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The Wonderland Court #1
Alice the Dagger
They call me the dagger.
I’m an indentured assassin, a lone wolf with capabilities that make me desirable on the black market.
Given my reputation, you can imagine that a fluffy white rabbit throwing my world upside-down was the shock of my life. Especially when he told me I was the fae heir to Wonderland. The only surviving heir because the Red Queen had brutally murdered the family that I’d one day hoped to find.
While that was devastating, I could have handled it—eventually—as long as I got revenge.
What I can’t handle is Hatter.
He’s a gorgeous and strange artist who is also working to end the Red Queen.
He makes my heart stop. He infuriates me. He touches my soul in ways no one else ever has. He sings songs in the street like an idiot.
I want to throttle him as much as I want to kiss him.
But first, I want revenge against the Red Queen. And of course, Hatter insists on sticking by my side despite my claims that I work alone.
One thing’s for sure, assassinating the Red Queen will be unlike any other job I’ve ever taken.
Readers who love adventure, slow-burn romances, and whimsical worlds similar to the Throne of Glass series, might also love Alice the Dagger.
I’m an indentured assassin, a lone wolf with capabilities that make me desirable on the black market.
Given my reputation, you can imagine that a fluffy white rabbit throwing my world upside-down was the shock of my life. Especially when he told me I was the fae heir to Wonderland. The only surviving heir because the Red Queen had brutally murdered the family that I’d one day hoped to find.
While that was devastating, I could have handled it—eventually—as long as I got revenge.
What I can’t handle is Hatter.
He’s a gorgeous and strange artist who is also working to end the Red Queen.
He makes my heart stop. He infuriates me. He touches my soul in ways no one else ever has. He sings songs in the street like an idiot.
I want to throttle him as much as I want to kiss him.
But first, I want revenge against the Red Queen. And of course, Hatter insists on sticking by my side despite my claims that I work alone.
One thing’s for sure, assassinating the Red Queen will be unlike any other job I’ve ever taken.
Readers who love adventure, slow-burn romances, and whimsical worlds similar to the Throne of Glass series, might also love Alice the Dagger.
331 pages, ebook
Published June 15, 2020
295 people are currently reading
2133 people want to read
About the author
Ashley McLeo
62 books718 followersAshley lives in the lush and green Pacific Northwest with her husband, their dog, and the house ghost that sometimes makes appearances in her charming, old home.
When she’s not writing urban fantasy and portal fantasy novels she enjoys traveling the world, reading, kicking butt at board games (she recommends Splendor and Dominion), and frequenting taquerias.
For all the latest releases and updates, subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, The Coven, today!
When she’s not writing urban fantasy and portal fantasy novels she enjoys traveling the world, reading, kicking butt at board games (she recommends Splendor and Dominion), and frequenting taquerias.
For all the latest releases and updates, subscribe to Ashley’s newsletter, The Coven, today!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
June 14, 2020
I'll be honest, I was skeptical about how much I would enjoy this book. Alice in Wonderland is a treasured story to me, largely due to the memories of sitting on my grandpa's knee while he indulged my requests to read it yet again. I tend to be a harsher critic when it comes to things I hold dear. Still, fairytale retellings are my favorite genre. It seemed worth a shot.
Ashley McLeo's story feels less like a retelling and more like a tribute. Many characters are recognizable in name only, but this works to her favor. I would never have imagined Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum recast as a pair of pixie sisters, but now I can't imagine a better version of them. Likewise, all of the fantastical background characters have been given a well-crafted backstory and fleshed out beyond Lewis Carroll's original whimsical ideas. Classic characters from the White Rabbit to the Bandersnatch have had new life breathed into them, and are joined by new faces who fit seamlessly. Alice herself was exquisitely written. I initially felt she was a little cold and lacked depth, but it becomes clear early on that this is an intentional character flaw, and not a mark of poor writing. One of the most enjoyable parts of this story is watching Alice grow as a person and come into her own.
The plot is no less inventive than the characters. In a fantastical world populated with vampires, shifters, and faeries, McLeo still manages to keep things balanced and believable. The world is masterfully built, and the magic system is well thought out. There is never a moment that you feel certain the heroes will prevail, and there are times that they don't. With the fast-paced story and nail-biting action, Alice the Dagger kept me engaged from start to finish. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel to find out what becomes of Wonderland and its inhabitants.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ashley McLeo's story feels less like a retelling and more like a tribute. Many characters are recognizable in name only, but this works to her favor. I would never have imagined Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum recast as a pair of pixie sisters, but now I can't imagine a better version of them. Likewise, all of the fantastical background characters have been given a well-crafted backstory and fleshed out beyond Lewis Carroll's original whimsical ideas. Classic characters from the White Rabbit to the Bandersnatch have had new life breathed into them, and are joined by new faces who fit seamlessly. Alice herself was exquisitely written. I initially felt she was a little cold and lacked depth, but it becomes clear early on that this is an intentional character flaw, and not a mark of poor writing. One of the most enjoyable parts of this story is watching Alice grow as a person and come into her own.
The plot is no less inventive than the characters. In a fantastical world populated with vampires, shifters, and faeries, McLeo still manages to keep things balanced and believable. The world is masterfully built, and the magic system is well thought out. There is never a moment that you feel certain the heroes will prevail, and there are times that they don't. With the fast-paced story and nail-biting action, Alice the Dagger kept me engaged from start to finish. I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel to find out what becomes of Wonderland and its inhabitants.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2023
I’m not going to lie, this book has put me into a reading slump. But nevertheless, here’s my review:
This book follows Alice Queenly and her journey to defeat the Red Queen. Along the way she makes new friends and allies.
The writing for this book seemed like a wattpad book if given an editor. It had a weird flow but a very enjoyable storyline. Overall: 3/5 stars.
This book follows Alice Queenly and her journey to defeat the Red Queen. Along the way she makes new friends and allies.
