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The Wonderland Murders
Things are different when you're a burden.
I was dumped at Carroll’s Home for Troubled Youth by parents I can't quite remember—or maybe I came here on my own. No ... I was found guilty of a crime and that's why I'm here.
It all depends on who you ask or choose to believe, I guess.
I spend my days with my best friend who's done way more heinous things than I have.
He wants me to remember—to tell him stories about being a stranger in a strange land, but I don't want to talk about it because when you talk about things, that's how they become real again.
Because it was real, no matter what Dr. Carpenter or any of the orderlies say, and Ever is the only one that believes me.
He wants me to go back, but I can't.
There's a bounty on my head.
I stole something from the Queen and she'll stop at nothing to get it back.
Nothing.
I was dumped at Carroll’s Home for Troubled Youth by parents I can't quite remember—or maybe I came here on my own. No ... I was found guilty of a crime and that's why I'm here.
It all depends on who you ask or choose to believe, I guess.
I spend my days with my best friend who's done way more heinous things than I have.
He wants me to remember—to tell him stories about being a stranger in a strange land, but I don't want to talk about it because when you talk about things, that's how they become real again.
Because it was real, no matter what Dr. Carpenter or any of the orderlies say, and Ever is the only one that believes me.
He wants me to go back, but I can't.
There's a bounty on my head.
I stole something from the Queen and she'll stop at nothing to get it back.
Nothing.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
406 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
July 21, 2022
Well... I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that.
I found this book on kindle unlimited and it seemed cool, a horror version of Alice in Wonderland. What could go wrong? It's a very short book and took me less than an hour to read the whole thing and I honestly don't know what to say.
There didn't seem to be any real storyline and as quick as anything started, it was over. I feel like I need to talk about the sex scene as well but there aren't any words. It was beyond weird and I felt it was completely unnecessary.
I really wish I could have that hour of my life back.
I found this book on kindle unlimited and it seemed cool, a horror version of Alice in Wonderland. What could go wrong? It's a very short book and took me less than an hour to read the whole thing and I honestly don't know what to say.
There didn't seem to be any real storyline and as quick as anything started, it was over. I feel like I need to talk about the sex scene as well but there aren't any words. It was beyond weird and I felt it was completely unnecessary.
I really wish I could have that hour of my life back.
August 15, 2024
Loved it up until the beastiality love scene happened... too weird for me.
May 22, 2022
I don't know about this one. It was a really short and easy read. But I'm not sure what the plot really was. It feels like it belonged in a book of short stories. Or an in-between book of a series. Also, the sex scene in the book was super weird and unnecessary. I'm just not sure how I'm feeling about this book really.
March 18, 2022
What the actual fuck. I have no clue how this was even okay to publish? It was weird as hell. There will be spoilers bc this is not a book that one should go into blindly like I did.
The storyline of Alice being in an insane asylum/home for the criminally insane was a VERY good idea and I really enjoyed that aspect, however there were a few parts that seemed rushed, unedited, random, and just plain wrong. There is a hint of a love interest between Alice and Ever (why is that his name?) in the beginning which seemed like it’d be a good part of the plot but then we are in a scene in Wonderland (which is referred to as the strange lands) and everyone is recognizing Ever but no one says how until the Cheshire Cat (who also has a different name since “no one really knows his name”) says he’s the Bandersnatch and then we get this really fucking weird and not necessary sex scene where it seems like she's being forced and not enjoying it and it's also not with Ever as a human its’s Ever as the Bandersnatch which is gross and something I never needed to read especially when the author illustrated the Bandersnatch’s genitals. I loathe whoever recommended this to me in a horror group because it really shouldn’t have been written.
The storyline of Alice being in an insane asylum/home for the criminally insane was a VERY good idea and I really enjoyed that aspect, however there were a few parts that seemed rushed, unedited, random, and just plain wrong. There is a hint of a love interest between Alice and Ever (why is that his name?) in the beginning which seemed like it’d be a good part of the plot but then we are in a scene in Wonderland (which is referred to as the strange lands) and everyone is recognizing Ever but no one says how until the Cheshire Cat (who also has a different name since “no one really knows his name”) says he’s the Bandersnatch and then we get this really fucking weird and not necessary sex scene where it seems like she's being forced and not enjoying it and it's also not with Ever as a human its’s Ever as the Bandersnatch which is gross and something I never needed to read especially when the author illustrated the Bandersnatch’s genitals. I loathe whoever recommended this to me in a horror group because it really shouldn’t have been written.
