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Wonderland
Teenage Alice didn't mean to end up on Wonderland, but the living spaceship she commandeered had other plans, and he was very late.
Abandoned on an unfamiliar planet, Alice's first day as a space pirate has fallen into madness. Caterpillars? Mad hatters? A Jabberwock? A queen known for chopping off heads? Alice must face all Wonderland can throw at her if she's to take back possession of The White Rabbit and leave Wonderland in one piece.
Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland fairy tale retelling full of action, adventure, and unlikely heroes. While the Intergalactic Fairy Tales take place in the same universe, and occasionally have overlapping characters, these books can be read and enjoyed in any order.
Abandoned on an unfamiliar planet, Alice's first day as a space pirate has fallen into madness. Caterpillars? Mad hatters? A Jabberwock? A queen known for chopping off heads? Alice must face all Wonderland can throw at her if she's to take back possession of The White Rabbit and leave Wonderland in one piece.
Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland fairy tale retelling full of action, adventure, and unlikely heroes. While the Intergalactic Fairy Tales take place in the same universe, and occasionally have overlapping characters, these books can be read and enjoyed in any order.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2015
69 people want to read
About the author
Robert McKay
3 books15 followersRobert McKay is a clever nerd, who feels uncomfortable being called such. He believes in the oxford comma, puns, and true love. Stories that wrap all of these things together, along with some outer space adventure, make his heart go pitter-patter and his days a whole lot brighter. When he’s not writing, he’s probably reading, but if he’s not doing either of those things, he may be found bowling, playing tabletop games, or researching how much it costs to rent a space shuttle.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 18, 2015
Who’s to say that when Alice went to Wonderland, it wasn’t via a talking spaceship? Maybe the rabbit hole was the entrance ramp and just maybe Wonderland was an alien world. In a world of fairytale remakes, Robert McKay’s Wonderland takes us into outer space and out of this world completely!
Adventurous and imaginative Alice is thirteen, and has longed to be a pirate, swashbuckling, in command and in control. Little did she know what she would find in this Wonderland. From Dum and Dee to the mad queen who took pleasure in lopping off heads. How to get home? Her ship, The White Rabbit, a living, breathing and talking spaceship has been taken, although he did tell her was late for an important date. Now Alice must brave this world in true pirate fashion, brave, courageous and with the backbone of a wayfaring traveler as she attempts to regain possession of her ship to carry her home.
Want a fun read that never lets up? Want quirky reminders of the tale we all grew up with? Robert McKay has them all here seasoned with his own brand of humor, sense of wonder and adventure. Great characters, reminiscent of the original Alice, but THIS Alice has a streak of strength and sense of adventure that tops original Alice with her frilly dress and apron. No way this Alice is going to be stereotyped! It’s a pirate’s life for her!
Mr. McKay was brilliant in giving Alice the narrator’s job, letting her tell the story as she saw it, nothing like getting it straight from the horse’s mouth, I say! Fun, frivolous with a touch of normal teen angst here and there, this is too original to pass up!
Grab your pirate gear, do they make them for outer space? The White Rabbit is in a hurry, so get on board for an adventure like no other!
I received this copy from Robert McKay in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Intergalactic Fairy Tales - Book 1
Publication Date: August 20, 2015
Publisher: McKay Manor Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy - Fairy Tale Re-telling
Print Length: 187 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Adventurous and imaginative Alice is thirteen, and has longed to be a pirate, swashbuckling, in command and in control. Little did she know what she would find in this Wonderland. From Dum and Dee to the mad queen who took pleasure in lopping off heads. How to get home? Her ship, The White Rabbit, a living, breathing and talking spaceship has been taken, although he did tell her was late for an important date. Now Alice must brave this world in true pirate fashion, brave, courageous and with the backbone of a wayfaring traveler as she attempts to regain possession of her ship to carry her home.
Want a fun read that never lets up? Want quirky reminders of the tale we all grew up with? Robert McKay has them all here seasoned with his own brand of humor, sense of wonder and adventure. Great characters, reminiscent of the original Alice, but THIS Alice has a streak of strength and sense of adventure that tops original Alice with her frilly dress and apron. No way this Alice is going to be stereotyped! It’s a pirate’s life for her!
Mr. McKay was brilliant in giving Alice the narrator’s job, letting her tell the story as she saw it, nothing like getting it straight from the horse’s mouth, I say! Fun, frivolous with a touch of normal teen angst here and there, this is too original to pass up!
Grab your pirate gear, do they make them for outer space? The White Rabbit is in a hurry, so get on board for an adventure like no other!
I received this copy from Robert McKay in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Intergalactic Fairy Tales - Book 1
Publication Date: August 20, 2015
Publisher: McKay Manor Publishing
Genre: YA Fantasy - Fairy Tale Re-telling
Print Length: 187 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
September 2, 2015
Review to come!
August 26, 2015
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This review also appears on my blog, Reading with Jenna.
This is the first book in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series and is a retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. This book was adventurous and so epic! It’s set mostly on a strange planet called Wonderland that is ruled by a controlling and ruthless queen. Our heroine, Alice, has always wanted to be a pirate. When she is presented with the opportunity to go on an adventure, she leaps at the chance…but she gets a little more than what she had signed up for.
This book has everything! It has a snarky talking spaceship shaped like a rabbit. It has space and the Imagisphere, which is a world that is completely imagined and changes at the Queen’s will. There’s an almighty sword and even a cyborg hare. This book really kept me on my toes and I never knew what to expect.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Wonderland as much as I did. Alice is 13 years old and I usually have a hard time connecting with younger characters but this book really took me back to my childhood and I was able to forgive some of the things that would have normally felt juvenile. I was immersed in the world and for the most part, I felt like I was part of the action. It never really felt like I was looking in from the outside.
