Your holiday season is about to get deliciously naughty…What if Alice Liddell’s story didn’t happen the way you think? What if it wasn’t Wonderland she fell into, but Winterland.This mad tale is dark, twisted, sexy, and nothing like the legend you know.After losing her job and finding her boyfriend/boss cheating on her with her replacement, twenty-five-year-old Alice Liddell has moved back home … Liddell has moved back home to save money and regroup.
She doesn’t think things can get worse until her younger, more responsible sister, Dinah, gets her a job—as a Christmas elf.
Dressed in a slutty costume with fathers peeking down her top and kids vomiting on her, she wants nothing more than to escape the reality of her life.
When she sees a sexy, shirtless man, carrying a glowing red light, and bearing antlers, her curiosity gets the better of her. But following him might be the biggest mistake she ever made.
Falling into another realm, Alice finds herself in the world of holiday legends and fairytales. But she is not prepared her for the dark madness of this place. Nothing is what is seems and no one is what they are in the fairytales.
Even the mysterious, sexy Scrooge.
Welcome to Winterland, where the good guys from the North Pole have gone bad, and the only way to survive is to descend into its madness.
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It’s in July ya’ll and this book was all kinds of . An reimagining with a twist and a smokin’ hot thrown in for good measure. It was ridiculously ¢αмρу. Laugh out loud ϝυɳɳყ. Excellent (but sex). Original. Well written. Entertaining. A fantastic cast of ĔŃŤĔŔŤĂĨŃĨŃĞ secondary characters. . And two ҜICҜ-ДSS main characters ( and ). This was heading towards right until the end. I didn’t realize that this book would end on a and I wasn’t a huge fan of the t̳w̳i̳s̳t̳ at the end. That said, I still enjoyed the out of this book and can’t wait to get my hands on book two.
You know the writing is exceptional when you don’t really care for the narrator but you can’t let go of the story. I’m not a fan of single perspectives and I’ve never really liked the tale of Alice in Wonderland, at least not until I saw the 2010 Disney live-action remake. This story was a modern retelling that had me wondering if I was the one truly going mad!
Alice was a 25 year old woman whose life was in shambles. After being cheated on, dumped, and fired by her boss/lover, her independent life fell apart and she was forced to move back home where, as the older sister, she’s seen as the dim one. She’s impulsive, a bit deluded, and curious to a fault. One night she sees what she considers an insanely hot half-human/half-reindeer carrying a red light. She follows him and ends up tumbling into Winterland. There she meets Scrooge, Hare, Dee Puck, Dum Puck, Pen, Rudy, Nick, Frosty, the Queen, and so many others. It takes her a while to understand her place in things, not that I think she got there in the end, but she wasn’t a worthless contribution to the team. Whenever she was in true danger, things would pop up saying ‘eat me’ or ‘drink me’, saving her in the nick of time. She was also indecisive because while I was supposed to believe she was completely into Scrooge, she had the tendency to become attached to any attractive man it seemed. Hopefully this changes in the next book.
This man didn’t just look at you, he shredded everything you had built around yourself, even the few layers of clothes left. His gaze slipped over your skin, dousing you in fire.
I would have a hard time classifying this as a romantic tale. It was more about the action and adventure and the mystery than anything else. It grabs a hold of you with its nonsense, having you question what’s real or not, and you can’t help but scream for more of Scrooge. I would give my left tit to get his voice!!
I absolutely, positively loved this when it was a short story, and I desperately waited for it to be continued! Now I have it and words can’t honestly describe this crazy, insane world and just how insane it made me feel it times! The chemistry between Scrooge and Alice is off the charts and sooo hot! The cast of cray cray characters were enchanting and definitely a little messed up. The villain was a woman driven mad by a complacent husband and I am more than happy to hate her. Unspeakable acts of violence and an absorbance for all things Christmas and joy put her on my naughty list! A little cliffy at the end, but if you waited like me than you can dive straight into the second one! Which is where I’m headed! Enjoy!
This is a very loose Fairy-tale based on Alice in Wonderland. However, though filled with plenty of madness, it is a much darker & certainly an adult version. There is sexual tension plenty, but not a whole lot of actual sex. There is constant action & wonderful characters that are naughty good, and a horrid, evil queen plus her minions. Poor Santa has been badly broken and not the Santa of our childhood. It will take lots of Christmas Wishes coming true to save Santa & his elves. The leading saviors are one beautiful, sexy Alice & one gorgeous, “hot” Scrooge. When I finished Book 1 (Descending into Madness) as soon as reading the last page, I quickly 1-clicked Book 2 (Ascending from Madness) & kept on reading!!!