June 24, 2019
Alisanne still has haunting memories of the first time she fell to the Strange Lands that she tries to forget. For the most part she is okay where she is because she has her friend, Ever, but when it's said that Ever might get transferred, Alisanne plots an escape for her and Ever which leads her back to the Strange Lands where things are not as it seems. Ever and the Cat are my favorites.The author brings you down the hole with such an enjoyable story.
July 7, 2023
Lost me at The Bandersnatch scene...no spoilers!! But that's where I tapped out!!! Too fast, which is weird coming from me. Good rough outline, but there is not enough meat to it!! Also, if Alice gets with anyone, it should be the Hatter, duh!
October 19, 2022
3.5
I expected something different, but I kinda liked it. It not really my genre but now i'm curious to know what happens next.
I expected something different, but I kinda liked it. It not really my genre but now i'm curious to know what happens next.
October 26, 2022
3.5 rounded.
This short story was great. I love, love, love an Alice Retelling. The Bandersnatch bit was a little strange, ok, a lot strange for me, but everything else was good. I'm interested to see where the story goes.
This short story was great. I love, love, love an Alice Retelling. The Bandersnatch bit was a little strange, ok, a lot strange for me, but everything else was good. I'm interested to see where the story goes.
May 26, 2022
Alisanne is still haunted by the time she spent in Wonderland, a place that no one seems to believe is real. No one except for her friend Ever who is also in the home for troubled youth with her. He is constantly asking her questions about her time there, seeming to poke and prod for information. He wants her to go back to this land, but she if she does, the queen will kill her. But when she finds out that Ever is going to be transferred to a different home, she knows she has to take matters into her own hands.
This was a weird read. The story was too short for there to be compellingly written characters or any sort of plot development. In fact, I don’t really think there was a plot at all. I would have really liked to find the characters more relatable and seen any sort of depth or growth to them, but it just wasn’t there.
I did enjoy what the author was doing with the Wonderland setting and would have loved to see more of an exploration of the setting and the worldbuilding. But since the work was so short, there wasn’t much of that included. In fact, the most in-depth scene was the bestiality scene, which felt out of place and honestly just weird. It really didn’t need to be included.
For such a short story, there were plenty of errors and typos. This work doesn’t appear to have been professionally edited, and the number of errors detracted from my enjoyment of the work.
Overall, I don’t recommend this work.
This was a weird read. The story was too short for there to be compellingly written characters or any sort of plot development. In fact, I don’t really think there was a plot at all. I would have really liked to find the characters more relatable and seen any sort of depth or growth to them, but it just wasn’t there.
I did enjoy what the author was doing with the Wonderland setting and would have loved to see more of an exploration of the setting and the worldbuilding. But since the work was so short, there wasn’t much of that included. In fact, the most in-depth scene was the bestiality scene, which felt out of place and honestly just weird. It really didn’t need to be included.
For such a short story, there were plenty of errors and typos. This work doesn’t appear to have been professionally edited, and the number of errors detracted from my enjoyment of the work.
Overall, I don’t recommend this work.
January 10, 2025
I didn't know what I was expecting with this retelling, to be honest, but this wasn't it..
There was a part that left a sour taste in my mouth (I won't spoil for those who want to try it, though) because I'm just not about.... that stuff. I thought the concept was alright but lacked anything truly unique that made this retelling stand out from others that have been done. Over all it wasn't the best read but I did finish it.
There was a part that left a sour taste in my mouth (I won't spoil for those who want to try it, though) because I'm just not about.... that stuff. I thought the concept was alright but lacked anything truly unique that made this retelling stand out from others that have been done. Over all it wasn't the best read but I did finish it.
April 17, 2021
Twisted Alice
Short twisty take on Alice in Wonderland. Leaves you wanting more but that 's always the case with this author!!
Short twisty take on Alice in Wonderland. Leaves you wanting more but that 's always the case with this author!!
Want to read
August 20, 2019
just released
Merged review:
just released
February 7, 2022
Another unique retelling of Alice.
I loved the idea of a dark Alice book, since I use to play the PC game Alice as a child. However, I did not see the beastiality coming. It was quite literally forced and uncalled for. She thought she owed it to him, but then after she loves him? Like Wtf?
They set it up so well with them being in the mental institution and I like the play on her being delusional like the original story, but I’m honestly disappointed. It could of been so much better.
Also, super sad that the kindle version doesn’t have the pictures in it.
