Showing posts with label Alice in Wonderland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alice in Wonderland. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

"Alice In Lockdown" Reflects How Maddening the Pandemic Has Been To Date

All images in this post are by Marta Zubieta ©2020
"Equating the dream logic of Lewis Carroll with the lived political reality of Covid19. Alice in Lockdown is a self-directed illustration project where Zubieta explores the confusion and self-transformation journey we have gone through since the beginning of Lockdown. Bringing vibrant colour to often bleak subjects, Zubieta explores the millennial culture and its issues through pink-tinted glasses, neon colours, and dreamy characters. Zubieta found in Alice the perfect metaphor to explore the reality she was living in during the outburst of Covid 19." (Summary from martazubieta.com)
Marta Zubieta's quarantine-created "Alice In Lockdown" series has been getting a lot of attention on social media and it's easy to see why. The "logical nonsense" world of Alice In Wonderland speaks perfectly to the surreal challenges we've all been faced with since going into lockdown.

What isn't as well known is how this Spanish artist (based in Bristol, UK) came to create her paintings. It's a little more than "artist expresses feelings visually when stuck at home"... Here are two excerpts from Zubieta's first blog post as her new series was developing in May 2020:
First piece: Alice in Lockdown: Alice trapped in the new reality, in this piece I combine pop culture symbols and pastel colours to express the feeling of fake comfort in our houses while we are being hyper controlled.

The idea started at the beginning of the lockdown when some art contests where happening working with the concept of self-isolation and staying at home. I imagined myself trapped in my house forever and I envisioned Alice when she grew really big and got trapped in the Wonderland house.

My social commentaries about how coronavirus was being handed in England weren’t very welcome on Facebook so I thought I would put this social commentaries in pictures. The result was even better than expected, people who would normally criticise conspiracy theories were very impressed with the artwork even if when looking close you can find symbols of conspiracy theories.

 

...Second piece: Down the Rabbit Hole: Alice going through the rabbit hole of our digital world, a hyperreal maze of content that tell us what to believe, what to do, what to buy, and how to entertain ourselves, does that rabbit hole ever reach an end?

With this piece I want people to question themselves about their everyday interaction with the digital media and how it influences the way the think or act. I want to talk to everyone but I am sure it will resonate with my generation the most.
Zubieta's next post speaks about how she wanted to express the warped reality we all suddenly found ourselves in, and her thoughts on how to go about it so it would be heard.
From her second progress post:
Following my research of storytelling and the hero’s journey from last year, and my previous essay about hyperreality and its relation with social media, I wanted to get a broader knowledge on archetypes and the power of these in combination with pop culture for communicating ideas, as a global visual communication that goes beyond language, location or race.

What is the purpose? I want to create art that tells the other side of the coin, In a period where lot the artwork is being created to make us feel uplifted and hopeful, I want to create artwork that empathise with the feelings of impotency, loneliness, connection addiction, and misunderstanding of the uncertain situation we live in. (Ed.: All emphasis in bold is by OUABlog.)

 

She goes on to explain that by using a very familiar character and archetype, she can more immediately express well-known elements and it was Alice in Wonderland that resonated with her experience in quarantine, straight away (for example, Alice growing so large she can't fit inside the house anymore). As a result, she can immediately refocus the lens, twisting the images to express well-known aspects of the story in a different way and encourage people to consider things from this perspective. In a very real sense, it's a short-hand that allows for very direct communication with whoever sees the art.

It's clear in part this is because the rules - which society needs to live by for a stability - become distorted and topsy-turvy. What's less obvious to the viewer (or reader of Alice) is that by beginning from an illogical place but still attempting to proceed logically, is quite literally maddening. The more we apply logic, the less it makes sense, which is the opposite of what should happen. As a result, reality becomes even more distorted than it would have if the absurdity was thrown into the middle of something normal; something that wasn't already twisted. The madness of a situation - in our case, a pandemic in the middle of political upheaval - tends to creep up on Alice (us), until we realize that we've been trying to make sense of something nonsensical for a long time, only to find ourselves suddenly overwhelmed and exhausted, not knowing what to do or how to keep coping. It's a very real challenge.

