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Alice in Liars Land
This story had it all - dangerous quest, magic academy, drama and intrigue – perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying and Pretty Little Liars.
Alice wanted to study at Welkin – the Spherical Magic Academy to create magic objects. Her dream is coming true. She takes the place of a missing girl, lives in her room, studies according to her schedule, and takes part in an exciting game.
Here she meets her rivals. Mysterious, unpredictable and dangerous.
They are all lying.
Who’s hiding behind the masks of humans? Friends? Enemies? Monsters?
Alice doesn't know.
The answer is in the game. What started as an interesting adventure turns into a struggle for survival.
Each round is a dangerous test, a challenge to test human capabilities. Alice gets control of the cards, and has to solve the secret hidden in them, and not let her opponents take them away – but they will use all methods available to them.
When playing, it’s important to remember that the monster is already in the academy.
Everyone will meet the monster, even if the monster lives inside.
Alice wanted to study at Welkin – the Spherical Magic Academy to create magic objects. Her dream is coming true. She takes the place of a missing girl, lives in her room, studies according to her schedule, and takes part in an exciting game.
Here she meets her rivals. Mysterious, unpredictable and dangerous.
They are all lying.
Who’s hiding behind the masks of humans? Friends? Enemies? Monsters?
Alice doesn't know.
The answer is in the game. What started as an interesting adventure turns into a struggle for survival.
Each round is a dangerous test, a challenge to test human capabilities. Alice gets control of the cards, and has to solve the secret hidden in them, and not let her opponents take them away – but they will use all methods available to them.
When playing, it’s important to remember that the monster is already in the academy.
Everyone will meet the monster, even if the monster lives inside.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2022
16 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Diana Shafran
2 books17 followersDiana Shafran is a fantasy, young adult author. She has been writing books for more than ten years. Her professional background is that of an economist, but her real mission is to open her reader's minds to the world of magic. Her books are a ticket to the fantasy world, where there are complex puzzles, dangerous games, complicated relationships, and friendships that can overcome anything.
In a real life, Di wears sweaters with cute animals on them. She is too shy to be in big groups of people. She loves lattes and fresh pastries.
Di herself couldn't stand an hour as a character in one of her books. But she loves creating them and watching as their adventures unfold.
Di currently lives in city, spending all her time in home, while creating new magic worlds.
If you don't want to miss any free giveaways & announcements, and much more, you can:
- Subscribe to the author's official page ➜ https://www.facebook.com/di.shafran
- Follow her on Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/shafran.diana/
Join her mailing list to receive FREE books and updates ➜ https://dianashafran.com/
In a real life, Di wears sweaters with cute animals on them. She is too shy to be in big groups of people. She loves lattes and fresh pastries.
Di herself couldn't stand an hour as a character in one of her books. But she loves creating them and watching as their adventures unfold.
Di currently lives in city, spending all her time in home, while creating new magic worlds.
If you don't want to miss any free giveaways & announcements, and much more, you can:
- Subscribe to the author's official page ➜ https://www.facebook.com/di.shafran
- Follow her on Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/shafran.diana/
Join her mailing list to receive FREE books and updates ➜ https://dianashafran.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
December 11, 2024
Loved this one. Full of mysteries, secrets and a captivating plot with well-written twists and turns. Loved the fusion of sci-fi and fantasy genres.
Loved the characters.All of them, Alice, David Sunny, Richard 💗
Their arcs are written perfectly!
Loved the mysteriously cosy college setting in the book and I was truly hooked from the start of this book...
The plot twist in the end was totally unexpected and I loved it so much. If you love slow burn, mysterious setting, science fiction and a book full of secrets, give this book a try.
Thank you so much @dianashafran for the ARC!
Loved the characters.All of them, Alice, David Sunny, Richard 💗
Their arcs are written perfectly!
Loved the mysteriously cosy college setting in the book and I was truly hooked from the start of this book...
The plot twist in the end was totally unexpected and I loved it so much. If you love slow burn, mysterious setting, science fiction and a book full of secrets, give this book a try.
Thank you so much @dianashafran for the ARC!
February 7, 2024
A dark academia adventure that's full of mystery, secrets and a captivating plot.
Alice's dream is to become an inventor and thanks to an anonymous sponsorship she gets a last minute slot at Welkin Academy. But she soon discovers her vacancy was due to a missing girl, and the more she learns the more sinister things become, especially when she starts receiving dangerous clues from the missing girl, and threats from her classmates.
Alice is drawn into a dangerous world of lies, games and secrets, and must navigate her way through everyone's masks to discover the truth and survive.
It's a thrilling mystery with surprises and twists, that tests humanity and morality, and you don't know who can be trusted throughout.
It's a creative blend of sci-fi and fantasy through the magic systems, and sees players navigating a dark competition with high stakes.
Alice's dream is to become an inventor and thanks to an anonymous sponsorship she gets a last minute slot at Welkin Academy. But she soon discovers her vacancy was due to a missing girl, and the more she learns the more sinister things become, especially when she starts receiving dangerous clues from the missing girl, and threats from her classmates.
Alice is drawn into a dangerous world of lies, games and secrets, and must navigate her way through everyone's masks to discover the truth and survive.
It's a thrilling mystery with surprises and twists, that tests humanity and morality, and you don't know who can be trusted throughout.
It's a creative blend of sci-fi and fantasy through the magic systems, and sees players navigating a dark competition with high stakes.
March 22, 2023
I found this story realistic and relatable, especially the student life. And since I am a teacher now, I have experienced that life from both the sides. The book has magic which doubles up as science. There is a mystery waiting to be unfolded at every corner but the hints for it are spread across the story. At one point, I was jotting them down before I gave up.
I loved the basic plot and the character development. It was fast paced with a lot of twists and turns. Lies and suspicion were at the centre of the story. There were a lot of times when I figured things out but something unanticipated happened next. The story ends somewhat on a happy note, if you'd like to call it that. I don't want to talk about the exact plot because that would give a lot of it away but if you are looking for something that forces you to use your brain in solving the puzzles, this is your book. Wonderful debut.
I loved the basic plot and the character development. It was fast paced with a lot of twists and turns. Lies and suspicion were at the centre of the story. There were a lot of times when I figured things out but something unanticipated happened next. The story ends somewhat on a happy note, if you'd like to call it that. I don't want to talk about the exact plot because that would give a lot of it away but if you are looking for something that forces you to use your brain in solving the puzzles, this is your book. Wonderful debut.
March 11, 2024
"𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒. 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒.” - 𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐌
✨ 𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓:
Alice, with dreams of becoming an inventor, received a rare opportunity to attend Welkin: Spherical Magic Academy, a prestigious school, all thanks to an anonymous sponsor. However, upon arriving, she was shocked to learn that a previous student who had previously resided in her room, Alyse – who also coincidentally shared her name – had vanished without a trace. Now, armed only with cryptic clues from a mysterious L-bird, Alice must embark on a quest to find Alyse, risking everything in the process.
✨ 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐓:
Wow! This book totally caught me off guard. It was absolutely fantastic and epic! Personally, I'm a big fan of the main characters, Alice, Sunny, Mike, David, and Richard. I can't help but ship Alice and David together – they'd make an amazing pair! I went through a whirlwind of emotions while reading this. And that major plot twist! Completely unexpected! The writing in this book was just beautiful. The storyline had me hooked from start to finish. I was blown away by the author's creativity in writing such a unique world. I really enjoyed learning about the technology of the L-beads, spheres, and gems. Plus, the mix of science fiction with thriller and mystery elements was spot on – it just impeccable!
