Alice the Torch

The Wonderland Court #2

by Ashley McLeo

An assassin princess.

A shifty wizard.

A kingdom begging for freedom.

Life in the Wonderland Court is complicated . . .

Seeing as I plan on rescuing my sister from the Dark Court of Faerie, I don’t expect the complications to stop any time soon.

Especially after, Jax, a blast from my past, shows up with his killer smile. He’s persistent, and ruining one of the best things in my life—Henri Hatter.

I’m falling for Hatter, and yet, I can’t deny that I need Jax. Not if I’m going to save my sister from the Dark Court.

As much as I hate to admit it, I need all the help I can get, or else I risk losing the only family I have left.

If you love the whimsy of Alice in Wonderland and the high stakes and romance of the Throne of Glass Series, you'll love adventuring in the Wonderland Court—and beyond!

Genres: Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Fairy Tale Retellings

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2022

About the author

Ashley lives in the lush and green Pacific Northwest with her husband, their dog, and the house ghost that sometimes makes appearances in her charming, old home.
When she’s not writing urban fantasy and portal fantasy novels she enjoys traveling the world, reading, kicking butt at board games (she recommends Splendor and Dominion), and frequenting taquerias.
For all the latest releases and updates, subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, The Coven, today!

Reviews

[Ashley]

I really liked the end to this duology. This is such a unique take on Alice in Wonderland and I loved it. I did like the first book better and felt more engaged in the first book. The romance wasn't my favorite since I felt like it was dragged on a bit. Alice could've decided things regarding it much sooner in the book. Overall, it was a fun duology!

[Rachel]

The long-awaited sequel to Alice the Dagger has finally arrived. Alice the Torch is the second book in the Wonderland Court series by Ashley McLeo. Not gonna lie, I didn't think this book was gonna happen but I'm glad it did.


Alice has changed, she is no longer an assassin, the dagger, but the torch, a rebel leader, a sign of change. Although she doesn't really want to admit it at first Alice has come to care deeply for Wonderland and is determined to fix the corruption her aunt has spread. However, beyond that Alice is also more comfortable in faerie than she expected and she's fitting in and making connections with its people. Alice is enjoying life, for the most part, she's lighter, and happier in this book even if she's facing a lot of obstacles because she's not alone.


The characters are great. Alice is still really close with Dee and Dum, the antics the pixies get up to are hilarious but they're a lot more helpful in displaying useful skills in tricky situations. Things with Hatter are progressing until someone from Alice's past comes back and then we see a whole new side to Hatter. I have to say Hatter kinda surprised me with his actions in this one I expected him to react a little better than he did but it's understandable. As for the characters who were in the previous book, they had appearance but that's it, the story didn't really call for more of them.


There were some new characters as well, Queen Aquatia was a nice surprise, a royal who is kind and helpful, what a shock! Not just that, Aquatia looks to be an ally as well as a possible mentor, someone who Alice could turn to. Her son Prince Halad was also a nice surprise, just as kind as his mother, light-hearted, caring, and brave, he and Alice could actually be friends, I like him, a lot. As for the rest, this book was bonkers and more of faerie was revealed. Alice visited other courts, and a little of the history was revealed, along with political allies, and the geography of the territories. One of those places was the Crystal Court, which was shady af and had an evil ruler. I still can't believe the craziness of that place and worst that Court is still a mystery that I need solved, if that's what they do in the open then what are they hiding?


I really enjoyed Alice the Torch, it was a fun read. McLeo took us deeper into faerie and it was one heck of a wild ride. Meeting new royals, relationship drama, new magic, interesting creatures, shady courts, and so much more including a mysterious prophecy, Alice the Torch was one heck of an adventure. It seems that Alice the Torch wraps up Alice's main story but there are a few loose threads that may lead to more stories set in Faerie.

[Annette]

One of my favorite things about Wonderland is that everyone can basically create their own version of it. As long as it's weird, different and not following the conventional rules, everything is possible in your own version of Wonderland. I therefore love reading Wonderland retellings and seeing what authors are doing with their version of this insane world. So, when this book was available to request on BookSprout I didn't hesitate and grabbed myself a copy.

What I really loved about this second installment is that we got to explore the rest of this world. Of course, we saw Wonderland in the previous book, but there are a few more courts and we at least got a glimpse of all of them now and some got even a little more attention. I love how rich this world is, how different all the courts are and how it's quite clear that there is a lot of work to do in the next book to make Alice's reign a success.

Just like the original Wonderland books this book is a little less about the plot and more about just experiencing all the sometimes bizarre, sometimes dangerous and always exciting situations our characters end up in. It takes a very long time for our characters to actually get to the point where they can actually really start looking for Alice's sister and once they start their search party it goes quite fast, but has a deliciously explosive finale. But, I really enjoyed the ride!

