Red for instance has werewolf capabilities and Ariel is a mermaid that must speak through sign language due to losing her voice via a curse. I just loved these extra fairytale easter eggs that were slid into the story so seamlessly and made me instantly recognise the character without needing a hefty backstory. This allowed the author to then make them her own, and give them her own backstories that whilst still remained true to the classics, were a refreshing addition.

And the spice! This is a sapphic love story, with fated mates, between three characters and it is done beautifully, addressing important relationship issues such as jealously, and dealing with historical trauma. I loved how all the characters communicated their relationship problems e.g. Red struggled with emotional intimacy, and this was important to Snow so it was discussed between them and they grew through it as the plot progressed. The relationships are raw, realistic, and develop as the story progresses - perfection! Also, have I mentioned that my brain became so obsessed with this trio, that I ended up having a -ahem- interesting dream? This was a first for me, and amused me that I was enjoying the read so much, that the characters managed to invade my subconscious.

The only problem I have is the ending... I just can't take it that I now have to wait for book two!

Thank you for the arc; its arcs like these that you truly dream for, and I'm so grateful I got to read it early!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance of ARC reading "Wars in Wonderland"

And I can’t recommend it enough!
You like fairy tales? But want it saphhic and spooky? Here ya go! You weren’t scared enough of the rabbit taking alice to wonderland? This book might change your opinion. Tick Tack.

And the cliffhanger?? ASDFGHJKL. I am not okay. I need the next book. Immediately. Yesterday, preferably. Tick Tack.

If you’re into dark fairy tales with sapphic vibes, mystery, and the kind of plot that wraps around you like a vine and refuses to let go — read this. You’re welcome.

Book is released on 11th June 2025!
Check trigger warnings.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need the next book NOW! This was a fantastic take on Alice in Wonderland as an adult, and the use of fairytale characters and creatures is inspired. I loved it from the first chapter. Alice in Wonderland has always been a favourite story of mine and this dark tale inspired by it was engaging, exciting and cute as hell. I do love the sapphic romance in it. I also love that the character Red is loyal and true to her word throughout the book. She’s a character you as the reader can rely on. Stunning storytelling. The book has made me want to play the game Alice: Madness Returns again. What a great imagination the author has. I cannot wait for the next book.

[Carly Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice thought her nightmares were just that: dreams. But twenty years after they began, the rabbit has returned and he's not alone. Thrust into a twisted version of Wonderland, Alice quickly realizes that the strange creatures haunting her sleep are terrifyingly real. As she struggles to make sense of her shifting reality, she meets Red. Red has been waiting a long time for revenge against the monster who shattered her world. With two sirens at her side and nothing left to lose, Red’s fire had started to die out—until Alice reignites it. Together, these women are on a dangerous mission fueled by vengeance, fate, and the bonds they didn’t expect to form.

I’m such a sucker for fairytale retellings and this one completely delivered. Wars in Wonderland takes the wild world of Alice and throws it into something darker, sapphic, and way more intense in the best way. I didn’t expect cameos from other fairytale characters and supernatural beings, but that just added to the magic and mayhem. Think Wonderland meets a spicy fantasy rebellion.

What really made this book special for me is the FFF storyline. It’s not every day I find a sapphic fantasy that hits hard emotionally and has enough action to keep me turning pages. Sapphic representation shouldn’t be this rare in fantasy, but here we are, and I’m thrilled I got to read this ARC from E. J. Pepino. The romance is there, and yes, there’s spice, but it doesn’t overshadow the plot. It enhances it.

Also, can we talk about how this is Pepino’s debut? The writing is vivid, emotional, and just sucked me right in. I loved the morally grey characters, the layered relationships, and that mix of pain and power that kept things unpredictable. I’m already stalking for news of a sequel or whatever Pepino does next.

The Vibes It Brings:
🧚‍♀️ Fairytale retelling with a twist
🌈 Sapphic (FFF) romance that actually delivers
🐰 Alice in Wonderland reimagined
🧜‍♀️ Supernatural creatures and mythical beings
🫂 Found family feels
🔥 Touch her and die
🤝 Bonded mates
🖤 Morally grey bada$$ FMC
🗡️ Vengeance, loyalty, and a hint of madness

If you’re looking for a dark fantasy full of emotion, tension, and fierce sapphic energy, Wars in Wonderland needs to be on your TBR. It’s bold, beautifully written, and the kind of retelling that completely flips the original on its head while keeping its heart. Whether you're here for the fantasy, the romance, or the monsters, there's something wild waiting for you down the rabbit hole.

