Red Queen (The Chronicles of Alice)

This continues The Chronicles of Alice and I liked this book even better than the first book in the series. This book had more questing, adventuring, and magic than the first. It was still a very very dark story but it didn't have quite as much violence as the first book did. I really enjoyed it and I absolutely loved the writing style Henry wrote the story in. The writing style is very fairytale-like and descriptive and really makes the story come alive. This is one of those book where you just never know what’s going to be on the next page; it’s just one incredibly creative surprise after the next. I love that Hatcher and Alice both grow as characters throughout the story in their own twisted way. Alice spends a vast portion of this book alone, something she’s never been in her whole life, and it helps her to gain new strength both in her magic and in her confidence. I continue to adore the strangely sweet relationship that Hatcher and Alice have for each other, it just fits the tone of the book so absolutely perfectly. The end of this book wraps things up nicely and then sets up for another adventure in the future for Hatcher and Alice. Overall I am absolutely adoring this series and can't wait to read more about Hatcher and Alice. The writing is beautiful, the story is very creative, and I love the dark fairytale like quality to it. I am dying to see what adventures the third book holds for us!

Red Queen is the second and final book of the The Chronicles of Alice. This dark and delightfully contorted retelling pick-ups where we last left off with Alice and Hatcher. While there is a prologue, I do not recommend reading this title out-of-order or as a standalone. For that reason, I am not going to be providing a recap during this review. “Once, there was a girl called Alice, and she lived in the New City, where everything is shining and beautiful and fair. But Alice was a curious girl with a curious talent. She was a Magician. Do you know what a Magician is?” The Chronicles of Alice easily fall within my favorite of retellings. Fast paced, gritty and beautifully re-imagined, Henry gives new life and breath to a loved classic with Alice. I was filled with elation to immediately discover Red Queen was no exception and would follow in the shining footsteps of its predecessor. We are now accompanying Alice and Hatcher on their journey to find Hatcher’s lost daughter Jenny. But alongside of our familiar heroine and her “somewhat” unstable companion, we are introduced to some new and rather eccentric individuals. This includes Pen the giant and the denizens of their current surroundings. Each encounter provides additional insight into Alice and Hatcher’s quest and the Red and White Queens. The author cleverly relies on this new ensemble to convey the history and fill in many blanks. The world building maintains the previously introduced, bleak yet imaginative setting that manages to effectively pique the curiosity and encourage further exploration. While the environment is a more limited in this adventure, I did not find it to be any less appealing. It was well-tailored to the direction of the story and serves its purpose. It is fair to mention at this point that Red Queen is not as dark and graphic as Alice. Do not approach this portion of the story expecting the exact same action packed experience or you may miss all that it actually has to offer. Here we are gifted with a rather unique but welcomed change of direction or turn of events. The tale is now very much character driven and the pacing has slowed but not without justifiable reason. Through fragmented memories, we are exposed to Alice’s past and family life. Any pre-existing questions are answered and the veil is finally lifted from Hatcher as Henry thoroughly examines Alice’s relationship with him. This is Alice and Hatcher’s story. The writing continues in that very straight-forward, crisp manner that I have come to expect with Henry’s storytelling. She effortlessly manages to balance all elements providing just enough detail to fuel the story but continue to play on and encourage the reader’s own imagination. The end result is an adequately pleasing conclusion that I would recommend to anyone who found appreciation in Alice.

"Red Queen" by Christina Henry is an interesting concept of "Alice in Wonderland". It is the second story that follows her first book, "Alice". These books do not follow not the traditional Carroll story we all know. If you replaced all the names of the characters, you would not expect to be reading a book based off the Wonderland story. But the mystery of Cheshire, wonder of Alice, and madness of the Hatter are all there. I really enjoyed Christina's take on Wonderland. I researched these books before I bought them. "Red Queen" got better reviews than "Alice". I agree! You get to experience more of a magical fantasy adventure in this book. "Alice" is more of a sadistic trip in a world of magic. It as if Alice experiences the city of wonderland in the first book, and the countryside in the second. You could read "Red Queen" first, and not be completely lost in the story. It is it's own adventure. But you would not know the relationship and bond between the two main characters, Alice and Hatcher. The story does have dark subject matter and would not recommend this book to little children. I personally feel that the topics of both books would be for 13 and up. It's a pretty mature wonderland, and I am a fan of dark and twisted books. My ride with Alice down the rabbit hole was an interesting one!

This was a great book, good story and characters. I also love how it’s a different version of Alice in wonderland. I really liked this series, so yes. I recommend this to you. But this is the second book, the first one is called Alice.

Loved this book and the whole series. If you’re contemplating buying it just by the whole series now. You won’t regret it.