The writing for this book seemed like a wattpad book if given an editor. It had a weird flow but a very enjoyable storyline. Overall: 3/5 stars.
August 29, 2022
I had another Wonderland retelling lingering around on my shelves! Yesterday I saw that the second book in this series was on BookSprout and then I saw that the first book was on there too! I requested both eagerly because WONDERLAND and then all of a sudden I realized I actually already had the first book. Somewhere. And for some reason the urge to read the book right away refused to disappear, so I decided to give in and to start reading.
Mixing Wonderland with the world of the Fae is done more often. Which isn't weird. It's a mix that works well. Both worlds are magical, a little strange and filled with endless possibilities. I have to admit that I personally would have loved to experience the magic of this Wonderland a little more prominently. Of course, Alice has magic and we visit some magical places, but I didn't get the true Wonderland, meaning weird, vibe yet.
However, I really enjoyed how McLeo incorporated all the familiar characters into this story and managed to create an actually quite coherent tale where a lot of scenes of the original tale still happen. Just a little differently. There is a game with the Queen, who is nog very good at losing. There is a rabbit in a jacket screaming that he's late. And there's a charming hatter with a love for tea. We also meet the Dormouse, the March Hare and so on!
Characters who are great with weapons are always a hit and mis with me. That's mostly because a lot of authors forget that when we're talking about strong characters, we're not just talking about their physical strength. McLeo clearly got that though! Alice is strong and fierce, but she also has flaws and weaknesses, she has dreams and wishes and she quite clearly also has fears. I have the feeling that her journey is only just beginning. I can't wait to read on!
Mixing Wonderland with the world of the Fae is done more often. Which isn't weird. It's a mix that works well. Both worlds are magical, a little strange and filled with endless possibilities. I have to admit that I personally would have loved to experience the magic of this Wonderland a little more prominently. Of course, Alice has magic and we visit some magical places, but I didn't get the true Wonderland, meaning weird, vibe yet.
However, I really enjoyed how McLeo incorporated all the familiar characters into this story and managed to create an actually quite coherent tale where a lot of scenes of the original tale still happen. Just a little differently. There is a game with the Queen, who is nog very good at losing. There is a rabbit in a jacket screaming that he's late. And there's a charming hatter with a love for tea. We also meet the Dormouse, the March Hare and so on!
Characters who are great with weapons are always a hit and mis with me. That's mostly because a lot of authors forget that when we're talking about strong characters, we're not just talking about their physical strength. McLeo clearly got that though! Alice is strong and fierce, but she also has flaws and weaknesses, she has dreams and wishes and she quite clearly also has fears. I have the feeling that her journey is only just beginning. I can't wait to read on!
June 12, 2020
Well now that was a trippy adventure, I absolutely loved.
I seriously twisted tale that blew my mind.
I am a huge classic fairytale fan and this new take on Alice in Wonderland had he hooked from beginning to end. The excitement, the danger, the psycho and fun lovingly dangerous characters all made for a really wonderful book.
I seriously twisted tale that blew my mind.
I am a huge classic fairytale fan and this new take on Alice in Wonderland had he hooked from beginning to end. The excitement, the danger, the psycho and fun lovingly dangerous characters all made for a really wonderful book.
February 15, 2021
40% dnf
+ true to the tone of original book
- flat characters
- Alice
- almost no worldbuilding
+ true to the tone of original book
- flat characters
- Alice
- almost no worldbuilding
June 15, 2020
Alice the Dagger is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland. The way Ashley has created this world and the characters is amazing. The world pulls you down a rabbit hole and you can't help but keep turning the pages to see where the rabbit hole leads. I can't wait for the next book in the series
March 3, 2025
3.75 Stars
March 1, 2021
I received this book from the author and this is my honest review.
This is a rabbit hole that you WANT to go down!! Ashley did an amazing job with this retelling of the classic fairytale.
A paid fae assassin raised by vampires comes along a talking white rabbit that sends her on a mission regarding her long lost family and to help save Wonderland Court.
Whimsical, humorous, emotional and suspenseful rollercoaster ride that has a slow burn romance sprinkled throughout.
This is a rabbit hole that you WANT to go down!! Ashley did an amazing job with this retelling of the classic fairytale.
A paid fae assassin raised by vampires comes along a talking white rabbit that sends her on a mission regarding her long lost family and to help save Wonderland Court.
Whimsical, humorous, emotional and suspenseful rollercoaster ride that has a slow burn romance sprinkled throughout.
June 16, 2020
I received this book as ARC copy, and I’m giving my voluntary, honest review.
I love Alice in Wonderland stories. The vivid imagery and quirky characters. Ashley’s retelling of the classic captures those favorite characters and adds unique twists to them. While nowhere near as dark as American McGee’s Alice video game, some of the plot points are darker than the Disney version, but they help create a bond with Alice and the secondary characters.
I love that Alice is a strong female character. She always has been as it would be trying to fall into another world, but Ashley’s Alice the Dagger has earned that nickname and is a kick butt strong heroine. I also enjoyed seeing Hatter as the strong leader he’s known to be and the different, more leading male way he’s portrayed. The chemistry between the two has me looking forward to a sequel.
Dee, Dum and the Cheshire Cat (admittedly always a favorite) characters are fantastic, and I loved their twists.
The story reads quickly, is full of adventure from the very beginning and has a slow burn romance. There is some violence, as the title alludes to, but romance and language-wise, this is very age appropriate and won’t leave anyone blushing.
If you’re looking to escape reality into fantasy, like me, this is a wonderful retelling that has plenty of action and the stakes are high enough, especially during the last several chapters, that’ll make you skip your nap in favor of just one more chapter.
I love Alice in Wonderland stories. The vivid imagery and quirky characters. Ashley’s retelling of the classic captures those favorite characters and adds unique twists to them. While nowhere near as dark as American McGee’s Alice video game, some of the plot points are darker than the Disney version, but they help create a bond with Alice and the secondary characters.
