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Insanity #1
Insanity
After accidentally killing everyone in her class, Alice Wonder is now a patient in the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum. No one doubts her insanity. Only a hookah-smoking professor believes otherwise; that he can prove her sanity by decoding Lewis Carroll's paintings, photographs, and find Wonderland's real whereabouts. Professor Caterpillar persuades the asylum that Alice can save lives and catch the wonderland monsters now reincarnated in modern day criminals. In order to do so, Alice leads a double life: an Oxford university student by day, a mad girl in an asylum by night. The line between sanity and insanity thins when she meets Jack Diamond, an arrogant college student who believes that nonsense is an actual science.
254 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2013
664 people are currently reading
9982 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Jace
96books2,046followersBestselling author of the Grimm Diaries and Insanity series. A traveller and collector of out-of-print books from all over the world, obsessed with the origins of folk tales and the mysterious storytellers who spread them. Many of his books made Amazon's Top 100 Customer Favorites in Kindle 2015 & Amazon's Top 100 kindle list. Cameron lives in Yerba Buena San Francisco California. When he isn't writing or collecting books, he is playing music or enjoys the silence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 973 reviews
November 4, 2015
3.5 stars
“Sane is mundane. Insanity is the new black.�
While the original story of “Alice in Wonderland� mostly just confused me as a kid (it’ll probably still confuse me now), this creative spin on our infamous classic tale did more than just that. It intrigued, entertained and most importantly, educated me in the craziest way possible.
“Questions are the lazy man’s way to learn when the only way to learn is not to ask.�
Sneak peak at the story: Nineteen year old Alice wakes up at an Asylum with no memories of her past which allegedly includes killing all of her classmates including her boyfriend. With no other choice but to face the present which involves Prof. Carter Pillar, the Cheshire Cat, Jack Diamonds and other weird characters, Alice’s maddeningly surreal journey to Wonderland and to knowing the truth of her past begins.
“If you have survived parasites and bacteria until the age nineteen, you can survive sane people.� (Don’t you just love the logic? Lol!)
The writing was magnetic, the plot was crafted with mystique and the characters were all very amusing. The binding element that is the concept about madness was everywhere. My only complaint though is at times it felt too much, this coming from yours truly- a very silly girl. You probably know that by now.^^ I’m surprised there are way sillier and crazier things out there than the things I say/write. Lol!
Everything was hilariously crazy, it doesn’t make sense which is exactly the point of the story. Lol! I can’t help agree with what my friend Gayathri aka The Girl In Boots said in her amazing review (you’re going to love her review). ”You have to accept the insanity to appreciate this story�and that’s what I did.^^
If you don’t mind getting majorly perturbed and mad once in a while, then this book may just be what you’re looking for.
“Sane is mundane. Insanity is the new black.�
While the original story of “Alice in Wonderland� mostly just confused me as a kid (it’ll probably still confuse me now), this creative spin on our infamous classic tale did more than just that. It intrigued, entertained and most importantly, educated me in the craziest way possible.
“Questions are the lazy man’s way to learn when the only way to learn is not to ask.�
Sneak peak at the story: Nineteen year old Alice wakes up at an Asylum with no memories of her past which allegedly includes killing all of her classmates including her boyfriend. With no other choice but to face the present which involves Prof. Carter Pillar, the Cheshire Cat, Jack Diamonds and other weird characters, Alice’s maddeningly surreal journey to Wonderland and to knowing the truth of her past begins.
“If you have survived parasites and bacteria until the age nineteen, you can survive sane people.� (Don’t you just love the logic? Lol!)
The writing was magnetic, the plot was crafted with mystique and the characters were all very amusing. The binding element that is the concept about madness was everywhere. My only complaint though is at times it felt too much, this coming from yours truly- a very silly girl. You probably know that by now.^^ I’m surprised there are way sillier and crazier things out there than the things I say/write. Lol!
Everything was hilariously crazy, it doesn’t make sense which is exactly the point of the story. Lol! I can’t help agree with what my friend Gayathri aka The Girl In Boots said in her amazing review (you’re going to love her review). ”You have to accept the insanity to appreciate this story�and that’s what I did.^^
If you don’t mind getting majorly perturbed and mad once in a while, then this book may just be what you’re looking for.
October 29, 2015
Five-how-fucked-up-are-you stars
I already accepted the fact that I'm crazy. But when I read I didn't know I could get CRAZIER
*Read at your own risk*
I already accepted the fact that I'm crazy. But when I read I didn't know I could get CRAZIER
*Read at your own risk*
January 10, 2015
This was a really good Alice in Wonderland retelling, and I loved how quirky it was!
I really liked the characters in this, Alice really did come across as a modern day Alice, and I loved how we had no idea if she was really Alice, or if she was really nuts!
The other characters were also crazy, the Pillar who was certifiable, Jack who seemed like a stalker, not to mention the white queen and the Cheshire Cat himself!
The storyline in this was good, and I liked how it kept you on your toes, never knowing if what was happening was really happening or whether it was all in Alice’s head, not knowing where the killer would strike next, not knowing how the strange riddles would work out and make sense! Yay for a totally insane and crazy joy ride through the world of Lewis Carroll!
There was a little sprinkling of romance, but not a lot, and it was in a similar ‘what is going on? Is this guy a stalker? What does he really want with her?� kind of way. I loved how Jack would randomly pop up in places where he wasn’t expected!
The ending to this was good, and left us with questions once again as to what had really happened to Alice, whether she really was just crazy, and what would happen next! This was such a good Alice in Wonderland retelling that I really want to read the original now!
8 out of 10
I really liked the characters in this, Alice really did come across as a modern day Alice, and I loved how we had no idea if she was really Alice, or if she was really nuts!
The other characters were also crazy, the Pillar who was certifiable, Jack who seemed like a stalker, not to mention the white queen and the Cheshire Cat himself!
The storyline in this was good, and I liked how it kept you on your toes, never knowing if what was happening was really happening or whether it was all in Alice’s head, not knowing where the killer would strike next, not knowing how the strange riddles would work out and make sense! Yay for a totally insane and crazy joy ride through the world of Lewis Carroll!
There was a little sprinkling of romance, but not a lot, and it was in a similar ‘what is going on? Is this guy a stalker? What does he really want with her?� kind of way. I loved how Jack would randomly pop up in places where he wasn’t expected!
The ending to this was good, and left us with questions once again as to what had really happened to Alice, whether she really was just crazy, and what would happen next! This was such a good Alice in Wonderland retelling that I really want to read the original now!
8 out of 10
July 28, 2015
I get it, Alice in Wonderland is nonsense, but this book was complete nonsense and not in a very good way.
It was written very choppily, which I wasn't sure was supposed to be part of the madness or unfortunate writing style.