I was in a book funk, and started reading a few books. None caught my interest until I started reading DESCENDING INTO MADNESS. This was fast paced and the story carried smoothly into the 2nd book in this Duet: ASCENDING FROM MADNESS. I could understand that these books might not be for everyone. But just think, “You must have an IMAGINATION!!”
“This man didn’t just look at you, he shredded everything you had built around yourself, even the few layers of clothes left. His gaze slipped over your skin, dousing you in fire.”
WHAT DID I JUST READ? Insanely imaginative, I was lost in the vivid imagery, begging for this to be a movie. I giggled like a madman, and melted to the floor for Scrooge, every twist and turn had me white-knuckling my kindle and inhaling, dying to get to the answers. Absolute genius and off the charts fun to read!! I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down and immediately snatched up the second book and jumped right in!! The cast of whimsical, often hysterical characters just mesmerized me to no end!! Love, love, love!!
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
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Winterland madness indeed! It was a little dark, flirty, crazy mad charming characters with laugh out loud moments!! So much mystery and crazy turn of events! that ending was . it hurt! cant wait for the next book!!!
Holy Christmas Cookies!!!
All that is a white Christmas! This story is absolutely MAD!!! it’s like a Christmas themed Narina crossed with Alice in Wonderland! Not only do I feel like Alice is me because come on most of us live in a fantasy in our head but i feel her on her wanting more of what she wants not others. The epicness that in Winterland will leave you wondering; are you mad, are you sane, what’s with the riddles, why do I understand this nonsense talk, HOLY TINSEL ITS SANTA!!! No but in all seriousness this book is an absolute must read! I’m going to go bonkers until the next book!!!
An original take on an old classic.
Get ready to dive down the rabbit hole head first. I love re-imaginings on classic tales and this one is unique and original. This book starts off slow for all of two pages, and then your pushed off the crazy cliff. There isn’t a dull moment in this book. Stacey Marie Brown delivers an amazing adventure full of whimsical delights and creates a unique world that draws you in doesn’t let go.
Alice is a head in the clouds, live by the seat of your pants type of girl. But soon she’s thrust into a world so nonsensical and outrageous that it must be a dream or a nightmare, right. Not knowing friend from foe or the sane from the insane Alice meets with a group of characters that do nothing to help with this confusion. Scrooge is tall dark and deadly, and undeniably the sexiest man Alice has ever laid eyes upon. Then there’s Hare, Dum-Puck, Dee-Puck, and sweet little Penguin. Each character is so well developed and fleshed out they feel real.
This is only the first book in a series, with Ascending From Madness to follow, and I for one am hooked. I can’t wait to see what happens next. With Alice, Scrooge, Hare, Dee, Dum, and Pen you’re sure to find a new favorite character. This is a must read book for 2019, actually a must read period. #EagerlyAwaitingTheNextBook
I love a new twist on a old fairytale. That is what you get with this book. A old fairytale told in a way that captures you from the first chapter and keeps you hooked till the end wanting more.
LOVED this twist of the classic Alice story ! Once again Stacey’s imagination and attention to detail are amazing. The twists and turns and intensity of this story pull you in from the first page. Then the last page has you waiting for more !! I can’t wait until book 2 to see how the story continues.
Holly Crap on a cracker! Descending Into Madness has gotten me into the Christmas mood, with a trip through Winterland. A retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but so much naughtier. This book was a page turner, that I could not put down. The characters are all funny as hell, and had me rolling with laughter. Alice or beloved hero, is a tough chick, who kicks ass, and smartass number uno. Scrooge, is hawt, everything about him is hawt. He is a broken man, an empty shell of what he used to be, but he is the ultimate smirker that I have ever read, and he has every right to be. The supporting characters my o’ my! They have all won my heart. I am going to be on pins and needles until the next book comes out. If you haven’t read this, seriously go download today, it will give your abs a workout. I promise, you’ll thank me.
This was such a fun read!! I loved it!
I always love the way you feel as though you’re part of the story in one of Stacey’s books, and this one is no different! The world building is awesome and the characters are really fun and genuine. With a mash up of Alice In Wonderland and Christmas stories, how could you not read it?!
I devoured this book in less than a day. Had me laughing one minute and on the edge of my seat the next. I absolutely love the twist written by Stacey Marie Brown!!