I love that Alice is a strong female character. She always has been as it would be trying to fall into another world, but Ashley’s Alice the Dagger has earned that nickname and is a kick butt strong heroine. I also enjoyed seeing Hatter as the strong leader he’s known to be and the different, more leading male way he’s portrayed. The chemistry between the two has me looking forward to a sequel.
Dee, Dum and the Cheshire Cat (admittedly always a favorite) characters are fantastic, and I loved their twists.
The story reads quickly, is full of adventure from the very beginning and has a slow burn romance. There is some violence, as the title alludes to, but romance and language-wise, this is very age appropriate and won’t leave anyone blushing.
If you’re looking to escape reality into fantasy, like me, this is a wonderful retelling that has plenty of action and the stakes are high enough, especially during the last several chapters, that’ll make you skip your nap in favor of just one more chapter.
August 25, 2020
An urban fantasy heroine thrown into the whimsical world of Wonderland. Fast paced enjoyable read with plenty of humor, a bit of slow burn romance, lots of action and all the feels. There were many nods to the classic books, but McLeo put her own twist on them, playing up some of the darker and more sinister elements hinted at in the original and re-imagining some of the sillier and kookier ones. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum as pixies were my favorite (but don't call them that!). Cheshire and the Caterpillar were well done too.
This story seems to take place about a generation after the events of the original books and imagine some interesting family dynamics culminating in a final battle that requires all of Alice's wits, skills and new friends to win.
I liked that Alice was given a backstory that supported her skills but it almost seemed non-sequitur after she went through the rabbit hole. I enjoyed watching the relationships unfold through the book. I do think that she had a vulnerability that was necessary to the story, but not necessarily realistic to her background. It made her far more likeable as a character. I think maybe what was missing was who or what helped her cling to her humanity through her brutal upbringing.
The book ends in a way that indicates it is the beginning of a series. I hope this is so as these are characters and a world I would enjoy spending more time with.
This story seems to take place about a generation after the events of the original books and imagine some interesting family dynamics culminating in a final battle that requires all of Alice's wits, skills and new friends to win.
I liked that Alice was given a backstory that supported her skills but it almost seemed non-sequitur after she went through the rabbit hole. I enjoyed watching the relationships unfold through the book. I do think that she had a vulnerability that was necessary to the story, but not necessarily realistic to her background. It made her far more likeable as a character. I think maybe what was missing was who or what helped her cling to her humanity through her brutal upbringing.
The book ends in a way that indicates it is the beginning of a series. I hope this is so as these are characters and a world I would enjoy spending more time with.
June 15, 2020
3.5 stars. I enjoyed Alice the Dagger: A Fae Romance Fairy Tale Retelling but not quite enough to give it 4 stars. I loved the authors versions of Tweedledum & Tweedledee, and the Cheshire Cat. The Cheshire cat is the reason I bumped my rating from 3 stars to 3.5. He almost made it a 4 star rating for me. I am a very character driven reader, and Alice fell flat for me. It felt like Alice was kept at arms length and I could never quite get a grasp on her; it also didn't help that things seemed to just come easy to her. We rarely see her struggle with her magic, and when we do it's short lived, and then suddenly she is a pro at it.
I would have also liked to see The Wonderland Court developed more. My favorite part of the book was when Alice was interacting with the locals in the market, but again the reader was kept at a distance. We're not shown how the fae of this world differ from other fae books. It feels like Alice tumbled into a medieval world, not Wonderland. All in all, a fun read that could have been 4+ stars with a bit more characterization and world building.
I would have also liked to see The Wonderland Court developed more. My favorite part of the book was when Alice was interacting with the locals in the market, but again the reader was kept at a distance. We're not shown how the fae of this world differ from other fae books. It feels like Alice tumbled into a medieval world, not Wonderland. All in all, a fun read that could have been 4+ stars with a bit more characterization and world building.
October 3, 2022
This is probably one of my favorite Alice in Wonderland retellings. Alice is reimagined with some pretty lethal skills. Skills that come in handy when a certain white rabbit comes to collect her to help overthrow the Red Queen.
I liked all the additions to the story, plus the twist on the traditional story. Alice is an assassin, not really by choice, but she's made the most of her situation. She doesn't enjoy killing, but it's what she's good at. She has no desire to be a queen, but she will help the subjugated subjects overthrow a tyrannical ruler who lets her subjects starve.
I liked the cast of characters the author adds. There's a fun fae twist on all the characters, Alice and Henri Hatter both have wings and each have elemental powers, and the white rabbit is actually a pooka.
There were plenty of twists and turns in this story and it is a perfect read for anyone searching for a fast-paced, high-stakes retelling of beloved characters!
It's definitely geared towards young-adults, though anyone older would also enjoy it! There's minimal swearing, violence (not gore though, just people being beheaded), and a slow-burn romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked all the additions to the story, plus the twist on the traditional story. Alice is an assassin, not really by choice, but she's made the most of her situation. She doesn't enjoy killing, but it's what she's good at. She has no desire to be a queen, but she will help the subjugated subjects overthrow a tyrannical ruler who lets her subjects starve.
I liked the cast of characters the author adds. There's a fun fae twist on all the characters, Alice and Henri Hatter both have wings and each have elemental powers, and the white rabbit is actually a pooka.
There were plenty of twists and turns in this story and it is a perfect read for anyone searching for a fast-paced, high-stakes retelling of beloved characters!
It's definitely geared towards young-adults, though anyone older would also enjoy it! There's minimal swearing, violence (not gore though, just people being beheaded), and a slow-burn romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2024
Alice the Dagger is a standalone fae romance from the Once Upon a Fairytale Night Collection. Alice has been raised as an assassin by a vampire and she’s due to be released from her service as soon as he turns eighteen. Only a crazy rabbit takes her on a mission she never expected: a mission to take control of a kingdom. The people believe Alice is the long lost daughter they’ve been looking for. Her only obstacle is a deadly queen. From one place to the next Alice takes it all in stride. I love her attitude and her ability to keep on going.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 6, 2020
If you want non stop action and drama then this is the book for you!
