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The Underground #2
Chasing Cats
Sometimes the smallest debt comes with the highest price.
Kat went down the rabbit hole and came out changed. Now everyone wants something from her and she is hard pressed to give in to any of them.
Only the irresistibly mysterious Cheshire Cat seems to be on her side. But even he has secrets of his own. Secrets that cause him to show up beaten and bloody on her doorstep.
Dancing around lost friends and determined ex-lovers will be a feat on its own. Doing it and staying sane? Impossible.
Warning: For mature readers.
Kat went down the rabbit hole and came out changed. Now everyone wants something from her and she is hard pressed to give in to any of them.
Only the irresistibly mysterious Cheshire Cat seems to be on her side. But even he has secrets of his own. Secrets that cause him to show up beaten and bloody on her doorstep.
Dancing around lost friends and determined ex-lovers will be a feat on its own. Doing it and staying sane? Impossible.
Warning: For mature readers.
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About the author
Erin Bedford
110 books949 followersErin Bedford is an otaku, recovering coffee addict, and Legend of Zelda fanatic. Her brain is so full of stories that need to be told that she must get them out or explode into a million screaming chibis. Obsessed with fairy tales and bad boys, she hasn’t found a story she can’t twist to match her deviant mind full of innuendos, snarky humor, and dream guys.
On the outside, she’s a work from home mom and bookbinger. One the inside, she’s a thirteen-year-old boy screaming to get out and tell you the pervy joke they found online. As an ex-computer programmer, she dreams of one day combining her love for writing and college credits to make the ultimate video game!
Until then, when she’s not writing, Erin is devouring as many books as possible on her quest to have the biggest book gut of all time. She’s written over thirty books, ranging from paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and even scifi romance.
Also, third person is really weird when writing about yourself. Just putting that out there.
Come chat me up!
www.erinbedford.com
Facebook.com/erinrbedford
twitter.com/erin_bedford
Don’t forget to follow me on Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
On the outside, she’s a work from home mom and bookbinger. One the inside, she’s a thirteen-year-old boy screaming to get out and tell you the pervy joke they found online. As an ex-computer programmer, she dreams of one day combining her love for writing and college credits to make the ultimate video game!
Until then, when she’s not writing, Erin is devouring as many books as possible on her quest to have the biggest book gut of all time. She’s written over thirty books, ranging from paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and even scifi romance.
Also, third person is really weird when writing about yourself. Just putting that out there.
Come chat me up!
www.erinbedford.com
Facebook.com/erinrbedford
twitter.com/erin_bedford
Don’t forget to follow me on Goodreads, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
August 24, 2016
I enjoyed this book on the whole, but I have a few reservations. It's premise, that Alice's wonderland was really faery, is quite clever and allows the author to pull together all sorts of characters. The main character, being the human re-incarnation of a fae princess, has good reason to be seriously conflicted. Her past is threatening to take control of her present, so while her dithering is sometimes irritating, it is understandable. Some of the supporting characters are quite entertaining, especially the Cheshire Cat and Mrs. Jenkins. The story is told in a first person point of view, which gives rise to my main complaint, which admittedly might be a selling point for other readers: it is extremely and unrelentingly colloquial in its language. Not offensive, just -- loose. Inexact. Less than careful about grammar. So if that bugs you, this is probably not your cup of tea. If you enjoy that style, this could be the book, or rather the series, for you. I would recommend reading Chasing Rabbits first, though. And just for the record, I will probably read the next one when it comes out, just to see what happens next.
March 19, 2020
Yesterday I read a Wonderland based book that didn't really excite me, so I was very eager to return to this world, to a version of Wonderland I did like, to a story I was invested in, to characters I started to care about. I have to admit that I had to swallow a little when I discovered that there was not gonna be that much Wonderland in this installment, but that doesn't mean I didn't like the book in the end. On the contrary!
Not that many others, once they invented an amazing and exciting world, take the time to show the impact visiting such world and discovering things about yourself has on daily life. What is it like to be with your family? To go to work every day? To cook your own food and watch reality tv? Bedford does it and she also does it very well.
Although Kat tries her very best to continue her normal life like nothing has happened, Wonderland refuses to let her go. Loads of characters come to visit her, some with good and some with less good intentions. It's really fun to see all those characters, out of their usual habitat, in our world. It's even more fun to see Kat and Chess trying to come up with ways to hide the Wonderland world for humanity.
There's not that much going on plotwise and it's in a way clearly an in between book, but I personally didn't really mind that. The development of the characters, their connections, their relationships and their feelings is interesting enough. Just like it was kinda nice to see more of Kat's life before Wonderland. I can imagine that at some point Kat is gonna leave this world behind and this book is quite clearly serving as the foundation for that choice. We know what she's leaving behind and although there are parts she's gonna miss, it's also clear that her life is not that wonderful.
However, the end promises a really exciting next book and I can't wait to see Kat more involved with Wonderland politics and grow into her powers even more.
Not that many others, once they invented an amazing and exciting world, take the time to show the impact visiting such world and discovering things about yourself has on daily life. What is it like to be with your family? To go to work every day? To cook your own food and watch reality tv? Bedford does it and she also does it very well.
