ARC received from Netgalley:
Now mine eyes see the heart that once we did search for, and I fear this heart shall be mended, nevermore.
I loved this book. There were so many things that could have gone wrong with this, but it wound up being an awesome surprise.
Catherine Pinkerton is a young lady with a hankering to be a baker. Her mother has other ideas, and pitches her squarely in the path of the King. Already struggling the desire to tell her parents of her desires, Catherine soon experiences another complication, in the form of Jest, the new court joker. Adding the attacks of the feared Jabborwock into the mix, and Catherine's life begins to unravel.
Catherine is a great character, you can see her inner turmoil increase, as her desires conflict with those of her parents. Her growth from kindly, dreaming baker, to the vengeful Queen of Hearts, is a joy to behold.
Jest is a delightful character, conflicted and funny. His influence on Catherine is fascinating to behold, and he just fits.
All of the secondary characters have personality, and there wasn't a single one that felt like a placeholder.
What I loved about this book, is the way that wonderland is woven so expertly into the text. You don't need to know the world, but if you do, you will love the insertion of details that firmly remind you of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece. From the subtle, the name of Catherine's maid, to the obvious, the Cheshire Cat, these details show that Meyer has carefully read and understood the source material. Meyer's Wonderland is mystical, nonsensical, yet dangerous place, and I loved every minute I spent there.
The ending is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, and beautiful.
Read it..
*****
Now mine eyes see the heart that once we did search for, and I fear this heart shall be mended, nevermore.
I loved this book. There were so many things that could have gone wrong with this, but it wound up being an awesome surprise.
Catherine Pinkerton is a young lady with a hankering to be a baker. Her mother has other ideas, and pitches her squarely in the path of the King. Already struggling the desire to tell her parents of her desires, Catherine soon experiences another complication, in the form of Jest, the new court joker. Adding the attacks of the feared Jabborwock into the mix, and Catherine's life begins to unravel.
Catherine is a great character, you can see her inner turmoil increase, as her desires conflict with those of her parents. Her growth from kindly, dreaming baker, to the vengeful Queen of Hearts, is a joy to behold.
Jest is a delightful character, conflicted and funny. His influence on Catherine is fascinating to behold, and he just fits.
All of the secondary characters have personality, and there wasn't a single one that felt like a placeholder.
What I loved about this book, is the way that wonderland is woven so expertly into the text. You don't need to know the world, but if you do, you will love the insertion of details that firmly remind you of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece. From the subtle, the name of Catherine's maid, to the obvious, the Cheshire Cat, these details show that Meyer has carefully read and understood the source material. Meyer's Wonderland is mystical, nonsensical, yet dangerous place, and I loved every minute I spent there.
The ending is gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, and beautiful.
Read it..
*****