Nothing about the story was intriguing after reading the first chapter. The big reveals were uncovered in a way that made them tiring, rather than more exciting. It was faster paced, but nothing made sense. Don't get me wrong, I know it's meant to be about madness, but I wasn't pleased by it at all and I simply adore Lewis Carroll's work.
I thought it was much too cheesy and dragged on. None of the characters were interesting. I don't feel connected to any of them. I just felt like the whole book was trying too hard to be nonsense.
It was written very choppily, which I wasn't sure was supposed to be part of the madness or unfortunate writing style.
Nothing about the story was intriguing after reading the first chapter. The big reveals were uncovered in a way that made them tiring, rather than more exciting. It was faster paced, but nothing made sense. Don't get me wrong, I know it's meant to be about madness, but I wasn't pleased by it at all and I simply adore Lewis Carroll's work.
I thought it was much too cheesy and dragged on. None of the characters were interesting. I don't feel connected to any of them. I just felt like the whole book was trying too hard to be nonsense.
April 29, 2014
I was very intrigued and excited by the summary of this book, but it turned out to be pretty bad. A great idea, but badly written. Reads like rushed fanfiction, the characters have no depth, overall it's pretty flat. Wouldn't recommend.
October 2, 2015
First of all, I should say that I am definatelly not a fan of horror books. I actually can't stand them. I didn't know this was a horror gendrer book, so when I started reading it, I was almost compelled to but it down, hide it somewhere where I will never, ever accounter with it again. But something made me to keep reading it, and good thing that I did. This book is so good, easy to read - well, it's hard to put it down, its so interesting - that I read it in 2 days, well, 1 and a half, as I was reading Paper Towns the first day as well. Alice is such a complecated character, but fascinating at the same time. The book makes you wonder why on earth would you like a serial killer, and is Alice a killer herself? So many questions! Many of them are answered, others are not, and I found myself staring at the ceiling in the end, wondering what the hell just happened? Thankfully, there will be another book, so maybe everything will make sense, or they wont, cause it's a crazy world full of loons. Insanity is as crazy as the real Alice in Wonderland book. One thing I didn't like was the fact that Jack kept appearing out of nowhere and that somethings were presented like something that we should know already, when they weren't explained before to us. But other than that, I really enjoyed it. Or maybe I am just a mad buttercup!
June 14, 2019
This re-telling of Alice in Wonderland was amazing. I am giving it 4 stars because the writing isn't spectacular and there are some grammatical errors.
In this re-telling of Alice in Wonderland, Alice is at the Radcliff Lunatic Asylum and has been for 2 years. She apparently drove a school bus full of her classmates and her boyfriend off the road and everyone died.
Carter Pillar is a professor from Oxford University. He is mad. He is a known serial killer and has a suite on the top floor of the same asylum.
Cheshire Cat is also a murderer. He has stolen and killed 6 girls all giving them his wicked grin. The 7th girl is not yet dead. Can Alice save her from the Cat?
I loved that all the Wonderland characters are reincarnated in this present day Alice. How they all hold jobs either for each other or important roles in society. Probably to influence the "sane" humans.
In this first installment of a 6 book (so far) series, Alice must follow clues left by the Cheshire Cat and save Constance his 7th victim. She is aided along the way by Carter Pillar. She just calls him professor or Pillar. What fun this book has been.
The only thing I wished were better is the grammatical errors and the writing itself. It seems elementary at times. However that does not take away the fact that I'm in love with this series and that I have purchased book 2 and 3 before finishing book 1. Oh frabjous day!
Update: Re-read the book. Just as fun the second time. I read it out loud to my pre-teens and they liked it!!!
In this re-telling of Alice in Wonderland, Alice is at the Radcliff Lunatic Asylum and has been for 2 years. She apparently drove a school bus full of her classmates and her boyfriend off the road and everyone died.
Carter Pillar is a professor from Oxford University. He is mad. He is a known serial killer and has a suite on the top floor of the same asylum.
Cheshire Cat is also a murderer. He has stolen and killed 6 girls all giving them his wicked grin. The 7th girl is not yet dead. Can Alice save her from the Cat?
I loved that all the Wonderland characters are reincarnated in this present day Alice. How they all hold jobs either for each other or important roles in society. Probably to influence the "sane" humans.
In this first installment of a 6 book (so far) series, Alice must follow clues left by the Cheshire Cat and save Constance his 7th victim. She is aided along the way by Carter Pillar. She just calls him professor or Pillar. What fun this book has been.
The only thing I wished were better is the grammatical errors and the writing itself. It seems elementary at times. However that does not take away the fact that I'm in love with this series and that I have purchased book 2 and 3 before finishing book 1. Oh frabjous day!
Update: Re-read the book. Just as fun the second time. I read it out loud to my pre-teens and they liked it!!!
July 14, 2015
Fan casting for the series:
Pillar:
Alice:
Pillar:
Alice:
April 12, 2015
Thanks to Xpresso Tours for allowing me to read a part of this as part of a tour. As I've mentioned many times on here I am really a fan of fairy tale or other classic story retellings. Honestly though, Alice in Wonderland was never one that I had really read all the way through. My interest in the story though changed once I read Splintered by AG Howard. I love her series. While this book doesn't quite live up to what I loved about that series, it still had a very unique new look at this classic story, as well as the author and his history and other stories.
You can check out my full review HERE.
You can check out my full review HERE.
January 18, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
⭒❃.�:� Synopsis �:�.❃⭒
The plot of this book follows 19-year-old Alice who "accidentally killed" all her friends including her boyfriend two years ago and is now locked up in an asylum. Professor Caterpillar is a serial killer, and he believes Wonderland is real just like Alice used to before she was given shock therapy to make her forget.
A serial killer who the professor believes to be a monster from Wonderland is on the loose and he persuades Alice to catch them. Alice becomes a student at Oxford University by day and a mad girl by night to do so.
⭒❃.�:▹Ķıʱdz〶�:�.❃⭒
Let me tell you a secret- I've never read Alice in Wonderland :O
I would have loved this book if I love AiW but as someone who hasn't read Alice in Wonderland, the plot was still quite enjoyable and you know insane
It follows Alice and a crazy sarcastic uncle who is supposed to be a serial killer but we know that's not true so I love him Professor Caterpillar aka Pillar the Killer as they catch and track down this Wonderland monster. I don't usually like mystery stories with a fantastical element but this was still fast-paced fun, and filled with references and some riddles the main characters have to solve in order to solve the mystery.
It definitely made me want to go and read the original story to spot references <3
☾☽ Alice
This book suffers from the same problem as most books I've rated less than 4 stars do, the main character is bland : ) like she wasn't annoying or anything but she was just ok. Her character was interesting as someone who has no memory of killing a bunch of her friends but not interesting enough. I NEED THE FLAVOR!