The story was a lot of fun. At the beginning, I was a bit worried that it would be too close of a retelling to the original Alice in Wonderland. It seemed to be very similar initially, with the exception of it being set in space. But then it went in a completely different direction, which I really loved. It started to feel like a different story with some familiar elements, rather than just Alice in Wonderland set in space. Alice also became friends with a lot of the side characters and I really appreciated that they were all a part of the action. They each had their own role in the story and weren’t just there to be interesting. I particularly liked the Cheshire cat. He was a very mysterious and quirky character.
I thought all of the action scenes were great. There was a lot more violence in the book than I had expected. Alice spends most of the book battling strange beasts and chopping guards down. It was kind of gruesome but very exciting to read about. I thought Robert McKay did a great job with making sure that the action-filled scenes all made sense. It was all brilliantly choreographed. However, I did think that the final battle at the end with the Jabberwock was a bit too long. To me, it seemed to lack a sense of urgency and I felt a little bit disconnected from it. I had a hard time imagining some of the things that were happening and it all just went over my head a little bit. But the rest of the action scenes were very well done.
My other small criticism is that the book didn’t flow as smoothly as I would have liked it to. Some of the chapters ended very abruptly and the transition between some of the chapters weren’t very good. It just felt like we were stopping in the middle of a scene and then picking up where we had left off, in the next chapter. It just broke the flow of the book for me and felt like it was stopping and starting. But other than that, I was happy with how easy the writing was to read.
There are definitely some loose threads, as there should be since it’s a first book in a series. But there are things that I wish had been better resolved within this first book. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing what the next instalment brings.
This review also appears on my blog, Reading with Jenna.
This is the first book in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series and is a retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. This book was adventurous and so epic! It’s set mostly on a strange planet called Wonderland that is ruled by a controlling and ruthless queen. Our heroine, Alice, has always wanted to be a pirate. When she is presented with the opportunity to go on an adventure, she leaps at the chance…but she gets a little more than what she had signed up for.
This book has everything! It has a snarky talking spaceship shaped like a rabbit. It has space and the Imagisphere, which is a world that is completely imagined and changes at the Queen’s will. There’s an almighty sword and even a cyborg hare. This book really kept me on my toes and I never knew what to expect.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy Wonderland as much as I did. Alice is 13 years old and I usually have a hard time connecting with younger characters but this book really took me back to my childhood and I was able to forgive some of the things that would have normally felt juvenile. I was immersed in the world and for the most part, I felt like I was part of the action. It never really felt like I was looking in from the outside.
The story was a lot of fun. At the beginning, I was a bit worried that it would be too close of a retelling to the original Alice in Wonderland. It seemed to be very similar initially, with the exception of it being set in space. But then it went in a completely different direction, which I really loved. It started to feel like a different story with some familiar elements, rather than just Alice in Wonderland set in space. Alice also became friends with a lot of the side characters and I really appreciated that they were all a part of the action. They each had their own role in the story and weren’t just there to be interesting. I particularly liked the Cheshire cat. He was a very mysterious and quirky character.
I thought all of the action scenes were great. There was a lot more violence in the book than I had expected. Alice spends most of the book battling strange beasts and chopping guards down. It was kind of gruesome but very exciting to read about. I thought Robert McKay did a great job with making sure that the action-filled scenes all made sense. It was all brilliantly choreographed. However, I did think that the final battle at the end with the Jabberwock was a bit too long. To me, it seemed to lack a sense of urgency and I felt a little bit disconnected from it. I had a hard time imagining some of the things that were happening and it all just went over my head a little bit. But the rest of the action scenes were very well done.
My other small criticism is that the book didn’t flow as smoothly as I would have liked it to. Some of the chapters ended very abruptly and the transition between some of the chapters weren’t very good. It just felt like we were stopping in the middle of a scene and then picking up where we had left off, in the next chapter. It just broke the flow of the book for me and felt like it was stopping and starting. But other than that, I was happy with how easy the writing was to read.
There are definitely some loose threads, as there should be since it’s a first book in a series. But there are things that I wish had been better resolved within this first book. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing what the next instalment brings.
July 24, 2016
**3.5 stars**
This review was originally posted on my blog Brandi Janee's Bookshelf.
Wonderland is a new take on Alice in Wonderland and the first book in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series. I've never actually read the original Alice in Wonderland (I've only ever watched different movie adaptations) so I wasn't really sure what to expect from this. When the author contacted me about review this book it sounded interesting so I decided to give it a chance.
To be honest, at first I found this really hard to get into and I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish it. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. One of the things I was worried about was Alice's age. Usually when I think of a teenager in a young adult novel, I think of someone that's almost an adult but Alice is on the low end of the spectrum, being only 13. I thought that would be a huge problem when it came to trying to connect with the main character but it actually was like that for the better. She's old enough to know what's going on but still young enough to enjoy the adventure in the whole situation and I really liked that.
The story started picking up for me when Alice got to Wonderland. There was such an interesting take on Wonderland in this book. Besides some of the scenes, I think this was my favorite part. Learning about and exploring Wonderland was such an adventure on it's own. So much happened but I feel like there was still so much we hadn't yet explored.
I also enjoyed that the author was willing to take risks. This story gets really dark in places. There was a lot violence, at least a lot more than what I was expecting. Alice gets into a quite a few fight scenes and in every one of them she comes out on top. Maybe a bit unrealistic seeing as she really didn't have any previous experience fighting with a sword. However each of those fight scenes were engaging and exciting. The subject of prostitution was mentioned a couple times as well as abuse of all kinds within the "royal court" of Wonderland. Those are topics usually avoided in YA novels so it was refreshing to see darker topics brought up.
Like I mentioned before I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. If you are looking for a book with a great adventure, or even if you just want to read a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, I definitely think you should give this book a try.
This review was originally posted on my blog Brandi Janee's Bookshelf.