Although Kat tries her very best to continue her normal life like nothing has happened, Wonderland refuses to let her go. Loads of characters come to visit her, some with good and some with less good intentions. It's really fun to see all those characters, out of their usual habitat, in our world. It's even more fun to see Kat and Chess trying to come up with ways to hide the Wonderland world for humanity.
There's not that much going on plotwise and it's in a way clearly an in between book, but I personally didn't really mind that. The development of the characters, their connections, their relationships and their feelings is interesting enough. Just like it was kinda nice to see more of Kat's life before Wonderland. I can imagine that at some point Kat is gonna leave this world behind and this book is quite clearly serving as the foundation for that choice. We know what she's leaving behind and although there are parts she's gonna miss, it's also clear that her life is not that wonderful.
However, the end promises a really exciting next book and I can't wait to see Kat more involved with Wonderland politics and grow into her powers even more.
September 12, 2016
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review, I am a huge huge fan of Erin Bedford's books.
I only recently read the first book and loved that so i had no doubt that i would love the second book. But WOW, this is such an amazing book! I am seriously hooked in this world that is the authors imagination, i am wowed by how this idea came about! If you have picked up this book but have not read the first book then this probably wont make a lot of sense, it starts right after the first one ends so to get a full understanding of what is going on and the backstory it is a must to read Chasing Rabbits.
I absolutely loved where this story went, as with the first book it is filled with action, adventure and a magical realm and magical beings out of imagination. It is an addictive and compelling read that is a serious page turner, you do find yourself turning page after page just to find out what surprises going to be round the next corner.
I loved Kat even more in this book, she is really coming into herself, although she is still confused by a lot of things her strength and confidence doesn't stop growing. You can see her becoming the Princess others have named her. I found myself kinda rooting for Chess, there is something so endearing about him and i could read about his exploits all day.
This is a serious must read and i cant wait to see where this story will be taken, i loved loved loved this!
I only recently read the first book and loved that so i had no doubt that i would love the second book. But WOW, this is such an amazing book! I am seriously hooked in this world that is the authors imagination, i am wowed by how this idea came about! If you have picked up this book but have not read the first book then this probably wont make a lot of sense, it starts right after the first one ends so to get a full understanding of what is going on and the backstory it is a must to read Chasing Rabbits.
I absolutely loved where this story went, as with the first book it is filled with action, adventure and a magical realm and magical beings out of imagination. It is an addictive and compelling read that is a serious page turner, you do find yourself turning page after page just to find out what surprises going to be round the next corner.
I loved Kat even more in this book, she is really coming into herself, although she is still confused by a lot of things her strength and confidence doesn't stop growing. You can see her becoming the Princess others have named her. I found myself kinda rooting for Chess, there is something so endearing about him and i could read about his exploits all day.
This is a serious must read and i cant wait to see where this story will be taken, i loved loved loved this!
September 4, 2016
Received this ARC free for an honest review. This book is the second in it's series and it is a better read than the first, for the reasons stated in my review of 'Chasing Rabbits' - Book #1, in that the author was setting up the series' world and felt the need to get us aquatinted with her story versus the beloved 'Alice in Wonderland' novel that we're use to. Chasing Cats is fun, sexy, and thrilling!
August 18, 2020
Well I loved book one but I think I loved book two even more! Carrying on from book one we find our heroine back in the real world but she has come back changed! It’s a great second book with more action packed adventure, more secrets and betrayals, more romance and a certain Cheshire Cat whom keeps popping up! Can’t wait to read book 3!
June 20, 2021
I had mixed feelings about the first book. The second book is going to be the last one for me in this series. MC continues to be annoying. The plot seems seriously bogged down. Poor grammar and misused words are far too frequent. Some of the mistakes deserve a star for originality - "interruptive dance" (I guess that was meant to be interpretive dance); "extricated hairdo" (intricate, maybe).
I love Chess as a character but that's not enough.
I love Chess as a character but that's not enough.
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October 5, 2016Kat returned from the Fae realm and is now back in the human world again. Her hair and eye color changed and her memories of Lynne's soul are coming back. Together with these memories her magic is returning as well. Kat's magic resurfaces when she is feeling anxious or angry. She's trying to stay sane in the human world with her human family while her Fae mother also wants her home. Dorian, a prince Kat has become close to on her journey, is worried that Kat might not be safe right now with Alice on the loose.
It's weird for Kat to have memories of her love for Dorian, knowing that they are from another lifetime. Kat has feelings for both the irresistible Cheshire Cat and for the Unseelie Prince, Dorian. She doesn't have a close bond with her mothers and because of this she struggles with her emotions even more. Kat is a typical teenager and can be stubborn at times. She can also be indecisive about her abilities. Dorian still sees Kat as his fiancé and is not responding well to her feelings for someone else. How will this love triangle evolve?
In the meantime things have taken a turn for the worse in the Underground. The shadows have found a way to take matters into their own hands. Fae are disappearing one at a time. Kat needs to become the princess everybody thinks she could be. She has to make good on the promises she's made before and develop her skills as a faerie royal.
I loved the original Alice in Wonderland stories very much and I was really curious when I started reading Chasing Rabbits and now Chasing Cats. Erin Bedford has turned Lewis Carroll's idea into something adventurous and has created a world with a lot of madness. She kept enough of the original story intact and gave it her own twist, which takes Chasing Cats to the next level. She manages to make the Cheshire Cat hot and he feels like a real person. I liked how the characters evolve very much and adored Mop and Trip, cute animals from the Underground world. They are both good friends of Kat and I found them endearing. Erin Bedford knows how to write a magical story and definitely managed to enchant me. I can't wait to start reading the next book in this series, Chasing Princes, which is scheduled to be released in December 2016.
I recommend reading the books in the The Underground series in chronological order to fully understand the story.
It's weird for Kat to have memories of her love for Dorian, knowing that they are from another lifetime. Kat has feelings for both the irresistible Cheshire Cat and for the Unseelie Prince, Dorian. She doesn't have a close bond with her mothers and because of this she struggles with her emotions even more. Kat is a typical teenager and can be stubborn at times. She can also be indecisive about her abilities. Dorian still sees Kat as his fiancé and is not responding well to her feelings for someone else. How will this love triangle evolve?
In the meantime things have taken a turn for the worse in the Underground. The shadows have found a way to take matters into their own hands. Fae are disappearing one at a time. Kat needs to become the princess everybody thinks she could be. She has to make good on the promises she's made before and develop her skills as a faerie royal.
I loved the original Alice in Wonderland stories very much and I was really curious when I started reading Chasing Rabbits and now Chasing Cats. Erin Bedford has turned Lewis Carroll's idea into something adventurous and has created a world with a lot of madness. She kept enough of the original story intact and gave it her own twist, which takes Chasing Cats to the next level. She manages to make the Cheshire Cat hot and he feels like a real person. I liked how the characters evolve very much and adored Mop and Trip, cute animals from the Underground world. They are both good friends of Kat and I found them endearing. Erin Bedford knows how to write a magical story and definitely managed to enchant me. I can't wait to start reading the next book in this series, Chasing Princes, which is scheduled to be released in December 2016.
I recommend reading the books in the The Underground series in chronological order to fully understand the story.
January 13, 2022
Didn't think this series could get much worse-- I'm disappointed to say it did. Why was there zero plot in this book??? Legit nothing happened except Kat being whiny in her house and trying to figure out which mans she lusts after more??
Somehow, Kat is even more annoying and prissy in this book?? She seems to have zero common sense while continually judging people and hating on everyone... Also all this very anti-feminist talk and hating on other women is just SO G R A T I N G. I don't even understand why characters like this are written... it's not endearing to hear you hate on an entire gender for very superficial reasons
none of these relationships seems healthy at all to me....
Somehow, Kat is even more annoying and prissy in this book?? She seems to have zero common sense while continually judging people and hating on everyone... Also all this very anti-feminist talk and hating on other women is just SO G R A T I N G. I don't even understand why characters like this are written... it's not endearing to hear you hate on an entire gender for very superficial reasons
none of these relationships seems healthy at all to me....
September 15, 2016
This is the second book in this amazing fairytale spinoff series. This is an amazing spinoff of the original fairytale with a mixture of sexy naughty & nice. This novel is beautifully written and developed with no plot-holes. The character's are captivating & very interesting to read about. This amazing novel is filled with action pack adventure with twist & turns in a magical realm & beings in a magical world. This novel & series is highly addictive & a compelling read that is a page turner & will keep you craving more. I highly recommend reading this novel & series as you will not be disappointed as it is amazing & really worth it. I was given a free copy in exchange for a honest review.
September 27, 2016
Okay so first thing first: this is not Alice in Wonderland. Not even a little bit. It’s inspired by it, it’s as insane as the classic, but it’s completely different and you will NOT understand this book unless you’ve read the first one. It picks up where book one left off, and runs with it.
Chasing Cats was very different to Chasing Rabbits, more focused on the various character’s development and relationships. As the world was already built and explained in book one, I found that actually really good - necessary. You get to connect with the characters here. It’s actually my favourite of the two…
But now I really, really dislike the prince.
Chasing Cats was very different to Chasing Rabbits, more focused on the various character’s development and relationships. As the world was already built and explained in book one, I found that actually really good - necessary. You get to connect with the characters here. It’s actually my favourite of the two…
But now I really, really dislike the prince.
September 16, 2016
The fun fantasy continues in this second book in the series.You definitely need to read the first book in the series. This book takes place in the human world unlike the first and has a different feel. It is still a great take on the Alice in Wonderland story and focuses more on the relationships. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. It is a lot of fun to read with plenty of surprises to come.
I received a copy in return for a honest review.
I received a copy in return for a honest review.
August 28, 2016
You really need to read the first book to keep up with this one. It's a good book, just a little confusing if you don't read the previous book to know the characters. Received FREE for an honest review.
March 19, 2017
This is second installment in Erin Bedford's modern-day retelling of Alice in Wonderland, which takes Lewis Carroll's original concept and moves it into the realm of the Fae. Originally split into the worlds of the Seelie and UnSeelie but now broken even further by the revelations that came out in the first book, the Underground is in turmoil: Fae are disappearing, the borders between the worlds are collapsing and the Shadows have broken loose. Amidst all this, Kat has returned to the human world and is trying to return to her normal life after the discovery of her past, while simultaneously attempting to work out what she can do to halt the Shadows' progress. To add to her problems the newly-freed Alice, Kat's ex-lover Dorian and Cheshire 'Chess' Cat have all made it back to her world as well and she needs to figure out their motives and decide who she can trust.