☾☽ Pillar
I have a soft spot for old, sarcastic and wise men : )
No no let me rephrase, I have a soft spot for FICTIONAL UNCLES who are sarcastic and wise
I mean yeah this man is supposedly a SeRiaL KiLlEr but I can't imagine this man hurting a fly, he carried this entire book on his back with goofy dialogues.
⭒❃.�:▹Ķİ°پԲ〶�:�.❃⭒
The writing was pretty fun and easy to get through and it was fluffy and had clever dialogue like Non-fu
⭒❃.�:▹ĶİDzԳܲDz〶�:�.❃⭒
🆗✔️ Plot - It was fun and fast-paced for me even though I'm not a huge fan of mysteries with a fantasy setting.
❌� Alice - She was ok, kinda bland sometimes.
✔️Professor Pillar - I LOVE HIM <3
🆗✔️Writing - It was fun, exciting and clever.
Rating system
�= I did not like it
🆗= It was ok, I have nothing against but it doesn't stand out
✔️ = It was great and I wouldn't change anything about it
❌� = Somewhere between I did not like it and ok
🆗✔️= Somewhere between ok and great
~ Ciao <3
"Being a jerk is more of a habit or a personality trait of sorts, not an attitude. It's incurable."
⭒❃.�:� Synopsis �:�.❃⭒
The plot of this book follows 19-year-old Alice who "accidentally killed" all her friends including her boyfriend two years ago and is now locked up in an asylum. Professor Caterpillar is a serial killer, and he believes Wonderland is real just like Alice used to before she was given shock therapy to make her forget.
"The only philosophical problem with accepting the existence of Wonderland is that it means that our reality could actually be a figment of our imagination.
A serial killer who the professor believes to be a monster from Wonderland is on the loose and he persuades Alice to catch them. Alice becomes a student at Oxford University by day and a mad girl by night to do so.
⭒❃.�:▹Ķıʱdz〶�:�.❃⭒
Let me tell you a secret- I've never read Alice in Wonderland :O
I would have loved this book if I love AiW but as someone who hasn't read Alice in Wonderland, the plot was still quite enjoyable and you know insane
"Living among the sane is insane.
It follows Alice and a
It definitely made me want to go and read the original story to spot references <3
☾☽ Alice
When she was good she was very, very good. And when she was mad, she was Alice.
This book suffers from the same problem as most books I've rated less than 4 stars do, the main character is bland : ) like she wasn't annoying or anything but she was just ok. Her character was interesting as someone who has no memory of killing a bunch of her friends but not interesting enough. I NEED THE FLAVOR!
☾☽ Pillar
“You know what insane people are, Alice?" the Pillar says. "They are just sane people who know too much.�
I have a soft spot for old, sarcastic and wise men : )
No no let me rephrase, I have a soft spot for FICTIONAL UNCLES who are sarcastic and wise
"Did you ever notice if you promised the possible, people won't believe you?"
I mean yeah this man is supposedly a SeRiaL KiLlEr but I can't imagine this man hurting a fly, he carried this entire book on his back with goofy dialogues.
According to the Pillar's nonsensical logic, we're all insane. The only way to survive insanity is to admit it."
⭒❃.�:▹Ķİ°پԲ〶�:�.❃⭒
“One of the privileges of not knowing who you are is that you can pretend to be anyone you like.�
The writing was pretty fun and easy to get through and it was fluffy and had clever dialogue like Non-fu
It's not Kung Fu," Jack says. "It's None Fu. Short for Nonsense Fu. It's basically karate, jujitsu, Kung Fu, and every other fighting technique in the world. Some like to call it the Art of Nonsense."
⭒❃.�:▹ĶİDzԳܲDz〶�:�.❃⭒
🆗✔️ Plot - It was fun and fast-paced for me even though I'm not a huge fan of mysteries with a fantasy setting.
❌� Alice - She was ok, kinda bland sometimes.
✔️Professor Pillar - I LOVE HIM <3
🆗✔️Writing - It was fun, exciting and clever.
Rating system
�= I did not like it
🆗= It was ok, I have nothing against but it doesn't stand out
✔️ = It was great and I wouldn't change anything about it
❌� = Somewhere between I did not like it and ok
🆗✔️= Somewhere between ok and great
~ Ciao <3
August 29, 2015
This book is awesome! I thought it was a great twist on Alice. She's in an insane asylum for killing all of her friends.
She meets Professor Caterpillar who is in for murder too, but he gets perks from the warden because he is just too cool. He is for now at least. You never know the twist these books will take.
Alice is really cool but has no memories. She gets electric shock pretty regular. But with the help of a few friends she starts to remember things.
Alice and Pillar go on a quest to stop The Chesire, who also has a grim story about his family in the book.
We get to meet the White Queen who kicks butt and takes names.
So Alice and Pillar are out on their quest by day and in the asylum at night. It's just too cool
It's a really well written story that keeps you guessing. I will be reading the others in the series.
March 1, 2015
Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for sending me this book in exchange of an honest review
OHMYGOD this is by far the best Alice in wonderland retelling I've read, this book is ultimately madness and insanity which makes it extremely captivating and fun to read.
The plot in this book is really intriguing, in every page I'm dying to know what's next therefore it took me two sittings to finish it. Though I would have to say some parts of this book is predictable, but is still a delighting read. Despite this book is a urban fantasy // paranormal, the world building is exceptionally complex. As I'm not a reader who's usually fascinated by the world the author set up, I found myself really liking this one. The writing style in this book is utterly amazing, extremely easy to adjust to and the author's writing is beautiful.
Our protagonist Alice is downright crazy in the first few chapters, as I found myself extremely dazzled by her. It's like you know she's crazy but you can't help being compelled by her. Which I'm proud to say I really like this protagonist, from times to times she's humorous and funny but most of all I like how's she really different and unique from others protagonist as she is crazy and insane . I guess she's one one of my favourite protagonist of 2015. As for the other characters Professor Caterpillar and Jack Diamond (I don't think it is a love triangle) I love them too. As much as I like the protagonist herself, these characters definitely enhance and makes the book a lot more fun then it is.
Though the plot is really fun and fast-paced, I found it quite predictable. Like the cheshire cat, some way or another I knew the cat could transform into different forms, I mean THAT CAT IS POWERFUL. I really like the cat as the villain, he has everything a good villain posses. As for Jack Diamonds I knew he was Adam, well I've did thought about him being the cheshire cat but well I guess it doesn't make any sense if he's the cat.
I guess that's all I have to say for this book, it's really fast paced and easy to get into highly recommend if your in a reading slump.
OHMYGOD this is by far the best Alice in wonderland retelling I've read, this book is ultimately madness and insanity which makes it extremely captivating and fun to read.
