I got a finished copy of this book to review through the Amazon Vine program. I want to love this series, I love the idea behind it, but it just falls a bit short for me.

This book picks up where the last book left off. Alice (Ali) Bell is trying to get her zombie slaying powers under control, but then she gets bitten and things get weird. Ali starts getting strange urges (like the urge to eat people) and glowing with red fire instead of her normal white. She knows something is very wrong, then when she looks in the mirror she sees something that is her but more evil. As if this wasnt enough her boyfriend Cole is acting all secretive and wont talk to Ali about why.

I want to love this series. I read the first book in the series and it was totally not what I expected. I thought I would read the second book because now I know what to expect and maybe thought the series would grow on me. Well, it didnt. There are some neat concepts and ideas in this series. But there is way way too much teen drama and angsting over relationships. The whole thing reads more like a soap opera than an action packed zombie novel.

First lets talk about the whole vision thing that Ali has with a new character, Gavin. In the first book we learn that Alis visions are never what we think they will be. The characters know this...Ali and Cole know this. Still Cole totally freaks out at the vision that Ali has with Gavin and decides that Ali is leaving him or something. Uh...okay how stupid are Ali and Cole...I guess pretty darn stupid.

All of the characters in this book are like that. Super on and off in their relationships. There is so much drama. So much of various couples hating each other and then making up with each other. If you like shallow teen drama then this is the book for you.

All of the male characters in this book are super alpha, they remind me a lot of the male leads in the adult Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward. They are out there to protect their women and they are constantly trying to take away the female characters choices and options in order to protect them...that gets sooooo old.

Ali drives me insane. She is so I am never talking to Cole again then he kisses her and she is all like Oh, nevermind I can forgive him because he is so hot. What a completely shallow heroine she is. She is also constantly putting herself and her friends in danger with her stubbornness and she just never seems to learn from her mistakes. She is definitely not one of my favorite heroines.

There are some neat things in here. I love the way zombies are treated and love how the fighting takes place in the spirit realm. Even though I do love this idea and concept, I have to admit some of the fight scenes get a bit confusing. You have to remember who is in spirit form and who is in physical form and Showalter doesnt do a great job of making that clear with her writing.

I also have a bit of trouble with how all this zombie fighting ties in with the rest of the world in general. There is some mention of this zombie infestation in other normal people. It is mentioned fairly briefly and then forgotten. This book is definitely weak on the world building.

On a side note, what was up with the who Ali seeing her evil self in the mirror thing? Yes this echoes the original Alice in Wonderland...but it is never explained why this happens.

Overall an okay book but not my favorite. I didnt enjoy the first book that much either. So I guess if you loved the first book in the series you will probably love this one. If you disliked the first book, this one is more of the same. I didnt enjoy the characters all that much; they are a bit dumb in how they repeat the same mistakes over and over. I also didnt enjoy the uber alpha males and the female characters that have as much will as a wet noodle. I do like the concept behind the zombies and thought the writing was easy to read and well done.

Right now I am not sure if I will read the next book in the series or not, I am leaning towards not reading it. If you like tons of teen drama and alpha male characters, with some zombie drama thrown in this might be the book for you.

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Summary:
After some serious injuries, Alice is not doing so well. She's attempting to adjust to life as a zombie-slayer, but she is also feeling some darkness within herself. She really needs her boyfriend Cole at this point in time, but of course, he pulls away and breaks up with her. He does this because of a vision that Alice was with someone else (not reality, just a vision). In order to get over her, Cole plays around with going back to his ex. This of course doesn't help Alice, but she bans together with her best friend Kat to kill zombies, fight the darkness inside her, and eventually get back together with Cole.

My thoughts:
I miss the old Showalter. She used to be such a spicy, vibrant writer. Now, all of her books are starting to sound the same to me. They all have some sort of religious message intermixed with the relationships. I don't really want to learn more about God through my teenage romance books. I understand that Showalter has gone through a religious transformation. Her adult books are definitely showing it. In this, I could get into the zombie stealing souls (much like a demon/devil) and Alice combating them along with compacting the darkness within herself. I actually can convince myself that the imagery is as is instead of going beyond and including the religious connotations with it. On the other hand, I can't take the ultimate forgiveness and meant to be togetherness of Alice and Cole's relationship. First, there is the vision of Alice with another man (because it's a sin to imagine being with someone else, no coveting!). This isn't reality, it's a vision and Alice is punished harshly for it (for temptation, not actual action). Then Cole runs off and plays with his ex. Then after drama, which of course is what I actually want to read, Cole rushes back to Alice with his unending love. Alice forgives him (since that's a woman's duty) and all goes on. The feminist in me is screaming at Showalter right now for stating that it is alright for men to go play around but women must not even have a vision of someone they aren't with. It's not even a voluntary vision. I'm so irritated with that double standard. I don't like Cole and I can't imagine that I'm going to like him in any future parts of this series.
On the other hand, Showalter keeps the book moving. I like the action scenes. Alice is getting to know herself and the world around her better. Also, the friendship between Kat and Alice is a highlight within this book. Overall, I liked it and I haven't completely given up on the series yet.

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Oh my glory!!! The white rabbit chronicles are one of my most favorite series. Gena Showaltler does it yet again, giving me a book that I just can't put down. I woke up in the middle.of the night and instead of going back to sleep I picked up my copy. Ali once again proves not to be a helpless lil mouse, but one bad mofo, kicking ass and taking names. The Ali-nator!!! Once you start this series, you won't.put it.down, and tho I had to wait a year for book two, it was well worth the long wait... I really hope there is a book 3.

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