Alice is a paid assassin for a Vampire Xavier Doru. She is counting the days until her contact is up. She is on her way to Xavier’s when a white rabbit in a top coat appears in front of her. She thinks she is crazy when he starts speaking to her. The things he tells her prompts her to go and confront Xavier. She is astonished by what she learns and so begins her journey down the path to find out more herself.
This book will keep you riveted and I strongly recommend this book.
Alice is a paid assassin for a Vampire Xavier Doru. She is counting the days until her contact is up. She is on her way to Xavier’s when a white rabbit in a top coat appears in front of her. She thinks she is crazy when he starts speaking to her. The things he tells her prompts her to go and confront Xavier. She is astonished by what she learns and so begins her journey down the path to find out more herself.
This book will keep you riveted and I strongly recommend this book.
January 23, 2021
Alice the Dagger is the modern retelling of Alice in Wonderland. All your favorite characters are there, Alice, Hatter, March Hare, and the Queen of Hearts. This retelling takes place in Faerie and Alice isn't a sweet innocent girl, she is just shy of her eighteenth birthday and is a renowned assassin. There is death as well as danger at every turn. Alice must be strong to protect the people she cares about and release them from the evil rule of the Queen of Hearts. The story is action packed and fast moving. Ashley McLeo has done it again, this is a must read!
July 18, 2020
What a fun twist on Alice In Wonderland! Wonderful characters, excellent pacing, and a truly enjoyable read. If you love retellings and fey stories this book is must have for your shelf!
September 23, 2022
Absolute trash
October 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It's stuck to the original very well but had its own twist as well.
Can't wait to read the next one!
Can't wait to read the next one!
June 6, 2020
Overall 4.5
Note: I received this book from the author and I voluntarily give this review, it is my honest opinion.
Alice the Dagger is an amazing Alice in Wonderland retelling except the fae are involved and Alice is a deadly assassin known as the Dagger. If you've read or know of the Alice in Wonderland story then you will recognize the Wonderland quarks that are throughout the story and will enjoy. I, for one, didn't like the Alice in Wonderland book, I tried but failed to enjoy it however I learned that I like the retellings. So far this is my third or fourth retelling and I find that I really enjoy them so fans of Alice and not will enjoy this crazy, wonderful, creative, story.
Alice is a teenager living in the human world, hiding her fae heritage while working in the supernatural shadows as an assassin. I know it sounds amazing already. Alice was raised by a vampire and has been trained as an assassin ever since she was young this has created a by-product of Alice always being alone, working alone and cut off from her feelings. Her personality is very understandable and I liked her before but her adventures in Wonderland causes Alice to grow so much, Ashley managed the growth so smoothly, so naturally that even I as a reader couldn't pinpoint when she change just that she did. I loved Alice's personality, she didn't take crap but still cared, she determined and sharp and still thought of others.
All the usually wonderland characters were present but with Ashley's take on them. They were present but totally different such as the famous Wonderland twins Tweddle Dee and Tweddle Dum are turned into a pair of sassy twin pixies Dee and Dum. However true to the characters they brought some comedy but not over the top. This is just a prime example of the slight tweaks that Ashley has given the story. Things feel very familiar giving me the feeling of something know while being its own thing. I enjoyed everything about this story. I was entertained throughout the story and loved every single second of it, I have no complaints. While the story did conclude well, I was surprised to realize that Alice the Dagger is just the first book in the series. I am excited to read the next book because I have a few questions that I want answered and I have no idea what's gonna happen next in this crazy story.
Note: I received this book from the author and I voluntarily give this review, it is my honest opinion.
Alice the Dagger is an amazing Alice in Wonderland retelling except the fae are involved and Alice is a deadly assassin known as the Dagger. If you've read or know of the Alice in Wonderland story then you will recognize the Wonderland quarks that are throughout the story and will enjoy. I, for one, didn't like the Alice in Wonderland book, I tried but failed to enjoy it however I learned that I like the retellings. So far this is my third or fourth retelling and I find that I really enjoy them so fans of Alice and not will enjoy this crazy, wonderful, creative, story.
Alice is a teenager living in the human world, hiding her fae heritage while working in the supernatural shadows as an assassin. I know it sounds amazing already. Alice was raised by a vampire and has been trained as an assassin ever since she was young this has created a by-product of Alice always being alone, working alone and cut off from her feelings. Her personality is very understandable and I liked her before but her adventures in Wonderland causes Alice to grow so much, Ashley managed the growth so smoothly, so naturally that even I as a reader couldn't pinpoint when she change just that she did. I loved Alice's personality, she didn't take crap but still cared, she determined and sharp and still thought of others.
All the usually wonderland characters were present but with Ashley's take on them. They were present but totally different such as the famous Wonderland twins Tweddle Dee and Tweddle Dum are turned into a pair of sassy twin pixies Dee and Dum. However true to the characters they brought some comedy but not over the top. This is just a prime example of the slight tweaks that Ashley has given the story. Things feel very familiar giving me the feeling of something know while being its own thing. I enjoyed everything about this story. I was entertained throughout the story and loved every single second of it, I have no complaints. While the story did conclude well, I was surprised to realize that Alice the Dagger is just the first book in the series. I am excited to read the next book because I have a few questions that I want answered and I have no idea what's gonna happen next in this crazy story.
Read
February 21, 2021I am such a huge fan/lover of Alice in Wonderland. So you can imagine how excited I was to pick up a fae retelling of Alice ! McLeo did a great job taking a beloved story and putting her own spin and sprinkling of elements to it. I really enjoyed Alice's background and the journey she went on to find herself and learn about her family. She is an assasin, indebted to a vampire, when a white rabbit in a waistcoat, also known as a pooka enlightens Alice to information about her family and where she comes from. Only with her can they take back the Wonderland Court!
