WonderLand

by Miranda Renae

Kaleb "Rabbit" White hates everything about his life, especially his job at Red Queen Inc. He had plans to quit until a company experiment went wrong, killing an entire room full of people...

Except for one:

Alice.

It’s been four years since Alice survived the virus responsible for her mother’s death. She's managing to keep the side effects of WonderLand under control and is doing her best to put the trauma of her past behind her. Then, she receives a notecard with one word on it:

“Run.”

Alice needs answers. Kaleb wants to protect her. Trapped inside Red Queen Inc., they must work together to find a way out. But first Alice needs to find the cure.

Genres: Horror, Audiobook, Retellings, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

About the author

Miranda Renae spent much of her childhood avoiding reading. Letters were nothing more than a jumbled mess. One day, her dad gave her the novel he just finished reading. It was full of suspense and horror that she’d only seen in movies. Only so much better. From that day on, she devoured the written word. No genre was safe.

When Miranda isn’t reading or writing, you can find her caring for a pack of foster kittens or cuddling her two cats, Hettie and Courage, the cowardly cat.

Visit her website at mirandarenae.com and follow her on Instagram @_miranda_renae and @mirandarenae42 everywhere else.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a clever take on Alice in Wonderland. It's dark. It's twisty. The cast of characters are rich and textured and the villain is deliciously wicked. I definitely recommend this trip down the rabbit hole.

[Melaina Lara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I paid money, on sale, for this title. It was slow paced, and non-sense. Not fun wonderland nonsense- but confusing makes zero sense.
A major corporation is a crime syndicate for a drug empire that can’t keep track of one asset… okay.
The characters were not interesting, nor did they get filled out at any point. Nothing is clearly explained and there is a lot of internal whiny thought dialog. Oh, and the plot holes were miles wide. Pass.

[Amy Morris · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is going on in this book? I had to go back and check to see if there was a first book in the series that I missed, because it clearly assumes I know things that I don't. I don't really understand what's going on, and maybe that's the author's plan, to dole out bits after you need to know them? Maybe it is supposed to add to this unsettled feeling? But instead, I'm just annoyed that it doesn't make sense and I can't even follow. If it's a device, it doesn't work for me, and if it's not a device, how did this ever get through an editor. I seriously can't even follow what's going on.

Oh, also, I'd like to kill the main character myself. Not even close to being sympathetic or likeable. If she draws you in eventually, I won't be there for it. It's a 7.5 hour audiobook, and I gave it a solid 2.5 hours before bailing. I'm never a fan of the female character always needing to be saved and a dude whose sole purpose seems to be to save her.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good retelling and if the twists and turns are unexpected, even better. Wonderland is an eerie retelling of Alice in Wonderland without feeling like a story you already know. Alice's journey down the rabbit hole is nothing like you would expect.
This book is clean, creepy and just scary enough. A fun read for sure!

[Shamina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was soooo bad! I can’t believe I finished it. I can’t believe someone published it. The writing is awful. The characters are dull. The story makes zero sense. I wish I had quit the first hour in and saved myself the trouble.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, this was so good! (I secretly hope for a sequel but doubt it will happen.)

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was such an awesome retelling! Alice in wonderland has always felt creepy to me and this retelling totally embraces that. I love the madness that wonderland inspires. The author justified all the random pieces of the original tale in such a creative way. That’s one of my favorite things about retellings, is finding familiar elements in a new setting. I loved this world and the characters!
I love that this version of Alice struggles with her own madness but that rather than dismiss it or become healed in the end, it becomes her strength to succeed.
If you’re looking for a clean horror that is deliciously creepy and absolutely engaging, this should definitely be your next read!

[Kimberly #Audiofile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really interesting take on Alice in wonderland.
Virus is released in an controlled environment that makes people rage and go on killing sprees.

Alice is a young girl who is in the theatre (controlled environment) who has been in therapy for anger management issues and seems like she can control the angry issues bought into by the virus.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of alice as a character
Rabbit wasn’t bad (mmc)


I did like the authors take on particular Alice in wonderland bits and pieces and how they relate to this version of wonderland.

Audio is fine, narrators voice is pleasant and fits the book theme.