I received a copy from Netgalley for review purposes.
I have never read a fairy tale re-imagined before and at first there was several things different and several that were like the original like the character being named Alice and “I’m very late” that I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. Then she fell into the winter wonderland and I really started to enjoy the story. I liked the combination of similar and different to the original story. The Winter Wonderland twist to the story fascinated me. I was hooked by the story and drawn to the pages. I can’t wait for book 2 in the series.
The first book in the Winterland Tale Series and it ends on a cliff-hanger, I will be watching for book two. This is an Alice in Wonderland take with Christmas in the mix. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
DAMN!!! I am utterly speechless. I read the beginning of this book in the Such Violent Delights: A Holiday Paranormal Romance Anthology and I ABSOLUTELY loved Scrooge and Alice and wanted more. So when I knew that their story was continuing I was over the moon.
You think you know the tale of Alice in Wonderland, well throw everything you thought you knew out cause Alice in Winterland is going to turn everything on its axis. This book is Christmas on Mistletoe Mead. The good guys are not who you’d think. I really enjoyed this book with the wonderful characters, storyline and world that was created will have you turning every page enthusiastically wanted to know what’s to come next. I can’t wait for Ascending From Madness To release. (No seriously I CANT wait) I need it NOW!
Alice and Scrooge are absolutely fascinating, and addictive. I loved Alice’s lack of control of what she was thinking slipping out of her mouth with no filter. Alice is so fierce, loyal, protective and I loved watching her grow and blossom more into this confident woman.
Scrooge is everything his name implies, or is he? Scrooge is hot and cold with Alice but with Hare, the twins Dee-Puck & Dum-Puck and Penguin he is affectionate, loving and warm nothing like his name. Scrooge and Alice’s relationship is rocky, but the spark between them is there and I need no I WANT to see how it all plays out.
I LOVE reading books with fabulous secondary characters and this one has them in spades. Hare, Pen, Dum and Dee had me in stitches and I can see them having me wrapped around their little fingers just like they do with Alice and Scrooge.
Descending into Madness was unique, captivating and highly entertaining. It was a fascinating retelling of Alice in Wonderland fairytale mixed with Christmas to create a world unlike any other. This story had me hooked from start to finish as nothing was as it seemed. I did not know what was up from down, what was right from wrong.
The story took us on a heart pounding journey, with twists and turns you would not see coming. It was well written and highly imaginative, hilarious yet emotional, dark and dangerous, fast-paced and adventurous. It was filled with sexual tension without the sex, quirky unusual characters who you will love and an ending that will have you anxious for more.
This was my first Stacey Marie Brown novel and I was totally captivated. I loved it and would highly recommend it to all Fantasy lovers. Definitely worthy of a 5 star status I can’t wait for the next book.
This is the first book in the Winterland Tale Series. This story is totally mind blowing. This retelling of Alice in Wonderland fairytale, with a Christmas twist, has it all! Hilarious, Sexy, action packed and totally crazy! Alice, Scrooge and the crazy gang are captivating! Now, I can’t wait until the next book in this Series. I received a free review copy of this book and I have voluntarily left this review.
4.5 Alice Stars
OMG I know its July but I’m now in a Christmas mood.
SMB has done a phenomenal job with this very clever twist on Alice in Wonderland mixing it with Christmas. Once you start this book you will be hooked and jumping down the rabbit hole of crazy willingly. It was well written and fast paced so make sure you have no interruptions when you start this one as you will be so captivated in the crazy you will get annoyed if interrupted.
You never know what is going to happen next. I loved the crazy suspense from this book. These characters are completely crazy and highly entertaining.
I honestly can’t wait for Ascending into Madness to see what happens next.
Oh how this twisty, action packed, maddening new take on Alice in Wonderland filled my Hatter obsessed heart with joy. Being who I am, I have read countless spins on this classic but have never encountered one done so masterfully before. Stacey Marie Brown’s combination of Alice in Wonderland and Christmas builds a magical twisted new world that will capture you entirely.
I just don’t have enough words for how perfectly done this book is. I’m typically not a fan of slow burns, but the chemistry and heat that exist between Alice and Scrooge it’s so intense and wrought with complexity I found it utterly captivating. Then you add in the entire cast of fantastical characters with their own deep layers, surprises around every corner and heart pounding action all topped off with a level of sarcastic humor that will breaks up some of the tension and this book is a recipe for greatness. This only thing I don’t love is having to wait for the next!