Looking Glass

The Chronicles of Alice, Book 1

By: Christina Henry

Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin, Gildart Jackson

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

In four new novellas, Christina Henry returns to the world of Alice and Red Queen, where magic runs as freely as secrets and blood.

Lovely Creature

In the New City lives a girl with a secret: Elizabeth can do magic. But someone knows her secret - someone who has a secret of his own. That secret is a butterfly that lives in a jar, a butterfly that was supposed to be gone forever, a butterfly that used to be called the Jabberwock....

Girl in Amber

Alice and Hatcher are just looking for a place to rest. Alice has been dreaming of a cottage by a lake and a field of wildflowers, but while walking blind in a snowstorm she stumbles into a house that only seems empty and abandoned....

When I First Came to Town

Hatcher wasn't always Hatcher. Once, he was a boy called Nicholas, and Nicholas fancied himself the best fighter in the Old City. No matter who fought him he always won. Then his boss tells him he's going to battle the fearsome Grinder, a man who never leaves his opponents alive....

The Mercy Seat

There is a place hidden in the mountains, where all the people hate and fear magic and Magicians. It is the Village of the Pure, and though Alice and Hatcher would do anything to avoid it, it lies directly in their path....

©2020 Christina Henry (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Mesmerizing…These somber, occasionally disturbing novellas offer a mature take on the children’s story but balance the horrors of the City with hope. Henry’s fans will be happy to return to this world, but readers need not be familiar with earlier installments to appreciate this twisted take on Lewis Carroll’s classic tale." (Publishers Weekly)

"Fans will delight in discovering the unknown family backgrounds and future fate of Alice and her wild and bloody Hatcher." (Booklist, starred review)

Great story but

Two and a half books of one reader only to suddenly switch to a male reader was kind of an unexpected shock. I had a hard time going on from there. I can't say I really enjoyed it.

Alice in Wonderland for Grown-ups

Loved this whole series. It's a fun take on Alice in Wonderland. I can't wait for the next book to see what happens to Alice and Hatcher.

so much better than book two!

oh it was everything I wish book two had been. Hatcher's story was my favorite

A fun read

A good collection of short stories. 3/4 of them were great. I loved Hatcher’s backstory. The last story, The Mercy Chair, seemed phoned in and it has been done before. All that being said, Christina Henry does a great job with her vision of the characters from Wonderland.

A Very Fine Wrap-up

Not only do you get a nice clean conclusion to Alice's journey, Christina leaves the smallest crack in the door for new material. Well done!

Nice buuuuuut

I really like Alice series but one thing I have began to notice throughout the series, especially this book that anyone they try to help ends up dead. The villain do not last a long time, battling them doesn’t seem to be a challenge. Through the whole entire book they will be discussed, but when they finally meet the villain, they’re gone just like that. Alice didn’t even keep her promise about the Jabberwocky which really made me upset. With this book it’s just a bunch of short stories. The first story we meet Alice’s little sister, Elizabeth, and it’s really hard to think that Alice’s parents just gave her up like that and then had another daughter to replace her. The third story we have a new narrator. it was nice to hear a male narrator. He was perfect for the voice of Hatcher and it was cool to see a little of his backstory. But the remaining stories the villains weren’t really a threat and actually a bit boring. I hope Miss Henry makes more to the series, because if this is how the book series ends, I’d be very disappointed. Three out of five stars.

a great take on Alice

loved the continuation of the journey of Alice and her Hatcher. looking forward to the adventures of Elizabeth.

Good, slow start

I enjoyed the story overall. The first few chapters I had a hard time paying attention but once the story gets into Hatchers backstory from there forward I was able to stay engaged through the rest of the book definitely worth the listen, looking forward to the next in the series.

Absolutely lovey

Amazing individual adventures that tie Alice’s story together. It was so enjoyable to hear what happened after they left the city. I hope this is not the end, but if it is I also think it’s a lovey ending for her.

Brought cohesiveness to the beginning and end of Alice’s and Hatcher’s journeys

I really liked the way these stories wound together the rest of the story, explaining both main characters’ back stories and their ending. Showing that Alice’s legacy lives on in her sister brings the story full circle .