About this book:
The first novel in Colleen Oakes’s epic, imaginative series tells the origin of one of the most infamous villains—the Queen of Hearts. This is not the story of the Wonderland we know. Alice has not fallen down a rabbit hole. This is a Wonderland where beneath each smile lies a secret, each tart comes with a demand, and only prisoners tell the truth. Dinah is the princess who will one day reign over Wonderland. She has not yet seen the dark depths of her kingdom; she longs only for her father’s approval and a future with the boy she loves. But when a betrayal breaks her heart and threatens her throne, she is launched into Wonderland’s dangerous political game. Dinah must stay one step ahead of her cunning enemies or she’ll lose not just the crown but her head.
*Review contributed by Joanne Mumley, Staff Reviewer*
See it Through the Eyes of the a Villain
Take a journey into Wonderland; its whimsical, a little bit crazy, a tad bit dark. But what else would you expect from the future Queen of Hearts? What could have turned a girl into a fiendish and crazy ruler?
The world building of Wonderland is awe-inspiring. As a reader who loves to dive into new worlds, I really appreciated all the touches, little and big, that the author put into Wonderland. Things are not as you would expect. The palace is an architectural wonder, surrounded by an iron wall made of hearts. It is a nontraditional retelling, without an Alice. Do not expect a fluffy White Rabbit. Do not expect the grinning psychedelic Cheshire Cat from your favorite childhood book. Colleen Oakes gives new and unexpected identities to well known childhood characters including; the Mad Hatter, the Walrus, and the Knave of Hearts. I love the fact that there is a King of Hearts, and the Cards are actually various ranks of soldiers.- It adds a realistic hierarchy to a well known topsy-turvy and crazy world.
Dinah, the future Queen of Hearts, finds herself questioning the only thing she has every known- her family and her kingdom. She Dinah takes upon herself to find out the truth. But secrets can be tricky and secrets can bring danger. Left with only riddles, Dinah suddenly finds herself the prime target.
What I like best: Dinah’s journey has it all. There’s betrayal and humor. Dinah not only goes on a quest of discovery but must battle some internal conflicts as well. Oakes places layers and layers of deception and secrets that moves the plot along at a pretty quick pace towards the end.
The Queen of Hearts is a fun read for those who love retellings and hearing the story from a different perspective. Highly recommended for readers who love watching Once Upon a Time.
*You can find this review HERE!*