"Mad". My favorite answer. I think I should copyright it.
The plot in this book is really intriguing, in every page I'm dying to know what's next therefore it took me two sittings to finish it. Though I would have to say some parts of this book is predictable, but is still a delighting read. Despite this book is a urban fantasy // paranormal, the world building is exceptionally complex. As I'm not a reader who's usually fascinated by the world the author set up, I found myself really liking this one. The writing style in this book is utterly amazing, extremely easy to adjust to and the author's writing is beautiful.
I wonder if it's possible to forget about someone but still experience a feeling toward them. It's as if I have written his name on the inner walls of my heart. As if I'm strained with his soul. Whatever we shared is buried somewhere in the abyss of my mind.
Our protagonist Alice is downright crazy in the first few chapters, as I found myself extremely dazzled by her. It's like you know she's crazy but you can't help being compelled by her. Which I'm proud to say I really like this protagonist, from times to times she's humorous and funny but most of all I like how's she really different and unique from others protagonist as she is crazy and insane . I guess she's one one of my favourite protagonist of 2015. As for the other characters Professor Caterpillar and Jack Diamond (I don't think it is a love triangle) I love them too. As much as I like the protagonist herself, these characters definitely enhance and makes the book a lot more fun then it is.
Though the plot is really fun and fast-paced, I found it quite predictable. Like the cheshire cat, some way or another I knew the cat could transform into different forms, I mean THAT CAT IS POWERFUL. I really like the cat as the villain, he has everything a good villain posses. As for Jack Diamonds I knew he was Adam, well I've did thought about him being the cheshire cat but well I guess it doesn't make any sense if he's the cat.
I guess that's all I have to say for this book, it's really fast paced and easy to get into highly recommend if your in a reading slump.
February 24, 2014
ŷ synopsis: After accidentally killing everyone in her class, Alice Wonder is now a patient in the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum. No one doubts her insanity. Only a hookah-smoking professor believes otherwise; that he can prove her sanity by decoding Lewis Carroll's paintings, photographs, and find Wonderland's real whereabouts. Professor Caterpillar persuades the asylum that Alice can save lives and catch the wonderland monsters now reincarnated in modern day criminals. In order to do so, Alice leads a double life: an Oxford university student by day, a mad girl in an asylum by night. The line between sanity and insanity thins when she meets Jack Diamond, an arrogant college student who believes that nonsense is an actual science.(less)
My review: I wasn't quite sure I'd like this book when I started reading it, but that quickly changed. I was instantly sucked into Alice's story, and couldn't stop reading it until it was over. And then, to top it off? There's going to be a second book. How awesome is that. Alice Wonder is insane. Or that's what everyone tells her, anyways. Her only friend is a tiger lily, and when she needs to check her sanity, she talks to the plant. If the plant talks back, she's hallucinating. If it doesn't, she's good to go. In a blurry escape tactic to get out of the asylum she's been in for the last two years, she misplaces her tiger lily. Little does she know, she'll need it more than ever. Not that she mentioned it in the book. I would've liked to see her actually talk to the plant, but that's okay. It was still an awesome book. While reading this, I kept trying to imagine the characters as the ones from the latest movie, but that didn't really work for me. Once she meets the caterpillar, who doesn't go anywhere without his hookah, things start getting more hazy for her. He tells her that she's THE Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and that she can save all these people that need her help. But how can she do that when she can't remember anything except a week before? People tell her that she's a murderer, that she killed a whole school bus full of kids, but did she really do that? You'll have to read and find out. This book is amazing, and I really think that other people should read it. You'll have to check it out for yourself.
Thanks for reading, I'll leave this link here for you.
radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com
My review: I wasn't quite sure I'd like this book when I started reading it, but that quickly changed. I was instantly sucked into Alice's story, and couldn't stop reading it until it was over. And then, to top it off? There's going to be a second book. How awesome is that. Alice Wonder is insane. Or that's what everyone tells her, anyways. Her only friend is a tiger lily, and when she needs to check her sanity, she talks to the plant. If the plant talks back, she's hallucinating. If it doesn't, she's good to go. In a blurry escape tactic to get out of the asylum she's been in for the last two years, she misplaces her tiger lily. Little does she know, she'll need it more than ever. Not that she mentioned it in the book. I would've liked to see her actually talk to the plant, but that's okay. It was still an awesome book. While reading this, I kept trying to imagine the characters as the ones from the latest movie, but that didn't really work for me. Once she meets the caterpillar, who doesn't go anywhere without his hookah, things start getting more hazy for her. He tells her that she's THE Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and that she can save all these people that need her help. But how can she do that when she can't remember anything except a week before? People tell her that she's a murderer, that she killed a whole school bus full of kids, but did she really do that? You'll have to read and find out. This book is amazing, and I really think that other people should read it. You'll have to check it out for yourself.
Thanks for reading, I'll leave this link here for you.
radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com
December 17, 2013
Forget what you know about Alice and her adventures in Wonderland and prepare to learn what “really� happened to Alice and who the fairy tale characters are. Even the author becomes part of the mystique of the journey in this page turning tale. Cameron Jace has done it again � taken a story we all think we know well enough � and turned it into a whirlwind experience you have to read to believe. Cameron has a knack for taking our childhood tales and turning them into modern day fantasies! Join Alice as she discovers who she is with the help of Pillar and a cast of sane and not so sane characters. Highly recommended!
June 12, 2014
3.5 stars
I love Alice in Wonderland and alaways enjoy reading retellings especially the dark and twisted ones. I loved the premise of the book and knew i had to read it immediately. Some of the conversation could be a little awkward at times and near the end it just got plain confusing. Insanity was very well researched you could tell the author had put a lot of time into it.I might read the second book when it is released i am curious whether or not Wonderland is real or all in Alice's head.
I love Alice in Wonderland and alaways enjoy reading retellings especially the dark and twisted ones. I loved the premise of the book and knew i had to read it immediately. Some of the conversation could be a little awkward at times and near the end it just got plain confusing. Insanity was very well researched you could tell the author had put a lot of time into it.I might read the second book when it is released i am curious whether or not Wonderland is real or all in Alice's head.
December 23, 2013
DNF AT 27%
I don't know what the deal with this book is, nor am I familiar with Jace's work, but this is very poorly written and confusing. There are parts where you get Alice's first person point of view, and then it jumps and you get a third person narration. It's not really coherent.
Plus, the story is dragging for me. I thought killer creatures from Wonderland would be awesome. But we just get Pillar being an arrogant ass.
Not for me.
I don't know what the deal with this book is, nor am I familiar with Jace's work, but this is very poorly written and confusing. There are parts where you get Alice's first person point of view, and then it jumps and you get a third person narration. It's not really coherent.