I don't know. I just didn't like this one as much as the first one. I still liked it and I loved some of the new characters and the end game, but something was just off. I guess it dragged for me so much in the beginning. I can't really tell you. There is no darkness in this book as there was in the first one. Alice and Hatcher are going along and along and along. They are going to the mountains to see if Hatcher's daughter Jenny is there. They run into some unusual things along the way, as you would assume in this world. There is a nice giant that Alice befriends named Pen, when she loses Hatcher (in a sense). Although at first one of Pen's brothers wanted to eat Alice, he was just a little off his nut that's all :-) At one point Alice has to go it alone and try to save these children that were taken by the evil queen and to save Hatcher. I'm not saying much more so there will be no spoilers. There was a sad/happy ending, but I am wondering if there is going to be another book because this one is left open for another one. I still can't believe the end and the turn of events. I never saw anything like this happening from the first book unless it all went over my head. Well, some of it was new stuff you wouldn't know anyway, but I digress. Anyway, I hope plenty out there love it more than I did because we all have different opinions. And one is just as good as another =-)

I loved book one so much I hurried online to purchase this. The story - darkness, courage, fear, magic.. all of it continues. There was a little something less fulfilling about this book... like it waited on the edge of a precipice and never quite made it. Overall I enjoyed the book, had trouble putting it down, and am VERY curious to know what happens to the characters. What things are afoot in the city? Do they reach the valley to the north? It seems that quiet, peaceful things are always just out of reach for Alice & Hatcher - hidden behind long journeys and strange foes. I truly expected another story at the end of this one and was surprised and disappointed to discover there is no more. Don't let this stop you from purchasing it though - both books in the series are tales that need to be told and worthy of purchase.

Really like her style of writing. Enjoy her take on this. Highly recommended

Der letzte Roman der Alice-Dilogie "Red Queen" hat mir sogar noch besser gefallen als der Vorgänger. Das Buch hatte alles was ich mir hätte wünschen können und noch mehr, deswegen eine zurecht verdiente volle Punktzahl. Der Roman hat weniger Splatterelemente als wie der Vorgänger, was ich aber nicht schlimm fand, dafür hat die Autorin mehr Spannung und vor allem mehr Gruselfaktor in den Handlungsbogen miteingebaut. Desöfteren habe ich mich beim lesen umgeschaut nur um vergewissern zu wollen, dass ich mich alleine im Raum befinde und auch in diesem bin, anstatt alleine im Wald mit dem Goblin. Das Buch hat mehr Dichte und mehr Horrorelemente, nicht in dem Maße das Blut vergossen wird in Übermengen, sondern durch die geschaffene Atmosphäre die beim lesen hergestellt wird. Die Hauptfiguren entwickeln sich weiter und dadurch das man sie kennt, fiebert man vermehrt mit ihnen mit und hofft darauf, dass sie ihr Happy Ending auf das sie so sehr hoffen, auch bekommen werden. Die Idee mit den Königinnen und dem schwarzen König fand ich interessant und gut umgesetzt, die neuen Figuren und Erkenntnisse in dem Roman haben perfekt zum Verlauf gepasst. Es gab etwas mehr Romanze in dem Buch als wie in Alice, aber auch nicht in dem Ausmaße das man sich beschweren kann, wenn man ein Horrorbuch vor sich hat. Es gab Spannung, Action, Splatter und Horror sowie eine tolle magische und düstere Geschichte die zu einem Ende geführt haben, dass mich vollends zufrieden zurückgelassen hat. Ich werde die Welt und die Figuren die Christina Henry erschaffen hat vermissen, und freue mich schon darauf ihre anderen Werke lesen zu dürfen. Ps: Die Dilogie beinhaltet Merkmale und Bezeichnungen/ Begriffe von Lewis Carroll "Alice in Wonderland", dies ist aber kein Retelling der Geschichte! Die Dilogie spielt in einer eigenen Fantasywelt die nichts wirklich mit der Welt von Alice im Wunderland gemeinsam hat.

The sequel to Christina Henry's 'Alice', 'Red Queen' once again takes us on the journey with Alice and Hatcher to find his lost daughter. It's hard to say anything else without spoiling the plot, so I won't try. What I will say is that it is another wonderfully dark tale that kept me reading long into the night. (It's still night if the sun hasn't come up yet, right?) Definitely a must read, and would be much better if you've read 'Alice' first. Who is the Red Queen? You'll have to wait and see...

I’m so happy I found this alice in wonderland chronicles. I loved the first book Alice and the second book - the red queen is just as good. Someone asked me what book I liked better. Alice or this one. I honestly couldn’t pick. Both are equally so good. SPOILER I do have to admit that I love that hatcher turns into a wolf in the red queen. I’m onto the third book of the chronicles called - the looking glass and I’m sure it won’t disappoint

Justo lo esperado, ni mas ni menos. Tardo en llegar.

I read the first book ’Alice’ a little while ago and was very excited when I realised there was a second book. I hoped ‘Red Queen’ would be as good and wasn’t disappointed in the slightest!! Another dark, mysterious, wonderful journey with Alice and Mad Hatcher. A great story, well written, from start to finish. It was like I was there with them the whole time.