Reviewed by Beth Katherine for Readers' Favorite
Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles is a dark take on the Lewis Carroll classic. Follow Alice Carroll as she leaves the safety of the Sector to find a cure for the (un)deadly Momerath Virus to save her sister, who has begun to show signs of infection. As Alice wanders through territory swarming with Momerath, she makes unlikely allies along the way—Chess, a mysterious young man who comes and goes unexpectedly; Bug, a surveillance expert with theories about the Momerath Virus and its origins; and Nate, a knight who works for the Red Queen. In a perilous dystopian world, where perhaps nothing is as it seems, Alice discovers that the Momerath aren’t the only things she has to be afraid of.
Author J.M. Sullivan’s debut novel ensnared me from the very first line and kept me captivated throughout. Alice reads like a film, in large part due to Sullivan’s uncanny writing ability. As you join Alice on her adventure, you cannot help but feel like you are there battling the Momerath with her! It is obvious that Sullivan put a great deal of love and thought into each character (even the baddies), as they all have their own fully developed backstory that unfolds as the story progresses. A novelty in the YA genre, Alice is a strong female protagonist who is human, flawed, and relatable. You will find yourself fully invested in Alice’s journey from start to finish.
I loved this book so much that I would have been remiss if I rated it any less than 5 stars. I would recommend Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles to readers who enjoy re-tellings, books with strong female protagonists, and those who like Easter eggs! (Sullivan artfully hid a secret message in the body of her work.) J.M. Sullivan is a talented up-and-coming author and is one to keep your eye on!