Plus, the story is dragging for me. I thought killer creatures from Wonderland would be awesome. But we just get Pillar being an arrogant ass.
Not for me.
November 21, 2015
I really loved the combo of thriller, fantasy and fairy-tale retelling rolled into one. It's pretty bizarre in parts. And it ended with a cliffhanger!!! Did Alice really kill her classmates or not??? LOL. It's a free 'teaser' book, but it's novel length. Can't wait to read the entire series.
June 10, 2021
OMFG YESSS. ALICE IN WONDERLAND RETELLING THANK YOU.
Cameron Jace is a GREAT author and you all should read this book.
Cameron Jace is a GREAT author and you all should read this book.
March 3, 2015
I will admit, I saw this book popping up on a couple of blog feeds, loved the cover and pounced on the chance to read this. Did I read the synopsis beforehand? Nope. Did I read reviews for this book? Nope. I kind of dived in head first. And the result was not too pretty, but not completely bad either.
After reading this book, there is only one word to sum up how I feel: confused. I felt like all these things were happening at once and not completely explained enough to make sense, but were explained well enough for the story to continue progressing. We never really got to dig deep into the characters so I felt no relation to them, and the plot was jumpy, going from one place to the next. I felt like everything needed to slow down and have some thorough explanations for me to understand everything that was going on.
That being said, I did like the idea behind this novel. Set in the modern day where the Wonderland monsters and creatures are a reality are actually existent. There are some that are good and bad, and some that will need a bit of determining. I liked that. I just felt like at times the plot stretched a bit too far on the disbelief level and didn’t explain how certain things were possible.
At times this book was a bit repetitive. There was an ongoing theme of insanity and craziness � what it means to be crazy and how can we know when we are crazy or not? I felt like the theme was repeated a little bit too much. It started to grate on my nerves.
There were a few too many conveniences in certain sections of the story that bothered me a bit, because it seemed like the challenges they faced weren’t difficult enough. And I felt like Pillar (Alice’s partner in crime) kind of knew everything already and was feeding it to Alice. Which made me wonder why he even let her come along for the ride when he could do everything himself already?
There is a bit of romance in here. It’s kind of randomly thrown in (like the plot points) and makes me confused (like the plot points). It wasn’t really necessary and was maybe put in just for the sake of having it there? It didn’t add to the story and was sort of insta-love-ish, which bothered me.
I don’t really have any intention of reading the sequel that was released last November.
This review sounds so negative! In all honesty, it wasn’t that bad! I think I would’ve liked it more if I wasn’t expecting a YA novel but perhaps one aimed more so for the middle grade section. There were parts I liked more than others. Just know it wasn’t all bad ;)
After reading this book, there is only one word to sum up how I feel: confused. I felt like all these things were happening at once and not completely explained enough to make sense, but were explained well enough for the story to continue progressing. We never really got to dig deep into the characters so I felt no relation to them, and the plot was jumpy, going from one place to the next. I felt like everything needed to slow down and have some thorough explanations for me to understand everything that was going on.
That being said, I did like the idea behind this novel. Set in the modern day where the Wonderland monsters and creatures are a reality are actually existent. There are some that are good and bad, and some that will need a bit of determining. I liked that. I just felt like at times the plot stretched a bit too far on the disbelief level and didn’t explain how certain things were possible.
At times this book was a bit repetitive. There was an ongoing theme of insanity and craziness � what it means to be crazy and how can we know when we are crazy or not? I felt like the theme was repeated a little bit too much. It started to grate on my nerves.
There were a few too many conveniences in certain sections of the story that bothered me a bit, because it seemed like the challenges they faced weren’t difficult enough. And I felt like Pillar (Alice’s partner in crime) kind of knew everything already and was feeding it to Alice. Which made me wonder why he even let her come along for the ride when he could do everything himself already?
There is a bit of romance in here. It’s kind of randomly thrown in (like the plot points) and makes me confused (like the plot points). It wasn’t really necessary and was maybe put in just for the sake of having it there? It didn’t add to the story and was sort of insta-love-ish, which bothered me.
I don’t really have any intention of reading the sequel that was released last November.
This review sounds so negative! In all honesty, it wasn’t that bad! I think I would’ve liked it more if I wasn’t expecting a YA novel but perhaps one aimed more so for the middle grade section. There were parts I liked more than others. Just know it wasn’t all bad ;)
April 25, 2015
What a trip! This book was just one mind boggle after another. You think you know what's going on and maybe you do, but then again, maybe you don't. You probably don't, but you might. Things might be really happening, but they might not be. Can you tell the difference?
The author put a completely unique twist on the Alice in Wonderland story, one you just never would have expected. The characters that are so loved (and hated but even the hated are loved by Wonderland fans) are brought to life in such a different way than ever before you have a hard time putting the book down because you want to know more and more about them and can't wait to see who else might be brought in.
The storyline itself was brilliant. There are so many twists and turns your head begins to spin as you get so wrapped up with what's going on you just get completely absorbed in the world created by the author. There is one bit that gets a bit odd at one point, but then again, it sort of works because odd isn't always a bad thing. I'm tiptoeing around here a bit because I can't give anything away about the book. You need to get yourself a copy and get to reading right now!
This book was so much fun to read and one I definitely recommend to all Alice in Wonderland fans and even those that aren't fans.
The author put a completely unique twist on the Alice in Wonderland story, one you just never would have expected. The characters that are so loved (and hated but even the hated are loved by Wonderland fans) are brought to life in such a different way than ever before you have a hard time putting the book down because you want to know more and more about them and can't wait to see who else might be brought in.
The storyline itself was brilliant. There are so many twists and turns your head begins to spin as you get so wrapped up with what's going on you just get completely absorbed in the world created by the author. There is one bit that gets a bit odd at one point, but then again, it sort of works because odd isn't always a bad thing. I'm tiptoeing around here a bit because I can't give anything away about the book. You need to get yourself a copy and get to reading right now!
This book was so much fun to read and one I definitely recommend to all Alice in Wonderland fans and even those that aren't fans.
November 1, 2023
So I chose this book as a part of a challenge this month and I really never thought I’d enjoy reading this so much! This is like a deranged crime story with a great Alice in Wonderland twist. Alice is our main character and she works with Professor Caterpillar to bring down criminals who are from wonderland and have crossed over into.
Alice is a fun character and I could hardly keep track of whether she is insane or not. I really enjoyed her story and I absolutely love the Alice and Wonderland references!!!! I didn’t think there would that many references, but there were a good amount while still remaining unique to the new story. I would say it’s different in a great way, and still had some similarities. It’s wild and crazy, and makes me want to reread the original.
I really recommend this to those who loved the original while also loving a dark twist classics.