Zubieta writes: 

Going down the rabbit hole in the book is a representation of going to the unconscious, connected with lockdown, the covid-19 seems to be the hole that has trapped us all at home, making us having to deal with our inner monsters but also with the voice we listen the most: the media.
Inner Jungles: How do we make sense of the outer world in our intimate spaces? (@wordincanvas)
Zubieta also connected with James Tuson (@wordincanvas), a writer who creates poems and spoken performance pieces based on other visual artist's work, and asked that he add his words to her images. (We adore artists collaborating!) Here's an excerpt of one of the results:
Alice in Lockdown

Have we gone mad?

Down the habit hole

...At least the hedgehogs can now roll free through our empty parks

Why sometimes I’ve disbelieved as many as six explanations to all this before breakfast

Getting curisor and curisor as the days drag on

Curious little oysters aren’t we whilst its’ all convenient for us in our shells.

Hell I even find myself talking to the flowers...
You can read Tuson's whole poem at the bottom of Zubieta's post HERE. We've included another excerpt by Tuson with a different thought process, a vignette, created in response to the Tea Party scene below.
The Mad Hatters Invitation the official Tea Party, by James Tuson, @Wordincanvas (excerpt)
The Mad Hatter inconveniently invites you to attend the corona party, come come all we must commence with this befuddlement and such it’ll be very very rude indeed if you don’t fall in line and keep your distance at our signs. We’ve gone to great many lengths to make this as straightforward for you as possible. Improbable you say? Do you have any idea why a raven is like a virus? Unkindness! Now now let’s not dampen spirits you’ve only just arrived, you must, you must have a cup of tea and have a go on our sweet sweet 5G, it’s truly the best in all of silly gits end. Am I making sense? (Continue reading HERE.)
Being fascinated with how people connect and use fairy tales for expression, reflection, and to consider changing social narratives, we also wanted to include this fascinating mind-map (below - click to enlarge) of the development process that Zubieta included on her blog. There is no commentary attached to the image but it's easy to see how the idea grew, marrying the resonant story to fairy tales and fairy tale characters and archetypes. (You can spot references to Peter Pan in there, along with Chihiro from Spirited Away.) It's clear that what wasn't palatable for people to see discussed (as she mentions, on Facebook) was a lot easier to consider and reflect on, by using the vehicle of fairy tales, fairy tale imagery and a reframed familiar story for people to think about on their own terms. 

It's an excellent study in the use of fairy tale relevancy and why revisions of beloved tales can be more communicative than regular forms of communication. In a world where it's harder and harder to trust words being spoken by authorities and the media, and many people are polarized, minds closed and defense mechanisms operating on a hair-trigger, sometimes it takes the reframing of a familiar fairy tale to bypass barriers and speak to the shared experience we are having. 

That's powerful stuff.
Going down the rabbit hole, in the book, is a representation of going into the unconscious. (When) connected with lockdown, Covid-19 seems to be the hole that has trapped us all at home, forcing us to deal with our inner monsters but also with the voice we listen to the most; the mass media. (Zubieta)


You can support Marta Zubieta and find her work online in the following places:

Main website: martazubieta.com




Facebook: @martazubieta

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Animated Fairy Tales Get A Real World Edge At 'Animation Reimagined' (Modern Eden Gallery)

Mulan - Olga Esther
Curated by Michael Cuffe of Warholian, the 'Animation Reimagined' exhibition will bring together many animated classic icons - both past and modern-day - "fantastically recreated in new paintings and from new perspectives". While there are more than just fairy tale characters, we're focusing on those that are most closely linked to our favorite subject here. (We've included a list at the end of the post with all the other cartoon characters we've been able to discover - and identify - to date.)
Official poster, featuring a reimagining of Dumbo (artist unknown)
Cuffe has asked all artists to bring a bit of realism into their paintings and works. We will see these animated classics re-imagined in a way we’ve never seen before, from a unique artistic viewpoint.
It's always interesting to see what sort of spin artists will put on animated icons, especially fairy tales. These paintings and sculptures belong in the 'fine art' realm, though at a glance it may be easy to dismiss some of these as 'professional fan art'. They all, however, share the intent to bring some realism - and real-world consideration - to their interpretations of flat cartoons and animated characters. The idea is to take them beyond the realm of the "safe" screen and have them "intrude" on ours, creating a response in the viewer. From the selection we've been able to find scattered around social media corners, the achievement is quite impressive. We hope to see more/better quality images, once the show is opened to the public today (Saturday, April 14, 2018) and the Gallery puts the collection online.

