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Shadows of Wonderland #1
The Seeker's Shadow
When twenty-three-year-old Alice Wynter discovers there’s a chance the wrong man was sent to prison for her best friend’s murder, she’s forced to investigate. Considering she’s the only unmagicked being in the small town of Wonderland, this is much easier said than done.
All magic has been eradicated from Wonderland after the Mad Mage was banished twenty-four years ago. But some still lingers, dormant and ready to fall into the appropriate hands.
Twenty-three-year-old Alice Wynter, daughter of the chief of police, can’t wait until she can get out of Wonderland. As the only person in the entire town who doesn’t have magic, she’s never felt as though she belonged. It doesn’t help that her best friend was murdered a year ago.
When Rumpelstiltskin himself asks her for a favor, she can’t refuse. However, she soon realizes he thinks the man convicted for her best friend’s murder is actually innocent. Alice isn’t sure she wants to entertain that idea, considering the fact that her father was the officer who arrested him and the reason he was promoted to Chief of Police so quickly.
In order to obtain justice for her friend, Alice must look at the clues with an open mind to the truth. Bodies are meant to stay buried but ghosts live on - until their restless spirits are finally given peace.
With the grittiness and mystery of Riverdale and the magic and romance of Once Upon A Time, The Seeker’s Shadow is a captivating urban fantasy mystery readers are sure to be enchanted by!
All magic has been eradicated from Wonderland after the Mad Mage was banished twenty-four years ago. But some still lingers, dormant and ready to fall into the appropriate hands.
Twenty-three-year-old Alice Wynter, daughter of the chief of police, can’t wait until she can get out of Wonderland. As the only person in the entire town who doesn’t have magic, she’s never felt as though she belonged. It doesn’t help that her best friend was murdered a year ago.
When Rumpelstiltskin himself asks her for a favor, she can’t refuse. However, she soon realizes he thinks the man convicted for her best friend’s murder is actually innocent. Alice isn’t sure she wants to entertain that idea, considering the fact that her father was the officer who arrested him and the reason he was promoted to Chief of Police so quickly.
In order to obtain justice for her friend, Alice must look at the clues with an open mind to the truth. Bodies are meant to stay buried but ghosts live on - until their restless spirits are finally given peace.
With the grittiness and mystery of Riverdale and the magic and romance of Once Upon A Time, The Seeker’s Shadow is a captivating urban fantasy mystery readers are sure to be enchanted by!
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2020
About the author
Isadora Brown
136 books1,166 followersIsadora Brown loves all things dark, dangerous, and deadly. Things that go bump in the night and send shivers down backs are things she adores. She loves (and writes) sexy, forbidden romance, usually with some bite and a hint of magic. She is the author of The Somerset Series, The Dark Paradise Trilogy, The Stranger Trilogy, and The Neverland Trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
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October 26, 2024DNF
September 18, 2022
The Seeker's Shadow - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Shadow of Wonderland Book 1, The Seeker's Shadow by Isadora Brown, introduces Alice, the Chief of Police's adopted, human daughter, who's unofficially investigating the case of her girlfriend who was murdered - by magic.
As she works away in the PD documents office, Alice is visited by the powerful Rumplestiltskin, who offers to help her with her off-the-book quest, in return for her help with his scheme.
What does Alice decide?
How will she react when her friend Ella confides what happened at a party in the Charmings' mansion the night before?
Isadora Brown's series opener, The Seeker's Shadow will open your eyes to a Wonderland of a new 'what if...?' version of your favourite fairytales and how things carried on after the HEA. Grab a copy today to have your eyes opened to a whole new parallel world!
Recommended to fans of Tony Bertauski, Willow Rose and Anabel Bright's fantasy novels.
Shadow of Wonderland Book 1, The Seeker's Shadow by Isadora Brown, introduces Alice, the Chief of Police's adopted, human daughter, who's unofficially investigating the case of her girlfriend who was murdered - by magic.
As she works away in the PD documents office, Alice is visited by the powerful Rumplestiltskin, who offers to help her with her off-the-book quest, in return for her help with his scheme.
What does Alice decide?
How will she react when her friend Ella confides what happened at a party in the Charmings' mansion the night before?
Isadora Brown's series opener, The Seeker's Shadow will open your eyes to a Wonderland of a new 'what if...?' version of your favourite fairytales and how things carried on after the HEA. Grab a copy today to have your eyes opened to a whole new parallel world!
Recommended to fans of Tony Bertauski, Willow Rose and Anabel Bright's fantasy novels.
