To save the Hatter, Alice must work with the one man she despises so much that she might still love him.Alice thought she’d turned over a new leaf. No more working for Jabberwocky. No more making deals with the ruthless Queen of Hearts. No more hanging around The Mushroom with tinkers, tarts, scoundrels, and thieves in London’s criminal underbelly. But she’d been bonkers to dream.Hatter’s … dream.
Hatter’s reckless behavior leads Alice back to the one person she never wanted to see again, Caterpillar. Pulled into Caterpillar’s mad schemes, Alice must steal a very big diamond from a very royal lady. The heist is no problem for this Bandersnatch. But protecting her heart from the man she once loved? Impossible.
Sometimes love is mad.
Curiouser and Curiouser is a retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland fairy tale set in New York Times best-selling author Melanie Karsak’s steampunk universe. Journey to gaslamp London during the 19th century to see how Melanie puts a steampunk spin on this reimagined fairytale.
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I wasn’t sure what to expect with this. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite stories and i adore retellings of it. This brings a whole new twist.
This is set in London with all sorts of new things, in a steam punk era. I love how each character is a person with the nicknames of the original characters. Alice is in love/hate with William (the Caterpillar) I usually find I can multitask while listening to a book but I couldn’t with this one because if you don’t pay attention to everything you will be lost in a matter of moments!
This was a quick paced retelling and only took me a day to finish it. I love how Melanie also brought in some great quotes from the original story-line.
The Red Queen was probably my favorite retelling part in this whole story. This I never expected and as a lover of horror stories and lore, I LOVED this twist!! I never saw it coming and brings a whole new meaning to The Red Queen/The Queen of Hearts! She may have been evil but she was my favorite character in the book because of how shockingly wonderful this was for the story. I can’t wait to read more of Melanie’s stories.
As for the reader, Lesley, I loved her esp for this retelling! Her accent really brought the story to life and her pace was perfect!
Audiobook version: 4 stars overall, 4 stars story, 4 stars narration
Imaginative steampunk spin on Alice in Wonderland
This cool twist on “Alice in Wonderland” is the most fascinating and inventive alternative take on a fairy tale or classic book that I have ever experienced. It makes me eager to try the rest of Melanie Karsak’s series of alternate steampunk fairy tales. This audiobook is suitable for those teens and adults who can handle a few disturbing, bloody deeds by a villainess and some dark elements; anyone who likes “Hunger Games” would be okay, I think. There are also references to smoking opium, but the main female character does not approve. There is nearly no sexual content; the pair of teenaged main characters have a light romance with just kissing. The audiobook is told in first person perspective only from the point of view of Alice.
There were only two things that I didn’t like. First, the large number of flashbacks interrupted the smooth flow of the narrative for me. Secondly, the narrator Leslie Parkin’s voice for Alice sounded a little too insipid. It just did not suit my ears. However, her accents were excellent, and she was very good at a variety of voices, especially that of the villainess. She was great at pacing throughout.
Alice Lewis, (AKA, “the Bandersnatch”), former pickpocket and cat burglar, gave up lawbreaking a few years ago. In Victorian-era London, she has been working as the faithful servant of a nice old man in the upper class while she cares for her chronically ill sister. However, her ex-boyfriend William “Caterpillar” manages to pull her back into the metaphorical rabbit hole of the criminal underworld by extorting her friend. William is an opium mogul and owner of a brothel. Alice and William are approximately 17 and 19 years old. Wild and suspenseful adventures ensue, broken up by Alice flashing back to her former life with William. Lots of cool airships and clockwork robotic creatures lend a fantastical steampunk atmosphere. The vivid and dangerous Queen of Hearts was an especially impressive character. I loved the nail-biting climax. Fans of Alice in Wonderland should try this audiobook.
Once again,KARSAK turns a “fairy tale” inside out,gives its basic story a devious twist,and a strong heroine,then inserts steampunk for a heartfelt,energizing ,thoroughly entertaining read! It’s not the tale you think you know,IT’S BETTER!
This short novel was steampunk, horror and romance all rolled into one. It was unexpectedly engrossing – a super fun read for steampunk fans!
This was an unexpected and pleasant surprise! I loved the twists and turns to the story as well as the side stories. I am looking forward to more steampunk fairytales!
I have read a number of Melanie Karsak’s fairytale retellings and Curiouser and Curiouser is definitely the darkest of them. I’d liken this one to a Gothic novel. Despite the elements of horror, it was still a treat to read. I listened to the audiobook and Lesley Parkin did a great job bringing these characters to life.
