Shirley Jackson meets The Shining in this richly atmospheric and thrillingly tense novel from the acclaimed author of the “deliciously creepy” Baby Teeth (New York Post). One mother’s love may be all that stands between her family, an enigmatic presence–and madness. After years of city life, Orla and Shaw Bennett are ready for the quiet of New York’s Adirondack mountains–or at least, … ready for the quiet of New York’s Adirondack mountains–or at least, they think they are. Settling into the perfect farmhouse with their two children, they are both charmed and unsettled by the expanse of their land, the privacy of their individual bedrooms, and the isolation of life a mile from any neighbor.
But none of the Bennetts could expect what lies waiting in the woods, where secrets run dark and deep. When something begins to call to the family–from under the earth, beneath the trees, and within their minds–Orla realizes she might be the only one who can save them . . . if she can find out what this force wants before it’s too late.
With an ending inescapable and deeply satisfying, Wonderland brilliantly blends horror and suspense to probe the boundaries of family, loyalty, love, and the natural world.
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Oh, fright fans rejoice. That sure hand you’re looking for? That relentless climb, that crescendo of cold sweat? It’s all here. Deep in the woods, under a lot of snow, steeped in mad, unfamiliar nature. Zoje Stage is in total control of your nightmare. For those who live to be scared, Wonderland is the book you’ll be glad you cracked open at home, alone, at night.
Wonderland shows the terror lurking below the surface of domestic bliss, when we realize our familiar and cozy world may not be as it seems. Zoje Stage is one of the few writers who can make the supernatural feel totally, dangerously real.
Fans of folk or Gothic horror should enjoy the atmospheric “Wonderland” by Zoje Stage, because this original story blends these with a touch of the cosmic. With her insightful glimpses into the inner workings of the family, Zoje Stage presents a tale of isolation, love, and the paranormal.
The Bennett family moves from the big city to the mountains of New York State to allow Shaw the time to pursue his art. Orla, a recently retired dancer, and the couple’s two young children. Before long, strange happenings creep into their winter wonderland. As the solstice approaches, the family experiences terrifying and life-threatening experiences that challenge their understanding of the natural world.
“Wonderland” presents an antagonist with a darkly creative imagination. The work ultimately pits nature and an inner-cosmos against the comprehension of a protective parent. It’s a cerebral work and quite original.
This novel is “Wonderland” as in winter wonderland gone freaky-ominous-bonkers! I read this book in the middle of winter; what was I thinking? So scary.
PROS:
I found the four family members (mom, dad, two kids) in the book to be very believable. In real life, children whine, and couples snap at one another then apologize. Moms sometimes portray Calm Mother when they’re freaking out inside. Stage’s portrayal of the family make the characters relatable if not always likable.
As for Stage’s style of writing, her precisely chosen verbs and personification of things like the strum of a guitar or the accusatory scream of the wind allow dread and foreboding to build to such a level that I sometimes had to put the book down just to take a breath. Even when there’s no action on the page, the tension is high and kept me turning pages.
The beast or spirit thing that the family battles is so creative and unique. I’ve never read a story with such an unexpected antagonist. It’s a mix of cosmic, folk, and pagan horror all rolled into one. (Scary!)
Kudos to the cover artist. The image sticks in your head and fits the storyline. It’s also cool to look at.
CONS:
Not a con, really, because I loved the whole book, but just a heads-up: This is a moody, slower book, like a Gothic story transported from Victorian England and plopped into modern day New England. If you enjoy fast-paced horror, Wonderland might not be to your liking.
OVERALL:
Wonderland is slow-burn horror perfection, five awesome stars!
Hmmmmm I’m not sure what to think about this one. I didn’t hate it but I also didn’t love it. No way in Stephen King was this anything remotely like The Shining. It would have to be scary and mentally freakish for that to happen.
The story itself was an interesting concept but the way this was written was bland and not thrilling or scary in any way. I guess I went in expecting too much from it. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when I read Baby Teeth either but I always like to try and read more than one book by an author before I dismiss them entirely. Sadly I just don’t think this author for me.
I appreciate NetGalley for providing me with this E-Book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
While not nearly as good as Baby Teeth, this sophomore outing is still worth reading. While there are definitely elements of “The Shining” throughout this book, the story itself gets a bit repetitive yet is saved by its compelling characters and overall weirdness.
Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I enjoyed Baby Teeth last year and was really excited to read this one, but it veered too far from the norm for me and I found much of it to be a little to wacky. I liked the first half of the book; getting to know the family, watching them move out of the city and into the country (wholly different from what they are used to) and some of the creepy things that begin to occur. However, at about 50 percent the book took a (wrong) turn and instead of being creeped out I felt underwhelmed. This book is not truly a haunted house book like I thought when I read the first half of the book. It’s more supernatural and fantasy like in the final half and the characters who were once likable became completely unlikable. It just felt weird to me. Now, some readers are sure to love this one as it’s truly unique . Unfortunately, I’m just not one of those people. I recommended reading some other reviews before making the decision as to whether this book would be a good fit for you
Some authors struggle with the sophomore novel after releasing a spectacular debut, while others surpass all expectations; such is the case with WONDERLAND by Zoje Stage. With her first, her baby, BABY TEETH, Stage revealed her literary chops to the world and bit down hard into her readers, and was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for her efforts for Superior Achievement in a Novel (among other high praise). I was provided the opportunity to get my mitts on an advance copy of her latest, which went directly to the top of my reading pile; in fact, I stopped reading two other books just to crack its spine. And I was immediately pulled inside (or outside, into the cold), finding myself both shivering (books with roots set in cold environments tend to do this to me, similar to how books with scenes underwater keep me from breathing) and not wanting to put the book down for the sake of something as trivial as sleep. Kudos to Zoje Stage for blowing the doors wide open with her next book. Expect wonderful things to be said about this wonderland. It’s only the start of a new year, but I already know WONDERLAND will stay on my best of 2020 list.
The city mouse heading for the county where horrors ensue is a thriller staple. Stage winningly puts a recently retired ballerina with two sensitive kids and a frustrated but creative husband into the upstate wilderness — and up against a mysterious force of nature that seeps into hubby’s art and calls to the nuclear family with its siren song. As in the terrors of Scandi noir’sAsa Larsson and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, the stress of the everyday collides with the supernatural — and combine to create a nail-biter page-turner where the central woman in peril must also become the hero and defender. The characters are well-wrought, the forces of nature chilling and the revelations along the way surprise. At the root of the story is a mother’s fear: how do I protect my children — from the dangers of everyday life, the vastness of an unpredictable nature, the maw of death — and the demands of supernatural forces beyond our comprehension?