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the story being so similar to the original, but the more we got into the story the more it became its own. It took just enough from the original to feel familiar and comforting, but also fresh and unique. The characters had such large personalities and I loved them all so much! Alice was my favorite kind of character, independent and kickass! We got to see character development from her as she realized there are people who care for her and love her.She realized she isn't alone anymore. I have to say Dee and Dum were my favorite characters from this book. They were so sassy, entertaining and just brought a lot of fun!
I felt like the setting and fae elements fit so well with the world of Alice in Wonderland and really worked for this retelling. I enjoyed the scheming and battles and thought that the trials was such a perfect addition! There was a slight (and I mean slight) romance in this story, I think people might consider it a slow burn, but I wanted so much more from it. There was also more sad scenes then I was mentally prepared for going into this story. It sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Overall this was a whimsical, slightly dark and fae filled tribute to my favorite book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It had a little bit of everything, from humor to magic to fighting for your life. It had me in suspense and flipping thought the pages! I cannot wait to see where this story goes! Although the author wrapped it up well we are left with some questions and a possible next mission for Alice and the gang to put back all that the Red Queen destroyed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the story being so similar to the original, but the more we got into the story the more it became its own. It took just enough from the original to feel familiar and comforting, but also fresh and unique. The characters had such large personalities and I loved them all so much! Alice was my favorite kind of character, independent and kickass! We got to see character development from her as she realized there are people who care for her and love her.She realized she isn't alone anymore. I have to say Dee and Dum were my favorite characters from this book. They were so sassy, entertaining and just brought a lot of fun!
I felt like the setting and fae elements fit so well with the world of Alice in Wonderland and really worked for this retelling. I enjoyed the scheming and battles and thought that the trials was such a perfect addition! There was a slight (and I mean slight) romance in this story, I think people might consider it a slow burn, but I wanted so much more from it. There was also more sad scenes then I was mentally prepared for going into this story. It sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Overall this was a whimsical, slightly dark and fae filled tribute to my favorite book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It had a little bit of everything, from humor to magic to fighting for your life. It had me in suspense and flipping thought the pages! I cannot wait to see where this story goes! Although the author wrapped it up well we are left with some questions and a possible next mission for Alice and the gang to put back all that the Red Queen destroyed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2025
Overview: A YA retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Alice is in the custody of a vampire that she must work for until she turns 18. She is a Fae assassin and has just completed a job when we meet. Normally, that would mean she had some time off coming but things are a bit upended when she is informed by her Vampire Master she MUST complete this next assignment and head back to where she is from, Wonderland.
When we meet Alice the Dagger I felt like she was a blend of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels and Mare Barrie from Red Queen. She has that I am a “bada**” attitude and can take on anything. That said, she was not my favorite character(s). Those positions were held by Dee and Dum and Hatter. Dee and Dum were pixies that are always ready to prove their worth by the use magical shenanigans to defeat opponents. Hatter brought a sense of compassion to the tale that was lacking. His goal is to protect all those he can in Wonderland and eventually take down the Red Queen, an evil dictating ruler that lobs heads for sport. The reinvention of the characters from Alice in Wonderland gave a fresh twist to this tale. Ashley McLeo has a twisted approach to characters and I feel like it brings a great deal of intrigue to her stories.
Though the world building left me a bit flat, I mean lets face it - Wonderland? You have a huge palate to work with when it comes to the world and I guess I expected her to go there. What truly made this story work for me was the interactions and challenges Alice had to partake in per the Red Queen. They were dark and intriguing and a bit violent. It was great! Overall, the positives well out weighed the negatives for me and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Ashley McLeo’s books.
If you enjoyed Cinder than this may be a good book to check out. It is gripping and gritty and offers some real interesting twists on Alice in Wonderland.
When we meet Alice the Dagger I felt like she was a blend of Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels and Mare Barrie from Red Queen. She has that I am a “bada**” attitude and can take on anything. That said, she was not my favorite character(s). Those positions were held by Dee and Dum and Hatter. Dee and Dum were pixies that are always ready to prove their worth by the use magical shenanigans to defeat opponents. Hatter brought a sense of compassion to the tale that was lacking. His goal is to protect all those he can in Wonderland and eventually take down the Red Queen, an evil dictating ruler that lobs heads for sport. The reinvention of the characters from Alice in Wonderland gave a fresh twist to this tale. Ashley McLeo has a twisted approach to characters and I feel like it brings a great deal of intrigue to her stories.
Though the world building left me a bit flat, I mean lets face it - Wonderland? You have a huge palate to work with when it comes to the world and I guess I expected her to go there. What truly made this story work for me was the interactions and challenges Alice had to partake in per the Red Queen. They were dark and intriguing and a bit violent. It was great! Overall, the positives well out weighed the negatives for me and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Ashley McLeo’s books.
If you enjoyed Cinder than this may be a good book to check out. It is gripping and gritty and offers some real interesting twists on Alice in Wonderland.
June 18, 2020
Alice Queenly's life revolves around death. After being left as an orphan at a young age, Alice finds herself in the care of the vampire-leader-of-assassins Xavier who is determined to turn the young child into his apprentice. As she hides her demi-fae status and fulfills his assignments in hope for her freedom on her eighteenth birthday, Alice stumbles upon secrets about her true heritage that will change her life forever. With this creative retelling of Alice in Wonderland, readers will follow Alice on her journey discovering who she truly is, fighting the Queen's men bent on destroying her right to the throne, and deciding whether or not she can find room in her heart for love. Fans of Lewis Carroll's beloved characters will enjoy this nod to the original story with its fantastical twists and turns that will leave readers guessing how Alice will handle this new adventure.
