Book Review for Alice and Her Knave by S.N Hunt

I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens, and this has by no way impacted my review.

Alice and Her Knave, by S.N Hunt, is a dark, paranormal erotica about a woman who is dragged to a world that caters to her vices, and ultimately, her madness. The story introduces Alice and her beloved sister, Charlotte. As in the original story, Alice sees a white rabbit, whom she follows down a whirlpool and wakes up in Wonderland. Unlike the original, from here, she meets a mysterious figure known as the Great Mother, who tasks her with killing the Jabberwocky so that Wonderland can be restored. Alice is given a legendary weapon, the Vorpal Blade, and with that, the Great Mother sends Alice to kill the beast. However, as Alice further delves into Wonderland, and meets characters such as the Red Knave and the Mad Hatter, she discovers a lustful decay that draws her further away from her sanity. 

I have to admit, this was a rather enticing spin on Alice and Wonderland. I loved how Hunt played into the vice of lust, and how she showed the twisted sides of love through the Red Knave and the Mad Hatter. The Mad Hatter does scare me a little, but he has me just as intrigued. I enjoy him more than the Knave anyway; I’d take knives over lies any day. And while it can be overwhelming for all these horny characters to coexist beside each other, Hunt presents how to weave these traits into the central conflict. This isn’t some ordinary love triangle; it’s as if these characters are being forced to love a flame that will only burn them in the end. 

Moreover, Wonderland being this desolate place where the only good thing in it is Alice is thrilling. It reminds me of a butcher masking themselves as a shepherd, luring an innocent sheep into its embrace, only to slaughter it. And of course, Alice by no means is innocent. I like how Hunt sets her up as this spoiled girl who places instant gratification above all else, and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants, even if it meant regretting her decisions later on. She reminds me of the tarot card, the fool; taking a risk without considering the consequences, walking off the edge while smiling. I can easily imagine the Knave and the Mad Hatter waiting to catch her when she falls. 

Is it sexy? Yes. Is it macabre? Of course. However I did feel the story was a little rushed. Moreover, I didn’t appreciate Charlotte threatening to harm herself in the end. Still, the dark twists that Hunt has set up make the plot all the more thrilling. I can’t wait to see what comes next, and will be on the lookout for the sequel. As such, I would give this story a 4.5 out of 5.