I also really loved the character growth in this book. Especially Alice herself grows and learns a lot. Not only when it comes to her powers and the strange world she has landed in, but also about herself. What she actually wants in life, what she stands for, who she wants to be and most of all where she wants to be. It's not a very active thing. We don't catch Alice brooding and thinking deeply about this stuff, but you feel her views changing and you see her growing more into herself.

I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

[Nancy (The Avid Reader)]

Alice the Torch is finally here. I have been waiting anxiously on book two in The Wonderland Court series and once it was here I couldn’t wait to dive in. I fell in love with The Wonderland Courts series the moment I opened the first book, Alice the Dagger. I fell in love with all the characters and the unique twists on all the characters. I love the world of The Wonderland Court.

Alice the Torch was just as good if not better than the first book Alice the Dagger. I love the pixies. I felt as if I was a part of Alice’s world. Once I gazed upon that first page I was drawn in by all the magic and the wonderful characters that made this story what it is.

Alice is determined to rescue her sister from the Dark Court and she needs help from someone from her past, Jax. Alice was not all that happy to see Jax when he first made an appearance but if she was going to save her sister then she needed his help.

Let's not forget about Hatter and Alice’s relationship as the sparks are still flying between these two and getting hotter by the minute.

There was this one scene with the two guys and their shirts that I would love to have seen for real but luckily I do have a pretty good imagination. I would love to have been a fly on the wall peaking in on this scene. That would have been pretty cool or should I say hot.

I would love to read more about Alice and The Wonderland Court series.

If you like fairy tale retelling stories then I would like to recommend Alice the Torch. But I would suggest reading the first book Alice the Dagger before reading Alice the Torch as I am sure you wouldn’t want to miss a thing, right? Grab your copy of both books today for a magical adventure!

[Alysia]

I loved this so much. Just like the first one

[Elpis G.]

Much like the last book in the series, I really enjoyed Alice the Torch. When an unexpected visitor from Alice's past shows up. Alice and her friends also try to get into the Dark Court to save her history which sends her to the mysterious Crystal court in search of their secret to getting through darkness.

I thought this book had a really slow start at first. However things did pick up fairly fast and it grew to have similar pacing to the previous book. There was a bit of a love triangle in this book which I wasn't a fan of. That being said, it didn't take over the whole story and ended up being resolved before it dragged out too long. There were also some exciting plot twists regarding the Dark Court that I didn't see coming at all. Alice also grew as a character. Will not be spoiling how though. I'm really looking forward to the next book and while this book didn't have as bad of a cliffhanger as other books, I am still impatient.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gijzette Strickland]

In this 2nd book of the Wonderland Court series we find the characters going on a very big adventure to save Alice’s sister. This book is full of action and adventure and a few surprises along the way. Alice will also find herself in a romantic puzzle.

As we follow Alice on her quest to rescue her sister we meet some new characters and beings not encountered before. You will of course find the normal Alice in Wonderland characters, although they are different from the Lewis Carroll version. But this does not distract from the story as this is not a retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland it is completely different and a very enjoyable read.

The author does a good job of character and world building. If you read the first book, and you really should, then you will be very familiar with the characters.

I highly recommend reading both books in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joana]

8/10 ⭐️

Alice is a mercenary, a kill-for-hire with a great reputation on the black market. When the white rabbit finally gets to her and tells her she is actually the fae heir to the kingdom of Wonderland, she must go and accept her fate. In her way? Her aunt, the Red Queen, murderer of Alices direct family in order to get to the throne. 
Now Alice wants revenge, the throne, and to not deal with Hatter, the gorgeous and infuriating Hatter.
In the second book, Alice discovers she still has a living sister in need of being rescued from the Dark Court of Fae, but still living. So she teams up with Hatter...finds Jax from the past along the way...and paths away to rescue the only family she still has.

A really nice adventure in the wonderland universe, a retelling using the characters known and loved since the originals came out. Alice is the strong female character, a fae assassin for hire, so she gives off the strong, independent woman vibe. The other characters are young and a bit different from what we are used to, but they fit so well in the story. The plot itself is not new: hero vs. villain, who is, of course, the Queen of Hearts. It's a fresh, slow-burn romance with a nice cadence and an excellent opportunity for a young adult to transition between child books and YA fantasy.

[Ronel Janse van Vuuren]

I listened to the audiobook.

The adventure at the Crystal Court feels unfinished, and though I understand why they had to go there before attempting to cross the Rift, there seems to be too many loose ends, despite the story wrapping up much like a duology.

