Saturday 15 August 2015

Review: Alice

It's easy to understand why writers love the idea of Lewis Carroll's bizarre classic, Alice in Wonderland. For fantasy authors, it's a chance to create and play with a strange setting and unique characters. For horror authors, it's Candyland. Because let's face it– Wonderland is a messed up place, and it's scary when you're older and you really think about what goes on there. And what Christina Henry goes for in her new novel Alice isn't just scary. It's downright disturbing. I remember telling the plot to a co-worker at the Real Job, and watching as her eyes all but bulged from her head. I laughed at that, because it's exactly what I did. This is not a story for the faint of heart. Seriously. There are parts of this book that made even me cringe. And it was awesome. A delightfully twisted tale that will keep you up at night, and keep you from thinking about Wonderland the same way again. Some spoilers are ahead.

A unique cover with lots of meaning to the story.
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.
In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…
Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.
Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.
And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.
- See more at: http://www.christinahenry.net/?page_id=900#sthash.MaygEN4x.dpuf

In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside. In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…

Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.

Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful. And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.


From the moment the book starts, with Alice locked in a madhouse with her mind warped from a truly horrific and literally scarring event, you know the book is going to be messed up. You know it's going to be violent when we meet her friend in the next cell, Hatcher, who's name takes on a very literal meaning early on. Hatcher is plagued by the Jabberwocky, a terrifying monster drawn to blood. After their escape from the hospital, both Alice and Hatcher realize they have to destroy the Jabberwocky, and to do so Alice might have to face the rabbit who broke her mind.

The more I think about this book, the more I love it. The visuals are strong, and there is a heavy aura of creepiness hanging on every page. But it's a good creepiness. I know how that sounds, but it's true. The tone stays consistent throughout the entire novel, as does the classic mode of dialogue. The setting is mournful and depressing, which is a perfect fit for a novel set to settle in your mind like claws. 

I said earlier on that this novel disturbed me, and I am seriously not kidding about that. Alice and Hatcher encountered characters from the classic story, and I will never look at them the same way again having read this novel. Every time I do, I'll shudder. The things that they did to people, particularly women, were beyond cruel. But, and this is the important thing to note here, they weren't done out of shock value. Were they shocking? Absolutely. Were they symbolic and pertinent to the story? Yes. This isn't a happy-go-lucky-adventure with colors and sleepy smiles and enthusiastic creatures. This is a dark, get under your skin journey where all the colors seem to die, the smiles are hidden knives, and if someone is enthusiastic, you better be running for the hills.

The highlight for me was the characters. We met the Caterpillar, Cheshire, and the Walrus, who were equally cruel and deadly as they acted as crime lords in this dark setting. Caterpillar is deplorable, I wouldn't trust Cheshire as far as I could throw him (and I have weak arms), and the Walrus has just shot to among the top ranks of the most sadistic villains I've ever read. But my favorite was Hatcher. Oh, make no mistake, I would not want to get on his bad side– or any side of him to be honest– because he has a tendency to kill everything in sight, but I loved his backstory, his devotion to Alice, and his untouchable nature in fights.

Alice herself was a strong character, a special girl with broken memories, and indomitable spirit, and the heart to do as much good as possible. I loved her way of thinking and speaking, clear evidence that she was still a little girl trapped in a woman's body, that what the Rabbit did to her will never leave her and change her for better or worse.

Alice isn't a long book, but Henry has ensured that you won't forget it. This one will stick to you like glue, haunt you when you're not careful, and make you think twice about those animals in the classic story. Never has a tagline been more fitting for a book: "Beware the claws that catch..." And this one will catch you, whether you want it to or not. A must-read for suspense and horror fans, and anyone who wants to be assured that Wonderland is as creepy as you thought it was. If this book doesn't convince you, nothing will. Read it!
In a warren of crumbling buildings and desperate people called the Old City, there stands a hospital with cinderblock walls which echo the screams of the poor souls inside.
In the hospital, there is a woman. Her hair, once blond, hangs in tangles down her back. She doesn’t remember why she’s in such a terrible place. Just a tea party long ago, and long ears, and blood…
Then, one night, a fire at the hospital gives the woman a chance to escape, tumbling out of the hole that imprisoned her, leaving her free to uncover the truth about what happened to her all those years ago.
Only something else has escaped with her. Something dark. Something powerful.
And to find the truth, she will have to track this beast to the very heart of the Old City, where the rabbit waits for his Alice.
- See more at: http://www.christinahenry.net/?page_id=900#sthash.MaygEN4x.dpuf

Amy

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