✨ 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒:
If you love science fiction, romantasy, and mystery, this book is definitely right up your alley!
✨ 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑:
I want to express my gratitude to Diana Shafran, the author, for sending me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much! I genuinely think this book is epic and deserves to be read by many. It’s just soooo good!
✨ 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
📌 SCIENCE FICTION
📌 SLOW BURN ROMANCE
📌 SOLVING MYSTERY CASE
📌 FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY
📌 SECRETS TO UNRAVEL
✨ 𝐀 𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐓:
Alice, with dreams of becoming an inventor, received a rare opportunity to attend Welkin: Spherical Magic Academy, a prestigious school, all thanks to an anonymous sponsor. However, upon arriving, she was shocked to learn that a previous student who had previously resided in her room, Alyse – who also coincidentally shared her name – had vanished without a trace. Now, armed only with cryptic clues from a mysterious L-bird, Alice must embark on a quest to find Alyse, risking everything in the process.
✨ 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐓:
Wow! This book totally caught me off guard. It was absolutely fantastic and epic! Personally, I'm a big fan of the main characters, Alice, Sunny, Mike, David, and Richard. I can't help but ship Alice and David together – they'd make an amazing pair! I went through a whirlwind of emotions while reading this. And that major plot twist! Completely unexpected! The writing in this book was just beautiful. The storyline had me hooked from start to finish. I was blown away by the author's creativity in writing such a unique world. I really enjoyed learning about the technology of the L-beads, spheres, and gems. Plus, the mix of science fiction with thriller and mystery elements was spot on – it just impeccable!
✨ 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒:
If you love science fiction, romantasy, and mystery, this book is definitely right up your alley!
✨ 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑:
I want to express my gratitude to Diana Shafran, the author, for sending me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much! I genuinely think this book is epic and deserves to be read by many. It’s just soooo good!
✨ 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
📌 SCIENCE FICTION
📌 SLOW BURN ROMANCE
📌 SOLVING MYSTERY CASE
📌 FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY
📌 SECRETS TO UNRAVEL
May 20, 2024
My first ever ARC read you guys and I enjoyed it SO much!!!
First off, I just want to thank the author Diana Shafran for sending me a copy of her book.
If you’ve read ‘One of us is lying’ or ‘Harry Potter’, I definitely know you should give this book a read. It was an absolute whirlwind trying to figure out which characters to trust. The plot twists were insane and this book had a great mix of fantasy, mystery, thriller and romance.
One thing I was absolutely obsessed with was the dark academia atmosphere. I haven’t read dark academia in so long, and this book made me realise that I miss it 😂
Dark academia, thriller and mystery go hand in hand (the perfect combination) and the author has written it so well that I was on the edge of my seat! Also who doesn’t love a good competition? This book had it all!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Romance: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5⭐️
First off, I just want to thank the author Diana Shafran for sending me a copy of her book.
If you’ve read ‘One of us is lying’ or ‘Harry Potter’, I definitely know you should give this book a read. It was an absolute whirlwind trying to figure out which characters to trust. The plot twists were insane and this book had a great mix of fantasy, mystery, thriller and romance.
One thing I was absolutely obsessed with was the dark academia atmosphere. I haven’t read dark academia in so long, and this book made me realise that I miss it 😂
Dark academia, thriller and mystery go hand in hand (the perfect combination) and the author has written it so well that I was on the edge of my seat! Also who doesn’t love a good competition? This book had it all!
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Romance: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5⭐️
February 26, 2024
4.25/5
« Through this, Alice realized why people often wore masks. Sometimes, they needed to hide in the shadows to combat the encroaching darkness. »
First I would like to thank Diana, for sending me her book ♡. I am very grateful, and it was such a good read tbh.
The mystery, was just so so good, and I literally wanted to know everything so I couldn’t stop reading till I reached the end.
Also all the secrets🕴️.
« remember: the best shield you can have is knowing other people's secrets. »
Gonna talk ab the characters now :).
Firstly, Alice. Obviously. Anyway, I rlly liked her character and she didn’t like let herself make small. She also was very smart and I hope she gets to have her own lab someday :).
« She used to be an ordinary pawn.
A girl who was simple and easy to play with
But she showed her strength, and that changed everything. »
« From the moment she entered her dorm room, Alice felt she lost who she truly was. At first, she took on the role of Alyse Stone, going to her classes and getting pulled into a twisted game. Now, they wanted her to step into Louise's shoes, to relive that girl's history.
It was like the real Alice, with her own thoughts and feelings, had just vanished. It felt like someone had forced a mask on her, and she had no choice but to wear it. »
I rlly loved her friendship with Sunny, and Mike.
Eventhough in the beginning, I didn’t even trust them, but now I think I can trust them??
Anyway I ship Sunny and Mike so so so bad, LIKE PLS GET TOGETHERRR.
« Richard had been right. She'd been nothing more than a pawn. Yet, the pawn's ultimate purpose was to absorb the hit, to pave the way for a powerful counterstrike - and that's precisely the role Richard assigned to her. He'd tucked her away in the darkest cor-ner, so she'd be overlooked. »
In the beginning I obviously didn’t trust Richard either. But then I kinda got to trust him? THEN HE WA SLITT THE ASSISTANT. At the end I finally ser my grudges aside, and thought ok… It’s over now, so they can be together and stuff. But no. He got away at the end?!
Does this mean there is gonna be a book 2?
Because I did kinda love Richard and Alice together, but he is lying so much..
Then again I do feel bad for him, for what happend w his brothers, and what caused his scars.
« Richard wore masks, each carefully crafted to match the role he needed to play.
The kind, caring side he displayed now could be just another disguise. »
« Richard didn't just wear one mask; he had a collection of them. And each time she thought she'd seen the real him, another layer was unveiled. So who was he, really? »
As for the liars;
« No matter the masks we put on, we can't hide who we truly are inside. I've seen your true colors, and honestly? Today's performance wasn't your best. »
Antoine was the quiet one (love him). And from seeing the scar, I kinda alrdy knew he tried to save Louise.
I honestly feel so bad for all of them, but just a bit more for Antoine.
I love that he loves music :).
From the moment Shane aka Mad dragon, appeared in Laura her room, when Alice was tryna take the bracelet off. I just knew there was more history between Shane and Laura.
And I was correcttttt :).
So happy for them, that they got back together.
« They are my mirror, »
« In them, I see a reflection of myself the genuine me. But after everything, I... I. began to hate myself. It seemed everyone else did too. The very thing that bound us together also drove us apart. We were toxic to each other. So, distancing ourselves felt right.
But now, there's a shared purpose. »
I also do feel super bad for David, and William. Because they obviously both loved Louise.
At the end I kinda even started shipping Alice and David, pls dont ask me why.
I do hope they get to find someone else they can love, and try to be happy. Both of them.
« People keep their most precious memories hidden. It's natural, »
Lastly, Louise. The fact she probably sacrificed herself bcs she saw herself as the ‘ghost’ friend, is just so so sad. And the fact Phantom even survived her sacrifice just makes me sad. May she rest in peace fr.
« I won't allow you to turn into mon-sters. Never. You're incredible people and the greatest friends anyone could ask for. Don't let anyone alter that. »
I still feel so bad for all the liars, like they were such a fun group and obv happy together. Then that stupid game made them not even talk to eachother anymore. I am happy that they are tryna become one again. And decided to split the diamond, so each has a piece.
« He had hidden behind a wall of indifference.