Wonderland is a new take on Alice in Wonderland and the first book in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series. I've never actually read the original Alice in Wonderland (I've only ever watched different movie adaptations) so I wasn't really sure what to expect from this. When the author contacted me about review this book it sounded interesting so I decided to give it a chance.
To be honest, at first I found this really hard to get into and I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish it. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. One of the things I was worried about was Alice's age. Usually when I think of a teenager in a young adult novel, I think of someone that's almost an adult but Alice is on the low end of the spectrum, being only 13. I thought that would be a huge problem when it came to trying to connect with the main character but it actually was like that for the better. She's old enough to know what's going on but still young enough to enjoy the adventure in the whole situation and I really liked that.
The story started picking up for me when Alice got to Wonderland. There was such an interesting take on Wonderland in this book. Besides some of the scenes, I think this was my favorite part. Learning about and exploring Wonderland was such an adventure on it's own. So much happened but I feel like there was still so much we hadn't yet explored.
I also enjoyed that the author was willing to take risks. This story gets really dark in places. There was a lot violence, at least a lot more than what I was expecting. Alice gets into a quite a few fight scenes and in every one of them she comes out on top. Maybe a bit unrealistic seeing as she really didn't have any previous experience fighting with a sword. However each of those fight scenes were engaging and exciting. The subject of prostitution was mentioned a couple times as well as abuse of all kinds within the "royal court" of Wonderland. Those are topics usually avoided in YA novels so it was refreshing to see darker topics brought up.
Like I mentioned before I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. If you are looking for a book with a great adventure, or even if you just want to read a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, I definitely think you should give this book a try.
September 12, 2015
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or my review in any way.
Loved it! I've read the original Alice in Wonderland, so I was interested in what this sci-fi take on the story would be like... it was amazing. The author contacted me, having looked at my blog, and said it might be something I'd like - I'm happy I agreed!
The story flows beautifully and is always consistent with the original story. As far as world-building goes, fantastic! Loved it! One of my favourite details is the card soldiers. Each card (remember, they serve the Queen of Hearts) has a number, e.g. the two of hearts or the ten of hearts. This number is actually their rank! How amazing is that? So a two is a new recruit, and a ten is a more experienced, senior card. It's a small detail, but you know what they say - the devil is in the detail. I love how McKay really thought about the details and wove the story around it, for me it's one of my favourite aspects of the book.
I loved the sci-fi changes he made! Croquet in space?! Why not? Aliens? Why not indeed! The thing is, you think Alice in Wonderland... yes, it's a wacky story... but with a sci-fi twist? I actually prefer this version to the original. The original story I found very slow, not much happened to excite me - I gave it two stars. This one had me gripped, Alice was always on the go - four stars! Yes, I liked it that much.
The characters in this book were believable and... life-like? Well, as believable and life-like as a caterpillar and bionic hare can be anyway. You could believe the characters existed somewhere out there in space, just waiting to be discovered. You really can imagine a trigger-happy Queen of Hearts, or a poor young girl who's having a grow up before her time (granted, she got what she wished for). I loved McKay's Alice, she's so endearing. She's got a lot of spunk, she isn't shy, and she's exactly like many girls her age - which is another reason I love the book so much! Sometimes I find when authors write about a young character, the character isn't that believable... they're doing/saying things that are more suitable for an older person. That isn't the case with this book, Alice is still innocent in many ways at the end of the book.
The pace of the book was excellent, I never found myself getting bored or wanting to skip pages. The storyline was gripping and intense. I loved the adaptations McKay made to the creatures.
The only reason this story didn't hit five stars is purely because of the genre, not the writing or storyline. I do love a good childrens tale, but I don't think I've ever rated one five stars (not even Narnia!) I loved the Narnia books but the highest I ever rated them was four stars. I'm happy to say that Wonderland, in my eyes, ranks the same quality as C. S. Lewis's Narnia :) I'd love to read the next books in the series and see what Alice does next, I can even see McKay expanding the series beyond what the classic tales say! Maybe even tales from other classic fictional childrens characters with a sci-fi twist.
I'd highly recommend this book to children and young adults, I think it'd be perfect as an exciting bedtime story (read over a few nights) or a tale to be told in a classroom "downtime" session. If you like sci-fi, childrens books, or adventure, this is the book for you!
If you liked my review, please visit my book blog at: http://www.anovelstart.com
Loved it! I've read the original Alice in Wonderland, so I was interested in what this sci-fi take on the story would be like... it was amazing. The author contacted me, having looked at my blog, and said it might be something I'd like - I'm happy I agreed!
The story flows beautifully and is always consistent with the original story. As far as world-building goes, fantastic! Loved it! One of my favourite details is the card soldiers. Each card (remember, they serve the Queen of Hearts) has a number, e.g. the two of hearts or the ten of hearts. This number is actually their rank! How amazing is that? So a two is a new recruit, and a ten is a more experienced, senior card. It's a small detail, but you know what they say - the devil is in the detail. I love how McKay really thought about the details and wove the story around it, for me it's one of my favourite aspects of the book.
I loved the sci-fi changes he made! Croquet in space?! Why not? Aliens? Why not indeed! The thing is, you think Alice in Wonderland... yes, it's a wacky story... but with a sci-fi twist? I actually prefer this version to the original. The original story I found very slow, not much happened to excite me - I gave it two stars. This one had me gripped, Alice was always on the go - four stars! Yes, I liked it that much.
The characters in this book were believable and... life-like? Well, as believable and life-like as a caterpillar and bionic hare can be anyway. You could believe the characters existed somewhere out there in space, just waiting to be discovered. You really can imagine a trigger-happy Queen of Hearts, or a poor young girl who's having a grow up before her time (granted, she got what she wished for). I loved McKay's Alice, she's so endearing. She's got a lot of spunk, she isn't shy, and she's exactly like many girls her age - which is another reason I love the book so much! Sometimes I find when authors write about a young character, the character isn't that believable... they're doing/saying things that are more suitable for an older person. That isn't the case with this book, Alice is still innocent in many ways at the end of the book.