I loved the idea of a dark Alice book, since I use to play the PC game Alice as a child. However, I did not see the beastiality coming. It was quite literally forced and uncalled for. She thought she owed it to him, but then after she loves him? Like Wtf?
They set it up so well with them being in the mental institution and I like the play on her being delusional like the original story, but I’m honestly disappointed. It could of been so much better.
Also, super sad that the kindle version doesn’t have the pictures in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2019
A fantastic and original spin on an old and well loved tale. Wicked and devious to the core with a addictive plot and characters. This was a dark and twisted read with a few delightful surprises lurking within. I was sucked right down the rabbit hole by Lanie Olson and I loved it! Looking forward to the next installment!
August 9, 2019
Classic yet different!!
This puts a dark twist on a classic..Alice tries to forget about her time in the Strange Lands but she's dragged back in to face all weird and wonderful things she got away from..
My only complaint is that I wish it was longer but the time I got hooked it ended..
This puts a dark twist on a classic..Alice tries to forget about her time in the Strange Lands but she's dragged back in to face all weird and wonderful things she got away from..
My only complaint is that I wish it was longer but the time I got hooked it ended..
June 24, 2019
A fabulous takeoff of Alice in Wonderland, Yolanda pulls you into the story and you can feel the passion as you read it.
The characters you may think you know are changed - rearranged - and the wobbly feel of Wonderland is totally there!
The characters you may think you know are changed - rearranged - and the wobbly feel of Wonderland is totally there!
January 17, 2023
Dit boek gelezen op aanraden van iemand op facebook. Zelf dacht ik, hey, een Wonderland boek. Dat moet goed zijn. Dus ik las het.
Ik ben er nog steeds niet helemaal over uit wat ik nou gelezen heb. Ik twijfel daarom ook met hoeveel sterren het waard was.
Eerst gebeurt er amper wat en zit Alice in een jeugdinrichting en dan is ze in wonderland.
Daar is ze ineens weer heel anders en heeft ze ineens heftige seks met een "wild beast" . Juist....
Zonder verder spoilers te vertellen over dat beest, maar die heeft ook een rol in het hele verhaal.
Zelf vind ik het verhaal heel langzaam gaan en er gebeurt echt weinig. En ze gaan ook van het ene naar het andere moment. Dat laatst stuk met the queen ging heel bizar snel dat ik dacht, hallo! Hier ging het de hele tijd toch om?
Al met al had dit boek veel meer kunnen zijn dan dat het nu is. De schrijver had er zo veel meer mee kunnen doen. Vooral met dat beest had ze veel kunnen doen.
Ik zag dat er een vervolg van is, maar denk niet dat ik die ga lezen.
Ik ben er nog steeds niet helemaal over uit wat ik nou gelezen heb. Ik twijfel daarom ook met hoeveel sterren het waard was.
Eerst gebeurt er amper wat en zit Alice in een jeugdinrichting en dan is ze in wonderland.
Daar is ze ineens weer heel anders en heeft ze ineens heftige seks met een "wild beast" . Juist....
Zonder verder spoilers te vertellen over dat beest, maar die heeft ook een rol in het hele verhaal.
Zelf vind ik het verhaal heel langzaam gaan en er gebeurt echt weinig. En ze gaan ook van het ene naar het andere moment. Dat laatst stuk met the queen ging heel bizar snel dat ik dacht, hallo! Hier ging het de hele tijd toch om?
Al met al had dit boek veel meer kunnen zijn dan dat het nu is. De schrijver had er zo veel meer mee kunnen doen. Vooral met dat beest had ze veel kunnen doen.
Ik zag dat er een vervolg van is, maar denk niet dat ik die ga lezen.
February 28, 2025
A dark and sinister spin off from Alice in Wonderland. Quick read that keeps your attention as the Wonderland, and Alice that you know a kid is turned on it's head...not to mention the bandersnatch!!! Was worth the time to read (it's only 100 or so pages).
October 16, 2025
Wasn’t a bad little read. Not a lot of details. If it had been fleshed out more and had a better build up it would have been a much stronger read.
October 1, 2022
Wasn’t sure how I felt about this book at first, but by the end I’m looking forward to book 2
June 30, 2019
Every time I open a new book by Ms. Olson, I know that I’ll spend the next few hours fully immersed in something completely gripping and unexpected. And when her newest story is based on one of my favorite childhood books, I know I’m in for a treat! The idea of placing her fictional Alice into an asylum and adding a companion, the sociopathic Ever Hart, for her, was just perfect for this story’s retelling. The plot is an ultimate mind-bending experience when you’re not sure if what’s going on is real or only the fruit of Alice’s imagination. The Wonderland itself with all of its inhabitants and, of course, the Queen herself, was so vividly described that I could easily picture myself there, and a reader can’t ask for a better experience! A truly fabulous story - highly recommended!
