Lovin' los libros

 

 

Have you ever read a book and are so blown away by it that coherent words are basically just wishful thinking? Yeah. That's how I feel right now. I can't even begin to describe to you all how magical this book truly is. Heather Lyons has once again slayed me in the best possible way with this book. I fell head over heels in love with these characters (some way more than I probably should have) and I was NOT ready for the book to end because I wanted to stay wrapped up in this fantastical world Lyons has created.

 

Lyons has done a brilliant job of creating a cast of characters that come from literature, as well as giving them a place in modern times. She does such an incredible job with the urban fantasy genre and I love how easily I could accept this world she has created where there are real literary characters living out their daily lives as a part of The Collectors' Society, with the goal of preserving beloved literature from being erased.

 

"What say you, Alice? Are you up for another adventure?"

 

Alice is our main character in this novel and after spending years in Wonderland, she is now back in England much older and not the same blonde haired girl we have read about. Her experiences in Wonderland have changed her and we only get the briefest of hints as to what happened to Alice there. This book is a journey. Not just for Alice and our other characters, but for us readers as well and that is what makes this book so special. Once we do discover Alice's past and we are given brief flashbacks of her time in Wonderland, it explains so much about why she acts the way she does and why she's so hesitant to trust in others. It's heartbreakingly beautiful and I'm still a bit wrecked over everything that has happened to her and what she's given up in her life.

 

Her wit and sarcasm are so much fun to read and she is the embodiment of a strong willed heroine. Some of her early actions might come across as weak and paranoid, but she has her reasons for acting the way she does. Lyons does stay true to Alice's character, as even in her adulthood she still possesses that curiosity she once had as a child.

 

"Are you ready to once more slip through a looking glass?"

 

Alice is called upon to join The Collectors' Society and it is here she meets the gorgeous, kind, resilient Finn. The two are partnered to work together to find a dangerous villain that threatens everything The Collectors' Society stands for and has worked hard to accomplish. We get to see many other favorites from literature, two of which I enjoyed immensely- Victor and Mary. They provide some much needed comedic relief and I love their wacky relationship with one another. I really liked Finn's character. He is a good balance for Alice and I like that he is the one she chooses to slowly place her trust in. He is a good man with a hint of vulnerability that just made me want to hug on him. Once he realizes Alice can hold her own, he doesn't try to shelter her, but instead encourages her and believes in her, which really endeared him to me.

 

"After all that I've gone through, after all I've lost, I've finally found my true north star."

 

My favorite character of all is one I can't discuss. I refuse to write spoilers, but.... my soul cries out for this character and I am getting emotional again just remembering how much beauty and goodness lies in their heart and soul. We see their pain and heartbreak, but we also see the immense amount of love and sacrifice there too. Heather really broke me with this one. I just somehow wanted it to work even though I knew it wasn't possible .It's a hard thing to accept and that is what makes this character's storyline so bittersweet.

 

"There is only my past and there is my present and future. The two cannot collide."

 

I cannot recommend this book enough. If there is one book review out of all the reviews I've written, I hope this is the one to make you pick up this book. It is such a brilliant story and the action packed journey we find ourselves on is one that I won't ever forget.