Unlike Chasing Rabbits, most of this book takes place in the real world instead of the Underground. The focus being less on the setting allows the characters more space to breathe and develop, and the author makes full use of this by expanding more on the personalities and backstories of the primary characters. I'm especially fascinated by Chess who initially seemed a little one-dimensional in the first book but has quickly come to the fore and become a major component in the plot. He's not necessarily likeable all the time but there's something captivating about him and it's easy to understand Kat's inner conflict as she tries to work out her feelings. I'm not usually a fan of romance - I'll be honest and admit that I didn't realise this author is primarily known for writing exactly that before I picked this series up - but I do genuinely enjoy their interactions and am interested to see more. Saying that, however, I did think that Chess's attempts to teach Kat to control her magic were a little half-hearted, since they spent most of their time flirting and Kat didn't seem to learn much at all. If her magic is as powerful as it's described, I would have assumed learning to stop it flying out of control would be of higher priority.
Dorian, Kat's ex-fiancé who has managed to convince himself that she belongs to him despite her being reborn as a human with a new identity, is even less likable in this installment than he was in the first. Initially I felt a little sorry for him knowing how he suffered after Lynne's death, but he is controlling and often downright vile to both Kat and Chess. It's safe to say I don't have a lot of sympathy left for him!
This is a fast-paced story and never spends too long dwelling on one scene, instead switching pretty much every chapter. This works for me since I myself write fairly fast-paced novels, but it's something to bear in mind if you prefer longer fiction. It's also worth noting that, like the first one, this book is very NSFW in both language and sexual scenes so it might be a good idea to avoid it if you're not into that!
The one major disappointment I found in this novel is not so much the story itself but the mistakes - there are grammatical errors and typos on pretty much every page and it can become quite distracting. Another pass by the proofreaders/editors would have been appreciated since it's a shame that it takes away from an otherwise impressive story. Bedford's writing is concise which works well for character interaction but I think a little more description of background elements would be nice since the reader is learning more about the Underground through Kat's eyes. I think this may be down to the fact that the story is written in first person and perhaps Kat is not necessarily taking much notice of what's going on in the background, but when the reader is being introduced to an entirely new world, I think a bit more detail would help to paint a better picture.
Also, I felt that some of the other female characters could do with some work. Almost every one has been portrayed as vapid and/or bitchy, and it gets a little tedious after a while. Alice isn't much better, though she is on Kat's side now (as far as we can tell, since you never know with Fae). It feels a little like the author has thrown all her efforts into the main characters and not spared much for the rest, but maybe that will improve in the next book.
Overall, a quick and exciting read and a decent continuation of the series, though it didn't feel like quite as much happened in this one as in Chasing Rabbits. I look forward to the next one to see how things go from here.
Unlike Chasing Rabbits, most of this book takes place in the real world instead of the Underground. The focus being less on the setting allows the characters more space to breathe and develop, and the author makes full use of this by expanding more on the personalities and backstories of the primary characters. I'm especially fascinated by Chess who initially seemed a little one-dimensional in the first book but has quickly come to the fore and become a major component in the plot. He's not necessarily likeable all the time but there's something captivating about him and it's easy to understand Kat's inner conflict as she tries to work out her feelings. I'm not usually a fan of romance - I'll be honest and admit that I didn't realise this author is primarily known for writing exactly that before I picked this series up - but I do genuinely enjoy their interactions and am interested to see more. Saying that, however, I did think that Chess's attempts to teach Kat to control her magic were a little half-hearted, since they spent most of their time flirting and Kat didn't seem to learn much at all. If her magic is as powerful as it's described, I would have assumed learning to stop it flying out of control would be of higher priority.
Dorian, Kat's ex-fiancé who has managed to convince himself that she belongs to him despite her being reborn as a human with a new identity, is even less likable in this installment than he was in the first. Initially I felt a little sorry for him knowing how he suffered after Lynne's death, but he is controlling and often downright vile to both Kat and Chess. It's safe to say I don't have a lot of sympathy left for him!
This is a fast-paced story and never spends too long dwelling on one scene, instead switching pretty much every chapter. This works for me since I myself write fairly fast-paced novels, but it's something to bear in mind if you prefer longer fiction. It's also worth noting that, like the first one, this book is very NSFW in both language and sexual scenes so it might be a good idea to avoid it if you're not into that!
The one major disappointment I found in this novel is not so much the story itself but the mistakes - there are grammatical errors and typos on pretty much every page and it can become quite distracting. Another pass by the proofreaders/editors would have been appreciated since it's a shame that it takes away from an otherwise impressive story. Bedford's writing is concise which works well for character interaction but I think a little more description of background elements would be nice since the reader is learning more about the Underground through Kat's eyes. I think this may be down to the fact that the story is written in first person and perhaps Kat is not necessarily taking much notice of what's going on in the background, but when the reader is being introduced to an entirely new world, I think a bit more detail would help to paint a better picture.
Also, I felt that some of the other female characters could do with some work. Almost every one has been portrayed as vapid and/or bitchy, and it gets a little tedious after a while. Alice isn't much better, though she is on Kat's side now (as far as we can tell, since you never know with Fae). It feels a little like the author has thrown all her efforts into the main characters and not spared much for the rest, but maybe that will improve in the next book.