The pace of the book was excellent, I never found myself getting bored or wanting to skip pages. The storyline was gripping and intense. I loved the adaptations McKay made to the creatures.
The only reason this story didn't hit five stars is purely because of the genre, not the writing or storyline. I do love a good childrens tale, but I don't think I've ever rated one five stars (not even Narnia!) I loved the Narnia books but the highest I ever rated them was four stars. I'm happy to say that Wonderland, in my eyes, ranks the same quality as C. S. Lewis's Narnia :) I'd love to read the next books in the series and see what Alice does next, I can even see McKay expanding the series beyond what the classic tales say! Maybe even tales from other classic fictional childrens characters with a sci-fi twist.
I'd highly recommend this book to children and young adults, I think it'd be perfect as an exciting bedtime story (read over a few nights) or a tale to be told in a classroom "downtime" session. If you like sci-fi, childrens books, or adventure, this is the book for you!
If you liked my review, please visit my book blog at: http://www.anovelstart.com
May 24, 2016
Alice. Wonderland. Living Spaceships. Um… Yes, please.
When I saw the cover for Wonderland, my first thought was “Ooo pretty”. Then I read Intergalactic Fairy Tales and almost threw my Kindle with excitement. I love a good retelling especially when it’s set in space and is full of rich characters with science fiction re-imagining’s. (Hello – a living ship shaped like a white rabbit)
“Life just happens, Alice. What makes us special is how we react to it.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
Wonderland is a whimsical tale of thirteen-year-old Alice who unlike the Disney version isn’t just a prim little girl who finds herself in a world of mischief. Wonderland’s Alice is head-strong, imaginative pre-teen who longs to be a pirate and when a mysterious ship lands close to her home, she is whisked away on an adventure she never would have imagined.
“If there was a place that was ripe for pirating, Wonderland was it.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
Every beloved character from Lewis Carroll’s original story makes an appearance - from the white rabbit, to Dee and Dum to the Red Queen to the Mad Hatter (Seamus in this story). If that doesn’t sell you on reading Wonderland, then McKay’s crisp prose and quirky sense of humor will.
“The hat, worn at a jaunty angle, gave him a roguish look. He looked as if he not only knew where Alice kept her stash of candy, but had eaten it three days ago without her noticing.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
The nostalgia is palpable.
I love and I mean L-O-V-E, love McKay’s Alice. Usually I have a hard time connected with the younger characters in YA, but Alice thrust me back to my own childhood and I had a chance to see the world again through the eyes of a pre-teen – and it was marvelous. Book characters – when written correctly – are designed to make you connect and McKay was successful. It wasn’t just Alice - honestly, every character was wonderful. They had depth that made them feel real to be.
“Alice scowled at them both. She loved her pirate books like nothing else she owned. They were dog-eared and the bindings were falling apart from the number of times she read them. There was nothing in the world she could imagine she wanted to be more than a pirate” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
Wonderland is vividly described and wonderfully portrayed through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old girl. I really enjoyed reading her innocence as she traveled through the darker parts of wonderland. There was something magical about a futuristic world full of bright lights and every imaginable sin available for its visitors.
“There was something really off about a world where nobody commented on a girl covered in blood.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
All I have to say about Wonderland is – PICK UP THIS BOOK NOW! It is brilliant and an easy, steady-paced read.
“She supposed little girls could be an awful lot of trouble after all.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
If you like young heroines who break out of their molds, living spaceships, a bright world full of adventure, characters who you can’t help but love, and a love story between friends – then this is the right book for you!
When I saw the cover for Wonderland, my first thought was “Ooo pretty”. Then I read Intergalactic Fairy Tales and almost threw my Kindle with excitement. I love a good retelling especially when it’s set in space and is full of rich characters with science fiction re-imagining’s. (Hello – a living ship shaped like a white rabbit)
“Life just happens, Alice. What makes us special is how we react to it.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
Wonderland is a whimsical tale of thirteen-year-old Alice who unlike the Disney version isn’t just a prim little girl who finds herself in a world of mischief. Wonderland’s Alice is head-strong, imaginative pre-teen who longs to be a pirate and when a mysterious ship lands close to her home, she is whisked away on an adventure she never would have imagined.
“If there was a place that was ripe for pirating, Wonderland was it.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
Every beloved character from Lewis Carroll’s original story makes an appearance - from the white rabbit, to Dee and Dum to the Red Queen to the Mad Hatter (Seamus in this story). If that doesn’t sell you on reading Wonderland, then McKay’s crisp prose and quirky sense of humor will.
“The hat, worn at a jaunty angle, gave him a roguish look. He looked as if he not only knew where Alice kept her stash of candy, but had eaten it three days ago without her noticing.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
The nostalgia is palpable.
I love and I mean L-O-V-E, love McKay’s Alice. Usually I have a hard time connected with the younger characters in YA, but Alice thrust me back to my own childhood and I had a chance to see the world again through the eyes of a pre-teen – and it was marvelous. Book characters – when written correctly – are designed to make you connect and McKay was successful. It wasn’t just Alice - honestly, every character was wonderful. They had depth that made them feel real to be.
“Alice scowled at them both. She loved her pirate books like nothing else she owned. They were dog-eared and the bindings were falling apart from the number of times she read them. There was nothing in the world she could imagine she wanted to be more than a pirate” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
Wonderland is vividly described and wonderfully portrayed through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old girl. I really enjoyed reading her innocence as she traveled through the darker parts of wonderland. There was something magical about a futuristic world full of bright lights and every imaginable sin available for its visitors.
“There was something really off about a world where nobody commented on a girl covered in blood.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
All I have to say about Wonderland is – PICK UP THIS BOOK NOW! It is brilliant and an easy, steady-paced read.
“She supposed little girls could be an awful lot of trouble after all.” – Wonderland, Robert McKay
If you like young heroines who break out of their molds, living spaceships, a bright world full of adventure, characters who you can’t help but love, and a love story between friends – then this is the right book for you!
March 11, 2016
Originally posted at Tea & Titles
A copy of this book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not the biggest fan of Alice in Wonderland, at least in book form. I know to some people that would be mortal sin, but I grew up watching the Disney film and then the Tim Burton version—a mix of those is how I imagined the book to be, but I was disappointed. My point is, going into Wonderland I was a little nervous. I absolutely love sci fi books, but the Alice side of things worried me. As you’re about to see, I had no reason to worry.
Firstly, let’s talk about the sci fi aspect. I don’t know what it is, but lately I’ve been in a massive space kick. I think it had something to do with Illuminae, and seeing The Force Awakens—whatever it is, this was exactly the book I was looking for. I loved how the characters from the original got turned into all sorts of science fiction-y things, or were changed by the different setting in other ways. I honestly wish the original Alice was set in space, because this was just so much fun. There were some really great lines and moments that had me laughing out loud, and there was a particular moment that might have made me tear up. Maybe. (Absolutely.)
Like I mentioned, the characters were all a little different from the original. It’s interesting that the only characters I liked from the original were still my favourite in this—the Chesire Cat and the Mad Hatter, of course, but for different reasons. I definitely liked Alice a whole lot more in this—she still has that childish aspect to her, but I didn’t find her half as annoying as the original Alice. I loved the character, Lyla—she was incredible, and just so much fun to read about. I’d like a whole book about Lyla, please and thank you!
Is Lewis Carroll going to haunt me if I say I think I enjoyed this more than the original? Is a hoard of angry fans going to attack me? The story is different from the original so you can’t really compare, but I think the sci fi element was just more ‘me’ than the weird, wacky world from the original novel. Maybe readers who love the original won’t like this, or maybe they would. Personally, I prefer this one.
Thank you to Robert McKay for sending me a copy of Wonderland to review.
A copy of this book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not the biggest fan of Alice in Wonderland, at least in book form. I know to some people that would be mortal sin, but I grew up watching the Disney film and then the Tim Burton version—a mix of those is how I imagined the book to be, but I was disappointed. My point is, going into Wonderland I was a little nervous. I absolutely love sci fi books, but the Alice side of things worried me. As you’re about to see, I had no reason to worry.
Firstly, let’s talk about the sci fi aspect. I don’t know what it is, but lately I’ve been in a massive space kick. I think it had something to do with Illuminae, and seeing The Force Awakens—whatever it is, this was exactly the book I was looking for. I loved how the characters from the original got turned into all sorts of science fiction-y things, or were changed by the different setting in other ways. I honestly wish the original Alice was set in space, because this was just so much fun. There were some really great lines and moments that had me laughing out loud, and there was a particular moment that might have made me tear up. Maybe. (Absolutely.)
Like I mentioned, the characters were all a little different from the original. It’s interesting that the only characters I liked from the original were still my favourite in this—the Chesire Cat and the Mad Hatter, of course, but for different reasons. I definitely liked Alice a whole lot more in this—she still has that childish aspect to her, but I didn’t find her half as annoying as the original Alice. I loved the character, Lyla—she was incredible, and just so much fun to read about. I’d like a whole book about Lyla, please and thank you!
Is Lewis Carroll going to haunt me if I say I think I enjoyed this more than the original? Is a hoard of angry fans going to attack me? The story is different from the original so you can’t really compare, but I think the sci fi element was just more ‘me’ than the weird, wacky world from the original novel. Maybe readers who love the original won’t like this, or maybe they would. Personally, I prefer this one.
Thank you to Robert McKay for sending me a copy of Wonderland to review.
May 4, 2016
I'm a big fan of fairy tale retellings, especially those which venture into a realm with completely different twists.
This is the first in a series of Intergalactic tales. There are many elements taken directly from the original fairy tale, but still, so many new aspects are added and switched in, making it a completely new tale of its own.
Alice is a pirate...or dreams of becoming one and acts this out in her games of pretend, much to her parents' despair. When she discovers a spaceship, who happens to be alive, and sneaks aboard, her adventures in Wonderland begin.
This is an enjoyable read. It's impossible to know what will happen next, and there are so many delicious oddities and uncertainties on this foreign planet. The Alice in this story isn't a weak, little girl, but has a little spunk. She's definitely not the type to let people walk all over her...and she's clever, which turns out to be one of her greatest assets. Her decisions are for the most part understandable, and it's easy to cheer for her as she comes up against the Queen of Hearts.
Action runs non-stop in these pages, as Alice runs from one difficult situation into the next. The Queen of Hearts is despicable, as she should be, and although her actions and intentions don't always make sense, that's completely fine because she is a bit off of her rocker. The danger is always tangible as Alice goes from one vibrant place to the next, each filled with curious details, but often times familiar enough so as not to completely lose track.
The only thing which bothered me in this book is Alice's age. She's supposedly a teenager, but her character often comes across younger and more child like, placing her, in my opinion, in a solid book for middle graders. But, there are several violent scenes and other aspects, which make this inappropriate for a younger audience. It's an enjoyable read, but I'm not sure which age group to recommend it to.
Summed up, this was an enjoyable read. The placing of Alice into a galactic world comes over almost seamlessly and creates a vivid place, worthy of all the craziness Wonderland harbors. Anyone who loves fairy tale retellings will enjoy diving into this world.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2015
Alice is an extremely imaginative teenage girl who knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up--a space pirate. And despite her mother's attempts to make her "grow up" and put an end to her "silliness," she's not about to let that dream go. One night when she hears something out in the garden, her investigation leads her right into her fantasy--there's a spaceship hers for the taking and she doesn't hesitate to claim it as her own. But Alice quickly finds herself on an adventure she didn't anticipate--one that helps her learn more about the world, its dangers, and herself that she ever thought possible. And the greatest lesson might be that she doesn't have to give up the things that bring her joy in growing up and becoming responsible. In fact, those things might all go together far better than she ever dreamed.
I've mentioned before in my reviews that I am definitely one who loves well-written re-tellings of classic stories. And this is definitely a book I would put into that category. Alice is a particularly favorite story of mine, and I enjoy seeing different takes on it--something I think we're going to see more of throughout this year since it is the 150th anniversary of the original publication.
What's here, though, is a science fiction, possibly futuristic reimagining of the text that doesn't lose any of the whimsy present in the original, more fantasy-focused setting. The storyline very closely resembles the original and, as such, it's easy to draw the connections and see where things are headed. But there are enough differences and additions by the author, that it does come across as a unique work with a compelling story--one that I will say this reader particularly enjoyed.
Because of the age of the character and the story, I'd say this falls into young adult, but it's dark and there's violence (what else would one expect from a reimagining of Alice's story?), so it may not be appropriate for everyone in that age group. But it's also one that I think many adults could enjoy, too.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
I've mentioned before in my reviews that I am definitely one who loves well-written re-tellings of classic stories. And this is definitely a book I would put into that category. Alice is a particularly favorite story of mine, and I enjoy seeing different takes on it--something I think we're going to see more of throughout this year since it is the 150th anniversary of the original publication.
What's here, though, is a science fiction, possibly futuristic reimagining of the text that doesn't lose any of the whimsy present in the original, more fantasy-focused setting. The storyline very closely resembles the original and, as such, it's easy to draw the connections and see where things are headed. But there are enough differences and additions by the author, that it does come across as a unique work with a compelling story--one that I will say this reader particularly enjoyed.
Because of the age of the character and the story, I'd say this falls into young adult, but it's dark and there's violence (what else would one expect from a reimagining of Alice's story?), so it may not be appropriate for everyone in that age group. But it's also one that I think many adults could enjoy, too.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
November 11, 2015
Review can also be found at My Midnight Musing
I received a copy of the eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars. I’m a big fan of fairy-tale retellings and Alice in Wonderland is one of my all time favourites so naturally I was very excited about this book. This is the first installment in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series and I must say it is a solid debut. This book takes the characters and the quirky components that we know and love in Alice in wonderland and places them in outer space. At first I was nervous about the book and thought that the story might be a bit too similar to Alice in Wonderland but that fear was quickly dispelled as there are many elements that highlighted the uniqueness of this world.
I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to connect with Alice due to her young age and at times I had to remind myself that she is only thirteen years old when she did something that completely irritated me. In spite of this, I did come to enjoy Alice as a character. She’s imaginative and an energetic teenager who dreams to be a pirate and longs for adventure and along the way she meets and array of quirky characters. As well as Alice, we are also acquainted with other well known characters from the tale and I loved how involved they were in the progression of the plot.
There’s a lot of action to be found in this book and it was a lot darker than I expected it to be. McKay did a great job at crafting the action sequences, which were both gruesome and exciting and made you feel like you were right there in the middle of it all.
My main criticism would be that at times I felt that some of the chapter ended quite abruptly which halted the pace and flow of the story. This made the story feel a bit choppy at times.
However, the writing was very easy to follow and combined with the interesting characters and the fast paced action, this is without a doubt a fun, exciting adventure.
I received a copy of the eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars. I’m a big fan of fairy-tale retellings and Alice in Wonderland is one of my all time favourites so naturally I was very excited about this book. This is the first installment in the Intergalactic Fairy Tales series and I must say it is a solid debut. This book takes the characters and the quirky components that we know and love in Alice in wonderland and places them in outer space. At first I was nervous about the book and thought that the story might be a bit too similar to Alice in Wonderland but that fear was quickly dispelled as there are many elements that highlighted the uniqueness of this world.
I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to connect with Alice due to her young age and at times I had to remind myself that she is only thirteen years old when she did something that completely irritated me. In spite of this, I did come to enjoy Alice as a character. She’s imaginative and an energetic teenager who dreams to be a pirate and longs for adventure and along the way she meets and array of quirky characters. As well as Alice, we are also acquainted with other well known characters from the tale and I loved how involved they were in the progression of the plot.
There’s a lot of action to be found in this book and it was a lot darker than I expected it to be. McKay did a great job at crafting the action sequences, which were both gruesome and exciting and made you feel like you were right there in the middle of it all.
My main criticism would be that at times I felt that some of the chapter ended quite abruptly which halted the pace and flow of the story. This made the story feel a bit choppy at times.
However, the writing was very easy to follow and combined with the interesting characters and the fast paced action, this is without a doubt a fun, exciting adventure.
September 21, 2015
original review @ JC's Book Haven.
“You are thirteen years old, Alice. You are entirely too old to be playing silly games like this on the living room furniture.” Her mother shooed her off her forecastle chair so that she could put it back in its proper place. “Right, James?”
“Right,” said Alice’s father, sitting up straight in his seat and putting on his stern face. “Pickle, you’re getting older now, it’s time to put away childish games like playing pirate.”
“And no more silly nicknames either,” said her mother, stepping over and taking the stick Alice had been using as her sword. She threw it casually into the lit fireplace. Alice watched it burn forlornly. “Right, you’ll be an adult soon enough, P— Alice. It’s time to learn how to behave like one.”
The Good
Retelling a fairy tale is really hit or miss for me. I really love most the originals so to change one drastically you really have to do a good job for me to enjoy. Wonderland did just that. Alice is a fantastic protagonist. She has that amazing childlike imagination while at the same time being naive to sarcasm. The story has a good pace with some fun action scenes. I love how the original Wonderland secondary characters were represented in this sci fi setting.