3 star listen
Gifted audio in exchange for an honest review
This book ends in a slight cliffhanger, has no smut and very very little romance.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love retelling of fairy tales... this one not so much.
It is definitely modern times and easily relatable. The 'Queen of Hearts' is an owner of a company that does experiments. Of course the experiments are evil. She releases a virus that makes people crazy and kill each other.

I wasn't really crazy about Alice but did like Kaleb (rabbit). There are so many reviews that LOVED the story so I am just going to say... it wasn't my thing!!!
Happy reading.

[Magen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very addicting book! The mixture of mystery, comedy, fantasy, and a bit of romance was perfect. The writing and imagery were so creative. I just got pulled in and couldn't stop until it was over. Now I want more and more! I love the parallels to the Alice and Wonderland story, but with its own futuristic interpretation. I'm completely invested in Alice and Kaleb's story, but also the side characters. I always think a great story has plenty of sidekicks. :) I'm looking forward to any future books!

[Amy Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this crazy modernized sci-fi retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It takes lot of elements from the original story and humanizes all the characters and puts them in the real world where the red queen is a psycho evil scientist who runs a powerful organization and likes killing people and wants to kill everyone with a drug called Wonderland. Alice is one of her failed test subjects.

Kaleb "the Rabbit" is one of my fave characters. He's sweet and yet flawed. Renae's take on the trial was amazing. And there are so, so many wonderful little nods to the original (like painting the walls white, for instance.)

There are all kinds of crazy drugs and chemicals used in the story. Lots of excitement and the book is super fast-paced. Action, a tinge of romance, family problems, fear all add to a package of weirdness and strangeness befitting of Alice and Wonderland. I recommend to people who love retellings with fresh and unexpected flavor!

[Jayrchase · Rating 2 out of 5]

The narrative was not compelling - characters that should have been logical remained emotional, plot was moved forward by blatant deus ex machina on more than one occasion and finally, the book ended without at least one three resolutions I craved. I don’t expect to have every story go my way, but I just didn’t enjoy the road to disappointment with this one.

On a positive note, tying little moments back to the original Alice world was craftily done.

[Elise Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Wonderland Reincarnation

I enjoyed this a lot, and I’d love to have more, it ends on a bit of cliffhanger. There were some consistency issues and little things that didn’t quite make sense, and it ends with more questions than answers. Oddly, I’m okay with that. It was an interesting and entertaining read with a psychological thriller feel to it.

[Apryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This retelling of Alice In WonderLand, tied in with the horror of the Resident Evil movies, makes for such an interesting take on the classic Alice story. The main characters are likable, flawed, strong, and so much more that will keep you reading to find out what happens to them. And pay attention to the details Renae weaves into her stories and characters! You'll want to read this book over and over again trying to find all the hints and crumbs she's dropped for some amazing twists.

[Julie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a fun and creepy retelling of Alice in Wonderland. If you’re looking for a clean horror with a splash of comedy and romance, you need to check out Wonderland.

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! I love the reinvention of Alice in Wonderland. Very creative and a quick entertaining read.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting retelling of the classic tale. It felt like going to your grandparents house right after a remodel. Familiar, but new.

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize that I’m the odd man out here, but I really didn’t enjoy this book. It was kind of weird and things were just never really explained well. It is a retelling if Alice in Wonderland where Wonderland is a strange virus that Alice was purposefully exposed to. There are just so many weird things that happen and nothing is ever well explained. There are so many characters that are given names or behaviors similar to the characters in the original story, but I never really figured out what their actual purpose was and where their loyalties lie. The characters are like double and triple agents and double cross everyone. I never figured out who really was really helping Alice and who really wasn’t. I never felt like I had a perfect grasp on the entire story and all of the characters - it was just so chaotic and discombobulated.

[Jessika Darkstar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thrilling read (I had hoped for more)

It wasn't what I expected and it was at the same time. I love all the Alice in Wonderland references hidden in this thriller of a book. It almost reminds me of Resident Evil, but not completely the same. I decided to read this book because I had thought it would be like my favorite game series and I figured any new twist on Alice in Wonderland would be a good read.

I was right. This book was a good read, and I enjoyed all the pieces unfolding and revealing the truth of everything before our eyes. I kind of wished for more, and I honestly had hoped their would be more. It seemed like it cut abruptly in the end but the ending it fit and worked.