[SullenSapphic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Level 2/5 Open Door

At the age of 7, Alice was transported to Wonderland. An experience that induced life long panic, anxiety, and nightmares into Alice’s life. Those nightmares come to fruition in her twenties when she is transported back to Wonderland to face her tormentor.

Red comes along and graciously takes Alice in much to the chagrin of her two bonded Sirens, Snow and Aurora. Red is a very mysterious woman who holds many secrets but has one thing in common with Alice, the death of both of their tormentor, Ches. In the land of Wonderland, there is a sword that is in pieces that can help end the suffering of both Alice and Red. However, if they end the cause of their suffering, what atrocities will become Wonderland.

This book is an absolute adventure. Not only do you have the lore of Alice in Wonderland, but you get the lore of a few other folktales woven into this story. Both FMCs have a very complicated past (not with each other) but with both of their trauma, they find a way to work together for the better of the land and their lives. Though this book is not a ‘why choose’ trope, there is a f / f / f throuple that are basically fated to be a throuple. Trying not to give too much away, but one partner wants to try and get rid of the other partner but ends up getting bonded. Even if this gives away a little bit, it isn’t a spoiler and will not ruin any of the book.

For me, this book read a little slow at times. I am newer into the sapphic fantasy reads so as much as I like them, they can be a little slow for me. But what is slow for me is faster paced for someone else. This book is fantasy to it’s core and it takes you on an adventure that will keep you reading and wanting more at the end. This is a dark romance sapphic fantasy so please seek out the CWs / TWs for this book before reading to make sure it suits you.

[Ele-Beth Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

"You thought following the rabbit was a good idea? A rabbit you didn't even think was real?" 😆

🤍 Alice in Wonderland inspired

🤍 Female-centric

🤍 Beautifully written

🤍 Feisty Sirens who create drama

🤍 Lesbian player werewolf

🤍 A truly horrific version of the Cheshire cat

🤍 Sizzling swordplay

🤍 An exploration of connection and loyalty

🤍 Spicy Spicy spice spice *chants we want more!!!

🤍 Snarky banter as a love language!

🤍 Touch her and die

🤍 Slightly trippy feeling of reality disintegrating as you read

Er, can I be Alice and be pinballed around in this world, too, please?

If you want an adult, Alice in Wonderland inspired fantasy, with a sprinkling of sapphic spice (that you’re best off not reading in public), then you NEED to read ‘Wars in Wonderland’.

It's rich in characters and plot, with an immersive world that feels both magical and foreboding.

You don't really know what to expect when you start reading! Although you'll recognise certain fairytaleesque features like mermaids and dwarves, EJ puts a unique spin on these, bringing in a much darker tone after lulling you into a false sense of security.

On a psychological level, I also enjoyed the exploration of 'bonding' to a mate and developing attachment.

Whilst it's not spice heavy, when it's there, it is *fans self .... *worldless incoherent mumbles.

The prose, pacing, and dialogue flow smoothly with a natural narrative voice. There's a dry tone to the banter, which I really appreciated. So if that's your communication style/flirtation style/love language, you're in good company!

I'm not even going to mention the caterpillar. I mean..ok I have mentioned the caterpillar. What caterpillar? No, you said caterpillar. What's a caterpillar? 😱😱😱

[CissasBookEnds · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review, the below is my one thoughts on this book.

Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This book was soooo good. It gave me Alice: The Madness Returns video game vibes that I just hung on too. It’s dark, it’s gritty, it’s so wants you to become obsessed with it… I honestly loved it!

Does it have a steamy steamy, steamy Love scenes?

- OMG YES!

Does it have a great flow and plot that makes your brain say it wants more?

- Of Course it Does!

Do you possibly want to stab the Cheshire Cat because he is almost too creepy?

- I will have to admit I kinda do.

Does it have some of the best Female Main Characters that I have read in a while, stuck in a slightly trippy but all together Horror themed scenarios that keep you saying “Just one more Chapter!”?

— Abso-f******g-lutly.

I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR list…actually, just skip the TBR list and read it!