The Bad
While I enjoyed the overall pace of the story, there were a few scene's that felt a bit rushed. But it's a small gripe if you wish to even call it a gripe.
Conclusion
If you like Alice in wonderland and sci-fi books then you will love this book. If you like one or the other you'll still enjoy it as it really fits with both fandoms. The characters are amazing, the adventure is quite the ride and if you want a new hero from the normal adult male or female Alice is for you. I found myself laughing at times and even at one point quite heart broken. I can't wait for book two.
“You are thirteen years old, Alice. You are entirely too old to be playing silly games like this on the living room furniture.” Her mother shooed her off her forecastle chair so that she could put it back in its proper place. “Right, James?”
“Right,” said Alice’s father, sitting up straight in his seat and putting on his stern face. “Pickle, you’re getting older now, it’s time to put away childish games like playing pirate.”
“And no more silly nicknames either,” said her mother, stepping over and taking the stick Alice had been using as her sword. She threw it casually into the lit fireplace. Alice watched it burn forlornly. “Right, you’ll be an adult soon enough, P— Alice. It’s time to learn how to behave like one.”
The Good
Retelling a fairy tale is really hit or miss for me. I really love most the originals so to change one drastically you really have to do a good job for me to enjoy. Wonderland did just that. Alice is a fantastic protagonist. She has that amazing childlike imagination while at the same time being naive to sarcasm. The story has a good pace with some fun action scenes. I love how the original Wonderland secondary characters were represented in this sci fi setting.
The Bad
While I enjoyed the overall pace of the story, there were a few scene's that felt a bit rushed. But it's a small gripe if you wish to even call it a gripe.
Conclusion
If you like Alice in wonderland and sci-fi books then you will love this book. If you like one or the other you'll still enjoy it as it really fits with both fandoms. The characters are amazing, the adventure is quite the ride and if you want a new hero from the normal adult male or female Alice is for you. I found myself laughing at times and even at one point quite heart broken. I can't wait for book two.
January 4, 2016
When I started this book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The first quarter or so is a little slow and awkward, where you aren't sure how old Alice is (even later, she has a tendency to act like an 8 year old instead of 13). The minimal action feels rather predictable initially as well.
However, after that little bit of a hump, then the story really starts rolling! You aren't annoyed so much by Alice. You follow her and hope she's going to get out of these cascading messes! You start getting really fascinated with these versions of the classic Wonderland characters (I never thought I'd have so much love for Lyla the dormouse, Cheshire, and Tweedle Dum & Teedle Dee!). And the action feels just right, with enough pauses to balance out when they gotta figure out a plan. Alice matures in learning how to cope with people, but not to the extent where she loses who she is at heart (an awesome space pirate captain!).
The style of sci fi is lovely, where you can really imagine a neon and shining world that would match the many stylistic countryside versions of Wonderland. The technology has quite a bit of a fantastical feel so it's both sci fi and true Madness. I used to enjoy the Wonderland mythos a fair amount, but I must say I think McKay did such an excellent job, that I think I prefer his version!
There are little parts here and there that I had to wonder if it's really a young adult book, or actually for older young adults, but nothing graphic or detailed. I am quite curious about the next part, based on the setup at the end of this novel. There's so much room for growth, once it reaches a point where it's not so much going to be led by the original story.
Read more reviews on my blog, Beyond the Back Cover
However, after that little bit of a hump, then the story really starts rolling! You aren't annoyed so much by Alice. You follow her and hope she's going to get out of these cascading messes! You start getting really fascinated with these versions of the classic Wonderland characters (I never thought I'd have so much love for Lyla the dormouse, Cheshire, and Tweedle Dum & Teedle Dee!). And the action feels just right, with enough pauses to balance out when they gotta figure out a plan. Alice matures in learning how to cope with people, but not to the extent where she loses who she is at heart (an awesome space pirate captain!).
The style of sci fi is lovely, where you can really imagine a neon and shining world that would match the many stylistic countryside versions of Wonderland. The technology has quite a bit of a fantastical feel so it's both sci fi and true Madness. I used to enjoy the Wonderland mythos a fair amount, but I must say I think McKay did such an excellent job, that I think I prefer his version!
There are little parts here and there that I had to wonder if it's really a young adult book, or actually for older young adults, but nothing graphic or detailed. I am quite curious about the next part, based on the setup at the end of this novel. There's so much room for growth, once it reaches a point where it's not so much going to be led by the original story.
Read more reviews on my blog, Beyond the Back Cover
February 22, 2016
It is a different take on Alice in Wonderland. You first get to meet the lovely Alice. A young tween looking to be a pirate. She enjoys everything about being pirate so when a ship looking like White Rabbit comes near her house, she decides to make it her own. It is pirate law after all. She believes she is becoming a space pirate when she lands on the planet Wonderland. Everything is mad. There is a beheading queen, a caterpillar, a mad hatter, and a Jabberwock.
I have always been a fan of Alice in Wonderland retelling. It followed the story of Alice pretty closely in it's own way. All the major players were there. This one did not disappoint. I loved the setting of Nedra which is similar to Earth. I loved of Wonderland. I liked the author's unique twist of making it unsavory planet covered in neon. It was easy to picture. My favorite character was Alice of course. She won my heart when said "I'm called, Give-me-my-money". I think I may have liked this Alice better because she wasn't as whiny as the original. She was fun, full of adventure and self aware. My second favorite character Lyla. She was a big personality in small body. I just adored her. I thought she was fun and brave. It was hard to say but all the characters really grow on you. I even liked the Queen. Overall this was fast paced retelling of classic tale. I would recommend it to all Alice fans out there.
I have always been a fan of Alice in Wonderland retelling. It followed the story of Alice pretty closely in it's own way. All the major players were there. This one did not disappoint. I loved the setting of Nedra which is similar to Earth. I loved of Wonderland. I liked the author's unique twist of making it unsavory planet covered in neon. It was easy to picture. My favorite character was Alice of course. She won my heart when said "I'm called, Give-me-my-money". I think I may have liked this Alice better because she wasn't as whiny as the original. She was fun, full of adventure and self aware. My second favorite character Lyla. She was a big personality in small body. I just adored her. I thought she was fun and brave. It was hard to say but all the characters really grow on you. I even liked the Queen. Overall this was fast paced retelling of classic tale. I would recommend it to all Alice fans out there.
April 24, 2016
Disclaimer: I requested the ebook from Xpresso Book Tours for review purpose.
I picked up the book after i read Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland. To be honest, i didn’t like the original one and i choose this book just to gave a chance one more time. The book was really slow for me at the beginning, and because of that i put it down so many times.
The story was definitely better than the original. I love adventure story and this is definitely an adventure. It was much darker than I expected, but it was good. The downside for me is that I don’t really like Alice as a character. I found her a little bit annoying at times, but she’s loyal to her friends. I love Seamus, he’s the mad hatter in this book. I pictured him as a very unique and likeable character. The other one that I like is Cheshire Cat, he’s sneaky and I’m starting to understand why everyone love him.
The other character that I love is Lyla. She has beautiful friendship with Alice and I just love the idea that these two girl have strong bond within them. The Queen was evil and hateful, but nothing interest me more than that. This is the 1st book in the series and I’m not really sure about continuing to the 2nd book.
I picked up the book after i read Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland. To be honest, i didn’t like the original one and i choose this book just to gave a chance one more time. The book was really slow for me at the beginning, and because of that i put it down so many times.
The story was definitely better than the original. I love adventure story and this is definitely an adventure. It was much darker than I expected, but it was good. The downside for me is that I don’t really like Alice as a character. I found her a little bit annoying at times, but she’s loyal to her friends. I love Seamus, he’s the mad hatter in this book. I pictured him as a very unique and likeable character. The other one that I like is Cheshire Cat, he’s sneaky and I’m starting to understand why everyone love him.
The other character that I love is Lyla. She has beautiful friendship with Alice and I just love the idea that these two girl have strong bond within them. The Queen was evil and hateful, but nothing interest me more than that. This is the 1st book in the series and I’m not really sure about continuing to the 2nd book.
March 7, 2016
Wonderland is futuristic re-telling of 'Alice in Wonderland' that use all the classical elements and characters from the original book to create a new story. Unfortunately, the book isn't as original or fresh as I would have liked but still is an entertaining story.
Alice is a teenage girl who wants to be a pirate but her parents are aginst all her crazy ideas. One day she follows a strange rabbit and ends up in a new world. It's a story full of adventures and action with funny characters and fast scenes. If you have read the original one you will find many similarities with this story. I have to say that the writing is very good.
What is new in this book is the setting and the different scenarios. This time, Alice travels in spaceships and visits other planets. The descriptions are quite colorful and it's easy to imagine each new place. The dialogues have the essence of the classical story and the characters are pretty much the same.
Overall, if you are a fan of 'Alice in Wonderland' and you like re-tellings you should read this one.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
Alice is a teenage girl who wants to be a pirate but her parents are aginst all her crazy ideas. One day she follows a strange rabbit and ends up in a new world. It's a story full of adventures and action with funny characters and fast scenes. If you have read the original one you will find many similarities with this story. I have to say that the writing is very good.
What is new in this book is the setting and the different scenarios. This time, Alice travels in spaceships and visits other planets. The descriptions are quite colorful and it's easy to imagine each new place. The dialogues have the essence of the classical story and the characters are pretty much the same.
Overall, if you are a fan of 'Alice in Wonderland' and you like re-tellings you should read this one.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***
February 1, 2017
This book had an interesting take on the fairy tale of Alice in Wonderland. I really liked most of the characters and the setting, but the plot was just not really that exciting. I didn't really connect with Alice's character, mostly because she seemed a bit dumb and then way too good at being the hero. I get that it's a coming of age story, but i would have liked it better with an adult Alice and some other form of a struggle. I liked all of the other characters, even the Queen.
There wasn't that much sci-fi stuff in the story, like crazy technology or anything and that was disappointing. Sure there was spaceships and interplanetary travel but there were no crazy gadgets or anything else to spice up the story.
Overall 3 out of 5 stars.
There wasn't that much sci-fi stuff in the story, like crazy technology or anything and that was disappointing. Sure there was spaceships and interplanetary travel but there were no crazy gadgets or anything else to spice up the story.
Overall 3 out of 5 stars.
September 7, 2015
I was hesitant to pick this up since the narrator is a 13 year old girl and usually I find them very annoying and whiny, but WOW was I wrong! Alice was kick-ass and fearless, someone I wish I had been when I was that young. I almost wish McKay had made her a least 16 since she seemed so old and wise.
The writing was quick and simple, with breathtaking fighting scenes. Those were probably my favorite parts of the story! I loved Snicker-Snack and how special it was. The supporting characters were wonderful too, all adding their own personal spunk to the storyline.
Overall, this was a fun first book and I can't wait to see what Robert has in store for these characters in the next book!
The writing was quick and simple, with breathtaking fighting scenes. Those were probably my favorite parts of the story! I loved Snicker-Snack and how special it was. The supporting characters were wonderful too, all adding their own personal spunk to the storyline.
Overall, this was a fun first book and I can't wait to see what Robert has in store for these characters in the next book!
May 11, 2016
"If this is your idea of a dream, I'd hate to see your version of a bloody nightmare" So starts the tale of Alice and her dream of wanting to be a pirate and not the demure young lady her folks like. After an argument she off into the night and finds herself off on a grand adventure. This retelling of Alice in Wonderland has echoes of the original scattered throughout which makes the story quite enjoyable i like the concept of Alice taking off into space in a ship rather then her tumbling down a hole. If your fan of wonderland you will quite enjoy this retelling.
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