I really would have enjoyed more insight into Alice's character and how she controls her emotions. I would have liked to have seen the back story to her anger management training she received.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this twisty, deliciously creepy retelling of Lewis Carroll's novel. I kept thinking how timely it was. I especially loved the way the author drew up her unconventional but likable main characters, Alice and Kaleb. I rooted for them the whole way through. In the middle of all the genre-perfect carnage and adventure, I was completely swept up in their romance. Such a great balance of elements that leaves me wanting even more.

[Kimmy]

This is not a very well-written book. The story was interesting enough to make we want to continue reading, but the narrator of the audiobook was just TERRIBLE. Her voice inflection was all over the place & she overly enunciated the strangest words. I actually had to stop listening & returned the book. I may try to revisit the book to finish the story, but will only do so with a print/Kindle version.

[Britt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really? That ending though...
I feel like I just read a book and was not rewarded with a good story. I understand that there's a part 2, but I don't even know if I want to waste my time reading it. I have so many mixed feelings about this book...

What you need to know about this book:
Reid is the Red Queen and she runs this experimental virus company thing. She's hellbent on turning everyone crazy so she can release her own crazy. Rabbit works/worked for her, along with his dad Joseph, who apparently is on the outs with his children, especially Rabbit. Alice is a survivor of the Wonderland virus being released into a theater that turned her mom crazy and ended up killing her. Rabbit, being a stalker, decides he's going to get in contact with her years later and they end up getting together, but not really together? Unrequited love? Who the heck knows... Anyway, they end up figuring out that they need to take down Red Queen and they go through so much crap together that your head spins. Ryan is the Cheshire Cat and he is... something else. This joker is so retarded. Upon first meeting, he decides he's gonna lick the skin off of Alice's hand as a "bet." Throughout the whole book, he's riding the fence and you never know what side he's on. Linc and Tom are the Tweedles, and at some point Tom's on drugs and is possibly the Hatter or the Hare... Whatever he chooses to be because it's 2024 and people can apparently be whatever they wanna be, so Tom decides he's going to identify as a crazy drug addict. So there's that. Long story short, Rabbit and Alice go through hell and back and Rabbit is laid up in a hospital bed dying of the virus that Alice apparently is able to live with because ANGER MANAGEMENT THERAPY FIVE YEARS AGO. So because of her "self-control" she can live with it, yet Rabbit is apparently unable to control himself so he gets to die. Oh, but wait! There's more! The antivirus that apparently has been made and hidden for FIVE YEARS, you heard that correctly, FIVE FREAKING YEARS, mysteriously surfaces through Dr. Turtle saying "I shoulda given this to you sooner!! I hope it works, guys!" But the catch is that they lose their memories. So! Alice... She's all like "screw Rabbit, I'm gone." End of story.

Pros:
-The characters were pretty interesting. I liked how the different Wonderland characters were brought to life as humans in our world. Given, I wish I liked them better...
-I like that Wonderland was made into a virus. There's something about a good apocalypse/virus/doomsday book that's just really great. The different virus strains and vials that were injected to manipulate the emotions were really well!!! I loved that aspect of it. I would have loved to see more of that.