Overall, a quick and exciting read and a decent continuation of the series, though it didn't feel like quite as much happened in this one as in Chasing Rabbits. I look forward to the next one to see how things go from here.
January 7, 2017
Oh boy..... Now let me just say that I LOVED the first book! It was really really good and I was super excited to read 'Chasing Cats'. I devoured the book in 2 days and all I can really say at the end of it is 'meh'.
'Chasing Rabbits' was so full of action and world building that it was never boring! Plus I liked how the characters were being portrayed. However in 'Chasing Cats' there is really none of that stuff at all. It basically centers around Kat being back in the human world and trying to contain her hissy fits because they now come with fae magic.
Alice is back and the whole sexual tension triangle with Kat, Chess, and Dorian kinda comes to a head? I'm not really sure. This book is really just about fits of anger with magic, minimal character interaction and a sour ending, if I do say so myself.
On her own, Kat is a boring person with a jumbled brain that gets on my nerves and I find that to really like the story I need other folks involved or it just flat lines. We also learn that Kat's fae Mom is a nasty bitch but that isn't much of a surprise.
Though If I am being completely honest the whole drama part kinda boggles my brain. Needless to say I am confused about a lot of it but I do hope it is resolved in the next one.
'Chasing Princes' should be interesting and I sure do hope that the essence of the first book comes back into play because I really don't want to have to slog through hundreds of pages of nothing but Kat's inner turmoil and indecision.
'Chasing Rabbits' was so full of action and world building that it was never boring! Plus I liked how the characters were being portrayed. However in 'Chasing Cats' there is really none of that stuff at all. It basically centers around Kat being back in the human world and trying to contain her hissy fits because they now come with fae magic.
Alice is back and the whole sexual tension triangle with Kat, Chess, and Dorian kinda comes to a head? I'm not really sure. This book is really just about fits of anger with magic, minimal character interaction and a sour ending, if I do say so myself.
On her own, Kat is a boring person with a jumbled brain that gets on my nerves and I find that to really like the story I need other folks involved or it just flat lines. We also learn that Kat's fae Mom is a nasty bitch but that isn't much of a surprise.
Though If I am being completely honest the whole drama part kinda boggles my brain. Needless to say I am confused about a lot of it but I do hope it is resolved in the next one.
'Chasing Princes' should be interesting and I sure do hope that the essence of the first book comes back into play because I really don't want to have to slog through hundreds of pages of nothing but Kat's inner turmoil and indecision.
March 4, 2019
Danger danger! Warning: if you haven't read Chasing Rabbits (which I separately reviewed) then don't read this review unless you're ok with spoilers. But, really, trust me that Chasing Rabbits is excellent, and reading it first will make your enjoyment of this book do much more.
Ok, with that taken care of, my review ...
Erin Bedford's Underground is a wonderful modernizing and expansion of the classic Alice in Wonderland into a fantastic urban fantasy that's recognizably basic on the classic bit is do very much more. That's perfectly seen in series book 2, Chasing Cats, taking off from the end of (the truly excellent) Chasing Rabbits (book 1) with our heroine Kat having returned to the human realm. Everything is changed, however, as Kat now knows that she has the soul and memories of a hundred year dead faerie princess residing in her. She also has a cat-man constantly turning up, and a huge problem to deal with as the Shadows are going after the fae with humanity surely next. Nevermind having to deal with the White Queen, her former fiancé and so much more. (As an aside, the prequel book 0, Chasing Hearts, is excellent and - even though NOT strictly necessary - adds a lot of background context that helps in added understanding of what's driving all these characters.)
I'm not really going to go into the actual plot, or do any summarizing of it, as I don't want to spoil anything, but I will note that such plot is wonderfully excellent. I actually am a fan of the works of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll) and have re-read both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass numerous times. In some ways, though, I actually prefer Erin Bedford's green up version. Just as with books 0 and 1, this book 2 has a creative and well written plot with wonderful lead and supporting characters that transport the reader into a fantastic urban fantasy world created by the author. You don't need to know anything about the original classic Alice tale to totally enjoy this book and the series. That's one of the beauties of what Erin Bedford has done. For those familiar with the classic tale, however, this book and series are a real treat.
Highly recommended.
PS: I'm a bit in love (mebbe in lust at least) with Chess. I mean wowza meow.
Ok, with that taken care of, my review ...
Erin Bedford's Underground is a wonderful modernizing and expansion of the classic Alice in Wonderland into a fantastic urban fantasy that's recognizably basic on the classic bit is do very much more. That's perfectly seen in series book 2, Chasing Cats, taking off from the end of (the truly excellent) Chasing Rabbits (book 1) with our heroine Kat having returned to the human realm. Everything is changed, however, as Kat now knows that she has the soul and memories of a hundred year dead faerie princess residing in her. She also has a cat-man constantly turning up, and a huge problem to deal with as the Shadows are going after the fae with humanity surely next. Nevermind having to deal with the White Queen, her former fiancé and so much more. (As an aside, the prequel book 0, Chasing Hearts, is excellent and - even though NOT strictly necessary - adds a lot of background context that helps in added understanding of what's driving all these characters.)
