Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 8/25/2018 + 1223 more book reviews

This was really a demented retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It really does not use the classic Alice or Wonderland but sets the story in a fictional place called the Old City which is run by a set of gang bosses who may be named after characters in the original Alice but are far more deadly and perverted. These include Cheshire, the Walrus, the Caterpillar, and the Rabbit. The book starts out with Alice in a mental hospital communicating through a wall with Hatcher, a man who remembers little of his life but becomes friends with Alice. When a fire at the asylum allows them to escape, Alice and Hatcher set out to the Old City in search of the Jabberwock, a monster who kills malevolently and who is tied in some way to Hatcher. They are also seeking the Rabbit who Alice had encountered years earlier and who left a scar on Alice so she would be recognizable when she returned to the Old City. The Rabbit may also have a weapon than can be used against the Jabberwocky and information about Hatcher's past.

The story is full of violence and perversion. The Walrus is probably the worst of the bunch...he captures young girls so he can rape and eat them! The story meanders along with Alice and Hatcher getting involved in one violent encounter after another and along the way Alice discovers that she has special gifts to help in their quest.

Overall, this was an interesting twisted take on the Alice story but I would not recommend it for the squeamish! I know there is a sequel to this one called The Red Queen which continues Alice and Hatcher's quest to find some of Hatcher's past and I'll probably be reading it as some point.

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