Alice is a fun character and I could hardly keep track of whether she is insane or not. I really enjoyed her story and I absolutely love the Alice and Wonderland references!!!! I didn’t think there would that many references, but there were a good amount while still remaining unique to the new story. I would say it’s different in a great way, and still had some similarities. It’s wild and crazy, and makes me want to reread the original.
I really recommend this to those who loved the original while also loving a dark twist classics.
August 11, 2016
This book was free so I downloaded the ebook. I'm so glad I did. I love a good mystery where u don't know who is being truthful or who is twisting the world with a web of lies. Totally wasn't expecting anything at any point and that kept me excitedly intrigued.
It lost me a bit in the middle but came back full force in the end. Glad I kept reading. I am definitely going to get book 2 and 3 while they are .99 cents lol.
It lost me a bit in the middle but came back full force in the end. Glad I kept reading. I am definitely going to get book 2 and 3 while they are .99 cents lol.
December 28, 2014
*Final Review*
Insanity by Cameron Jace is a modern day retelling of the famous story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The story follows Alice Wonder, Alice is a patient in the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum after she killed all of her friends and boyfriend by crashing the school bus they were all on. Alice doesn't remember any of this, she's then taken in by Professor Pillar (resident of the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum) to help figure out where the Cheshire Cat is and help a little girl named Constance who was kidnapped by the Cheshire Cat. The plot of the book sounds good right? I really loved this book, Cameron Jace really knows how to grab a readers attention. The story is set up brilliantly and each of the characters are well-developed.
CHARACTERS
The main characters of the book are Alice Wonder and Professor Pillar, and some of the minor characters are Jack Diamonds, Constance, and the Cheshire Cat. So, here's a breakdown of each character and my opinion of them:
Alice Wonder:
Alice is a patient of the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum and supposedly the real Alice from Lewis Carroll's stories of Alice in Wonderland. I really liked Alice, she's a well-developed character. I loved how she always went out and saved Constance even though she didn't have to.
Professor Pillar:
Professor Pillar is a famous serial killer, who is now a patient at the same asylum Alice is at. He is also the modern day version of the caterpillar from the story of Alice in Wonderland. As the Pillar always says he is very frabjous. I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book at his snarky comments.
Jack Diamonds:
Jack Diamonds is a potential love interest for Alice.The author doesn't give us much information about him, but from what I've read so far Jack sounds like a very interesting character.
Constance:
Constance is the little girl Alice saves throughout the book. I liked Constance and I hope to see her again in the next book.
The Cheshire Cat:
The Cheshire Cat is one of the Wonderland monsters Lewis Carroll locked up. I have to say the Cheshire Cat is not at all what I expected. He has an incredible backstory, that leaves you wanting to know more about him even though he's villain. I can't wait to read more about him in the next book.
The story is filled with mystery. I love how the story is fast-paced, it leaves you wanting more. I really want to know more about the Wonderland monsters, Alice, Jack Diamonds, and pretty much every character in the book. Overall I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I give it 5+ stars.
*Thanks to my friend Paige for providing a free PDF document of the book*
Insanity by Cameron Jace is a modern day retelling of the famous story, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. The story follows Alice Wonder, Alice is a patient in the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum after she killed all of her friends and boyfriend by crashing the school bus they were all on. Alice doesn't remember any of this, she's then taken in by Professor Pillar (resident of the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum) to help figure out where the Cheshire Cat is and help a little girl named Constance who was kidnapped by the Cheshire Cat. The plot of the book sounds good right? I really loved this book, Cameron Jace really knows how to grab a readers attention. The story is set up brilliantly and each of the characters are well-developed.
CHARACTERS
The main characters of the book are Alice Wonder and Professor Pillar, and some of the minor characters are Jack Diamonds, Constance, and the Cheshire Cat. So, here's a breakdown of each character and my opinion of them:
Alice Wonder:
Alice is a patient of the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum and supposedly the real Alice from Lewis Carroll's stories of Alice in Wonderland. I really liked Alice, she's a well-developed character. I loved how she always went out and saved Constance even though she didn't have to.
Professor Pillar:
Professor Pillar is a famous serial killer, who is now a patient at the same asylum Alice is at. He is also the modern day version of the caterpillar from the story of Alice in Wonderland. As the Pillar always says he is very frabjous. I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book at his snarky comments.
Jack Diamonds:
Jack Diamonds is a potential love interest for Alice.The author doesn't give us much information about him, but from what I've read so far Jack sounds like a very interesting character.
Constance:
Constance is the little girl Alice saves throughout the book. I liked Constance and I hope to see her again in the next book.
The Cheshire Cat:
The Cheshire Cat is one of the Wonderland monsters Lewis Carroll locked up. I have to say the Cheshire Cat is not at all what I expected. He has an incredible backstory, that leaves you wanting to know more about him even though he's villain. I can't wait to read more about him in the next book.
The story is filled with mystery. I love how the story is fast-paced, it leaves you wanting more. I really want to know more about the Wonderland monsters, Alice, Jack Diamonds, and pretty much every character in the book. Overall I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I give it 5+ stars.
*Thanks to my friend Paige for providing a free PDF document of the book*
December 31, 2013
Oh Alice in Wonderland retellings, i do love you. This book is no different, actually it may be slightly more insane than most. :)
Alice Wonder is stuck in an insane asylum after killing everyone in her class (makes sense), she spends her days either having electroshock therapy or talking to her potted plant. She feels sorry for her plant because it doesn’t get enough sunlight. Poor plant. And poor Alice, she’s been shocked so many times she can only remember up to about last week and then it goes blank. She can’t remember why she killed those people, or how, or all of this wonderland nonsense the whole asylum seems to be buzzing with. However while she’s been in the asylum, a serial killer has been slaughtering people and stitching their faces up so that they have a permanent grin. They call him The Cheshire Cat Killer. Alice is warned by another inmate, a hookah smoking professor (another serial killer) that she needs to stop him and prevent the rest of the Wonderland monsters from being released. He believes her to be the real Alice and she can therefore be the only one capable of stopping Cheshire and his gang. However The White Queen isn’t so sure as to her identity and makes her question is she is the real Alice or not, or if it even matters? Especially with Constance’s life potentially on the line!
I really enjoyed the insanity of this book and felt that the writing style even accompanied this into how the book was read and perceived. I love stories with serial killers and the fact that we had at the very least three made for an interesting, if not slightly weird read. Alice and The Professor PoV’s were shown and it was very interesting to see how differently their minds worked in order to get the same thing. Also all the prison staff were hilarious and scared of half the inmates. That plus Cheshire’s tasks and the mystery about Jack Diamond makes this a book that you can’t put down and need to keep reading till the end. The book can get a bit crazy and wacky and weird, but that’s exactly what you want from an Alice retelling and it was so much fun to read. I would recommend this book to any fans of Alice in Wonderland retellings, those that like books with serial killers and just anyone that wants a fun enjoyable read!