I'm not really going to go into the actual plot, or do any summarizing of it, as I don't want to spoil anything, but I will note that such plot is wonderfully excellent. I actually am a fan of the works of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll) and have re-read both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass numerous times. In some ways, though, I actually prefer Erin Bedford's green up version. Just as with books 0 and 1, this book 2 has a creative and well written plot with wonderful lead and supporting characters that transport the reader into a fantastic urban fantasy world created by the author. You don't need to know anything about the original classic Alice tale to totally enjoy this book and the series. That's one of the beauties of what Erin Bedford has done. For those familiar with the classic tale, however, this book and series are a real treat.
Highly recommended.
PS: I'm a bit in love (mebbe in lust at least) with Chess. I mean wowza meow.
August 4, 2020
I received a copy from BookSprout; this is my honest review.
-This is a serials with an enough HFN, but no HEA; the end just gives you an inkling of what/whom we might be pursuing next.
-I really, really liked Chasing Hearts, then came Chasing Rabbits, not so much. Chasing Cats doesn't really chase cats but we see Cat appearing many times in the human world.
-The author gives us a picture of how Kat is living as a human, although visited often by Fae people. It's sort of a mishmash of activities happening in both worlds, told on first-base POV. Kat is surrounded with nasty people; be it her mother (both, actually), her boss. her so-called friends, or her lovers. She's not nice herself so I guess she fits right in. It's repetitive and dull.
-The book should have been with multiple POV so we could understand better what was going on. No one is telling Kat what I think she should know. I started making a list of those questions and stopped after a dozen because we never get straight answers.
-I felt like Kat was out of line in many places since she said herself that "rules are meant to be broken". She's also out of control and she's tired of being treated like a child but all she has on the adult side is her fabulous rack. She had an unending passion to be enrage against everyone and it shows up several times in the story: Please get a hold of yourself! With all of this said, I couldn't connect or understand her pleas.
-I'm still on Dorian's side even if many readers are not. I like Cat enough but I'm afraid something is going to happen to him and we won't see him again as Kat becomes the new mediator.
-I'm not sure why Alice is crashing at Kat's place and when she will leave. She tried again to help Kat/Lynne with Dorian, which wasn't appreciated. I wonder why (roll of eyes).
-Editing needs a serious pass. One moment she's drinking from a glass, the next it's a cup of tea. Missing words or wrong words are my main problem here.
-I'm not sure why the author keeps trying to speak French. Why say crème when no one snub enough was around so why not say cream? Did you know it's Mardi Gras and not Marti Gras?
PS I'm rereading my review and I keep reading Cat and Kat. Definitely, the author could have chosen a better name than Katherine...
-This is a serials with an enough HFN, but no HEA; the end just gives you an inkling of what/whom we might be pursuing next.
-I really, really liked Chasing Hearts, then came Chasing Rabbits, not so much. Chasing Cats doesn't really chase cats but we see Cat appearing many times in the human world.
-The author gives us a picture of how Kat is living as a human, although visited often by Fae people. It's sort of a mishmash of activities happening in both worlds, told on first-base POV. Kat is surrounded with nasty people; be it her mother (both, actually), her boss. her so-called friends, or her lovers. She's not nice herself so I guess she fits right in. It's repetitive and dull.
-The book should have been with multiple POV so we could understand better what was going on. No one is telling Kat what I think she should know. I started making a list of those questions and stopped after a dozen because we never get straight answers.
-I felt like Kat was out of line in many places since she said herself that "rules are meant to be broken". She's also out of control and she's tired of being treated like a child but all she has on the adult side is her fabulous rack. She had an unending passion to be enrage against everyone and it shows up several times in the story: Please get a hold of yourself! With all of this said, I couldn't connect or understand her pleas.
-I'm still on Dorian's side even if many readers are not. I like Cat enough but I'm afraid something is going to happen to him and we won't see him again as Kat becomes the new mediator.
-I'm not sure why Alice is crashing at Kat's place and when she will leave. She tried again to help Kat/Lynne with Dorian, which wasn't appreciated. I wonder why (roll of eyes).
-Editing needs a serious pass. One moment she's drinking from a glass, the next it's a cup of tea. Missing words or wrong words are my main problem here.
-I'm not sure why the author keeps trying to speak French. Why say crème when no one snub enough was around so why not say cream? Did you know it's Mardi Gras and not Marti Gras?
PS I'm rereading my review and I keep reading Cat and Kat. Definitely, the author could have chosen a better name than Katherine...
August 17, 2020
Katherine (“Kat”) has discovered that she is a reincarnated Fae princess, her Fae mother being Tatiana, Queen of the Seelie Court. Kat has two men interested in her. Since being home, an owl has been around constantly and she realizes it is Dorian, the UnSeelie Prince, spying on her. She also has the interest of the Cheshire Cat (“Chess”), the half-Fae Moderator who settles all disputes between the Fae kingdoms.
Kat just wants to try to adjust to her new situation. But Dorian will not leave her alone. He can't seem to see that she isn't the same person anymore and she does not acknowledge him as her fiancé. Meanwhile, the Shadows are loose in the Underworld and Kat will need to turn her attention to those problems even while she is still learning to control her powers that have been coming back. The Shadows won’t stop with the Fae, so she will need to stop them before this escalates too far.
This is a good story that can hold the reader’s interest all the way through. The characters are likable because there is that slight familiarity as the reader relates them to “Alice in Wonderland”, although they are quite different now! Grab your copy and enjoy the continuation of “Chasing Rabbits – Book 1”. And there is still more to come!
