Alice

By: Christina Henry

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A mind-bending new novel inspired by the twisted and wondrous works of Lewis Carroll....

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls that echo the screams of the poor souls inside. In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn't remember why she's in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood.

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago. Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.

©2015 Tina Raffaele (P)2016 Recorded Books

Not what I expected, reader beware

This book is composed of 90% sexual assault, 10% magic, not the other way around. If you are disturbed/triggered by rape and sex trafficking, this is not the book for you. The story is interesting and well-written, but there is so much detail and emphasis on sexual violence and torture that it is grating and difficult to finish. I wish the first couple hours and the last hour were the whole book, without all the stuff in between. How Alice came to find Hatcher and destroy the Jabberwocky are the interesting parts. It’s still a good story, and I’ll listen to the next one (Red Queen) to see how it ends, but I strongly advise people with weak stomachs for violence to skip this one, especially if you are under 18. It’s extra creepy because this narrator also did Howl’s Moving Castle, which is a beautiful spring walk in the park compared to this.

Fantastic book, but needs a trigger warning

I loved loved this book, however I wish It'd had a trigger warning for sexual assault. The story was phenomenal and I couldn't stop listening.

A creepy, dark, retelling of Alice's story

Poor, trusting Alice. She went with her best friend on a supposed adventure and ended up in an insane asylum. She doesn't remember what happened, only before and after. Before, she was a sweet innocent girl who lived in the New City, and after, she was found wandering the streets of the Old City with blood on her thighs muttering about a rabbit. Now, she has the chance to escape the asylum with Hatcher (who was living on the other side of the wall for 8 years) and she is about to embark on an even stranger adventure, dark, bloody, and frankly a bit disturbing.

This is not the Alice you remember from the Disney movie, some of the characters are here: Alice, Cheshire, the Rabbit, the Caterpillar, but they are not as you remember them. This book is full of violence, human trafficking and, rape. Women are treated as objects at best and as sex toys or killing toys at worst. Sections of the Old City are owned by ruthless gang lords, and women are never safe there. But, this is also a story of justice and revenge. Believe me when I say Alice & her friend Hatcher (from the asylum) are no slackers when it comes to giving people what they deserve.

So, should you read it? Well, if you like dark, creepy, retellings which are more horror than fantasy, and if you won't be disturbed by the violence, then go for it. If you are the tiniest bit squeamish, then I suggest you pass.

Dark and Horrifying but a well told tale

This was bordering on too dark for me. Rape and sexual slavery and animal cruelty are not high up on my list of reading materials but this was a very interesting retelling. I especially liked that Alice grew bit by bit in strength and confidence as the story went on. Eventually she is very brave, in an Alice kind of way. I am looking forward to reading the next in the duology. At first I didn't really like the narrator, but as the story goes on, you realize that she is actually perfect for the inner voice of Alice. I highly recommend this book.

I need more!

So good, going to try another from this author today. Plus, exceptional narration! Glad to know the story continues.

Strange Alice

Thought this might be a comedy but I was wrong. A more gruesome tale, it seems to have aspects of both Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland. The coming to the knowledge that you have manic powers while fighting evil.
A very good story. The narrator was excellent.
This book is well worth the listening.

Weird, creepy, & wonderful!!

I loved this twist on the Alice in Wonderland story! It was fun and horrifying at the same time. Christina Henry does an excellent job in making you care for the two main characters. Their adventure is suspenseful and unpredictable. I highly recommend it!

amazing

If I had to take one audio book with me forever. This is my favorite audio book I've heard so far.

Wondetland does not exist here

Definitly a far different take on Alice. Story takes place in the run down slums of an old city run by gangs with cute little names like the Rabbit the Walrus and the Catipilar.
Its a story of rape abuse and betrayal that drove a girl mad and her quest for revenge. All the time you wonder how much is real and how much is the delusions of an insane girl

Great retelling

Enjoyed the retelling of Peter Pan and enjoyed this book as well. The narrator did a superb job of reading and capturing the creepiness of the characters.