Alice has been trained as a pickpocket and thief, but she’s seen too many terrible things and hates things that she’s done. When her so-called adoptive father dies, she seizes the opportunity and leaves, but she gives up the love of her life in the process. Alice doesn’t only have herself to worry about, she also has an ailing sister with a gentle soul, and a life of crime never suited her.
Alice is blackmailed to accept a dangerous job. Even though she hates many aspects of her old life, it still brings her back to the man she loves. Will the heist be the thing that will unite them or separate them for good?
I received a copy of this book from the Author, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was sold when I heard that this was a Steampunk version of Alice in Wonderland. I have read other books by this author in her steampunk world and I loved them so when I saw that there was a Alice and Wonderland one I couldn’t sign up fast enough.
I am really picky about my Alice in Wonderland retellings. There are a lot of them and I have found that not a lot of them put a new twist on the story. I really enjoyed this twist on Alice in Wonderland. This whole story takes place in Victorian London and all of your players are there. Following the white rabbit down the rabbit hole has a new twist. One thing that I did appreciate is that you not only get your classic characters but you get to see Alice’s sister and Dinah their cat.
There is enough room for Melanie to expand Alice’s story if she wanted to write another book following her.
This story isn’t very long so I do not want to spoil the story for you. But do know that if you like the world that she has created then you are in for a treat because all of her steampunk books take place in the world.
Curiouser And Curiouser by Melanie Karsak is an amazing steampunk retelling!! This is the second one now that I have had the pleasure to listen to and I am loving each one! Looking forward to other retellings and highly recommend for any fan of classic retellings!!
A great mixture of Alice in Wonderland and steampunk. I loved how Wonderland’s characters were incorporated into this universe as humans.
An enjoyable steampunk romp with classic callbacks to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. In this retelling, Alice is a guttersnipe who’s looking to escape the life of a thief, but circumstances and old connections pull her back in. Most of the Lewis Carroll references come in the form of underworld nicknames for the people in Alice’s life. She herself is the Bandersnatch, and she works with her partner, the Caterpillar, as they try to outmaneuver the Queen of Hearts and stabilize the criminal organization left to them when their boss, Jabberwocky, died. The names are used both as classic references and to convey character.
Aside from the adventure portion of the story, there is also a strong romance arc between Alice and William (Catepillar). At first, the romance arc was intriguing because Alice was so opposed to it, but once I learned their backstory Alice did a complete one-eighty and the arc felt a bit flat after that.
Curiouser and Curiouser had a very strong and unique voice, pulling from both Victorian-era sensibilities and the fantastical overlay of a semi-surreal adventure. The dialogue could have done with a little more fine-tuning however, as it was sometimes hard to follow and littered with repetitious words. The use of internal monologue was used to wonderful effect, giving readers a deep insight into Alice’s perception as she describes and reacts to the world around her.
Short, fast chapters kept the pace up, making it easy to carry on from scene to scene without long lags in action. There was a lot of use of flashback cut scenes that were often quite fitting, but sometimes felt a bit heavy-handed when the flashback didn’t fit smoothly with what was happening in the present.
The largest factor that negatively impacted my experience with this book was the abundance of easily correctable editing issues. There were too many typos and repetitious or clunky phrases that jarred me out of the story. For example: “…she began to cough. Soon it took over her. Her who body rattled as she hacked.” Or: “Bess let out an excited squeal. “Alice,” she yelled excitedly.” There were also a lot of instances of missing words, like: “William said confidently as headed out into the streets of London.” I expect to find some such mistakes in any book, but when they are happening every two or three pages it gets super frustrating.
Overall, this was a fun, fast read, but it would have benefited from a more thorough edit.
This steampunk retelling does a remarkable job pulling the familiar out of Carroll’s Wonderland and reinventing it. This Alice was clever and resourceful without the more traditional “Alice never learns from her mistakes” trope. Blending the grotesque and the supernatural allows this story to keep the reader chasing after the rabbit no matter how strange the rabbit hole gets. Love it!!!
I never read anything that has to do with Steampunk. I know what steampunk is but I’ve never fully looked into the subject matter. I saw this and since I haven’t read many Alice in Wonderland retellings
So down the rabbit hole I go.
This was an different approach to the fairy tale. It’s not your typical Disney movie.
Alice aka Bandersnatch use to work for the Jabberwokey after he got her and her sister out of a London factory. As soon as she could she got her and her sister out of that life and hasn’t looked back since.