Kat just wants to try to adjust to her new situation. But Dorian will not leave her alone. He can't seem to see that she isn't the same person anymore and she does not acknowledge him as her fiancé. Meanwhile, the Shadows are loose in the Underworld and Kat will need to turn her attention to those problems even while she is still learning to control her powers that have been coming back. The Shadows won’t stop with the Fae, so she will need to stop them before this escalates too far.
This is a good story that can hold the reader’s interest all the way through. The characters are likable because there is that slight familiarity as the reader relates them to “Alice in Wonderland”, although they are quite different now! Grab your copy and enjoy the continuation of “Chasing Rabbits – Book 1”. And there is still more to come!
September 26, 2017
This story was more about romance than anything else unlike the first book. Still enjoyable but I could have used a little more information and detail about the underground and what all is happening there.
Chasing Cats primarily takes place in the human world where Kat is trying to maintain a normal life. That is easier said than done with fae coming through the between into the human realm and with Kat having magical hissy fits. Turns out she has a lot more to learn about being a half breed and keeping her abilities in check.
As for the side characters, Alice is frustrating and needs more fleshing out, both of Kats mothers are rather awful people while the fathers are quiet but kind. Dorian is annoying and cruel, incapable of listening or kindness and by the end of the story all sympathy for him and what he went through is lost. Chess on the other hand is interesting, while not always likable, he is the most fleshed out of the side characters.
Still a good read but the first one was better.
Chasing Cats primarily takes place in the human world where Kat is trying to maintain a normal life. That is easier said than done with fae coming through the between into the human realm and with Kat having magical hissy fits. Turns out she has a lot more to learn about being a half breed and keeping her abilities in check.
As for the side characters, Alice is frustrating and needs more fleshing out, both of Kats mothers are rather awful people while the fathers are quiet but kind. Dorian is annoying and cruel, incapable of listening or kindness and by the end of the story all sympathy for him and what he went through is lost. Chess on the other hand is interesting, while not always likable, he is the most fleshed out of the side characters.
Still a good read but the first one was better.
March 11, 2019
"Chasing Cats" continues up Kat's story after she returns from the Underworld, after she regained her memories from her previous life as a Fae Princess. Her fiancee is still pursuing her, but she avoids him, while she is attracted to Chess. To make matters worse, her Fae mother wants her back in the Underworld for her own reasons and Kat still struggles to rediscover and control her magic. The book ends with Dorian making his own decisions, and preparing us for the next installment.
Well written, as all books by Erin Bedford, the characters are well detailed and developed, and the storyline grips you right from start to finish. Apart from the main characters, there are also secondary characters that add to the unique world the author has created. Kat's boss and co-workers, as well as her family members help to emphasize on how hard is for Kat to deal with her dual existence.
I'm so hooked with "The Underground" series!!! I can't wait for "Chasing Princes" to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Well written, as all books by Erin Bedford, the characters are well detailed and developed, and the storyline grips you right from start to finish. Apart from the main characters, there are also secondary characters that add to the unique world the author has created. Kat's boss and co-workers, as well as her family members help to emphasize on how hard is for Kat to deal with her dual existence.
I'm so hooked with "The Underground" series!!! I can't wait for "Chasing Princes" to see what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 16, 2020
Kat is home from the underground, she has had the constant presence of the an owl. She realizes it is the unseelie prince watching her. Chess has come to see her as well. She is overwhelmed by her her past life of being a princess with who she is now. Chess tries to help her learn glamour, she is not having luck with it. Her human mother comes when Chess and others are there. Her mother invites Chess to family dinner. Her old friend from the underground also come to see her.
Kat just wants to breath and take time to come to terms with what is happening to her. Dorian will not leave her alone but he can't seem to see that she isn't his old fiancé. She has feeling for Chess but has her old feeling for her Dorian, but she can't see past the old betrayals. Kat will also need to start dealing with the problems of the underworld and the shadows.
This was a good second book. This is more of Kat and Chess in this one. You will enjoy the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kat just wants to breath and take time to come to terms with what is happening to her. Dorian will not leave her alone but he can't seem to see that she isn't his old fiancé. She has feeling for Chess but has her old feeling for her Dorian, but she can't see past the old betrayals. Kat will also need to start dealing with the problems of the underworld and the shadows.
This was a good second book. This is more of Kat and Chess in this one. You will enjoy the story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 27, 2020
Our heroine visited Wonderland and escaped, or so she thought. But the influence of this place lingers.
This is book two of the series. While it does okay as a standalone, I recommend starting at the beginning so that you understand the situation.
This is a fantasy story which revisits the classic Wonderland setting, not a retelling of the original story. Some of the setting and characters may see familiar, but they have changed making this story new and all on its own. The story is well written, easy to read and very engaging. The setting and characters continue to grow and change, providing new revelations and challenges for our heroine. But it remains to be seen if she is up for these challenges. Overall, another excellent chapter in our saga.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
This is book two of the series. While it does okay as a standalone, I recommend starting at the beginning so that you understand the situation.
