Everyone that knows me knows that I love all things Alice in Wonderland. I love the original story, the movies, clothes and retellings. I’m not quite sure what it is about Alice in Wonderland that I love so much. Maybe because it makes the impossible possible? Or because of all the zany characters? Or maybe it’s just because I grew up with Alice and have fond childhood memories. Either way I feel like Alice and all the creatures in Wonderland are long lost friends and because of that I love to read a good retelling.

Here are my favorite “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” retellings:

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

There are three books in the Looking Glass Wars series. The series centers on Alyss Heart and the kingdom of Wonderland. Alyss is newley orphaned after her Aunt Redd beheads her mother, the Queen. Aunt Redd takes control of Wonderland and Alyss flees in an attempt to escape her. Alyss finds her self in London, where she becomes friends with an aspiring author, Lewis Carrol. Alyss tells Lewis Carrol her life story and trusts that he can help her, instead he uses her story to create a book that twists her tales. After this Alyss convinces herself that her memories of Wonderland are made up and untrue. That is until her Royal Bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, find princess Alyss and wants to return her to Wonderland to fight Redd and take the throne back.

The Chronicles of Alice by Christina Henry

The Chronicles of Alice consists of 2 books. Alice is in an insane asylum in the Old City, where the criminals reside, and doesn’t remember how she got into this terrible place. Alice becomes friends with the person in the room next to her, the Mad Hatcher. One night there is a fire at the hospital and Alice and Hatch escape. Neither can remember their lives before the insane asylum and in order to figure out their pasts they must track down the beast that lives in the Old City. *Warning – this book is pretty violent and disturbing.

Splintered by A.G. Howard
The Splintered trilogy is about Alyssa Gardner and her cursed family. The females in her family can talk to bugs and flowers. The family curse goes back to her ancestor Alice Lidell and actually puts Alyssa’s mother into a mental hospital. When her mother’s mental illness worsens Alyssa learns the truth about Wonderland and the connection to her family curse. Alyssa falls down the rabbit hole in an attempt to save her mother and right the wrongs of her ancestor. Alyssa must pass a series of tests, while guided by the seductive Morpheus, in order to save her family.

Insanity by Cameron Jace

The Insanity series is comprised of 8 books (I admit that I have not read all 8). Alice Wonder is put into an insane asylum after she accidentally kills everyone in her class. Everyone believes Alice is insane except for a fellow inmate, Professor Carter Pillar. The professor believes he can prove Alice’s sanity by decoding Lew Carroll’s work. He asks the doctors to release Alice because only she can stop the Wonderland monsters who are now criminals. Alice is given special privileges and is allowed out of the asylum to try and catch the serial killer, The Cheshire. 

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

“Heartless” is a stand alone book, that is almost a prequel to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” The book is about Catherine Pinkerton, the daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove in Hearts. Cath dreams of opening a bakery but her parents have other plans for her. Cath is being courted by the King of Hearts and her parents are pushing their marriage. Then Cath meets Jest, the new mysterious court joker. She finds herself undeniably attracted to him and wants to follow her heart. This is the story of the Queen of Hearts before she was the heartless woman who yells “Off with their head!” 

White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter

The White Rabbit Chronicles consists of 4 books about Alice Bell. Alice grew up sheltered due to her father’s fears. She believed his fears were irrational until her family is killed in a tragic accident. After the accident she thinks she sees monsters entering her father’s body and taking his soul. Her perception of reality drastically changes. She is sent to live with her grandparents in a new town and tries to start over as Ali, a normal teen. Except she isn’t normal, she starts to see zombies who are invisible to all but those with special sight. She befriends Cole, who is part of a group trying to fight the zombies and Justin, who is part of group trying to research the zombies. Ali’s new life is not as simple as she hoped.  

These are books that I haven’t read yet but am looking forward to:

“Alice I Have Been” by Melanie Benjamin
“Queen of Hearts: The Crown” by Colleen Oakes
“Alice in Sunderland” by Bryan Talbot

 

Do you have a favorite Alice in Wonderland or fairy tale retelling? I’d love to hear it!