Cons:
-The Wonderland characters as we know them are NOT what was in this book. It's like the author took the premise of the character and just went completely off script with it. At one point, I couldn't even tell who was the Cheshire Cat, and who was the Mad Hatter and the Hare... I gave up. And the only indication that Alice was interested in the White Rabbit was the name. Kaleb RABBIT WHITE. That was very cheesy, btw. Not a fan. And Ryan... He made me hate the Cheshire Cat and the Cheshire Cat is one of my all-time favorite Wonderland characters. I NEVER thought I could hate the Cheshire Cat, but I'll be danged, this book made me hate him.
-There was so much unexplained that it hurt. It literally seemed like this book was put together in such a way that it was thoughts being added after the fact. Like... "oh, that's a good idea! but wait, what about this!? oh, and this could explain that! oh, but I also wanna do this too! WHY CHOOSE!?" No. Nuh uh. Nope. OrGaNiZaTiOn GuYs! It was such a short book, but I felt like I had ADHD reading it because it was literally ALL OVER THE PLACE. I hate that. Give me structure. Give me organization. Give me logical events happening. I understand nothing is logical in Wonderland, but for God's sake... it's a book. Make it happen.
-The "cliffhanger" was ridiculous. The fact that Alice and Rabbit went through SO MUCH together, only for Rabbit to be succumbing to the virus at the end and Alice choosing to lose her memory in HOPES that it would work? And the fact that she just DISAPPEARS after drugging him, or rather, letting Markus do it? That's such a selfish and unloving move. I hate that Alice came across so freaking selfish the entire book. She was such a selfish, obstinate, stubborn, stupid FMC. She literally couldn't do ONE THING she was told to do. She literally bit off her nose to spite her face. I understand this is a series. And I understand the author was trying to make it interesting so you would want to pick up the next book. However... there was nothing interesting that made me want to pick up the next book. Out of sheer curiosity, I read the synopsis for the next book and nothing is appealing to me. Not at all.
-Too. Many. Unanswered. Questions!!!! I feel like as a reader, I should get SOME questions answered by the end of book 1, even if it is a series. There was nothing. No explanation on how Alice and Rabbit's vision turned all monochromatic when they were angry. No reason why weapons lit up red. Nothing. Just it is what it is and you should accept it because the author deems it so.

[Kristine Collar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can usually find something good even in bad books. Sorry to say this on is just plain dumb.

[Clem Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler free as I can make it- I'm usually pretty reticent to read retellings, especially for stories that have a special meaning to me. Alice in Wonderland has always meant a lot to me, and I'm honestly very critical of any "new" versions of it I come across.

Then, I was introduced to "WonderLand."

W O W

As I said, I don't want to spoil anything, but I'll just say that Miranda Renae has built this tense thriller that's also sci-fi that's also a deep psychological dive and just, to build it all off the foundation from Lewis Carol...

I devoured this book in 3 days. My wife did it in two and a half.

It's that good.

My wife & I are jazzed for the next installment & hope a lot of people will take the plunge & experience this revelation of a work.

& to quote The Dodo: "The best way to explain it is to do it."

:)

[Nicollette Blackeagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderland is an amazing unique tale of Alice in Wonderland but using all human characters. Wonderland is not a place but a deadly virus that was released to a group of unsuspecting people by company called Red Queen Inc. The story is mysterious, intense, action packed and a bit horrifying. Alice and her friends set out to take down Red Queen Inc but are they her true friends and are they helping for the right reasons? The only thing I did not like was that it ended with a cliffhanger but yet I still highly recommend this book. The characters in the story will often say or do things that will remind you of their Wonderland counterparts. This is my honest unbiased review.

[Stem & Sequins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of Alice in Wonderland type stories, they are too random and everywhere for me. I enjoyed this one though as Wonderland is a virus and it's a completely different concept. Alice slept through half the story which was meh to me. The narrator though was so good it brings this whole book up a star.
Anyway, I'd pick this one up from the library or a discount. I felt like it was worth the discount price for me but I don't know if I'd be happy if I had bought the hardcover.

[Shannon Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a interesting twist and different retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I did like how the author brought in little pieces of the original story. It made it fun to find the little similarities of the two stories.
I did feel like there were a lot of characters to keep up with in this book and it made it a little difficult to follow. I also did not care for the way the book ended by leaving you on the edge and wondering what happened.
Overall, it was a good book.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another divisive, polarizing book here. I only read it because it was on sale as a sci-fi/horror compilation, and although it’s a fast-paced gruesome story, for the most part it reminded me of a young adult romance, although I thought the frequent Alice-in-Wonderland allusions were clever.

[Grace Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love the original Alice in Wonderland this is an interesting rendition with lots of obvious and less obvious Easter eggs throughout the story as a nod to the original.

I guess I will say if you're not a serious fan of the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland you will probably be pretty confused and it may sound like nonsense to you. But if you are, it's a treat.

[Veray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too scary for me.

This is a crazy mixed up psychological thriller. Not something I like to read but bookclub said I had to! I spent my time reading it feeling paranoid and nervous. I guess that's what people like about these stories but not me.
The ending was not satisfying at all.