REVIEW: BLOOD OF WONDERLAND BY COLLEEN OAKES.

Title: Blood of Wonderland
Author: Colleen Oakes
Series: Queen of Hearts Saga #2
Edition: Paperback
Publication: January 31st 2017 by HarperTeen
Source: Gifted ARC
Pages: 336
Genre: Alice in Wonderland, Retelling, Fantasy

Synopsis:
The queen will rise.

Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland. The vicious father she always feared has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother and turned the kingdom against her.

Now hiding in the lush and mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice. She could leave Wonderland forever or return and fight her father for her throne—a fight she knows would only result in bloodshed.

When a chance encounter with one of her father’s long-lost enemies brings Dinah more allies than she ever could have imagined, war starts to feel inevitable. But before Dinah can lead her people into combat, she must confront certain truths about her heart and her destiny—no matter how dark those truths may be.

Revolution is rising in Wonderland.

Dinah’s battle has begun.

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Blood of Wonderland is one of my most anticipated releases this year and it is also my second one for 2017. I love Queen of Hearts and any other Alice in Wonderland retelling. Splintered set the bar quite high but this series didn't disappoint.

Blood of Wonderland took of right where Queen of Wonderland finishes. Dinah is running for her life after she was setup by her father and she ends up in a magical forest. Then she gets helped by a Spade. She's training and meets up with this character who reveals such mind-blowing secrets I really could wrap anything into.

Dinah is not the type of character you usually see in books. I loved that fact that she's described as plain because plain is beautiful. It is seldom that I encounter main characters that are not described as you know, magazine models. And her development is amazing to watch. She developed on her own which proves we don't need a man to be the best versions of ourselves.

Oakes owned this retelling by twisting the characters using her voice and it is really a fascinating thing to be able to point out the author's tone in all this. The consistency of the story is fluid and the plot twist is just insane! And the romance? AFTER I READ IT, I HEARD MY HEART SHATTER ON THE FLOOR. Like, I was kind of expecting it but damn, man! The ache was real!

Blood of Wonderland is a sequel time worthy. It's so gritty it makes Alice retellings even more fantastic!

Thank you JB for the ARC!

"I am the Queen of Hearts, she thought, and I will take my throne."

REVIEW: QUEEN OF HEARTS BY COLLEEN OAKES.

Title: Queen of Hearts
Author: Colleen Oakes
Series: Queen of Hearts Saga #1
Edition: Paperback
Publication: May 3rd 2016 by HarperTeen
Source: ARC gifted by Kai of Amaterasu Reads
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, Romance

Synopsis:

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

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I finished reading Queen of Hearts in less than ten hours and it was actually just a quick read. I flew quickly through its pages because the pacing was right and I cannot put it down because I needed answers. I wanted to get these questions in my head resolved as soon as possible but this book just basically left me hanging. I need book two because not knowing anything is driving me insane!

I've had my fair share of retelling disappointments in the past and it is seldom I find one that actually delivers. This one practically surprised me. I didn't like most of its bland parts but I didn't mind? Maybe because I loved how the twists are owned by the author despite of this being an Alice in Wonderland retelling. I sensed Oakes in this novel. I loved how Dinah, our Queen of Hearts, has been presented as our heroine in this side of the story. Maybe that's one reason why I loved this, I've been wanting to read a back story of villains. Not that am tired of reading about our princesses but sometimes, I want to know our evil queens deeper, like Maleficent and Regina from Once Upon a Time TV series. It gives a kick to the entirety of the novel because at least I get to understand the WHYS of their characters. Most of the time, I fall in love with the antagonists because of their history, character development and how other people twisted their minds and heart. Morbid as it may sound, but I like my antagonists that way.

Princess of Wonderland, Dinah, appeared to be weak in the beginning and surely, a whinny brat but I guess her rage and grief helped her become what she is at the end of book 1. She was developed in a tough way because of her endless resentment and then fought against those who belittled her. What I truly do not understand is why her father treats her with so much rage from the depths of his hellish heart. That one wasn't crossed out in this novel so understand why I am eager to read book 2. I would also like to know who the hell is Faina Baker. I mean, this story tickles your curiosity to an extent that borders in frustration and awe.

Oakes gave me a kind of romance that also borders in failure and success. I feel like this is going to be on the downside of things since it was obviously unrequited. It might add up to the list of why Dinah's heart is full of hate. But I can wait to see what's gonna be the outcome of this all in the next books. Wardley might have a change of heart or Dinah might meet someone new. Who knows. So the torturous waiting begins.

Overall, this retelling of Alice in Wonderland lived up to my expectations. Splintered set the bar quite high but sure enough, Queen of Hearts filled me with so much anticipation for the sequel. THAT ending was freaking brutal. Queen of Hearts might have molded more questions than answers, but I believe a good story allows you to fonder and wonder.

Thank you so much Kai of Amaterasu Reads for the ARC!

"My fight to live does not begin now. I have been fighting all my life, I just didn't know it."

"She was learning as quickly that what was right and what must happen weren't always the same thing."