Oh and did I mention the Sapphic-ly inclined main characters that I just want to *fans self*.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally a huge fairytale retelling reader because they often end up really similar or repetitive but EJ does not disappoint with this retelling.
Alice is a girl who thinks she's just really messed up in the head and hallucinating frequently. NOPE, the Underland is real and she's about to get an adventure of a lifetime.
She's timid and anxious, but with the help of her newfound caring friends (who happen to be a sapphic throuple), she discovers that she's the key to killing the baddie of the Underland.
This is a fantastic adventure of a read, with dark fantasy plotting and a delightfully twisted writing of some of your favorite princesses and other fairytale characters.
Enjoy the savagery, sass, and strength of the leading ladies as they set out to slaughter the Underland's biggest enemy.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!! I'm still reeling from the immersive experience of this book! It completely captivated me, though I confess it took me a while to finish, purely because life kept getting in the way. The blend of sapphic romance, alluring sirens, and morally ambiguous characters created a truly unique and compelling narrative. It's a fresh, imaginative take on Wonderland, brimming with familiar fairytale characters and delightful Easter egg references that added an extra layer of enjoyment to the reading experience. The author masterfully crafts a world that is both breathtakingly beautiful and subtly unsettling, leaving you wanting more long after you've turned the final page. Highly recommended!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica Lanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book tho! ✨ Sometimes I can’t believe people are this creative but then I read a book like this. I was not sure how I would feel about the totally reimagined Alice in wonderland story in a more modern/adult way. I absolutely loved the characters and the subtle nods to the original characters of their namesakes. The beginning was a bit of a slow build (in an enjoyable storytelling/world building way) and then the last half had me unable to set it down. The psychological/trippy way some of the more intense scenes were written were just chefs kiss 🤌🏼 and I wanted more! Really, really want the next one to be out so I can continue the story!!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had such a hard time settling on a rating for this book, but I think I fall at 3.5 Stars. I think a part of why I struggled to rate was I didn't expect it to be a poly relationship? And that threw me. No shade to any trios out there, I have no issue with polyamory. But it wasn't clear at first, and any sign of cheating is a no for me. I almost didn't finish it just based on that suspicion, but with the jumping around in time, I knew there was more to the story.

As for the actual story, this was such an interesting take. I was so invested in a Wonderland retelling, but I did not realize it was going to be filled with Disney princesses. I did love the concept, and I wanted to know everything about Alice's history and why she was of interest to Ches.

I do have a complaint however. So Red is apparently immune to Ches' magic, and he cannot kill her. Except, he sicced a group on them that mortally injured her, which makes me question if she is actually immune, or if that is a lie that has become a sort of placebo effect? Also, his magic shouldn't touch her, but in a flashback with Snow, Ches literally binds her in place with his magic for a 'game' with a siren. So...she's not immune? That didn't make any sense to me.

[Anne Pippen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun and exciting (sometimes scary) to read. An adult Alice from Alice in wonderland follows the rabbit again and realizes that all of the trauma she thought was just her imagination actually was not! She meets up with sirens, mermaids, dwarves and all variations of mystical creatures.

The physiological trauma of her childhood adventure and the following adult physiological issues seemed very well researched and believable. The book flowed smoothly and the placement of back stories was timely and added to the overall story well.

[J. Tobias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This fairytale retelling is such a fantastic read! I don't typically read fantasy but I might have to try more after reading this one. I loved the backstory of the FFF trouple, the re-imagining of the fairytale characters, and the world in which they live. The story is spicy, intriguing and a bit emotional at times. It certainly kept my attention and the ending...Holy crap! Highly recommend!

[Gwin Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such an unexpected read! I absolutely devoured this. Every time I opened it up I’d chew through more without even realizing it. I love Red. Love that every woman in Underland has slept with her lmao. The background between her and her two sirens was so interesting. And Alice! Omg I cannot wait to see where the next adventure takes her. After that cliffhanger? I’ll be the first to read the next book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retailing for sure

In almost every version of the Alice in Wonderland story Alice annoys me. However, I think the author wove Alice magnificently in this book. Not to mention the other fantastic MCs. There is only one part I can say I didn’t like but I understood needed to be the way it was and that’s because normally the villain of this book is my favorite of all time.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had certain expectations going in and this book surprised me in the best ways possible, I didnt want to put it down, the ending though *cries* having to wait for the next part of the story is going to kill me lol.

[T. Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! I love twisted fairy tales and this hit in all the best ways! It was different than I expected with the multiple POVs and different siren bonds but I was NOT disappointed! It keeps you hooked and the cliffhanger will leave you needing book 2!

[Athene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the ARC!! This was such a fun read! I loved the play on all the different fairytales and the relationship dynamics between the characters. I cannot wait for book two!

[Cheyanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride! I loved this book so much. Who deosn't like a twist on fairytale classics? I cannot wait for the next book. I need it like right now.

[Rae Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DEVOURED this book. Lesbians? Fairytales? Oh absoulutely. And the women? BADASS!! The twist at the end took me out and I need book 2.