I received an advanced reader's copy of Alice the Dagger for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. McLeo promised a slow-burn romance filled with action, adventure, and spunky sidekicks and she delivered them excellently. I enjoyed discovering Wonderland alongside Alice as she experienced this journey. Fans of Sarah J Maas will appreciate the snarky and hesitant-towards-love protagonist. The beloved character of Alice becomes three dimensional as she learns to accept friendship and care from others, despite growing up without anyone who truly loved her. The character growth within this novel is realistic and because of McLeo's narrative and character descriptions, I grew to truly care for her imaginative take on Carroll's characters. Unlike many of the arcs that I have read lately, Alice the Dagger effortlessly unveils its tale without the usual overreaching narrative found in many fantasy arcs today. I truly enjoyed this twist on a classic tale and would highly recommend it.
I received an advanced reader's copy of Alice the Dagger for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. McLeo promised a slow-burn romance filled with action, adventure, and spunky sidekicks and she delivered them excellently. I enjoyed discovering Wonderland alongside Alice as she experienced this journey. Fans of Sarah J Maas will appreciate the snarky and hesitant-towards-love protagonist. The beloved character of Alice becomes three dimensional as she learns to accept friendship and care from others, despite growing up without anyone who truly loved her. The character growth within this novel is realistic and because of McLeo's narrative and character descriptions, I grew to truly care for her imaginative take on Carroll's characters. Unlike many of the arcs that I have read lately, Alice the Dagger effortlessly unveils its tale without the usual overreaching narrative found in many fantasy arcs today. I truly enjoyed this twist on a classic tale and would highly recommend it.
July 28, 2022
Alice the Dagger is a fairy tale retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I had no idea what to expect when I began reading Alice the Dagger but I must say I was happily surprised by the unique spin or twist that Ashley put Alice and her adventures.
Alice the Dagger is a light and airy read that grabbed my attention the moment I picked it up. I was definitely hooked with that first page. When I started reading Alice the Dagger my first thought was vampires, yea. But then along came a white rabbit that talked. This little white rabbit who is not actually a white rabbit gave Alice some info about her family that she never knew as she never knew her family.
Alice learns from the rabbit that she is a fae from another realm/world. This little rabbit also informs her that the Red Queen from her world killed her family. Alice wants revenge for what the Red Queen has done. She plans on making the Red Queen pay for what she has taken from her.
Alice the Dagger was a very enjoyable read that has left me with lots of good feelings. I liked the twists on all the characters. Alice the Dagger was written so well that I had no problem imagining how all the characters looked or seeing the things they were doing. I totally loved the rabbit and who he was. And of course, I liked the hatter as he seems like a real dreamboat.
I can’t wait to read more about Alice and her world to see where her story goes next. I would like to recommend Alice the Dagger to everyone. If you like fairy tale retelling then I know you will definitely love Alice the Dagger. Grab your copy of Alice the Dagger today and follow Alice down the rabbit hole to adventure land or well, wonderland!
Alice the Dagger is a light and airy read that grabbed my attention the moment I picked it up. I was definitely hooked with that first page. When I started reading Alice the Dagger my first thought was vampires, yea. But then along came a white rabbit that talked. This little white rabbit who is not actually a white rabbit gave Alice some info about her family that she never knew as she never knew her family.
Alice learns from the rabbit that she is a fae from another realm/world. This little rabbit also informs her that the Red Queen from her world killed her family. Alice wants revenge for what the Red Queen has done. She plans on making the Red Queen pay for what she has taken from her.
Alice the Dagger was a very enjoyable read that has left me with lots of good feelings. I liked the twists on all the characters. Alice the Dagger was written so well that I had no problem imagining how all the characters looked or seeing the things they were doing. I totally loved the rabbit and who he was. And of course, I liked the hatter as he seems like a real dreamboat.
I can’t wait to read more about Alice and her world to see where her story goes next. I would like to recommend Alice the Dagger to everyone. If you like fairy tale retelling then I know you will definitely love Alice the Dagger. Grab your copy of Alice the Dagger today and follow Alice down the rabbit hole to adventure land or well, wonderland!
September 25, 2023
Randomly picked this up when going freebie crazy in Amazon. Wasn't even sure what this was about. The title and the cover drew me in and I threw it with the rest of the freebies. I didn't even read the summary when I started reading this. To my absolute surprise, it is a retelling of 'Alice in Wonderland'!
Here we follow Alice who was raised to be an assassin and a killer. She is only a few days shy of her 18th birthday and her contract is over so she can be free! That is until a white rabbit storms into her life. This white rabbit tells her that she has a family waiting for her in Wonderland, a land of Faes, and she is the only one who can save everyone from the Red Queen.
This was a lot of fun!! I was pleasantly surprised (as I mentioned earlier) that this is a retelling of the classic tale. When the white rabbit appeared...I was all WHAT? So I went and read the summary and realized the truth! How fun!
There is a sprinkle of romance *cough* lust *cough* but it doesn't take over the story. They have enough to deal with. I do hope they explore more in the next book but I'm glad we just saw glimmers here while they get the rebels and Alice ready to take on the Red Queen.
My only issue with this is the pace. The pace of the story felt super rushed in some areas and dragging in others. It was a little jarring. Moments that were building up would just happen and be done.
Other than that, I really did have fun with this. I love the world and the references, but this story is pretty fresh.
In the end, I'll give this 4 stars.
Here we follow Alice who was raised to be an assassin and a killer. She is only a few days shy of her 18th birthday and her contract is over so she can be free! That is until a white rabbit storms into her life. This white rabbit tells her that she has a family waiting for her in Wonderland, a land of Faes, and she is the only one who can save everyone from the Red Queen.
This was a lot of fun!! I was pleasantly surprised (as I mentioned earlier) that this is a retelling of the classic tale. When the white rabbit appeared...I was all WHAT? So I went and read the summary and realized the truth! How fun!
