Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3) by Gena Showalter

Expected Publication:  September 30th, 2014

Queen of Zombie Hearts (White Rabbit Chronicles #3)

By: Gena Showalter

Harlequin Teen

ISBN-13:  9780373211319

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her.  She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, leader of the zombie slayers...until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends.  It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters...and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies...and she isn't the girl she thought she was.  She's connected to the woman responsible for killing -- and turning -- Cole's mother.  How can their relationship endure?  As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima -- even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

Review

     At the beginning of this book things have calmed down a lot since the last one.  Ali and her friends are easing back in to normal life, and her biggest worry is normal, nightly zombie patrol and whether or not Cole will let them go all the way finally.  Nana is supervising their every waking moment, so one night Ali sneaks in Cole's window for some late-night, naughty time.  In the middle of them making out, the house is attacked.  They soon learn that Anima has attacked ALL of their fellow slayers as well, killing four of them and gravely injuring or kidnapping others.  Another side plotline is introduced, with the Witness ghost of Helen, who gifts Ali with some of her own special powers to help in the fight.  She also has a secret connection to Ali's past that comes between her and Cole, due to Helen's betrayal of his mother.  It's an interesting way to create relationship conflict just when things were rock solid.

     The introduction of a street gang of zombie slayers, led by a guy named River, was an interesting addition.  I did feel like there was way too many characters at quite a few points, and got a little bit confused as to who had done what and been in the previous books.  The plot twists regarding Ali's new powers, the true goals of Anima and the connection with Helen weren't necessarily all that surprising, but the action moved at a really good pace in this one and I loved the finality of the conclusion.  The last big shock though (which I won't spoil) had me screaming in rage - in a good way!  The last Witness visit is going to kill you so hard!  All in all, a great end to an interesting series.  And for all you Cole and Ali fans, don't worry too much.  Their ending will make you happy!

VERDICT:  4/5 Stars

*I recieved this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie.  No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book's expected publication date is September 30th, 2014.*

Who I Am Inside

Published:  September 24th, 2013

Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2)

By: Gena Showalter

Harlequin Teen

ISBN-13:  9780373210770

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice In Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much -- family, friends, her home.  After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well.  A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things.  The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life.  She's never needed her team of zombie slayers more -- including her boyfriend Cole -- than she does now.  But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

Review

     I was a bit wary about reading this after the first one, especially considering that the series is being marketed as a modern take on Alice In Wonderland.  This synopsis is a bit more honest, claiming 'inspired by' instead.  I did enjoy the first, but I'm generally not a very big fan of zombies to begin with.  That said, I truly enjoyed this book even if it did have some imperfections along the way!  It starts off with Alice, Cole and the others still riding the victory from the last book.  But Ali still has the zombie toxin in her system and it refuses to leave.  It's taking hold of her and splitting off into it's own personality, one Ali names 'Zombie Ali' and it's urges are almost becoming too much for her to control.  Constant use of the antidote is the only thing even keeping Alice's sanity intact whatsoever.  Also, when Ali starts having visions with someone other than Cole, a slayer named Gavin, he ends up breaking things off.  There was a SERIOUS amount of romantic angst in this book!!!  Ali and Cole spend almost the entire time broken up, with him trying to fight off his ex-girlfriend Veronica and her trying to not get taken in by Gavin who she does feel something for.

     I enjoyed the fact that Ali didn't pull a Bella and turn catatonic because she lost her boyfriend.  Sure, she was heartbroken, but Ali still managed to carry on with her life and focus on trying to solve her other problems.  Anima is after Ali again, she has a craving for human flesh and her own reflection (Z.A.) is slowly destroying the human part of her.  I enjoyed the interactions with Kat, Frosty, Bronx and her Grandma (who is just as unintentionally funny as in the first book).  The scenes with her dead little sister Emma were just as sad, especially because Emma seems to be losing her ability to connect with Ali from the afterlife.  The whole thing with the mirrors and the evil reflection did tie in a bit more with the original Alice stories that a lot of stuff in the first book did.  

     Probably my main complaints are the romantic angst and the fact that Cole supposedley loved Allie, but didn't bother fighting for her!  He just gave up as soon as he had any competition at all.  The action resolved itself too easily and I really was NOT surprised by who the traitor was (easy to see from a mile off - for everyone except Ali and Cole apparently, that is!).  The whole throwdown with Veronica over Cole, who was acting like a complete douchebag by that point, was also annoying and distasteful.  At that point I was surprised that either girl wanted him honestly.  He treated them like dirt and Ali, especially, got the brunt of his insecurities/trust issues.  I did enjoy the action, but I felt like a lot of this one was unneccessary romantic angst/drama and most of it could have been axed completely.  It would have made the plot move along a lot faster.  That said, I did enjoy it and I will be reading the last book in the series when it comes out! :)

VERDICT:  3.5/5  Stars

**No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**

Painting the Roses Red

Published: January 1st, 2013
Splintered
By: A.G. Howard
Amulet
ISBN-13: 978149704284

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.  When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Review

 

     Alyssa has grown up with a very valid fear of losing her sanity - the women in every generation of her family since her great-great-great Grandmother Alice Liddell have been committed to asylums.  Yes, Alyssa's three times great Grandmother was the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's books about the twisted world of Wonderland.  But she insisted that it was real.  And since Alyssa has been communicating with bugs and plants for most of her life, she's pretty sure she's going insane too.  Until she discovers that it's all true and she has to travel to Wonderland in order to break the family curse and free her Mom before more drastic measures are taken to 'cure' her.  But Wonderland is not the same as it was before Alice fell down the rabbit hole and Alyssa must fix all her mistakes if she's to ever be sent home again.  She didn't count on her best friend (and secret crush) Jeb getting dragged down into the rabbit hole with her.  And who will she trust with her life - Jeb or Morpheus, her childhood guide thorough Wonderland who has his own selfish and possibly deadly motivations.  When Alyssa uncovers a secret from her family's past that changes everything, can she still save Wonderland without sacrificing who she is?

     I was expecting disappointment when I went into this, even though I was giddy with excitement.  Thankfully it lived up to my expectations, unlike the 2010 Tim Burton film redux.  Everyone should skip that and go with Syfy's Alice miniseries from 2009.  There's a very HOT Hatter in it...but I digress!  The book managed to take a darker spin on Wonderland and still make it relatable and not completely out of context.  It was like coming upon a treasure chest of Gothic jewels.  And they were very well crafted.  It was pure awesomeness having a heroine, who while pretty much crush obsessed, managed to not let it overtake her entire life.  Alyssa was brave, strong, independent and wonderfully snarky.  I liked that she was being tested and (supposedly) had to fix Alice's mistakes to break the curse of madness in her family.  The author managed to make both Morpheus and Jeb both likeable love interests, even though about 80% of the time I wanted to smack one, or both, of them upside the head.  The mystery of all the original characters' true stories, Alyssa's family lineage and the motivations of everyone offering to 'help' her finish her quest make for a truly gripping story.  Some truly creepy scenes had me flipping pages, desperate to find out what happened next.  The ending leaves things open for a sequel, but could also be a fairly satisfying ending which is nice in a world full of never-ending trilogies and quartets.  Highly recommended for anyone looking for an innovative and well crafted tale with romance, adventure, twisted fairy-tale elements and pure surprise.

 

VERDICT:  4.75/5  Stars (I can't go higher because of the loose ending.  I would have liked more definite closure or cliffhanger.  One or the other.)

 

**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**