Relationships with friends had changed so much that they didn't even look at each other.
The game had changed them. »
Small things ab a few other characters;
Joe…. I can’t believe I felt bad for this dude. And maybe I still do feel bad, but it was his choice to be more bad or good. He chose bad.
Rebecca, in the beginning I didn’t trust her at all, and maybe I still don’t. But she was also just like Alice, chosen as a paw.
Alyse. I rlly wanna read her novella, to maybe discover what exactly happend to her. I rlly had hoped she survived somehow, but Ig we were wrong.
I hope Phantom kills himself, bcs wtf… This mf. I don’t have the words.
« A human always has free will and makes a choice. When the mask falls, the monster is born.
That's why Phantom has no face. He has many faces. It doesn't matter what he looks like; only what's inside of him matters. He has accepted the monster within, and now he searches for it in others. And he always finds it! »
« Through this, Alice realized why people often wore masks. Sometimes, they needed to hide in the shadows to combat the encroaching darkness. »
First I would like to thank Diana, for sending me her book ♡. I am very grateful, and it was such a good read tbh.
The mystery, was just so so good, and I literally wanted to know everything so I couldn’t stop reading till I reached the end.
Also all the secrets🕴️.
« remember: the best shield you can have is knowing other people's secrets. »
Gonna talk ab the characters now :).
Firstly, Alice. Obviously. Anyway, I rlly liked her character and she didn’t like let herself make small. She also was very smart and I hope she gets to have her own lab someday :).
« She used to be an ordinary pawn.
A girl who was simple and easy to play with
But she showed her strength, and that changed everything. »
« From the moment she entered her dorm room, Alice felt she lost who she truly was. At first, she took on the role of Alyse Stone, going to her classes and getting pulled into a twisted game. Now, they wanted her to step into Louise's shoes, to relive that girl's history.
It was like the real Alice, with her own thoughts and feelings, had just vanished. It felt like someone had forced a mask on her, and she had no choice but to wear it. »
I rlly loved her friendship with Sunny, and Mike.
Eventhough in the beginning, I didn’t even trust them, but now I think I can trust them??
Anyway I ship Sunny and Mike so so so bad, LIKE PLS GET TOGETHERRR.
« Richard had been right. She'd been nothing more than a pawn. Yet, the pawn's ultimate purpose was to absorb the hit, to pave the way for a powerful counterstrike - and that's precisely the role Richard assigned to her. He'd tucked her away in the darkest cor-ner, so she'd be overlooked. »
In the beginning I obviously didn’t trust Richard either. But then I kinda got to trust him? THEN HE WA SLITT THE ASSISTANT. At the end I finally ser my grudges aside, and thought ok… It’s over now, so they can be together and stuff. But no. He got away at the end?!
Does this mean there is gonna be a book 2?
Because I did kinda love Richard and Alice together, but he is lying so much..
Then again I do feel bad for him, for what happend w his brothers, and what caused his scars.
« Richard wore masks, each carefully crafted to match the role he needed to play.
The kind, caring side he displayed now could be just another disguise. »
« Richard didn't just wear one mask; he had a collection of them. And each time she thought she'd seen the real him, another layer was unveiled. So who was he, really? »
As for the liars;
« No matter the masks we put on, we can't hide who we truly are inside. I've seen your true colors, and honestly? Today's performance wasn't your best. »
Antoine was the quiet one (love him). And from seeing the scar, I kinda alrdy knew he tried to save Louise.
I honestly feel so bad for all of them, but just a bit more for Antoine.
I love that he loves music :).
From the moment Shane aka Mad dragon, appeared in Laura her room, when Alice was tryna take the bracelet off. I just knew there was more history between Shane and Laura.
And I was correcttttt :).
So happy for them, that they got back together.
« They are my mirror, »
« In them, I see a reflection of myself the genuine me. But after everything, I... I. began to hate myself. It seemed everyone else did too. The very thing that bound us together also drove us apart. We were toxic to each other. So, distancing ourselves felt right.
But now, there's a shared purpose. »
I also do feel super bad for David, and William. Because they obviously both loved Louise.
At the end I kinda even started shipping Alice and David, pls dont ask me why.
I do hope they get to find someone else they can love, and try to be happy. Both of them.
« People keep their most precious memories hidden. It's natural, »
Lastly, Louise. The fact she probably sacrificed herself bcs she saw herself as the ‘ghost’ friend, is just so so sad. And the fact Phantom even survived her sacrifice just makes me sad. May she rest in peace fr.
« I won't allow you to turn into mon-sters. Never. You're incredible people and the greatest friends anyone could ask for. Don't let anyone alter that. »
I still feel so bad for all the liars, like they were such a fun group and obv happy together. Then that stupid game made them not even talk to eachother anymore. I am happy that they are tryna become one again. And decided to split the diamond, so each has a piece.
« He had hidden behind a wall of indifference.
Relationships with friends had changed so much that they didn't even look at each other.
The game had changed them. »
Small things ab a few other characters;
Joe…. I can’t believe I felt bad for this dude. And maybe I still do feel bad, but it was his choice to be more bad or good. He chose bad.
Rebecca, in the beginning I didn’t trust her at all, and maybe I still don’t. But she was also just like Alice, chosen as a paw.
Alyse. I rlly wanna read her novella, to maybe discover what exactly happend to her. I rlly had hoped she survived somehow, but Ig we were wrong.
I hope Phantom kills himself, bcs wtf… This mf. I don’t have the words.
« A human always has free will and makes a choice. When the mask falls, the monster is born.
That's why Phantom has no face. He has many faces. It doesn't matter what he looks like; only what's inside of him matters. He has accepted the monster within, and now he searches for it in others. And he always finds it! »
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2024
First of all, I am obsessed with this cover. It is so simple and yet it's powerful and authentic and I just love it so much. I absolutely adored this book, it was like The Four by Ellie Keel meets The Inheritance Games with a splash of Harry Potter's whimsical and magical atmosphere but give it sci-fi realism vibes! This was such a cool mash-up of different elements and it totally worked!
I loved the cozy college mystery vibe, the grand mystery of the missing girl, the way every single character gave me the creeps and I just didn't know who to trust! I loved the game aspect introduced into this story. There was deception and puzzles and plot twists that I would have never seen coming! I loved Alice's character, she feels like this real girl who has just been accepted to the school of her dreams and instead of flourishing, she finds it difficult to navigate this new private school environment with everything else that she has to deal with and that experience felt so authentic to me!
Even though every single side character was a suspect in my eyes, I still ended up liking some of them. Although the Liars were especially creepy, evasive and sometimes just outright threatening, there was still something about them I liked. I did not see a certain character's betrayal coming and I think that's what shocked me the most! Especially the ending. This was such a good read and I cannot wait for the next book in this series!! ❤️
I loved the cozy college mystery vibe, the grand mystery of the missing girl, the way every single character gave me the creeps and I just didn't know who to trust! I loved the game aspect introduced into this story. There was deception and puzzles and plot twists that I would have never seen coming! I loved Alice's character, she feels like this real girl who has just been accepted to the school of her dreams and instead of flourishing, she finds it difficult to navigate this new private school environment with everything else that she has to deal with and that experience felt so authentic to me!
Even though every single side character was a suspect in my eyes, I still ended up liking some of them. Although the Liars were especially creepy, evasive and sometimes just outright threatening, there was still something about them I liked. I did not see a certain character's betrayal coming and I think that's what shocked me the most! Especially the ending. This was such a good read and I cannot wait for the next book in this series!! ❤️
May 3, 2023
Thank you so much to the author for sharing a copy of this book with me !!!
“Remember, the best protection is someone else's secrets."
"If you want to show your power, push the biggest bead."
This book was incredibly good !!! I went into it completely blind because I only knew it was perfect for fans of “One of Us is Lying” only with more magic in it. And it delivered !!!! Alice gets admitted at magical school only she takes the place of a girl who disappear whose name is very similar. Soon enough different clues will lead her into a terrible game where the Liars will try and take her down. In a story when you don’t know who you can trust, and you have no idea if the one you fall for is in truth your ally or another enemy. Alice is in deep for the game even before she realises it !!! I grew fond of some of the characters and, just like Alice, I found myself trusting the wrong guy… though I truly hope there is gonna be something happening that will change the course of the action !!! And that ending … WOW !!!! Simply wow !!!!
The writing style keeps you focused on what’s happening and the mysteries and sudden discoveries keep you on your toes. I’m so so grateful I had a chance to read this story and I’m very excited for a possible continuation !!!!
"I don't want you to be with me in order to get rid of unpleasant feelings. I want your thoughts to be only about me."
“No matter what mask you put on, you're always yourself deep down”
“Remember, the best protection is someone else's secrets."
"If you want to show your power, push the biggest bead."
This book was incredibly good !!! I went into it completely blind because I only knew it was perfect for fans of “One of Us is Lying” only with more magic in it. And it delivered !!!! Alice gets admitted at magical school only she takes the place of a girl who disappear whose name is very similar. Soon enough different clues will lead her into a terrible game where the Liars will try and take her down. In a story when you don’t know who you can trust, and you have no idea if the one you fall for is in truth your ally or another enemy. Alice is in deep for the game even before she realises it !!! I grew fond of some of the characters and, just like Alice, I found myself trusting the wrong guy… though I truly hope there is gonna be something happening that will change the course of the action !!! And that ending … WOW !!!! Simply wow !!!!
The writing style keeps you focused on what’s happening and the mysteries and sudden discoveries keep you on your toes. I’m so so grateful I had a chance to read this story and I’m very excited for a possible continuation !!!!
"I don't want you to be with me in order to get rid of unpleasant feelings. I want your thoughts to be only about me."
“No matter what mask you put on, you're always yourself deep down”
January 8, 2024
Perfect for readers who love to doubt every character and search for clues in every interaction, description, and dialogue, 'Alice in Liars Land' is a story of a mystery slash high-stakes game of secrets and lies.
-What is the game? Who is a player? Who stands to gain and who stands to lose? What are the stakes?-
Set at a school wherein students train to become inventors of magical devices, Alice finds herself asking these questions and becoming increasingly entangled in a complex and established game where the biggest question seems to become: what is her role in it all?
With romance, intrigue, mystery, and funny banter, this book got better with every page I turned until I was on the edge of my seat at the finale.
After finishing this book in a matter of days, I eagerly anticipate the sequel!
Thank you Diana for providing me an ARC copy of this book. This ARC had no influence on my honest review.
Happy reading!
-What is the game? Who is a player? Who stands to gain and who stands to lose? What are the stakes?-
Set at a school wherein students train to become inventors of magical devices, Alice finds herself asking these questions and becoming increasingly entangled in a complex and established game where the biggest question seems to become: what is her role in it all?
With romance, intrigue, mystery, and funny banter, this book got better with every page I turned until I was on the edge of my seat at the finale.
After finishing this book in a matter of days, I eagerly anticipate the sequel!
Thank you Diana for providing me an ARC copy of this book. This ARC had no influence on my honest review.
Happy reading!
June 4, 2024
This book was so good! It had intrigue, suspense, romance, magic, and lots of lies. I never knew who to trust! I kept thinking someone was being genuine but they turned out not to be. The mystery surrounding the "Liars" was really interesting. I was invested in finding out what would happen next. It took me a bit to understand all of the magical stuff at first but once I got it, I couldn't stop reading it!
December 27, 2023
"You're many things, Alice, but a good lair isn't one of them."
I was lucky enough to get a copy from the author for an honest review. Thank you!
First off, if you're a fan of The Inheritance Games, one of us is lying, and then this is for you.
This was such a good mystery and thriller, especially in the last 30%, I just couldn't put it down.
The twist and turns of this story were so unexpected that I didn't see the twist coming, like I saw none of the plot twists happening at all! But that makes a good book!
I liked every single character, even when we shouldn't. Richard, as soon as I read his description, I was in love. He just sounded so hot!!!!!
The plot was amazing, and all the characters' development was top-notch. The pacing of this book is perfect, just what I like, fast but not too fast.
I wasn't expecting that ending, though. My jaw is still on the floor.
I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.
Now go and read this book if you haven't yet!
4/5 stars
I was lucky enough to get a copy from the author for an honest review. Thank you!
First off, if you're a fan of The Inheritance Games, one of us is lying, and then this is for you.
This was such a good mystery and thriller, especially in the last 30%, I just couldn't put it down.
The twist and turns of this story were so unexpected that I didn't see the twist coming, like I saw none of the plot twists happening at all! But that makes a good book!
I liked every single character, even when we shouldn't. Richard, as soon as I read his description, I was in love. He just sounded so hot!!!!!
The plot was amazing, and all the characters' development was top-notch. The pacing of this book is perfect, just what I like, fast but not too fast.
I wasn't expecting that ending, though. My jaw is still on the floor.
I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.
Now go and read this book if you haven't yet!
4/5 stars
July 18, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this book to read. All of my opinions are entirely my own.
I was really interested in reading this book as I love mysteries and magical schools. There was indeed a lot of mystery which was intriguing, I was kept guessing throughout the book. The concept of the L-spheres was very cool and I thought it was clever. I liked the main character, Alice. I enjoyed that she was an intelligent, strong and independent young woman. I was at times confused about her age though, sometimes she felt like a high schooler and at other times a university student. I did not like the male characters, the way they treated the women around them made me uncomfortable. The females were great! I would have liked the characters to be a little more fleshed out, but there were some I was happy to root for (Sunny and Alice).
The writing wasn’t my style (more modern than what I’m currently into) and it could have done with a lot of editing, I was often quite confused. The concept has potential, I think teenagers who enjoy mysteries and magic will like this book.
I was really interested in reading this book as I love mysteries and magical schools. There was indeed a lot of mystery which was intriguing, I was kept guessing throughout the book. The concept of the L-spheres was very cool and I thought it was clever. I liked the main character, Alice. I enjoyed that she was an intelligent, strong and independent young woman. I was at times confused about her age though, sometimes she felt like a high schooler and at other times a university student. I did not like the male characters, the way they treated the women around them made me uncomfortable. The females were great! I would have liked the characters to be a little more fleshed out, but there were some I was happy to root for (Sunny and Alice).
The writing wasn’t my style (more modern than what I’m currently into) and it could have done with a lot of editing, I was often quite confused. The concept has potential, I think teenagers who enjoy mysteries and magic will like this book.
April 29, 2022
Alice in Liars Land is a novel by Diane Shafran. Alice did not fall down a rabbit hole, but, she did have a thrilling adventure. I thought this fantasy was original and very interesting. The characters are well written and sometimes I was not sure if they were "good or bad". There is a faceless Phantom around the Spherical Magic Academy and it interacts with certain students. I found this story to be a fast paced exciting story and I was never sure what was going to happen next. I think that if you enjoy a little different book, this fantasy is a great choice. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 11, 2022
A highly unusual Rabbit Hole!
Diana Shafran has created a mesmerizing story where nothing is as it seems...nothing can be taken at face value and even the faces can't be trusted. It took me a while to understand how things worked, but, even after I thought I had, the world kept changing! The action of this story is dizzying. Things do seem to work out...but one can never be sure...there might be more to the story than what's contained here. Alice is drawn into a confusing and dangerous game. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her adventures and recommend this book--especially to anyone looking for something new and different.
Diana Shafran has created a mesmerizing story where nothing is as it seems...nothing can be taken at face value and even the faces can't be trusted. It took me a while to understand how things worked, but, even after I thought I had, the world kept changing! The action of this story is dizzying. Things do seem to work out...but one can never be sure...there might be more to the story than what's contained here. Alice is drawn into a confusing and dangerous game. I thoroughly enjoyed reading her adventures and recommend this book--especially to anyone looking for something new and different.
June 12, 2023
Probably closer to a 3.5 star rating. But that being said I did still really enjoy this story!
Alice is about to fulfill her lifelong dream of studying at Welkin – the Spherical Magic Academy, to become an investor. Never mind the fact that she is replacing a missing student, or that she has an unknown sponsor. Alice is just happy to be a student. Until she starts receiving mysterious puzzles and finds herself involved in what seems to be an exciting game. But as the stakes grow higher and masks are unveiled Alice must decide if she is ready to dig into the past and be the last player.
I definitely enjoyed this story more than I thought! The mystery and suspense was so intriguing and really kept me guessing. I want to get into the thriller genre more and this book reminded me why, guessing all the little twists, or at least trying to, and figuring out the puzzles was so fun. This was definitely not a huge thriller, probably only borderline, more-so mystery. But it was still a thrilling story.
The plot had the slow-paced aspect of a good mystery that reminded me of The Inheritance Games and gave me the vibes of Pretty Little Liars (which I haven't read but just imagine to be like). It is definitely a character-driven story and did get a little slow during the middle, but I enjoyed it as it was a slow reveal which also included some aspects of Alice's student life. I enjoyed learning about the school and all the cafes around seemed amazing! The technology and magical stuff did not get explained as much as I would've liked but it was not the main focus of the story so I could overlook that.
The characters were great! So well thought out and even though the POV was sort of neutral just flowing from one character to another, I could always tell who's perspective we were being privy to. Alice was a good character but I did love the side characters more because of how interesting their stories were. One thing I will say id you can tell English is not the authors first language, there were a few grammatical errors, especially in the first half of the book but the story kept me engrossed and I didn't focus too much on these errors.
Overall this was such a great mystery with amazing hidden twists that are connected so well. The magical technology just added a great component to the story and I loved learning about the whole science behind it, even if I did get confused at times. I do recommend this book if you love the mystery side of thrillers but need that sci-fi fantasy aspect to pique your interest. Plus if you love the high stakes game set in a school where there is a "puppet master" calling the shots and each player has something to hide, you should definitely check this one out!
Thanks so much to the author for providing me with a copy to review, but all these thoughts are my honest opinions and this did not affect my review.
Alice is about to fulfill her lifelong dream of studying at Welkin – the Spherical Magic Academy, to become an investor. Never mind the fact that she is replacing a missing student, or that she has an unknown sponsor. Alice is just happy to be a student. Until she starts receiving mysterious puzzles and finds herself involved in what seems to be an exciting game. But as the stakes grow higher and masks are unveiled Alice must decide if she is ready to dig into the past and be the last player.
I definitely enjoyed this story more than I thought! The mystery and suspense was so intriguing and really kept me guessing. I want to get into the thriller genre more and this book reminded me why, guessing all the little twists, or at least trying to, and figuring out the puzzles was so fun. This was definitely not a huge thriller, probably only borderline, more-so mystery. But it was still a thrilling story.
The plot had the slow-paced aspect of a good mystery that reminded me of The Inheritance Games and gave me the vibes of Pretty Little Liars (which I haven't read but just imagine to be like). It is definitely a character-driven story and did get a little slow during the middle, but I enjoyed it as it was a slow reveal which also included some aspects of Alice's student life. I enjoyed learning about the school and all the cafes around seemed amazing! The technology and magical stuff did not get explained as much as I would've liked but it was not the main focus of the story so I could overlook that.
The characters were great! So well thought out and even though the POV was sort of neutral just flowing from one character to another, I could always tell who's perspective we were being privy to. Alice was a good character but I did love the side characters more because of how interesting their stories were. One thing I will say id you can tell English is not the authors first language, there were a few grammatical errors, especially in the first half of the book but the story kept me engrossed and I didn't focus too much on these errors.
Overall this was such a great mystery with amazing hidden twists that are connected so well. The magical technology just added a great component to the story and I loved learning about the whole science behind it, even if I did get confused at times. I do recommend this book if you love the mystery side of thrillers but need that sci-fi fantasy aspect to pique your interest. Plus if you love the high stakes game set in a school where there is a "puppet master" calling the shots and each player has something to hide, you should definitely check this one out!
Thanks so much to the author for providing me with a copy to review, but all these thoughts are my honest opinions and this did not affect my review.
November 9, 2022
This book wasn't for me, sadly, because I had different expectations. I was expecting to read a kind of science-fiction version of Alice in Wonderland based on the title and blurb, but I didn't really experience that. I do believe that people who are into slow-paced, character-driven, thriller-like stories will love this book.
What I loved about Alice in Liars Land
+ This was one of the only times I actually liked reading a prologue (I usually hate it, because it feels like homework having to memorize a giant infodump about world building). It was very exciting and sucked me right into the story. I would have loved to read more from Phantoms perspective throughout the book
+ There were a lot of characters to keep track of, which was confusing at times, but they all turn out to be very distinct and have their own quirks and personalities. Very impressive
+ The author can write amazing descriptions, very beautiful. Take Joe describing becoming a Zero for example. That was amazingly detailed, realistic and atmospheric. I could easily imagine him telling Alice his story
+ The story is very eerie and mysterious for the first 5 chapters, and very thriller-like and exciting for the last chapters (it was kind of slow in the middle, sadly, especially if you like plot-driven stories)
+ The world the author has created seems very interesting, so I would have loved to know more about it, especially about rare gems and their magical properties for floating cities and what not
+ The plot is very impressive, but also a bit convoluted. I felt I was reading twist after twist, just like Caraval. There was a lot of potential there, but the story didn't quite live up to it in my opinion
What I didn't like about Alice in Liars Land
- Alice starts interrogating her new roommates (strangers) right off the bat, which doesn't really feel right or sensible to me
- Things like Alice being called Alyse Stone (the missing student), just because it's easier with paperwork, didn't make sense to me. It's all too coincidental and farfetched, until you read the end of the story. That was too late of an explanation for me and too many of these 'weird things you don't get until the ending' we're crammed into the start of the story to really get into it
- I was hoping for more focus on the magical aspects of the story
- The dialogues could have been better and more realistic
- Alice was a very bland character, and I was waiting for her to be more proactive than reactive, and take charge
- The ending was quite sudden
- I would have liked to have seen more diversity in the characters
I'm curious to see what else this author has in store :)
What I loved about Alice in Liars Land
+ This was one of the only times I actually liked reading a prologue (I usually hate it, because it feels like homework having to memorize a giant infodump about world building). It was very exciting and sucked me right into the story. I would have loved to read more from Phantoms perspective throughout the book
+ There were a lot of characters to keep track of, which was confusing at times, but they all turn out to be very distinct and have their own quirks and personalities. Very impressive
+ The author can write amazing descriptions, very beautiful. Take Joe describing becoming a Zero for example. That was amazingly detailed, realistic and atmospheric. I could easily imagine him telling Alice his story
+ The story is very eerie and mysterious for the first 5 chapters, and very thriller-like and exciting for the last chapters (it was kind of slow in the middle, sadly, especially if you like plot-driven stories)
+ The world the author has created seems very interesting, so I would have loved to know more about it, especially about rare gems and their magical properties for floating cities and what not
+ The plot is very impressive, but also a bit convoluted. I felt I was reading twist after twist, just like Caraval. There was a lot of potential there, but the story didn't quite live up to it in my opinion
What I didn't like about Alice in Liars Land
- Alice starts interrogating her new roommates (strangers) right off the bat, which doesn't really feel right or sensible to me
- Things like Alice being called Alyse Stone (the missing student), just because it's easier with paperwork, didn't make sense to me. It's all too coincidental and farfetched, until you read the end of the story. That was too late of an explanation for me and too many of these 'weird things you don't get until the ending' we're crammed into the start of the story to really get into it
- I was hoping for more focus on the magical aspects of the story
- The dialogues could have been better and more realistic
- Alice was a very bland character, and I was waiting for her to be more proactive than reactive, and take charge
- The ending was quite sudden
- I would have liked to have seen more diversity in the characters
I'm curious to see what else this author has in store :)
July 9, 2024
It’s really funny how it took me 19 years and, specifically, this book, to realize that my absolute favorite genre has always been a mix of fantasy and mystery. This novel has such a perfect combination of dark academia, magical objects and detective plot lines, I’m sure it will lure most readers.
One of the things I loved the most about this book is the message it carried, especially closer to the end - violence can’t be beaten by violence without generating even more of it. I feel like these days not everyone really understands just how important remaining humane is.
As to the characters, I’ve got multiple fictional crushes, and I adored the complexity each and every character had. I also liked how the main character turned out to be less “smart” than we believed she was and how everything had many layers. The same can be said about the main relationship which was far from the main focus of the story, but it still taught us a lot. I know some might find the whole indecisiveness a bit tiresome, but honestly I’ve related to it much more than to most romantic plot lines I’ve read about.
I loved the world building of this book, but I didn’t get enough of it, so I would gladly read a second part if it’s written.
P.S.: I’m so happy to see my fellow Ukrainian authors thrive, I really hope this novel gets the recognition it deserves
One of the things I loved the most about this book is the message it carried, especially closer to the end - violence can’t be beaten by violence without generating even more of it. I feel like these days not everyone really understands just how important remaining humane is.
As to the characters, I’ve got multiple fictional crushes, and I adored the complexity each and every character had. I also liked how the main character turned out to be less “smart” than we believed she was and how everything had many layers. The same can be said about the main relationship which was far from the main focus of the story, but it still taught us a lot. I know some might find the whole indecisiveness a bit tiresome, but honestly I’ve related to it much more than to most romantic plot lines I’ve read about.
I loved the world building of this book, but I didn’t get enough of it, so I would gladly read a second part if it’s written.
P.S.: I’m so happy to see my fellow Ukrainian authors thrive, I really hope this novel gets the recognition it deserves
February 19, 2023
This book was surprising! This is why it’s gotten a 4 star rating from me, even though it could use an English editor (there are some small mistakes and some technically correct wording that is not idiomatic English). As a first effort, this book is spectacular and I can’t wait to see what Di will write next. I highly recommend reading Alyse in Liars Land first, and I think it should just be the prologue.
This book contains riddles, tests and puzzles for both the reader and the characters. The author manages to flip the readers’ perceptions of what is going on and who is who time and time again. This is magic that only a few authors have. The most famous (yet dated) example I have is Lawrence Durrell’s The Alexandria Quartet, where the reader gets the same story 4 times, each from a different person’s perspective that changes the whole narrative over and over. Di has managed to do this from a single perspective (or two, if you have Alyse).
I can’t talk about the story, because it’s more like a ride, something to be experienced from beginning to end.
Great work!
This book contains riddles, tests and puzzles for both the reader and the characters. The author manages to flip the readers’ perceptions of what is going on and who is who time and time again. This is magic that only a few authors have. The most famous (yet dated) example I have is Lawrence Durrell’s The Alexandria Quartet, where the reader gets the same story 4 times, each from a different person’s perspective that changes the whole narrative over and over. Di has managed to do this from a single perspective (or two, if you have Alyse).
I can’t talk about the story, because it’s more like a ride, something to be experienced from beginning to end.
Great work!
August 13, 2022
I just finished reading this and I’m feeling displaced. This book was so twisty. It’s a great thriller where there are a good number of characters and they are all suspicious. The world-building was such a great mashup of magic and technology and the author was very deft at putting the reader in the middle with just the right amount of information to follow along. The writing is very well done and elevates the story at times to pure philosophy. On occasion the book got a little bogged down in nihilism but the characters were also able to surprise you. The story doesn’t seem like it ends though. These characters seem adrift despite achieving closure. I really feel for Alice because she is constantly manipulated by brilliant people but even when she is able to see their machinations she can never tell if there is just one more layer underneath. She has to resign herself to being subject to the whims of people who know what’s happening but won’t share any information. Even though no one else dies and the bad guy goes to jail, I don’t think I would say it had a happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this read! I’m so hoping that this gets turned into a series, because I love the concept and characters!
The movie that played in my head while reading was absolutely stunning, Diana Shafran truly has a way with words, the descriptions transporting me into another realm.
A bit of mystery, secrets and clues, with magic and a dash of romance, all the things I love!
Some parts I really wanted more of, to be extended, dug deeper in and perhaps a bit slower paced, but then again I wish this book was 1000 pages long 😅
I was introduced to the concept of Tabula Rasa (clean slate) and have had a great time doing more reading about it.
It feels extra special having been picked for this ARC as both the author and I are from Ukraine. I’m sure you all are aware of the current situation there. The conditions truly are difficult, but still this amazing book managed to blossom and come to be. Goodness and justice WILL win ❤️
The movie that played in my head while reading was absolutely stunning, Diana Shafran truly has a way with words, the descriptions transporting me into another realm.
A bit of mystery, secrets and clues, with magic and a dash of romance, all the things I love!
Some parts I really wanted more of, to be extended, dug deeper in and perhaps a bit slower paced, but then again I wish this book was 1000 pages long 😅
I was introduced to the concept of Tabula Rasa (clean slate) and have had a great time doing more reading about it.
It feels extra special having been picked for this ARC as both the author and I are from Ukraine. I’m sure you all are aware of the current situation there. The conditions truly are difficult, but still this amazing book managed to blossom and come to be. Goodness and justice WILL win ❤️
January 5, 2023
This is such an interesting and unique read, I loved the suspense and the emotion which bled through the pages as though you were a part of this dark, mysterious, magical world of games, truth and lies. From the very start, this story pulls you in and grabs your attention, the characters are so alive and detailed, the plot was well written and the world was just astounding in its complexity and ingenuity. There were twists I couldn't even have guessed which took the tale to a new level and made you want to keep reading. At times I felt it was quite fast paced and jumped from point to point quickly, but when thinking about the content, it also goes well with the fast paced game and the way their lives are at full speed. I cannot wait to see what the author does next.
March 29, 2023
Alice didn't fall into Wonderland, she was busy playing a game of deceit.
We start off with Alice, a scholarship student who recently joined Welkin. She entered the Spherical Magic Academy with a dream of becoming a famous inventor like her grandfather. Like every normal student, she goes to her classes and complains about school projects to her friends. That is until she joins a class where all of her classmates are not who they seemed to be. Suddenly, she's thrown into a world far more complicated than she had expected and where one wrong move can cost her everything. Because if life was a deck of cards, what will your role be?
This was a refreshing book, especially after reading several romance stories. While it may not be a favourite of mine, it was still an enjoyable read. This book moved at a more leisure pace but was still interesting enough to keep its readers engaged. I admit, I have not read many dark academia books but I'm sure that people who love thrillers and dark academia themes will enjoy this story.
What I liked:
- This book has a very interesting world and seems very mysterious. I would love to know more about how their runes, magical gems and ingredients are used to create inventions that are capable of producing entire cities. Imagine how amazing it would be to be able to create inventions that can greatly help the population.
- The characters are mostly well-rounded and each has a distinct personality which helped them to stand out from one another. We have the typical girl with big dreams, the smart kid, the aloof guy, the playboy with many secrets, the opportunistic girl, the adventurous rich kid, etc.
- There were several twists and turns as the plot developed. When you think you've got it figured out, you will realise that you were wrong. It made the game feel eerie and exciting. I especially loved when they have to participate in invite-only parties to obtain clues for this mysterious game. Towards the end of the book, the game turned ominous and the plot twists just made it even more complicated than you would expect. At this point, I was eagerly awaiting for the outcome of who would win: the players or the host.
What I disliked:
- Despite saying that most of the characters are well-rounded, there were moments when they will make poor choices for the sake of the story. There were a few scenarios where I got annoyed at Alice's poor choices because all the clues were being thrown at her and yet she still made that choice.
- I wished that more information about Phantom was given. He's such a mysterious character and I loved the eerie vibe around him. His hidden actions caused the story's vibe to be even more mysterious and haunting. What were his motives for doing so? Is he human or an invention? When did it all start? What and where did he even get the amulet?
- There were parts of the story where an event would be abruptly ended only for another event to start. This made it a little hard to read at times because the abrupt changes resulted in some parts of the book being choppy and confusing. I believe that this is mostly due to translation issues where it makes sense in one language but sounds a little awkward in English.
- The ending felt a little rushed, especially with how the case was handled. I wished more details were provided about the case's ending. Was the culprit actually apprehended or did they capture the wrong person? Was Richard acting the entire time or was his place taken over?
Overall, this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author. :).
Thank you to the lovely author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We start off with Alice, a scholarship student who recently joined Welkin. She entered the Spherical Magic Academy with a dream of becoming a famous inventor like her grandfather. Like every normal student, she goes to her classes and complains about school projects to her friends. That is until she joins a class where all of her classmates are not who they seemed to be. Suddenly, she's thrown into a world far more complicated than she had expected and where one wrong move can cost her everything. Because if life was a deck of cards, what will your role be?
This was a refreshing book, especially after reading several romance stories. While it may not be a favourite of mine, it was still an enjoyable read. This book moved at a more leisure pace but was still interesting enough to keep its readers engaged. I admit, I have not read many dark academia books but I'm sure that people who love thrillers and dark academia themes will enjoy this story.
What I liked:
- This book has a very interesting world and seems very mysterious. I would love to know more about how their runes, magical gems and ingredients are used to create inventions that are capable of producing entire cities. Imagine how amazing it would be to be able to create inventions that can greatly help the population.
- The characters are mostly well-rounded and each has a distinct personality which helped them to stand out from one another. We have the typical girl with big dreams, the smart kid, the aloof guy, the playboy with many secrets, the opportunistic girl, the adventurous rich kid, etc.
- There were several twists and turns as the plot developed. When you think you've got it figured out, you will realise that you were wrong. It made the game feel eerie and exciting. I especially loved when they have to participate in invite-only parties to obtain clues for this mysterious game. Towards the end of the book, the game turned ominous and the plot twists just made it even more complicated than you would expect. At this point, I was eagerly awaiting for the outcome of who would win: the players or the host.
What I disliked:
- Despite saying that most of the characters are well-rounded, there were moments when they will make poor choices for the sake of the story. There were a few scenarios where I got annoyed at Alice's poor choices because all the clues were being thrown at her and yet she still made that choice.
- I wished that more information about Phantom was given. He's such a mysterious character and I loved the eerie vibe around him. His hidden actions caused the story's vibe to be even more mysterious and haunting. What were his motives for doing so? Is he human or an invention? When did it all start? What and where did he even get the amulet?
- There were parts of the story where an event would be abruptly ended only for another event to start. This made it a little hard to read at times because the abrupt changes resulted in some parts of the book being choppy and confusing. I believe that this is mostly due to translation issues where it makes sense in one language but sounds a little awkward in English.
- The ending felt a little rushed, especially with how the case was handled. I wished more details were provided about the case's ending. Was the culprit actually apprehended or did they capture the wrong person? Was Richard acting the entire time or was his place taken over?
Overall, this was an interesting read and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author. :).
Thank you to the lovely author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2022
What a Ride
This book will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what will happen next. It was well written and held my attention, it was told in Third person POV. I prefer the First person POV, but this book was still really good.
I loved that Alice was able to help get answers, she was able to make friends while also going through the mind games and tests that she was thrown into. It was full of plot twists and just when you think you knew what was going on, you were thrown a curve ball and left shaking your head trying to figure out who it could be that was behind this.
I can’t wait to read more from Diana. This book didn’t leave you on a cliffhanger, but it definitely left room for more stories to come about.
This book will have you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what will happen next. It was well written and held my attention, it was told in Third person POV. I prefer the First person POV, but this book was still really good.
I loved that Alice was able to help get answers, she was able to make friends while also going through the mind games and tests that she was thrown into. It was full of plot twists and just when you think you knew what was going on, you were thrown a curve ball and left shaking your head trying to figure out who it could be that was behind this.
I can’t wait to read more from Diana. This book didn’t leave you on a cliffhanger, but it definitely left room for more stories to come about.
July 4, 2024
“𝒜 𝒽𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝒶 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝒾𝒸𝑒. 𝒲𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓈𝓀 𝒻𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓈, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝓇𝓃.“
𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 is a mysterious, engaging and entertaining novel. If you enjoy dark academia then I can assure you, you’ll love this book.
A magical school, a missing girl and a new student who takes her place. So many exciting moments, puzzles and intrigue. I never knew who to trust so honestly I just didn’t trusted anyone. I loved how everything revealed itself towards the end, there was so many twists, I truly had a fun time!
Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Academy of Breath and Fire and One of Us is Lying.
December 18, 2024
This was such a fun read! An academy for creating magical objects, danger at every turn, and alliances that are unexpected. I loved the set up of the games played for power and prestige here. Definitely a great read!
January 12, 2024
Wow, I haven’t read a book quite like this one. It captured my attention and all the twists and turns had me wanting to read more! I usually don’t read mysteries so this had me on the edge of my seat! That ended 😱. I thought that one thing would happen but I was totally shocked!
Overall, so enjoyed this book and its magic system. I liked that it kept me on the edge of my seat!
Overall, so enjoyed this book and its magic system. I liked that it kept me on the edge of my seat!
February 11, 2024
3.5⭐️ for “Alice in Liars Land” by Diana Shafran
❗️Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.❗️
⚠️ SPOILERS BELOW! ⚠️
Positives for me:
* Many beautiful descriptions bring Welkin Academy to life. The Marine Tower was one of my favorites; the imagery of it looking scaled was lovely.
* I enjoyed the building distrust in everyone; the sense that anyone and everyone was out to potentially get Alice as she begins discovering things made the comparison to “Pretty Little Liars” make sense.
* I enjoyed the prologue and epilogue mirroring one another. I enjoyed the fact the Phantom was disguised as Professor Bakker — which makes more sense why he was such a d-bag earlier in the novel. I was ready to fight on Alice’s behalf, but at least it was clear why later during the reveal.
* I liked the magic and world building. I probably am far off on this, but I pictured elements from Disney’s 2002 animated “Treasure Planet” when I read about the ships, hoverboards and lil spheres. (I also pictured the bracelets to look like Lokai bracelets 😂)
* Alice’s morality battle was well done and non-linear which felt realistic. She faced morally grey moments and learned things weren’t so black and white when it came to solving the mystery of Alyse, the Liars, and her mysterious donor.
My other thoughts:
* There were moments the dialogue felt too convenient, or unrealistic, where instead of building up the mystery/thriller aspect of the novel the dialogue did the work and cut a corner in my mind.
* I really did not trust Sunny. 😂 I thought she was going to be on the phantom’s side and I still don’t believe she isn’t. I spent the whole book preparing for her to betray Alice.
* I’m not entirely sure how David and Richard are supposed to come off — like if they are meant to be seen as potential suitors — but they both gave me the creeps and I will root for neither because Alice deserves better.
Overall, I would recommend this to someone who already loves the genre of fantasy/magical worlds and thriller/mysteries. ✅
❗️Disclaimer: I received a free e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.❗️
⚠️ SPOILERS BELOW! ⚠️
Positives for me:
* Many beautiful descriptions bring Welkin Academy to life. The Marine Tower was one of my favorites; the imagery of it looking scaled was lovely.
* I enjoyed the building distrust in everyone; the sense that anyone and everyone was out to potentially get Alice as she begins discovering things made the comparison to “Pretty Little Liars” make sense.
* I enjoyed the prologue and epilogue mirroring one another. I enjoyed the fact the Phantom was disguised as Professor Bakker — which makes more sense why he was such a d-bag earlier in the novel. I was ready to fight on Alice’s behalf, but at least it was clear why later during the reveal.
* I liked the magic and world building. I probably am far off on this, but I pictured elements from Disney’s 2002 animated “Treasure Planet” when I read about the ships, hoverboards and lil spheres. (I also pictured the bracelets to look like Lokai bracelets 😂)
* Alice’s morality battle was well done and non-linear which felt realistic. She faced morally grey moments and learned things weren’t so black and white when it came to solving the mystery of Alyse, the Liars, and her mysterious donor.
My other thoughts:
* There were moments the dialogue felt too convenient, or unrealistic, where instead of building up the mystery/thriller aspect of the novel the dialogue did the work and cut a corner in my mind.
* I really did not trust Sunny. 😂 I thought she was going to be on the phantom’s side and I still don’t believe she isn’t. I spent the whole book preparing for her to betray Alice.
* I’m not entirely sure how David and Richard are supposed to come off — like if they are meant to be seen as potential suitors — but they both gave me the creeps and I will root for neither because Alice deserves better.
Overall, I would recommend this to someone who already loves the genre of fantasy/magical worlds and thriller/mysteries. ✅
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2023
A page turning dark academia, filled with twisted games, lies and betrayal. If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars, this one's definitely for you!
'A human always has free will and makes a choice. When the mask falls, the monster is born'.
Alice has just started attending the Spherical Magical Academy, she dreams of becoming an inventor and this is a step in the right direction. But something dark is happening at this Academy, and Alice is dragged into being a pawn in their game. Who can she trust and who is a liar?
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This was such a page turner, trying to decipher who was a liar and who Alice could trust. It's filled with lots of twists, turns and betrayals - a betrayal from someone I trusted for the majority of the book!
The plot was super interesting - play the game to win a sought after prize, one that could help Alice tremendously in the inventing world. I loved watching Alice figure out who the liars were, and it kept me on the edge of my seat seeing how far the liars were willing to go to win the game by spooking Alice. And those twists! Opinions were definitely formed of quite a few characters, and were shattered when the truth was finally revealed!
If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars, twists and games, all within a dark academia setting - then definitely check this one out.
'And hey, remember: the best shield you can have is knowing other people's secrets'.
Thank you to Diana for this copy. This review is voluntary.
'A human always has free will and makes a choice. When the mask falls, the monster is born'.
Alice has just started attending the Spherical Magical Academy, she dreams of becoming an inventor and this is a step in the right direction. But something dark is happening at this Academy, and Alice is dragged into being a pawn in their game. Who can she trust and who is a liar?
𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This was such a page turner, trying to decipher who was a liar and who Alice could trust. It's filled with lots of twists, turns and betrayals - a betrayal from someone I trusted for the majority of the book!
The plot was super interesting - play the game to win a sought after prize, one that could help Alice tremendously in the inventing world. I loved watching Alice figure out who the liars were, and it kept me on the edge of my seat seeing how far the liars were willing to go to win the game by spooking Alice. And those twists! Opinions were definitely formed of quite a few characters, and were shattered when the truth was finally revealed!
If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars, twists and games, all within a dark academia setting - then definitely check this one out.
'And hey, remember: the best shield you can have is knowing other people's secrets'.
Thank you to Diana for this copy. This review is voluntary.
December 29, 2023
I loveddddd this book. It was so intense reading through the chapters and following the story. You were thrown right in and guessing right along with the main character. I kept switching between loving Richard and David the entire book, even until the last page. I’m still undecided haha! So so so good and such an easy read!
June 7, 2022
I admit I went towards this book because the author is Ukrainian and I was curious how fantasy would look like when written by a fellow Eastern European. I wasn't disappointed: the story is good! The plot has surprising twists and turns and it didn't follow the "classic" tropes that I have gotten used to. It was a breath of fresh air and I will most likely read other things by this author.
I do have some criticism, tho...
(1) You can tell that English isn't the author's native language, because there were a few mistakes or weird syntax every now and then. I was expecting that. But because she mentioned in a newsletter that she is having someone proof-reading, I expected these mistakes to be... less often. To the author: please find someone else for the proof-reading and editing!
(2) PLEASE GIVE ME MORE WORLD DESCRIPTION! I am a sucker for authors that create new, exciting worlds, and Ms. Shafran is one of those. But I just wished I'd have received a bit more details about "mundane" things. Like... how does an L-book look like? More like a tablet or an ereader? Do you use a stylus when you write in it, or does it have some sort of display keyboard thingy? Also, why are they called L-objects, when the magic is "sphere magic"? Why not S-objects? I really wish there would be more books in this world!
I do have some criticism, tho...
(1) You can tell that English isn't the author's native language, because there were a few mistakes or weird syntax every now and then. I was expecting that. But because she mentioned in a newsletter that she is having someone proof-reading, I expected these mistakes to be... less often. To the author: please find someone else for the proof-reading and editing!
(2) PLEASE GIVE ME MORE WORLD DESCRIPTION! I am a sucker for authors that create new, exciting worlds, and Ms. Shafran is one of those. But I just wished I'd have received a bit more details about "mundane" things. Like... how does an L-book look like? More like a tablet or an ereader? Do you use a stylus when you write in it, or does it have some sort of display keyboard thingy? Also, why are they called L-objects, when the magic is "sphere magic"? Why not S-objects? I really wish there would be more books in this world!
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