This is a fantasy story which revisits the classic Wonderland setting, not a retelling of the original story. Some of the setting and characters may see familiar, but they have changed making this story new and all on its own. The story is well written, easy to read and very engaging. The setting and characters continue to grow and change, providing new revelations and challenges for our heroine. But it remains to be seen if she is up for these challenges. Overall, another excellent chapter in our saga.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes
December 25, 2018
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
March 25, 2019
I am a big fan of Erin Bedford and her Underland series! Kat's adventures in Underland continue in this sexy, steamy, darker, adult re-telling of the Alice in Wonderland tale. There is magic, mystery, and secrets galore. The characters are interesting and well-drawn with personalities that make you smile, cringe, laugh, and shudder at different times. There are some great sexy times and fun romance as Alice continues to field advances from both Prince Dorian and Cheshire. But one question remains, who can she trust really? I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see where the tale goes next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 29, 2019
So Chasing Cats continues where Chasing Rabbits finished. Kat is home after leaving The Underground and finding out that she is the Princess. Now she is home she wants to try and get back to normal while she processes everything that she has learned.
But something has happened at the doors between The Underground and the Human Realm. Fae are disappearing while others are managing to get into the human realm. The Shadows have something to do with it, but what.....
I loved this book as much as the first one and just couldn't put it down. The character development is so well written and you want to know more. I love the authors writing and the book flows so well that you are just drawn in to the story. Looking forward to reading book number 3 in the series.
But something has happened at the doors between The Underground and the Human Realm. Fae are disappearing while others are managing to get into the human realm. The Shadows have something to do with it, but what.....
I loved this book as much as the first one and just couldn't put it down. The character development is so well written and you want to know more. I love the authors writing and the book flows so well that you are just drawn in to the story. Looking forward to reading book number 3 in the series.
January 24, 2017
This is the second book in this series. The series is tied in the Alice in Wonderland mythos since one of the characters is Alice although she's older. The main characters include Kat, Alice, Chess (a humanoid cat person), Dorian and a Seelie Court and an Unseelie Court and The Shadows.
Kat is developing her Fae abilities and she's the Seelie Princess. Kat is majorly attracted to Chess. Dorian thinks she belongs to him.
Chess gets injured and he and Kat get intimate.
In my opinion this is one of the Alice-related books that could just as easily have left out the Alice references. It's mainly a book about the fae and problems that arise for Kat because of her relationship to them.
Kat is developing her Fae abilities and she's the Seelie Princess. Kat is majorly attracted to Chess. Dorian thinks she belongs to him.
Chess gets injured and he and Kat get intimate.
In my opinion this is one of the Alice-related books that could just as easily have left out the Alice references. It's mainly a book about the fae and problems that arise for Kat because of her relationship to them.
August 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this series. Based on the fact it says that it's "for adults" I was afraid it would be erotica with a little story thrown in, but it's not. It is lusty in some parts, but that is definitely second to the actual story. I enjoyed the spunky characters and the new view into Wonderland. I didn't expect things to go the way they did most of the time, and that is always a good thing. The world Ms. Bedford created was fun, and full of danger. I felt for Kat and shared her worries and victories. I would recommend this to fans of fantasy and romance that are tired of reading about 17 year-olds.
May 4, 2020
This is the second book in this fun series, and you could probably figure things out as you go if you haven't read the first one, it will be a lot more enjoyable if you have.
This isn't your average Alice in Wonderland spin-off. It's clever, with interesting characters and a well-written story line. There are elements of romance but I would classify it as an Urban Fantasy. Where the first book focused on background and worldbuilding, this one is more about character development. I like this because it usually means the series is going to be slightly longer than just the average trilogy. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
This isn't your average Alice in Wonderland spin-off. It's clever, with interesting characters and a well-written story line. There are elements of romance but I would classify it as an Urban Fantasy. Where the first book focused on background and worldbuilding, this one is more about character development. I like this because it usually means the series is going to be slightly longer than just the average trilogy. I'm really looking forward to the next book.
February 3, 2019
Kat is caught between the human realm and the Fae courts - she went down the rabbit hole, and has never been the same. Her ex fiance seems to want her back - the Cheshire Cat is the only one who seems to want to tell her the truth - and then, Alice appears in her home, in the human realm - what is happening around her? Will Kat make it through, with her life and her sanity? A great Alice in Wonderland tale with a modern twist - I am looking forward to finding out what happens next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 28, 2019
I really love the story and found it easy to get lost within the pages. However, there are typos and grammatical errors so frequently throughout the text that I felt myself slamming back to earth just as quickly as I'd gotten lost. The errors detract from the story and are often such silly slips that I wonder if there was any proofing or editing at all. I'd still recommend reading the series and I'd have given it 5 stars if not for all the easily avoidable errors that detract so much from the story.
August 21, 2020
Adult content with an unlikable, juvenile acting Heroine
This second installment was not as good as the first. I was hoping for more. This is a dark, adult version of Alice in Wonderland's fantasy world.
The Heroine hasn't gotten any more appealing --in fact, I like her even less now. I do like the clever take on the Wonderland creatures. But it is just too hard to enjoy a book when you're rolling your eyes at the Heroine's personality. Adult read due to language and sexual situations.
This second installment was not as good as the first. I was hoping for more. This is a dark, adult version of Alice in Wonderland's fantasy world.
The Heroine hasn't gotten any more appealing --in fact, I like her even less now. I do like the clever take on the Wonderland creatures. But it is just too hard to enjoy a book when you're rolling your eyes at the Heroine's personality. Adult read due to language and sexual situations.
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