A lot of the book, it felt like Alice was merely reacting to what was going on, instead of taking decisive action. Even what happened at the Dark Court felt inevitable, if done in dramatic fashion.

Jax showing up felt like an extra bit of drama thrown in for the sake of it, but he did turn out to be useful instead of merely irritating.

The sudden love scene between Alice and Hatter felt incongruous with the tone of the rest of the story. An earlier fade to black would have been more appropriate.

And I’m not a fan of how the animals in this book was treated. Especially the conditions they stayed under in the Crystal Court, how Alice kicked her horse into action, and depriving them of water for days during their journey (when they could’ve stopped once they came to court and switched mounts before journeying on).

Great worldbuilding, loads of intrigue and Alice finally choosing herself.

[Ashley Hobson]

ending felt flat

Life in the Wonderland Court is complicated. Although Alice has saved the kingdom from the tyrannical Red Queen, she still needs to rescue her sister from the Dark Court of Faerie which lies on the other side of the Rift. The Rift which claims the lives of any who gets too close.

Her ex boyfriend Jax also makes a surprise appearance which causes difficulties with Henri Hatter. He is desperate to win Alice back but this will be difficult when her heart is quickly falling for Hatter.

Will she be able to save her sister from the Dark Court despite the risks, danger and messy love life?

This was better than the first but the ending left quite a few loose ends and wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. It at least deviated from feeling like the Alice in Wonderland film but I still feel like the ending leaves quite a bit to be desired. Considering the build up it just felt a little flat.

[Amanda Sagen]

We're back in Wonderland alongside Alice, Hatter, the twins Dee and Dum as well as a few other friends. The evil queen is in the dungeon awaiting her fate when trouble turns up on Alice's doorstep once again!

A mission to save her sister Elise from the dark Court is underway and as expected, things don't quite go to plan.

Fast paced excitement fills the pages of this second installment of the Wonderland Court series that will have you feeling all kinds of emotions from happiness to sadness and maybe even a little anger and indignation for the fae of this realm.

As always, Ashley has given us a book that keeps you on the edge of your *insert favourite reading spot here* and left us with an ending that wraps up the current story as well as leaving it wide open for a next part!
Ashley.... you rock girl! 😁

[Jacklyn Crawford]

I LOVE all of Ashley's book and was so excited when this one came out. The only down side to this book..... having to wait until the next one is released. (But that will also give me an excuse to read both books over again lol). You will laugh, you will cry, and sit on the edge of your seat with this book.

I love reading how Alice grows and the development of her relationships with the people in her life. You can feel her struggles with trying to find out who she is and what to do to make sure she and her people live their best life. I would love to see another spin off of this series for the Crystal Court and Roshia and Mionis. While this book was so worth the wait I can't wait for book 3 (not that it has been announced but I know there will be one lol)

[Victoria Golby]

I loved this 2nd book in the Wonderland series. Alice is still deciding if she wants to be Queen, or return to the human realm, and is hunting for her sister (who's being held prisoner in the Dark Court) and her aunt, the Red Queen, who'd escaped her punishment in the previous book. Whilst also getting closer to Hatter and making more friends.
She travels round the Fae Courts, meeting others; with nods to future possible stories in this series (I really want to know more about the Crystal court and those from the Dark Court).
Really well written and I can't wait for more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Eyre]

I loved book one and I was super excited to read book two and it did not let me down. An incredible book two that had me on the edge of my seat from the very start. The authors world building continues to captivate as once again we enter the wonderland court to help Alice this time to rescue her sister. It’s thrilling , it’s exciting and omg it will blow your mind as Alice and her friends enter the dark court that is filled with twists and turns and surprises. Old friends pop in, new friends arrive and all are just in time for the danger, the intrigue, the struggles and the fun. It’s a fantastic read that I would definitely recommend.

[Jennifer]

This is book two in the wonderland Court series. It’s a Fae Alice in Wonderland retelling. It has all the favorite elements from Carroll, Burton, and Disney that you would want to find in any Alice in Wonderland tale. Constant page turning action keeps you drawn into the story. Fascinating characters that are familiar and unique bring the story to life. The world building is detailed and imaginative. We return to Faerie world and meat new characters that we have to determine whether they are trustworthy. We see the return of old foes. Does Alice get her happy ending? Does she choose Hatter or Jax? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jadenicreads]

4.25 ⭐️ absolutely love this series. I love the twist and turns. The characters the plot the build up everything. The world building is amazing I love the added worlds/realms and the other characters. However I wish there was more of a story for the side characters as there is only brief moments especially with ones I feel are meant to be “main characters” such as Elise as it would’ve been nice to see her in it a bit more than the last few characters. I also felt the ending was a bit flat and with the added storyline for Elise I thought that might’ve continued on within the book and not have just an abrupt ending. But overall I really enjoyed this series and would recommend and read again.