September 1, 2020
Allisanne & Ever.
I like these two. I really do.
Everything is kind of bizarre. You're not sure what's real and what's not, what happened that led to where we are introduced. Keeps you guessing .. The happenings between the walls of Carroll’s Home for Troubled Youth. But is that really surprising?
Knowing who wrote this tale we are about to undertake .. I knew I'd be in for a pleasant surprise. And boy, was I.
I like that boy Ever. I really do.
As our dark tale unfolds we are left with almost more questions than what we started with. I'm overly excited with how this tale might continue.
I like these two. I really do.
Everything is kind of bizarre. You're not sure what's real and what's not, what happened that led to where we are introduced. Keeps you guessing .. The happenings between the walls of Carroll’s Home for Troubled Youth. But is that really surprising?
Knowing who wrote this tale we are about to undertake .. I knew I'd be in for a pleasant surprise. And boy, was I.
I like that boy Ever. I really do.
As our dark tale unfolds we are left with almost more questions than what we started with. I'm overly excited with how this tale might continue.
July 4, 2019
Well this a different dark take on Alice in wonderland if you couldn’t already tell lol
But how this author changes the story and how she keeps some things sort of the same is fantastic. Like to me this is more like it should have been don’t get me wrong this is my favorite story-tale but I absolutely love this twisted version. I’m not really gonna say anything about the actual content. Because I know I’ll give stuff away. But if the blurb didn’t get you, I don’t know that I could say to convince you. I can’t wait to see what happens next because this is a story I want to continue to read.
But how this author changes the story and how she keeps some things sort of the same is fantastic. Like to me this is more like it should have been don’t get me wrong this is my favorite story-tale but I absolutely love this twisted version. I’m not really gonna say anything about the actual content. Because I know I’ll give stuff away. But if the blurb didn’t get you, I don’t know that I could say to convince you. I can’t wait to see what happens next because this is a story I want to continue to read.
February 6, 2021
I given this book 3 stars for the mere fact there is beastiality in it, a very descriptive sexual scene. I am not against werewolves sex or other creatures but honestly a human and a beast is where I do draw my line.
The story itself is vey enchanting. It rushes you straight in and has that American McGee's Alice vibe but even darker. I wouldn't pay actual money for this book since it about 70 pages.
If you are looking for a retelling that twisted and might make you wonder why your still reading it then i would suggest this book to you.
The story itself is vey enchanting. It rushes you straight in and has that American McGee's Alice vibe but even darker. I wouldn't pay actual money for this book since it about 70 pages.
If you are looking for a retelling that twisted and might make you wonder why your still reading it then i would suggest this book to you.
June 24, 2019
Down the rabbit hole you go, into a Wonderland that's even more twisted and bizarre than the one you already know.
This Alice has issues, and rightfully so. Or does she? Can there be something as simple as a yes or no answer in a place where the flowers sing and give unsolicited advice? That's up for you to decided when you grab this story!
This Alice has issues, and rightfully so. Or does she? Can there be something as simple as a yes or no answer in a place where the flowers sing and give unsolicited advice? That's up for you to decided when you grab this story!
July 4, 2019
Wow!! What a dark and thrilling take on an old favorite! Reader beware this tale just became more twisted. Carroll’s classic and Olson’s depravity make for a must read retelling. This ain’t your children’s fairy tale.
December 29, 2020
I thought it was a very interesting story. I read it quickly and could not put it down!!I will be reading more from Ms. Olson.
December 31, 2020
Started out great but completely lost my interest at the beastieality scene. Really ruined the book by adding that in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
"The Wonderland Murders" by Lanie Olson is a dark fantasy novel that reimagines Lewis Carroll's classic tale, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". The story follows Alisanne, a teenager confined to Carroll's Home for Troubled Youth, who is haunted by her past experiences in Wonderland. With the help of her friend Ever, Alisanne navigates the blurred lines between reality, and her desire for freedom. The Bandersnatch spicy part was a bit strange. I rate this a 3.5 it was a very quick read and I did enjoy the story but I just wanted more with the ending. I have not been able to find the second book The Black Queen to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews