Wonderland Academy

Wonderland Academy, Book One

By: Melanie Karsak

Narrated by: Kristin James

Welcome to Wonderland Academy. Don't lose your head.

Getting into Wonderland Academy is easy:

You must be a little mad.
You must follow the white rabbit.
You must find the key to enter Wonderland.
You must not be named Alice or risk being beheaded by order of the Queen of Hearts.

We might have an issue with that last one.

My name may be Alice, but Wonderland Academy is everything my real life isn't. Who wouldn't want to learn how to ride a jabberwocky, train with a vorpal sword, cast spells using a teacup, or shapeshift into a fairy? As long as no one figures out my real name, I should be fine.

The only problem? Aden, the Queen of Hearts' son, is quickly becoming my best friend. And then there's Corbin. Brooding, surly, tattooed, and definitely not my type, I can't stop thinking about him. But Corbin has secrets of his own, and Wonderland and secrets don't mix.

How I'm going to pass my classes and protect my secret like my life depends on it is beyond me. But I better find a way. Because in Wonderland, no Alice is safe.

Wonderland Academy re-imagines the fantastical world of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" for a fresh, new adventure. Combining whimsy, magic, and a splash of steampunk, New York Times best-selling author Melanie Karsak invites you into this beautifully re-envisioned fairy tale adventure.

©2019 Clockpunk Press (P)2019 Clockpunk Press

A Wondrous series and it has just begun!

Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel

Summary:
This is not your old Wonderland! At first you revisit some of the original characters in a new and Wonderland light. Lacey has always heard strange things that no one else heard, but everyone thought is had a mental illness. After her boyfriend was killed in front of her, something in Lacey broke spirally her life out of control. After being released from a psychiatric ward, her world spiraled out of control as she fell through a whole taking her to Wonderland. Not knowing if it was real or a drug induced dream, she began her new life where she is in danger of loosing her head because her real name is Alice. Things at Wonderland may not be exactly what they seem leading Lacey and her friends into a dangerous and wondrous adventure. But how it will end up is yet to be revealed. From hiding form the Queen of Hearts, befriending the Queen’s son Aiden, learning all the magical wonders of the academy, finding a possible new love interest in Corbin( a guy from the other side like Lacey), Learning to dueling with magical swords, to learning that things in Wonderland could spiral out of control and Lacey herself may be the trigger point. That is a lot for anyone to handle and Lacey will need the help of her friends if they are to survive what is to come.

This was an incredible audio-book and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Story started slow but improved leaving me wanting more. Great narrator.

Expected another retread of YA urban fantasy. Another academy, another young girl, introducing a magic themed on Alice in Wonderland. It starts slow and is a little quirky but ends with me wanting more. The narrator is a great trained voice, switching accents and intonation making the characters different and distinct. I’ll listen to book 2 if she reads it.

Everyone is a little bit mad here

I loved this book from the moment it started. The main character Alice has a lot to deal with from everything she sees and losing the man she loved. Anyone would have some issues but she also sees people no one else does. She gets thrown into Wonderland without much warning and things only get crazier from there for her. Poor Lacy has no idea the conspiracy she had been brought here by or the politics of this place she is just trying to figure out if it’s real or not and if so how to keep her head. I loved the classes and the different things they got to learn. I definitely want my own tea cup holster to play with and get to learn about. Her madness helps her succeed here and I can’t wait to find out what’s in store for out Lacy and the others she has met here and those she cares for. What will happen to Wonderland and what will the red queen do? The history of wonderland proves the winners write the history books and change the way everyone sees things and it takes someone from over there to question what she doesn’t know and hopefully stay alive loving enough to help.

We're all a little mad here.

Loved this story, Lacey aka Alice is a likeable main character and the supporting characters are interesting in this reimagined modern twist on wonderland. I enjoyed the academy aspect and the fascinating classes available. The narrator did a wonderful job creating unique voices for each character and bringing the world to life as she read the incredible description Melanie put into this book.

Nothing like Disney!!!

I love the remake of wonderland! I really enjoyed how Melanie Karsak makes it her own but also has some things from the original.

NEED MORE!!!

I love Alice in Wonderland and I believe I love this Wonderland even more. While this book is set in Wonderland it is a wonderful new story. This book is full of mystery, adventure and full of snark (I love snark). Melanie Karsak did an amazing job of taking a classic world and creating a brand new story. This is a wonderful book and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. The narrator is great and did an awesome job with all the different accents.

twist

I really like Alice in Wonderland and really enjoyed this twist; looking forward to more in this series.

hooked

Started out slow but hooks you into the story. eagerly awaiting next book in series

So much fun

I loved this unique take on the classic Alice in Wonderland. Instead of trying to take the things we know about it and fitting a new story around what we know this author was able to make this book feel like a natural extension to the adventures. I was absorbed in the story and found myself lamenting the end. I would love to keep listening to the series.

not your typical Alice story

This is not your typical Alice story. Once you start reading or listening to this you will be swept away and caught up in the mystery and intrigue surrounding it. I really enjoyed it this version and I promise that no fairies, rabbits or any other magical creatures had a hand with my decision to write this review 😉.

The narrator does an amazing job with the different characters. I really enjoyed listening to her.