[Marie Reed]

This felt more Fae Realm-y than Alice in Wonderland-y like the last one. The world really opened up after Wonderland's borders were opened.

Alice isn't sure about this whole queen thing, especially after getting thrown in the middle of so many important royal matters, like beheadings and engagements between kingdoms. All she really wants to do is rescue her sister.

I'm not sure if there will be more to this series (the ending would work either way), but I really do hope so. Until then, I'm definitely catching up on the other Magic of Arcana books.

[Joy Whiteside]

I really enjoyed reading this book and had a really difficult time putting it down when I needed to do other stuff. It moves along at a really comfortable pace which made for a relaxing and enjoyable read. It has interesting characters that you want to know better and you want to be there for them, no matter what. This book will grab you and keep you interested and reading until the end and then you are wanting more. This book is a must read that needs to be on your TBR list, no doubt about it.

[Shelby White]

Finally Alice is back and just as tough and resilient as ever. Updated retelling that is much more than you expect and even more than what you thought. This wonderland is as vibrant, exciting and detailed but with an edge that had me totally enthralled. Alice learns things about herself while trying to protect those she loves and thwart an evil queen. Yes, the hatter is here but is he friend or foe. This book was long in wait but well worth it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kira]

I was SO excited to delve right back into the world of the Wonderland Court with Alice and her friends! I adore fairy tale retellings, and I love how the author took the fantastical word and characters of Wonderland and made it her own in Alice the Torch! We get to see so much of Alice's growth in book 2, and it is great to see how she is handling taking over to help this world after her aunt did so much damage for so long. Between the whimsical characters, the fantastic world building, peppered in romance, and adventure filled fun, get ready to be swept right back into Wonderland!

[Kat M]

I had enjoyed the first book in the Wonderland Court and was excited that it was coming out with a sequel. This was another great entry and I was invested in what was going on in this world again. The characters were great and I wanted more from them. I hope there is more in this series and more from Ashley McLeo.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kelsey Warren]

I absolutely love this series. I devoured the first book and spent mor of my day reading this today. I absolutely LOVE all of the characters and felt like I was on their journey to save her sister.
I love all things Alice in Wonderland and love that this was even more fantastical then the original story. Ashley does a great job of pulling you to the story but also helping you fall in love with these character.
I honestly wish their was more (and I never say that!)

[Carrie McCauley]

Oh my! Book 2 is just as good as book 1!!! A wonderfully imaginative way to see Wonderland with all the same characters with even more added and adventure that will keep you turning those pages. There's more banter and all the feels you can handle. Yes, those pixies are back with much more "advice". This is a, kissing/closed door, story and I listened to it from Bookfunnel. The narration was great! She did an amazing job of giving all the feels, adventure and banter this lively story needs.

[Jill Gauger]

Exciting, romantic and some heartbreaking moments.
Alice defeated her evil aunt and now plans to go to the Dark Court to rescue her sister. Things don’t exactly go as planned and they have to get out of some sketchy situations.
Ashley writes some amazing characters and a great storyline. I really enjoyed this book and wished it was longer.

[nat _lovestoread]

Fantastic!!! 💫
I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t stop reading; the twists kept me totally enthralled, gasping at some turn of events, covering my eyes as if that way I could prevent something from happening LOL!!!, that immersed in the story I was!!! 😍😍😍
💯% recommended: an Alice retelling, expanded to Faerie, that you will love!!! ❤️

[Michelle VanDaley]

This is such a fantastic series. This Alice in Wonderland re-telling is filled with plenty of action, suspense and magical creatures. The characters are in depth and complex and you cant help but become invested in the journey. The writing is descriptive enough that you can easily viualize the story taking place. I am hoping there will be more

[Christinaraven]

Alice is back and so are the fun times she has. Lots of action, danger intrigue and fun times had by all. The story was fun to read and enjoyed watching Alice grow a bit more in this one. New and old characters pop in and add to the story. Had to see what Alice would face and overcome this time.

[Thea Kubicki]

The second book is finally here and it was as good as the first. Alice has become a rebel leader and is no longer an assassin. She is much happier and still cares for Wonderland even more. This has been one series you won't want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rukshy]

Alice has become a rebel leader in order to correct the corruption her aunt has spread. We see some of the original characters back - Hatter and Jax. The plot is full of action and magic. A worthy sequel to the first book. 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nan]

Alice has defeated the Red Queen and is now on a quest to rescue her sister from the Dark Court. Her loyal friends Henri Hatter and the pixies, Dee and Dum, accompany her, along with a surprise arrival in Faerie. Their quest is filled with danger, surprising enemies and even more surprising allies.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.