Originally posted at .
Alice Wonder is stuck in an insane asylum after killing everyone in her class (makes sense), she spends her days either having electroshock therapy or talking to her potted plant. She feels sorry for her plant because it doesn’t get enough sunlight. Poor plant. And poor Alice, she’s been shocked so many times she can only remember up to about last week and then it goes blank. She can’t remember why she killed those people, or how, or all of this wonderland nonsense the whole asylum seems to be buzzing with. However while she’s been in the asylum, a serial killer has been slaughtering people and stitching their faces up so that they have a permanent grin. They call him The Cheshire Cat Killer. Alice is warned by another inmate, a hookah smoking professor (another serial killer) that she needs to stop him and prevent the rest of the Wonderland monsters from being released. He believes her to be the real Alice and she can therefore be the only one capable of stopping Cheshire and his gang. However The White Queen isn’t so sure as to her identity and makes her question is she is the real Alice or not, or if it even matters? Especially with Constance’s life potentially on the line!
I really enjoyed the insanity of this book and felt that the writing style even accompanied this into how the book was read and perceived. I love stories with serial killers and the fact that we had at the very least three made for an interesting, if not slightly weird read. Alice and The Professor PoV’s were shown and it was very interesting to see how differently their minds worked in order to get the same thing. Also all the prison staff were hilarious and scared of half the inmates. That plus Cheshire’s tasks and the mystery about Jack Diamond makes this a book that you can’t put down and need to keep reading till the end. The book can get a bit crazy and wacky and weird, but that’s exactly what you want from an Alice retelling and it was so much fun to read. I would recommend this book to any fans of Alice in Wonderland retellings, those that like books with serial killers and just anyone that wants a fun enjoyable read!
Originally posted at .
September 1, 2016
My mind is.....
This book was insane. Just strait up cray-cray. To make up this �. Book �.
First have an old first addition copy of 'Alice's Adventure Underground'. (In the book they state that it was only changed to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so that no sane person would search for this crazy world or let the monsters out.)
Add a dash of special crazy serial Professor Carter Pillar AKA 'Killer the Pillar'.
Who somehow can magically get his way in and out of the asylum any time he wants, even though he always comes back. He's sassy and smokes his hookah. I love hookah.
Mix 'Killer the Pillar' with a crazy (maybe insane) Alice who was put into the asylum for killing a bus full of her friends on their way to school two years before. She only remembers waking up a week ago and still doesn't understand why she would've killed her friends and her boyfriend Adam.
'Killer the Pillar' know's everything about the 'Cheshire Cat Killer' AKA Cheshire. This evil kitty is looking for revenge, and for something that Lewis Carrol stole from him.
His grin.
And Cheshire has been a very bad kitty indeed. I won't go to much into the plot because it could be easy to some people to figure it out.
This book was insane. Just strait up cray-cray. To make up this �. Book �.
First have an old first addition copy of 'Alice's Adventure Underground'. (In the book they state that it was only changed to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland so that no sane person would search for this crazy world or let the monsters out.)
Add a dash of special crazy serial Professor Carter Pillar AKA 'Killer the Pillar'.
Who somehow can magically get his way in and out of the asylum any time he wants, even though he always comes back. He's sassy and smokes his hookah. I love hookah.
Mix 'Killer the Pillar' with a crazy (maybe insane) Alice who was put into the asylum for killing a bus full of her friends on their way to school two years before. She only remembers waking up a week ago and still doesn't understand why she would've killed her friends and her boyfriend Adam.
'Killer the Pillar' know's everything about the 'Cheshire Cat Killer' AKA Cheshire. This evil kitty is looking for revenge, and for something that Lewis Carrol stole from him.
His grin.
And Cheshire has been a very bad kitty indeed. I won't go to much into the plot because it could be easy to some people to figure it out.
December 11, 2014
First of all fabulous writing; I was a little confused who was narrating the story some times but other than that i absolutely loved it!
I was really hooked at the beginning but halfway when things started to get weird I was confused like what was going on ? this is kind of stupid....
BUT THEN AT THE END THE MAJOR PLOT TWIST HAPPENS AND IM LIKE DROWNING IN EMOTIONS AND IM LIKE WTF AND I SIT THERE FOR 25 min TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS; THEN I REALIZE YOU CANT UNDERSTAND IT, THATD IMPOSSIBLE!
so Alice was hallucinating the whole time?!!! I have to say that would be awesome and it would also explain Waltruad's behavior or however you spell her name... but the other guy who at the end was reveled as hiding as the Chesire Cat did he do this? do the Chesire make Alice dream this all up? is the Pillar even real? If she was hallucinating how did she get the umbrella or the mirror?
LETS REWIND!
Jack Diamonds is Adam J Dixon. I'm sorry to spoil that but I had to. And get this he's merely a figment of her imagination! Jack isn't real he just happens to be there every time Alice needs him. At the end he's reveled as Adam on the bus whom is dead because of the rabbit with the ticking pocket watch who is actually Alice....
Yes please read this and tell me your feed back on whether you understood it or not cuz I sure as hell didn't.
I was really hooked at the beginning but halfway when things started to get weird I was confused like what was going on ? this is kind of stupid....
BUT THEN AT THE END THE MAJOR PLOT TWIST HAPPENS AND IM LIKE DROWNING IN EMOTIONS AND IM LIKE WTF AND I SIT THERE FOR 25 min TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS; THEN I REALIZE YOU CANT UNDERSTAND IT, THATD IMPOSSIBLE!
so Alice was hallucinating the whole time?!!! I have to say that would be awesome and it would also explain Waltruad's behavior or however you spell her name... but the other guy who at the end was reveled as hiding as the Chesire Cat did he do this? do the Chesire make Alice dream this all up? is the Pillar even real? If she was hallucinating how did she get the umbrella or the mirror?
LETS REWIND!
Jack Diamonds is Adam J Dixon. I'm sorry to spoil that but I had to. And get this he's merely a figment of her imagination! Jack isn't real he just happens to be there every time Alice needs him. At the end he's reveled as Adam on the bus whom is dead because of the rabbit with the ticking pocket watch who is actually Alice....
Yes please read this and tell me your feed back on whether you understood it or not cuz I sure as hell didn't.
January 10, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
This was so so strange, but I really liked it!
I didn't know what to think to some of the characters in this, but Pillar especially baffled me. He was just so crazy and hard to trust!
I quite liked Alice though, as she really cared about getting one of the girls back from the Chesire.
The prologue was brilliant, and instantly got me hooked. It did get really strange at points after that, but i still loved the story.
This is defiantly the best Alice In Wonderland retelling i've read so far.