There is a sprinkle of romance *cough* lust *cough* but it doesn't take over the story. They have enough to deal with. I do hope they explore more in the next book but I'm glad we just saw glimmers here while they get the rebels and Alice ready to take on the Red Queen.
My only issue with this is the pace. The pace of the story felt super rushed in some areas and dragging in others. It was a little jarring. Moments that were building up would just happen and be done.
Other than that, I really did have fun with this. I love the world and the references, but this story is pretty fresh.
In the end, I'll give this 4 stars.
September 3, 2020
A paranormal fantasy full of whimsy, friendship, and kick-buttery about a Fae assassin who must strengthen her powers to liberate her people from the Red Queen.
TOP THREE ATTRIBUTES
WHIMSY
If the tale this was inspired by is known for anything, it’s whimsy. ALICE THE DAGGER delivers with quirky characters like twin pixies, prompt brownies, and hookah-smoking caterpillars. It has all your favorite things about ALICE IN WONDERLAND and more. The setting leaps off the page, fully immersive. I particularly enjoyed the characters’ trip through the forest and the illusions they saw. My heart pounded the whole time wondering how they would make it. And oh my gosh, the shore battle with sea monsters . . . Don’t even get me started!
FRIENDSHIP
Trust me, the second Hatter appeared, I was rooting for a romance, but this first book focuses on their friendship. And boy was their friendship strong. Alice likes to dive headfirst into situations, so Hatter often has to real her to safety. They save each other’s lives throughout the book like they’re playing slap jack. They’re funny. They’re bright. He was her childhood friend.
Learning to trust him would be easier if he memories hadn’t been wiped, but Hatter isn’t the giving up type. He needs to help her remember so she can reach her fully potential as a Fae, one with rare powers needed to kill the queen.
FEARLESS FEMALE
Growing up as an assassin, there’s not much Alice is afraid of, but the lies told to her have made her vulnerable. She must learn the truth and decide what she’s willing to do for the people of Wonderland. Of course she wants to murder her parent’s killer, but that’ll make her the Queen. She’s not a ruler. She’s a warrior. Still, she can’t standby and do nothing, so she joins the resistance.
I love how kick butt she is. Like she even ran into a burning building! But she also has a heart and feel the weight of responsibility for her friends. She mourns when one dies or gets injured and it makes her stronger. It gives her motivation to risk her life for them. I can’t what to see what happens in the next book.
Interview with the author is at https://heatherdowellwrites.com/2020/...
TOP THREE ATTRIBUTES
WHIMSY
If the tale this was inspired by is known for anything, it’s whimsy. ALICE THE DAGGER delivers with quirky characters like twin pixies, prompt brownies, and hookah-smoking caterpillars. It has all your favorite things about ALICE IN WONDERLAND and more. The setting leaps off the page, fully immersive. I particularly enjoyed the characters’ trip through the forest and the illusions they saw. My heart pounded the whole time wondering how they would make it. And oh my gosh, the shore battle with sea monsters . . . Don’t even get me started!
FRIENDSHIP
Trust me, the second Hatter appeared, I was rooting for a romance, but this first book focuses on their friendship. And boy was their friendship strong. Alice likes to dive headfirst into situations, so Hatter often has to real her to safety. They save each other’s lives throughout the book like they’re playing slap jack. They’re funny. They’re bright. He was her childhood friend.
Learning to trust him would be easier if he memories hadn’t been wiped, but Hatter isn’t the giving up type. He needs to help her remember so she can reach her fully potential as a Fae, one with rare powers needed to kill the queen.
FEARLESS FEMALE
Growing up as an assassin, there’s not much Alice is afraid of, but the lies told to her have made her vulnerable. She must learn the truth and decide what she’s willing to do for the people of Wonderland. Of course she wants to murder her parent’s killer, but that’ll make her the Queen. She’s not a ruler. She’s a warrior. Still, she can’t standby and do nothing, so she joins the resistance.
I love how kick butt she is. Like she even ran into a burning building! But she also has a heart and feel the weight of responsibility for her friends. She mourns when one dies or gets injured and it makes her stronger. It gives her motivation to risk her life for them. I can’t what to see what happens in the next book.
Interview with the author is at https://heatherdowellwrites.com/2020/...
January 3, 2021
I absolutely love retelling s of fairytales and Ashley's take on Alice in Wonderland blew my mind, fantastic worldbuilding and brilliant characters that you'll love and hate,Alice isn't your typical teenage girl on the brink to adulthood, she's been modeled into a killer who has been taught to suppress her feelings and emotions,while going on another assignment she literally gets pulled down the rabbit hole,where she learns her whole life has been a lie,this where she goes on an adventure of a lifetime,she meets amazing quirky characters,it has plenty of laughs,weirdness and entertainment to keep you hooked till the last page,one of the best retellings I've read, can't wait to what Ashley comes up with nextI absolutely love retelling s of fairytales and Ashley's take on Alice in Wonderland blew my mind, fantastic worldbuilding and brilliant characters that you'll love and hate,Alice isn't your typical teenage girl on the brink to adulthood, she's been modeled into a killer who has been taught to suppress her feelings and emotions,while going on another assignment she literally gets pulled down the rabbit hole,where she learns her whole life has been a lie,this where she goes on an adventure of a lifetime,she meets amazing quirky characters,it has plenty of laughs,weirdness and entertainment to keep you hooked till the last page,one of the best retellings I've read, can't wait to what Ashley comes up with next
July 21, 2024
3 ⭐️ // Plot Moods: adventurous
Plot Pace: fast
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
This actually isn’t a bad retelling of Alice in Wonderland. In fact, I enjoyed the concept more than the concept of Tim Burton’s retelling.
Not only is the concept intriguing, but the execution isn’t horrible, which surprised me after I attempted to read (and DNF’d) one of Ashley McLeo’s other books.