That is till the Rabbit steals a pocket watch from her employer. Alice chases the Rabbit all the way to the Mushroom where Caterpillar waits with a proposition.
Unlike the fairy tale and most retellings we don’t go through to Wonderland. We are in Steampunk London. I like how the author did that. Very different. Very original.
While I liked the story I wasn’t fully in love with it. I didn’t connect with the characters. Alice at times was a little rash. I did love Bess and Henry aka the hatter.
Now since this book I have looked up many steampunk objects on Pinterest just so I knew what they looked like. I will read the other fairytales but right now I have a few arcs and a few library books that need to be read.
I was hooked from the start! This book is a true delight.
Melanie Karsak paints a beautiful and engaging world in her novel Curiouser and Curiouser. The steampunk fairytale retelling of Alice in Wonderland is riveting and beautifully told. The blend between original and reimagined is fantastic. This new colorful world of mechanical creatures and airships is peppered with dialogue from the original story to create an endearing connection between old and new. Instead of a trip down a rabbit hole into a strange land, this story takes you on an adventure through steampunk London. Part fairytale, part heist story, Curiouser and Curiouser will take you on an action-packed adventure filled with airship pirates, clockwork cats, black magic, honorable thieves, and a villainous sanguinarian. This story has it all; mystery, adventure, and plenty of romance.
She is able to bring her world alive with only a few sentences. Her brilliant descriptions feel neither forced nor out of place, and paint a world so vibrant I saw everything I was reading almost as if it were a movie. The lush background is filled with such detailed descriptions, you could almost believe yourself right alongside Alice on her adventure. You’ll find your senses immersed in her rich and vibrant storytelling; from the breathtaking sight of the crystal palace, the scents of jasmine and sandalwood, the sounds of airship captains barking orders and the boom of a cannon announcing the start of a race, to the taste of strawberry frosted, vanilla-sweetened, and raspberry-and-crème-filled cake. And all of this in only the first three chapters.
This story is filled with well-developed characters full of life and complex emotions. All of the characters you know from the original Alice in Wonderland are here but in completely new incarnations. Each is recognizable as their original counterpart, but reworked into new and interesting characters all their own. Alice, who is exactly the kind of heroine I want to read about, is smart, strong-willed, and full of heart.
This incarnation of Alice in Wonderland is my new favorite version. I can’t wait to read more of Melanie Karsak’s steampunk fairy tales and have my fingers crossed for an Alice sequel. Through the Looking Glass is just begging to be written!
If you’re a fan of any of the following: steampunk, fantasy, fairy tales, strong female characters, and adventure, I would highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book.
Incredible read! My third read from author Melanie Karsak and the second of her Steampunk Fairy Tales. Although I own several of her books I’d yet to read one until recently and I have to say reading this book was my pleasure. Exquisite detail, well-developed characters & setting. Although not particularly long the story & the book reads longer as it’s so well written. as good as her first two books were this one was incredibly better and the author has created a story that you will not want to put down. Since I own both the Kindle and the Audible versions I was able to follow along while the incredible narrator read to me. I’ll be reading more from this author.
This book started with a fun “Six of Crows” vibe: Alice and a crew of curious crooks plan to pull the ultimate heist in order to break free from the clutches of the mad Queen of Hearts. Too bad the heist never happened! After the build-up, it was a disappointment to have it tossed by the wayside when Alice conveniently finds a good fake jewel. The story was well-written and had fun characters, but it was missing some of the out-there creativity that I love about Alice in Wonderland, and the story seemed to wrap up a little too quickly for me. Overall, though, it was a good read.
This story was a wonderful retelling of a classic story. We as readers get the classic coming through in a brilliant and bold way, but with new and interesting ways. This story is an adventure if the very best. I loved following Alice in her new role. This story took me on I ride I am not soon to forget. Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, The Mushroom, and Caterpillar are all here in this adventure but you might be surprised to see how they are portrayed. I loved this version of the story and find that it could very well become a classic in its own right, within this steampunk trope.
A Victorian London romance crossed with a classic story brings to live both the story and the reader. A strong female character in Alice with curious streak is always a great read. There is action, adventure, a bit of love, redemption, and mystery. This is a clean story and is more focused on the plot and action then the romance. If you have read Beauty and Beastly by this author then you will understand. I rated it four stars because I wanted a bit more steampunk written into the story. I felt like it was there but not boldly presented. I received and ARC and am leaving an honest review.