February 27, 2021
Did this book even get a cursory once over before it was published? I honestly can't get over the overwhelming amount of typos, and mistakes. She has a conversation twice with different endings. Obviously this had to have been an edit but both iterations were left in somehow. Also really dumb plot holes. *Spoilers ahead* . She drives herself to the Charming estate and basically accuses the one guy of rape and in The Next Chapter is very confused as to how the Charmings knew Ella was raped, and accuses Ella of saying something to them. Like seriously getting huffy with a rape victim because she thought she said something to someone, when Alice has literally told three people, two of them Charmings, that Ella was raped. This story is just all over the place and needs work. Also the gritty Disney-esque setting makes me cringe. Nothing about this book makes sense.
September 27, 2020
This book has the bones of a really great story to it. I love the tongue-in-cheek, tipped-on-its-head, funhouse mirror kind of look this takes at Alice in Wonderland and fairy tales in general. There are just some inconsistencies that left me scratching my head. I’m hoping that the threads that were left unfinished at the end of this book will be carried forward as the series progresses. Because, there are several of them, and they ask questions I’d like to know the answers to. Things like: who are Alice’s real parents and why does that make her so special? Who really killed Anna and why is it so important to Rumple? And what the heck really is the deal behind the missing cat?
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
September 30, 2020
Being the only non-magical in Wonderland means that Alice (FMC) certainly stands out and that makes her a bit of a loner. She has a knack for helping people to though. One that gets her mixed in things that could hurt her especially when Rumpelstiltskin rocks up with a job for her. All the fairytale characters come out in this book and theyre not all they seem. I loved Peter the grumpy but a bit of a rough diamond dwarf. My head did spin a bit trying to keep up with all the different sub stories Alice had to investigate. Im secretly hoping for a love interest for Alice?? I guess we'll see in the next book? This one was a pretty good read though
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August 10, 2023DNF-too many f-bombs to waste my time.
October 20, 2020
This is book one of the Shadows of Wonderland series. The story mixes so many fairy tales together, with all the characters having a bit of a twist to them. The main character is Alice Wynter (23), who works part time in the records department of the local police station, where her adopted dad is the police chief. She lives in a town called Wonderland, where magic is no longer allowed to be used, after the Mad Mage was banished some twenty five years before by the Queen. A year ago, her best friend Anna was killed by Shadow Magic, and a man nicknamed The Beast who seemingly liked her, admitted to her murder and was sent to prison for life. Anna’s boyfriend never spoke to her again and even Alice’s own boyfriend split up with her after the murder.
She is saving up leave Wonderland in the hopes of finding her biological parents, having grown up knowing nothing much about them. She is the only person in town with no magic and so quite an oddity, but keeps to herself, so doesn’t normally take much notice of matters. But who and what she really is, will be left to be discovered. She gets an unexpected visit from Rumpelstiltskin, a man nicknamed The Imp, as his name should never be said apparently! He wants to hire her to find a photo, offering her a lot of money to do something he should be able to do himself, but since he has questionable magic, which would leave a trace, he would prefer to leave it with Alice, as she would leave no trace! She used to work on the side, finding things for people, so this is right up her street, but any deal with Rumpelstiltskin is always something to worry about.
Another visitor called Ella, the stepsister of the police station reception desk officer, comes to see her with a delicate investigation. She went to Stephen Charming’s house party and was raped by someone. Only problem is that some sort of magic was used on her as she can’t remember anything about the evening. He just knows she woke up with pelvic pain and the knowledge she was no longer a virgin! She ends up having to pull in some favours with CCTV footage of the party night from the Charming’s, to Peter the Dwarf, usually known as Grumpy, to see if magic was used on the recording. Alice’s very direct method of following up any clues or questioning anybody, are very safe in a town where everyone else can use magic and she is the only one that can’t! The murder of her friend Anna is still haunting her and the quick imprisonment of a suspect who admitted their guilt, without a full investigation or even a trial taking place. Maybe he is innocent and the real killer is still out there!
A massive mishmash of fairy tales of all kinds and some of them get a bit jarring for me, as you try to follow the main storylines of the book. You also have the White Queen, the Red or Crimson Queen and even the Mad Hatter, so Alice in Wonderland seems to be the main theme, but adds in so many more with Rumpelstiltskin, one of the Seven Dwarves and so much more. As a straight forward magical storyline, with a main character who has none, investigating a rape, searching for a photo for someone dodgy, and then looking into a cold case murder as well, it could have been a simple tale. Not mixed in with so many links to different fairy tales that really shouldn’t mix! Would have made for an easier read without it all. I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
She is saving up leave Wonderland in the hopes of finding her biological parents, having grown up knowing nothing much about them. She is the only person in town with no magic and so quite an oddity, but keeps to herself, so doesn’t normally take much notice of matters. But who and what she really is, will be left to be discovered. She gets an unexpected visit from Rumpelstiltskin, a man nicknamed The Imp, as his name should never be said apparently! He wants to hire her to find a photo, offering her a lot of money to do something he should be able to do himself, but since he has questionable magic, which would leave a trace, he would prefer to leave it with Alice, as she would leave no trace! She used to work on the side, finding things for people, so this is right up her street, but any deal with Rumpelstiltskin is always something to worry about.
Another visitor called Ella, the stepsister of the police station reception desk officer, comes to see her with a delicate investigation. She went to Stephen Charming’s house party and was raped by someone. Only problem is that some sort of magic was used on her as she can’t remember anything about the evening. He just knows she woke up with pelvic pain and the knowledge she was no longer a virgin! She ends up having to pull in some favours with CCTV footage of the party night from the Charming’s, to Peter the Dwarf, usually known as Grumpy, to see if magic was used on the recording. Alice’s very direct method of following up any clues or questioning anybody, are very safe in a town where everyone else can use magic and she is the only one that can’t! The murder of her friend Anna is still haunting her and the quick imprisonment of a suspect who admitted their guilt, without a full investigation or even a trial taking place. Maybe he is innocent and the real killer is still out there!
A massive mishmash of fairy tales of all kinds and some of them get a bit jarring for me, as you try to follow the main storylines of the book. You also have the White Queen, the Red or Crimson Queen and even the Mad Hatter, so Alice in Wonderland seems to be the main theme, but adds in so many more with Rumpelstiltskin, one of the Seven Dwarves and so much more. As a straight forward magical storyline, with a main character who has none, investigating a rape, searching for a photo for someone dodgy, and then looking into a cold case murder as well, it could have been a simple tale. Not mixed in with so many links to different fairy tales that really shouldn’t mix! Would have made for an easier read without it all. I received an ARC copy of the book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 23, 2020
This book started out pretty good. It was an interesting world, filled with fairy tale characters in a world of modern technology. The main character is Alice Wynter, daughter of the police chief. She becomes involved in a new lead with the closed case of her best friend's murder as well as a friend's case. This is where the problems started.
This book just tried to do too much, and it ended up poorly executed. There were so many plotlines, characters arcs that felt inconsistent, and it felt muddled. Don't get me wrong, I love when there are lots of plotlines and complexity in a story, but I just felt like it didn't work. There was no main focus or driving force in the story, which left the plots feeling a bit contrived. Additionally, there were quite a few characters that were pretty inconsistent, who supposedly developed as characters but didn't really get a character arc. It needed more focus to have so much going on, and it honestly left me feeling confused about the end goal while also bored about the current scene.
Though the world was interesting, I really wish the magic had been explained. I know that the main character doesn't have magic, but surely she would know the basics of how it worked, right? She grew up surrounded by people who could perform magic, so her complete ignorance didn't really make sense. It would have made a lot more sense to get some explanation of magic in the book.
Overall, I feel like the story has promise. I liked the world, and how the characters had elements of their fairy tale origins. I liked the mixture of fairy tale and technology, and the overall detective idea. However, the characters didn't quite feel real, the plotlines had no overall goal, and it left the story feeling muddled and lifeless. I needed more explanation on magic, as well as maybe a bit more history about the world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book just tried to do too much, and it ended up poorly executed. There were so many plotlines, characters arcs that felt inconsistent, and it felt muddled. Don't get me wrong, I love when there are lots of plotlines and complexity in a story, but I just felt like it didn't work. There was no main focus or driving force in the story, which left the plots feeling a bit contrived. Additionally, there were quite a few characters that were pretty inconsistent, who supposedly developed as characters but didn't really get a character arc. It needed more focus to have so much going on, and it honestly left me feeling confused about the end goal while also bored about the current scene.
Though the world was interesting, I really wish the magic had been explained. I know that the main character doesn't have magic, but surely she would know the basics of how it worked, right? She grew up surrounded by people who could perform magic, so her complete ignorance didn't really make sense. It would have made a lot more sense to get some explanation of magic in the book.
Overall, I feel like the story has promise. I liked the world, and how the characters had elements of their fairy tale origins. I liked the mixture of fairy tale and technology, and the overall detective idea. However, the characters didn't quite feel real, the plotlines had no overall goal, and it left the story feeling muddled and lifeless. I needed more explanation on magic, as well as maybe a bit more history about the world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 28, 2022
Once I catch the word Wonderland in a titel you have my attention. Combine it with a beautiful cover and a plot that sounds really intriguing and I'm sold. I downloaded this first book for free from Amazon, but I also got myself the paperback because I like filling my Alice in Wonderland bookcase with both copies of the original and copies of all the amazing retellings I read. And a few days ago I thought this would make the perfect bedtime story!
I was absolutely right that this was gonna be an entertaining read! Although the themes discussed in this story are quite heavy, Alice is searching for a rapist, the book never felt too heavy. I think that's mostly because it's also a lot of fun to match the characters in this book with their famous fairytale counterparts. It's a lot of fun in general to have all these characters in the same world and to see those stories play out.
Which doesn't mean that the author simply retells the stories as we already know them. It's clear that these characters have their own choices to make and their own stories to tell. And although I saw quite a few elements of the original tale of Cinderella in this book the author also added a lot of original twists and turns. Which makes me even more excited about future books and the stories that will be retold in those!
I also really loved Alice in this book! It's clear that she has a lot of learning and growing to do, both as a person and as a detective. I like that, because that most likely means we're gonna see her grow and learn in future books. I already can't wait to see how she's gonna learn all her lessons and what she's gonna discover about herself, her position in this world and what this means for who she is and wants to be.
As soon as I have the funds, I'll get the rest of the paperbacks and fingers crossed book 5 and 6 might be available in paperback by then too!
I was absolutely right that this was gonna be an entertaining read! Although the themes discussed in this story are quite heavy, Alice is searching for a rapist, the book never felt too heavy. I think that's mostly because it's also a lot of fun to match the characters in this book with their famous fairytale counterparts. It's a lot of fun in general to have all these characters in the same world and to see those stories play out.
Which doesn't mean that the author simply retells the stories as we already know them. It's clear that these characters have their own choices to make and their own stories to tell. And although I saw quite a few elements of the original tale of Cinderella in this book the author also added a lot of original twists and turns. Which makes me even more excited about future books and the stories that will be retold in those!
I also really loved Alice in this book! It's clear that she has a lot of learning and growing to do, both as a person and as a detective. I like that, because that most likely means we're gonna see her grow and learn in future books. I already can't wait to see how she's gonna learn all her lessons and what she's gonna discover about herself, her position in this world and what this means for who she is and wants to be.
As soon as I have the funds, I'll get the rest of the paperbacks and fingers crossed book 5 and 6 might be available in paperback by then too!
December 30, 2020
Alice Wynter is the adopted daughter of the police chief, and unfortunately, the only non-magic haver in the entire town of Wonderland. After her best friend's death a year previously, Alice lives a lonely existence. Drawing the attention of the most feared man in Wonderland, Rumpelstiltskin, Alice is tasked with locating a picture of a rose supposedly evidence to prove who really killed Alice's friend. Along the way, Alice is confided in by Ella about her assault at a party at Stephan Charming's home and she decides to investigate. Especially considering Ella's mind of the entire party and assault was wiped with outlawed magic. The pieces slowly merge together and Alice finds the culprit, but there are more secrets in Wonderland than Alice was aware of, and those secrets seem to have everything to do with Alice.
I really enjoyed this book! This book seemed to merge all of the characters from popular fairy tales that you read as a child with the characters of Alice in Wonderland. While the main plot of the rose picture for Rumple was a bit underdeveloped and pushed to the side (probably for book 2), I felt like the mystery around Ella was done well and seemed to reach a natural conclusion. Alice seemed to be characterized a lot, though she did come off as very cynical and definitely seemed to get agitated easily. I can't wait to find out more about Alice and the people around her, but I especially enjoyed Peter because he seems the most enjoyable (despite his standoffish nature and aloofness).
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book! This book seemed to merge all of the characters from popular fairy tales that you read as a child with the characters of Alice in Wonderland. While the main plot of the rose picture for Rumple was a bit underdeveloped and pushed to the side (probably for book 2), I felt like the mystery around Ella was done well and seemed to reach a natural conclusion. Alice seemed to be characterized a lot, though she did come off as very cynical and definitely seemed to get agitated easily. I can't wait to find out more about Alice and the people around her, but I especially enjoyed Peter because he seems the most enjoyable (despite his standoffish nature and aloofness).
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 25, 2020
If your best friends murderer had been convicted & imprisoned for over a year, would you even contemplate looking into his possible innocence? After all the grief Alice has been through and still suffering what or who could convince her otherwise especially with the effect it would have on a lot of people and loved ones, should she try and delve into a mystery that she desperately needs the answer to herself ? This storyline pulls Alice in lots of different directions unwrapping hidden secrets from there wrappers that are long past there sell by date ! Alice has wanted out of this biased town and the Disdain that’s been thrown at her since her adoptive father bought her here. However even secrets she had no idea about will emerge threatening to tear her world apart especially when one person who is dear to her finds out her schemes and is madder than the tornado that is ripping hearts and secrets open all around them !! expect to fall into this advantageous & extraordinary imagination of this author as a world is created to make you forget all others and watch as different threads of the storyline are twisted and turned back on themselves to stop you guessing the pure genius of the cliffhanger ending. A great start to a mysterious series which is full of explosive secrets, a possibility of romance ? Trust but so many lies, will Alice ever be able to solve or survive the outcome of the truth about this magical town.
May 8, 2023
Okay so this is all the fairytale mashed up into a super cool, fun book!
Alice is the only non magical folk in Wonderland, despite the no magic order. She's something of an object retriever and records keeper at the police department with an adopted father that's the chief.
This book is so... clever. Fresh. Unique. I bet you've read fairytale retelling's before but have you read a completely new spin, not about any particular one, but all of the characters (Beast, Rumplestilskin, grumpy dwarf, prince charming etc) thrown together in a totally unique, modern way? Probably not. I hadn't either, until now.
I love that the name 'Cinderella' for Ella is actually a derogatory name given to her by bullies because she works for her stepmother cleaning company and always has soot on her. How freaking clever.
Despite this being a fun read there is A LOT going on, and it's a little predictable in the majority of the plot. But there's so much bigger things in the background that leaves lots of questions unanswered. Considering it's like an 8 book series that makes sense. Keep the readers asking questions enough to purchase the next book. I get it. I will say the ending seemed very sudden.
"I missed being that age. I missed not knowing that there were bad people out there who could hurt me or my friends."
Alice is the only non magical folk in Wonderland, despite the no magic order. She's something of an object retriever and records keeper at the police department with an adopted father that's the chief.
This book is so... clever. Fresh. Unique. I bet you've read fairytale retelling's before but have you read a completely new spin, not about any particular one, but all of the characters (Beast, Rumplestilskin, grumpy dwarf, prince charming etc) thrown together in a totally unique, modern way? Probably not. I hadn't either, until now.
I love that the name 'Cinderella' for Ella is actually a derogatory name given to her by bullies because she works for her stepmother cleaning company and always has soot on her. How freaking clever.
Despite this being a fun read there is A LOT going on, and it's a little predictable in the majority of the plot. But there's so much bigger things in the background that leaves lots of questions unanswered. Considering it's like an 8 book series that makes sense. Keep the readers asking questions enough to purchase the next book. I get it. I will say the ending seemed very sudden.
"I missed being that age. I missed not knowing that there were bad people out there who could hurt me or my friends."
December 29, 2020
The Seeker's Shadow is the first book in the The Shadow of Wonderland series, which is a fantasy retelling of Alice in Wonderland. The book revolves around Alice Wynter, an unmagicked orphaned human in the land of magic. Wonderland is a magic land governed by Red Queen who banished the Mad Mage and forbid magic. Alice was adopted and brought up by a single police officer father. She is good in decoding and finding things, so even the magicked turn up to her for her assistance. But she wants to find her parents and the real murderer behind her best friend Anna's murder. When Rumplestilstkin, the Imp of the Wonderland comes to her and extends his guidance to find the real murderer of Anna, Alice's journey of Seeker is starts. When her friend Ella reaches her for a favour, Alice gets tangled up in more mess. And then there is Jack Lupine, Anna's Ex, who warns Alice to stay away from everything and especially Rumple. How Alice handles everyone and solve her friend's mystery which leads her in her journey is the story. I loved reading version Alice in Wonderland, where everyone are human, now waiting for the next installment to learn more of Alice's journey.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 26, 2020
❇️❇️ONE THRILLING ADVENTURE❇️❇️
Outstanding! Isadora threw a wrench in the fan delivering this refreshing treat, laying out one skillfully spun debacle, weaving a tangled web so intricately and precise drawing you deeper until everything else ceases to exist, wrapping this gem up sleek shiny and tight. Disadvantages are amplified and exploited, dishing out all the fervent facts, dubious deals and fiery fiascos, keeping you riveted on a razors edge and frozen to your, launching this baby into a tailspin with a jaw dropping culmination. Shenanigans, escapades and havoc run amuck, rousting the drama, intrigue, turmoil, escalating danger, spiraling suspense and Intense situations along with a boatload of revelations while dodging calamity, you have one thrilling adventure. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and graphic descriptions creating an elaborate backdrop that feels as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Isadora, thanks for sharing this amazing thrill with us.
Outstanding! Isadora threw a wrench in the fan delivering this refreshing treat, laying out one skillfully spun debacle, weaving a tangled web so intricately and precise drawing you deeper until everything else ceases to exist, wrapping this gem up sleek shiny and tight. Disadvantages are amplified and exploited, dishing out all the fervent facts, dubious deals and fiery fiascos, keeping you riveted on a razors edge and frozen to your, launching this baby into a tailspin with a jaw dropping culmination. Shenanigans, escapades and havoc run amuck, rousting the drama, intrigue, turmoil, escalating danger, spiraling suspense and Intense situations along with a boatload of revelations while dodging calamity, you have one thrilling adventure. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and graphic descriptions creating an elaborate backdrop that feels as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Fantastic job Isadora, thanks for sharing this amazing thrill with us.
January 15, 2026
“The Seeker's Shadow”, first in the 'Shadows of Wonderland' series, has lots of great ideas which are let down by sloppy writing and editing.
Alice is the only non-magical person in Wonderland.
The adopted child of the Wonderland Police Chief she's never really fit in.
But 25 years ago the Red Queen stripped the citizens of all their magic after a rebellion by the Mad Mage (it's never fully explained and there appears to be a fair amount of surreptitious magicking around).
A few years ago something bad happened to Alice (what it was is hinted at but never fully explained), and later her best friend, Anna, was murdered – leaving her feeling even more isolated). She also appears to have a past history as some sort of P.I., again it is never explained.
The plot concerns the rape of Ella (Cinderella) by the oldest son of the mega-wealthy and powerful Charming family.
There's a sub-plot concerning Rumplestiltskin who wants her to find a latter - but he's known to be a capricious and somewhat maniacal character at the best of times.
It's a fun read most of the time but it badly needed a proper edit before being launched on the world.
3 Stars.
Alice is the only non-magical person in Wonderland.
The adopted child of the Wonderland Police Chief she's never really fit in.
But 25 years ago the Red Queen stripped the citizens of all their magic after a rebellion by the Mad Mage (it's never fully explained and there appears to be a fair amount of surreptitious magicking around).
A few years ago something bad happened to Alice (what it was is hinted at but never fully explained), and later her best friend, Anna, was murdered – leaving her feeling even more isolated). She also appears to have a past history as some sort of P.I., again it is never explained.
The plot concerns the rape of Ella (Cinderella) by the oldest son of the mega-wealthy and powerful Charming family.
There's a sub-plot concerning Rumplestiltskin who wants her to find a latter - but he's known to be a capricious and somewhat maniacal character at the best of times.
It's a fun read most of the time but it badly needed a proper edit before being launched on the world.
3 Stars.
September 28, 2020
Alice Wynter is the daughter of the chief of police and the only one in Wonderland who has no magic! She always felt as if she never belonged there. Her best friend Anna was murdered a year ago. When Rumpelstiltskin talks with her about the murder, he indicates the man convicted for it may actually be innocent. Alice’s father was the arresting officer and got a promotion out of it, so she’s not sure she wants to rock the boat and get the criminal freed. But to find true justice for her friend, she needs an open mind and has to look for the truth.
This story is intriguing with twists and turns that keep the reader in suspense. But can Alice protect herself while she investigates? Will she be safe on the path she takes? Will she find the real killer and free the innocent man?
This was a clever story that keeps the reader interested in the outcome of this unusual story line. The characters are well-portrayed and hold the reader’s attention. What will Alice’s father do when he finds out her intentions? Grab your copy and enjoy this well-told tale!
This story is intriguing with twists and turns that keep the reader in suspense. But can Alice protect herself while she investigates? Will she be safe on the path she takes? Will she find the real killer and free the innocent man?
This was a clever story that keeps the reader interested in the outcome of this unusual story line. The characters are well-portrayed and hold the reader’s attention. What will Alice’s father do when he finds out her intentions? Grab your copy and enjoy this well-told tale!
October 3, 2020
I love the cover of this book which is beautiful, it shows the pretty Alice standing at the foot of a magic portal I guess. This book is the first of the trilogy: "Shadows of wonderland".
We find there the pretty Alice Winter who at 23 years old and lives in Wonderland. She realizes that it is the wrong person who is in jail for the murder of her best friend a year earlier. She investigates to find out the truth about this murder as she is the only one not practicing magic, nobody is watching her. Twenty-four years ago magic was wiped off the map by a mad magician who was banned. But there are still a few people in whom magic is still rooted and if it falls into the wrong hands.... Alice is the daughter of the chief of police and she can't wait to leave this world of wonders. Rumpelstiltskin will offer her a deal and she will accept.
A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked into the story so captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters, all as endearing as the others. Can't wait to read the book two.
We find there the pretty Alice Winter who at 23 years old and lives in Wonderland. She realizes that it is the wrong person who is in jail for the murder of her best friend a year earlier. She investigates to find out the truth about this murder as she is the only one not practicing magic, nobody is watching her. Twenty-four years ago magic was wiped off the map by a mad magician who was banned. But there are still a few people in whom magic is still rooted and if it falls into the wrong hands.... Alice is the daughter of the chief of police and she can't wait to leave this world of wonders. Rumpelstiltskin will offer her a deal and she will accept.
A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked into the story so captivating, full of suspense and twists and turns with very endearing characters, all as endearing as the others. Can't wait to read the book two.
September 29, 2022
Perfect for fans of OUAT
I really enjoyed the premise of the story. I adore fairytale retelling and twisted tales, and this did not disappoint.
I did feel however that what is promised as the A plot in the blurb is actually the B plot, with Alice looking into the rape of her friend Elle taking precedence to the investigation into the possibly innocent man who was arrested for the murder of her best friend.
However the book does hint that these two might be related and tie in to a much bigger conspiracy in future books.
Alice was also a bit slow on things which had me annoyed at her during several points in the book (please! The villain was so obvious, but she was so sure that she knew who the culprit was that it tainted her investigation and drove me nuts).
I really enjoyed the town of Wonderland and getting to know it's inhabitants, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens as they uncover the secrets of Alice's past and how that ties in to the looming threat of the Mad Mage.
I really enjoyed the premise of the story. I adore fairytale retelling and twisted tales, and this did not disappoint.
I did feel however that what is promised as the A plot in the blurb is actually the B plot, with Alice looking into the rape of her friend Elle taking precedence to the investigation into the possibly innocent man who was arrested for the murder of her best friend.
However the book does hint that these two might be related and tie in to a much bigger conspiracy in future books.
Alice was also a bit slow on things which had me annoyed at her during several points in the book (please! The villain was so obvious, but she was so sure that she knew who the culprit was that it tainted her investigation and drove me nuts).
I really enjoyed the town of Wonderland and getting to know it's inhabitants, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens as they uncover the secrets of Alice's past and how that ties in to the looming threat of the Mad Mage.
December 14, 2021
The suspense and mystery alone are enough to keep those pages turning. All of the characters were great and amazing people well, maybe not all but most. There was this one character which I kept waiting for each and every appearance to see where they were going to end up next. A character that I do consider as one of the main characters but is difficult and will not tell Alice why he wants her. Alice is standing out all alone. She has no idea how she is supposed to help him and he’s not saying anything either. Can she refuse him? Does she dare even if she wants to? The truth of who she is too important to her. She has decided that even if it means forcing herself to trust someone as evil, as mischievous and as selfish as Rumpelstiltskin himself that is what she has to do. I received this novel through BookFunnel. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2020
I would have given this more stars, since the story was good, but there was to many inconsistencies. I feel it needs alot of revision. We have Alice who is the daughter of the Cheif of police who is the only non magical person in Wonderland. In college she was like a detective on finding things, but once out she stopped. Now there are others asking for her help all of sudden. Can she help them? What is all the mystery? Will she ever find out who killed her friend? Can she find out why she is the only non magical? Where will all the clues to everything that people are asking her to do lead her? Can she stay safe? Why do they hate her so much or is it just her?
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.
September 23, 2020
Can Alice find the Answers?
“The Seeker’s Shadow” is an unusually confusing, but interesting tale. Alice is the only non-magical person in the town of Wonderland and the only person trying to find out who murdered her best friend. Why does everyone need her help? They are magical beings and should be able to get answers easier, shouldn’t they? This tale is full of suspense and twists that add to the drama and action. This tale has an interesting mystery, but will Alice be safe while she puts herself in the middle of things? Book 2 should be much more interesting. If you like mysteries then this is the tale you need to read.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
“The Seeker’s Shadow” is an unusually confusing, but interesting tale. Alice is the only non-magical person in the town of Wonderland and the only person trying to find out who murdered her best friend. Why does everyone need her help? They are magical beings and should be able to get answers easier, shouldn’t they? This tale is full of suspense and twists that add to the drama and action. This tale has an interesting mystery, but will Alice be safe while she puts herself in the middle of things? Book 2 should be much more interesting. If you like mysteries then this is the tale you need to read.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily
September 30, 2020
The only one without magic. Is this a blessing or a curse? Alice is adopted and the only in Wonderland with no magic. As such she is shunned, ignored, and lonely. Her only friend was murdered a year ago and she thought the guilty one was in prison. But when Rumpelstiltskin. askd for her help, it sets of doubt in her mind, and more people coming to her for help. But her only goal has always been to make enough money to leave Wonderland and find her real parents and find out why they left her in a magical town. But what if there are even more secrets behind her being there? And what if everything she has believed for years is a lie? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
November 12, 2020
Our heroine is the only one in the realm without magic, which can be a bit of a bother. But when she is asked to look into the murder of her best friend, that becomes the least of her concerns.
This is an urban fantasy story with many of the trappings of the classic Alice in Wonderland story. That being said, it is also very different and unique unto itself. The story is well written and has a lot going on which can be a bit confusing at times. There are also lots of characters, some vaguely familiar while others are completely new. Overall, the story moves along at a fast pace and certainly kept my interest. I am definitely interested to see where it goes in the next book.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is an urban fantasy story with many of the trappings of the classic Alice in Wonderland story. That being said, it is also very different and unique unto itself. The story is well written and has a lot going on which can be a bit confusing at times. There are also lots of characters, some vaguely familiar while others are completely new. Overall, the story moves along at a fast pace and certainly kept my interest. I am definitely interested to see where it goes in the next book.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
May 6, 2021
Alice the blundering lass, in Wonderland?
I generally enjoy fantasy written by Isadora Brown. This book was a rough start, I assume to put us in Alice the main characters position of confusion and being off balance. The characters took a while to congeal into a formed cohesiveness, and that made the story drag a bit at the beginning. By 3/4 way through the book I decided who I was rooting for, and was able to properly engage in the story. The setting for the story, reminds of a cross between Once Upon A Time, and Time Bandits. A stumble around in the dark to find the right answers, and then once you know the game well enough to play, it's over. Thank you for a view into your new world, I hope it grows well over time
I generally enjoy fantasy written by Isadora Brown. This book was a rough start, I assume to put us in Alice the main characters position of confusion and being off balance. The characters took a while to congeal into a formed cohesiveness, and that made the story drag a bit at the beginning. By 3/4 way through the book I decided who I was rooting for, and was able to properly engage in the story. The setting for the story, reminds of a cross between Once Upon A Time, and Time Bandits. A stumble around in the dark to find the right answers, and then once you know the game well enough to play, it's over. Thank you for a view into your new world, I hope it grows well over time
September 28, 2020
Alice is the online nonmagical person living in the town of Wonderland. Since her best friend was murdered last year she has been alone and isolated, working part time at the police station where her father is sheriff. When Rumpelstiltskin, an extremely powerful imp, comes to her with questions about the guilt of the man imprisoned for the murder, Alice is forced to face her own doubts. Finding unexpected allies and uncovering deeply buried secrets along the way, Alice digs into murder of her friend no matter the cost. I loved this book! The characters were vivid and the storyline highly engaging. I received an advance copy of this book and voluntarily left a review.
September 29, 2020
This a new twist to and old childhood children's character but this is definitely and adult read with its mystery and murder. You have Alice the cheifs daughter with no magic mystery one. Anna the victim did her killer really get brought to justice. Mystery 3 why is Rumplstiltskin involving himself in the already closed case. When Alice goes down this trail of clues she's going to make plenty of people made and put herself in the sites of a killer but who is it. This book asks allot of questions and leaves plenty not answered which will hopefully get answered in book two.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
September 4, 2022
Alice Wynter is twenty-three years old and works as a records clerk at the Wonderland Police Department. Everyone in the village is magical except for Alice who is non-magical. Magic was outlawed over twenty-four years ago after the Mad Mage banished all magic. Alice’s best friend Anna was killed by Shadow Magic and a man named the Beast confessed to her murder. Rumpelstiltskin known as the Imp hires Alice to locate a photo as his magic can be traced and Alice being non-magical cannot leave a trace. There are lots of bewildering fairy tales in this hilariously entertaining story. I really enjoyed this fantasy novel.
November 27, 2023
A modern twist on Alice in Wonderland!
Alice in a modern-day magical world provides an intriguing storyline. She is a non-magical with a part-time job at the police department, living in a paranormal community. As a child, and later as a teenager, Alice was the go-to sleuth if there was a mystery to be solved so it’s no surprise when an old acquaintance comes to her for help.
I enjoyed this new take on Alice Through the Looking Glass. A mystery, an old murder case, Rumpelstiltskin, White Rabbit, and a missing cat combine to create an interesting story. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
Alice in a modern-day magical world provides an intriguing storyline. She is a non-magical with a part-time job at the police department, living in a paranormal community. As a child, and later as a teenager, Alice was the go-to sleuth if there was a mystery to be solved so it’s no surprise when an old acquaintance comes to her for help.
I enjoyed this new take on Alice Through the Looking Glass. A mystery, an old murder case, Rumpelstiltskin, White Rabbit, and a missing cat combine to create an interesting story. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
September 28, 2020
I loved this book from the plot to the writing to the characters. I loved how it mixed a mystery or two, fairy tales, and a famous book together to deliver an amazing story and start to a series I am addicted to. Basically it is the story of Alice and what happens when she goes about to solve a mystery. She is a great character, flawed in the typical way yet I still rooted for her to solve her mystery. The story ended with a great set up for the series and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I am hooked. I read the story in one sitting as I could not put it down.
September 29, 2020
An interesting introduction to a new series, which leaves you wanting more. So many fairytale characters make an appearance in a modern day setting. There is intrigue, romance and social issues just to name a few so much happening. As I have read an ARC copy I hope the published version has the spelling, grammar and small inconsistencies that I noticed corrected. I would only give my copy a 3 stars at best. Look forward to the next in the series..
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.
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