Overall, Great retelling of Alice In Wonderland!
This was so so strange, but I really liked it!
I didn't know what to think to some of the characters in this, but Pillar especially baffled me. He was just so crazy and hard to trust!
I quite liked Alice though, as she really cared about getting one of the girls back from the Chesire.
The prologue was brilliant, and instantly got me hooked. It did get really strange at points after that, but i still loved the story.
This is defiantly the best Alice In Wonderland retelling i've read so far.
Overall, Great retelling of Alice In Wonderland!
January 4, 2016
Сумасшедшая книженция, что еще сказать. Половину времени ты не можешь понять что, черт подери, здесь происходит, а вторую балд��ешь от атмосферы. Книгу, по хорошему, можно смело разбирать на цитаты. Их тут куча, причем все они о рассуждении о Безумии. Именно с большой буквы. Грубо говоря, Безумие здесь является главным героем, заражающим всех - и персонажей, и читателей.
Конец неплохой, дает надежду на кровавое продолжение. Его я определенно почитаю.
Итог: 8 из 10
Конец неплохой, дает надежду на кровавое продолжение. Его я определенно почитаю.
Итог: 8 из 10
August 9, 2019
Mám takový pocit, že se Cameron musel hodně krotit, aby tam nezamontoval ještě větší šílenosti. Oproti The Grimm Diaries je tohle slabý odvar (z šílenostního měřítka, samozřejmě) :-D
January 31, 2014
This review and many others can be found on my blog -
Insanity is a quirky, somewhat bizarre modern take on Alice in Wonderland. (Of course, the oddities fit in quite well with Carroll's original tale). After reading this book, I'm still not quite sure if Alice is mad or not, and I have a feeling that that's just what Jace wanted!
The story follows Alice Wonder, who has been locked in an insane asylum for the past two years because she killed everyone in her class. However, her already insane life gets a little crazier when an infamous murderer named Pillar (who is referred to as Professor Caterpillar in the synopsis - he was once a professor, but he now lives in the insane asylum along with Alice) blackmails the man who runs the asylum into allowing her to go out into the "real" world and try to catch a murderer before he kills again. The murderer just happens to be the Chesire Cat. Even more insanity ensues.
The negatives:
It's crazy!
Well, this is kind of a negative, but really mostly a positive. I'm warning you now, though, that you won't necessarily be able to keep track of what's "real" in this book and what's not. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you'll get thrown for a loop again! Like I said, at the end of the book, I still wasn't sure if Wonderland is real or if Alice is just plain crazy!!
What I loved:
It's crazy!
Pillar and Alice's antics are just insane fun! I spent the entire book trying to figure out if Alice is really the Alice - sometimes you think she is, and then you're just not sure. Is it maddening? Yep. Is it interesting? Definitely.
Alice references.
Not only does this book have TONS of references to the original tale, it also talks a lot about Carroll himself (or, I guess I should say, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson himself). Because the idea is that Wonderland is real, Carroll's actions in the real world are just as important as the Alice story (and they play into the murder plotline). I loved meeting the Wonderland characters throughout the book and finding out who their modern-day alter egos were. You never knew who was going to show up next or what they were going to do!
Alice.
I really loved Alice and felt very sorry for her. I mean, she's finally starting to convince herself that everything she believed about Wonderland was just madness (and she actually doesn't even remember any of it because of electroshock therapy) and then she gets plunged right back into it all! Alice struggles to convince herself that she's not mad. And once she gets out into the real world, she begins to think it's madder even than Wonderland - but her top priority is always rescuing Constance (the girl who the Cheshire Cat has abducted).
Pillar.
Pillar is just plain crazy. No ifs ands or buts about it. On the one hand, he's a murderer and you should probably hate him, but on the other hand, he's kind of likable in a crazy sort of way. Sometimes you have no idea if he's helping Alice or if he's just leading her on a wild goose chase (and occasionally you wonder if he's even real). I love it when characters straddle the line between good and bad, and Pillar definitely does that!
If you're looking for a quirky new take on Alice in Wonderland (not really a re-telling, because this book is not trying to re-tell the original story), then this is the book for you! Overall, I give it 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
Insanity is a quirky, somewhat bizarre modern take on Alice in Wonderland. (Of course, the oddities fit in quite well with Carroll's original tale). After reading this book, I'm still not quite sure if Alice is mad or not, and I have a feeling that that's just what Jace wanted!
The story follows Alice Wonder, who has been locked in an insane asylum for the past two years because she killed everyone in her class. However, her already insane life gets a little crazier when an infamous murderer named Pillar (who is referred to as Professor Caterpillar in the synopsis - he was once a professor, but he now lives in the insane asylum along with Alice) blackmails the man who runs the asylum into allowing her to go out into the "real" world and try to catch a murderer before he kills again. The murderer just happens to be the Chesire Cat. Even more insanity ensues.
The negatives:
It's crazy!
Well, this is kind of a negative, but really mostly a positive. I'm warning you now, though, that you won't necessarily be able to keep track of what's "real" in this book and what's not. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you'll get thrown for a loop again! Like I said, at the end of the book, I still wasn't sure if Wonderland is real or if Alice is just plain crazy!!
What I loved:
It's crazy!
Pillar and Alice's antics are just insane fun! I spent the entire book trying to figure out if Alice is really the Alice - sometimes you think she is, and then you're just not sure. Is it maddening? Yep. Is it interesting? Definitely.
Alice references.
Not only does this book have TONS of references to the original tale, it also talks a lot about Carroll himself (or, I guess I should say, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson himself). Because the idea is that Wonderland is real, Carroll's actions in the real world are just as important as the Alice story (and they play into the murder plotline). I loved meeting the Wonderland characters throughout the book and finding out who their modern-day alter egos were. You never knew who was going to show up next or what they were going to do!
Alice.
I really loved Alice and felt very sorry for her. I mean, she's finally starting to convince herself that everything she believed about Wonderland was just madness (and she actually doesn't even remember any of it because of electroshock therapy) and then she gets plunged right back into it all! Alice struggles to convince herself that she's not mad. And once she gets out into the real world, she begins to think it's madder even than Wonderland - but her top priority is always rescuing Constance (the girl who the Cheshire Cat has abducted).
Pillar.
Pillar is just plain crazy. No ifs ands or buts about it. On the one hand, he's a murderer and you should probably hate him, but on the other hand, he's kind of likable in a crazy sort of way. Sometimes you have no idea if he's helping Alice or if he's just leading her on a wild goose chase (and occasionally you wonder if he's even real). I love it when characters straddle the line between good and bad, and Pillar definitely does that!
If you're looking for a quirky new take on Alice in Wonderland (not really a re-telling, because this book is not trying to re-tell the original story), then this is the book for you! Overall, I give it 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
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