What I think needs work is the characters need more depth and growth, and something to make them loveable. To be honest, with the exception of Dee and Dumb, every one else’s personality felt flat. And while Alice has moments of contrast between her life in “the real world” and how other characters, particularly The Hatter and Isadora, treat her, she doesn’t really have all that much growth. I also feel like this whole other story line of her supposedly having a sister was only thrown in so the author could write another book in this version of Wonderland. I don’t think it’s necessary. Without it, and with a little more focus of character and character relationship development, this could have been a strong standalone alone. This story is marketed as a YA Romantasy but with the exception of a few awkward-heated glance-moments between Hatter and Alice, there really isn’t any romance.
I would recommend this to readers who like YA Fantasy (and aren’t big on romance).
Plot Pace: fast
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
This actually isn’t a bad retelling of Alice in Wonderland. In fact, I enjoyed the concept more than the concept of Tim Burton’s retelling.
Not only is the concept intriguing, but the execution isn’t horrible, which surprised me after I attempted to read (and DNF’d) one of Ashley McLeo’s other books.
What I think needs work is the characters need more depth and growth, and something to make them loveable. To be honest, with the exception of Dee and Dumb, every one else’s personality felt flat. And while Alice has moments of contrast between her life in “the real world” and how other characters, particularly The Hatter and Isadora, treat her, she doesn’t really have all that much growth. I also feel like this whole other story line of her supposedly having a sister was only thrown in so the author could write another book in this version of Wonderland. I don’t think it’s necessary. Without it, and with a little more focus of character and character relationship development, this could have been a strong standalone alone. This story is marketed as a YA Romantasy but with the exception of a few awkward-heated glance-moments between Hatter and Alice, there really isn’t any romance.
I would recommend this to readers who like YA Fantasy (and aren’t big on romance).
September 3, 2025
Alice has grown up being raised as an assassin by a vampire. She’s a living weapon and very good at her job. In control of the 4 elements, her only goal has been to survive until her 18th birthday when her contract is finally up.
One day a white rabbit appears and informs her that her loved ones are waiting for her in the Wonderland Court of Faerie. To her shock, she further learns that the Red Queen actually stole the Crown from her mother and murdered her in cold blood.
She also learns that she is aether blessed and actually has a sister who is still alive but remains a captive of the Red Queen. She now has a goal, find her sister and free the land of the tyrant.
Can she focus on her goal while also working alongside an incredibly good looking rebel leader who could very well break her heart?
This is a fairytale retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It’s a YA fantasy and has a fairly interesting storyline but I struggled a little with some of the writing. Descriptions of the MMC in particular just didn’t seem very realistic tbh. It also felt very similar in storyline to the Alice in Wonderland film starring Johnny Depp and I couldn’t help but make comparisons as it just felt like it was based off the film.
I’ll be reading the next book to find out what happens next but I struggled with this book tbh.
One day a white rabbit appears and informs her that her loved ones are waiting for her in the Wonderland Court of Faerie. To her shock, she further learns that the Red Queen actually stole the Crown from her mother and murdered her in cold blood.
She also learns that she is aether blessed and actually has a sister who is still alive but remains a captive of the Red Queen. She now has a goal, find her sister and free the land of the tyrant.
Can she focus on her goal while also working alongside an incredibly good looking rebel leader who could very well break her heart?
This is a fairytale retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It’s a YA fantasy and has a fairly interesting storyline but I struggled a little with some of the writing. Descriptions of the MMC in particular just didn’t seem very realistic tbh. It also felt very similar in storyline to the Alice in Wonderland film starring Johnny Depp and I couldn’t help but make comparisons as it just felt like it was based off the film.
I’ll be reading the next book to find out what happens next but I struggled with this book tbh.
November 19, 2025
8/10 ⭐️
Alice is a mercenary, a kill-for-hire with a great reputation on the black market. When the white rabbit finally gets to her and tells her she is actually the fae heir to the kingdom of Wonderland, she must go and accept her fate. In her way? Her aunt, the Red Queen, murderer of Alices direct family in order to get to the throne.
Now Alice wants revenge, the throne, and to not deal with Hatter, the gorgeous and infuriating Hatter.
In the second book, Alice discovers she still has a living sister in need of being rescued from the Dark Court of Fae, but still living. So she teams up with Hatter...finds Jax from the past along the way...and paths away to rescue the only family she still has.
A really nice adventure in the wonderland universe, a retelling using the characters known and loved since the originals came out. Alice is the strong female character, a fae assassin for hire, so she gives off the strong, independent woman vibe. The other characters are young and a bit different from what we are used to, but they fit so well in the story. The plot itself is not new: hero vs. villain, who is, of course, the Queen of Hearts. It's a fresh, slow-burn romance with a nice cadence and an excellent opportunity for a young adult to transition between child books and YA fantasy.
Alice is a mercenary, a kill-for-hire with a great reputation on the black market. When the white rabbit finally gets to her and tells her she is actually the fae heir to the kingdom of Wonderland, she must go and accept her fate. In her way? Her aunt, the Red Queen, murderer of Alices direct family in order to get to the throne.
Now Alice wants revenge, the throne, and to not deal with Hatter, the gorgeous and infuriating Hatter.
In the second book, Alice discovers she still has a living sister in need of being rescued from the Dark Court of Fae, but still living. So she teams up with Hatter...finds Jax from the past along the way...and paths away to rescue the only family she still has.
A really nice adventure in the wonderland universe, a retelling using the characters known and loved since the originals came out. Alice is the strong female character, a fae assassin for hire, so she gives off the strong, independent woman vibe. The other characters are young and a bit different from what we are used to, but they fit so well in the story. The plot itself is not new: hero vs. villain, who is, of course, the Queen of Hearts. It's a fresh, slow-burn romance with a nice cadence and an excellent opportunity for a young adult to transition between child books and YA fantasy.
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