In the meantime, enjoy! (We've included artist's titles, comments, and statements where they were available.)
Alice In Wonderland (2018) - Brianna Angelakis
"Frozen in Time" - Ania Tomicka
“The Young Goddess Artemis” - Richard J Oliver
I went to the source of what I believe inspired the character
of a well known Disney’s Animation. For a while I’ve been wanting to
make a painting based on DIANA (Roman Goddess)
or ARTEMIS (Greek Goddess) of Hunting and nature. After
some research the similarities between these
Goddess’ and the princess character Merida
were uncanny so I drew my inspiration from the mythical
daughter of Zeus.
Kiki's Delivery Service - Carly Janine Mazur
Ratatouille - Richard Ahnert
Pinocchio - Hanna Jaeun
"Bibbedi bobbidi boo" (Cinderella) - Anne Angelshaug
As a child I adored the story of Cinderella, but rewatching it
as an adult it conjured very different thoughts and feelings.
Thoughts of abuse, apathy and delusion....
sorry I took it to a dark place, but it just seemed right...
The Little Mermaid  - Meredith Marsone
"This (is a close-up of) a painting of The Little Mermaid just after
the point of her transformation, still underwater, but human now and
so in imminent danger in the place she used to call home."
Sleeping Beauty - Sheri DeBow 
“Guardian” - Lena Danya
The Little Mermaid Meets Marlin and Dory from Finding Nemo
Sometimes Ups Outnumber the Downs - Jessica Dalva
"My sculpture based on Disney’s Robin Hood."
"The Strands the Bind" - Stephanie Pui Mun Law (The Fox and the Hound) 

There are many more cartoon classics reimagined, of course, these are just the most fairy tale related of those revealed (whether in close-up or as finished pieces). Others include Mickey Mouse, Felix the Cat, Sponge Bob, The Aristocats, Jack and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Lady and the Tramp, Frankenweenie, Pink Panther, Coco, Jessica Rabbit, Betty Boop, Toy Story, Gumby, Sailor Moon, Bambi, She-Ra and more.

The exhibition is free to the public and opens today, Saturday April 14, 2018, at The Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco.

Exhibition Dates: April 14–May 4, 2018
Opening Reception: April 14, 2018  6 pm–9 pm

Featuring the artwork of Adam Hunter Caldwell, Alec Huxley, Amanda Banker, Amy Mastrine, Ania Tomicka, Anne Angelshaug, Aunia Kahn, Brianna Angelakis, Carly Janine Mazur, Catherine Moore, Chris Leib, Christina Ridgeway, Daniel J Valadez, David Natale, Glenn Arthur, Hanna Jaeun, Hikari Shimoda, Jacyln Alderete, Jessica Dalva, Joshua Coffy, Julie Filipenko, Kathrin Longhurst, Lee Harvey Roswell, Leegan Koo, Leilani Bustamante, Luke Allsbrook, Marcos LaFarga, Marie Larkin, Marjolein Caljouw, Mark Bryan, Meredith Marsone, Michael Cuffe, Nathalia Suellen, Nick Stathopoulos, Olga Esther, Rachael Bridge, Rachel Silva, Raúl Guerra, Rene Cuvos, Rich Pellegrino, Richard Ahnert, Richard J Oliver, Robert Bowen, Sarah McCloskey, Sheri DeBow, Simona Candini, Stephanie Law, Steve Javiel, Susannah Martin, Susanne Apgar, Sybiline , and Zelyss.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Benjamin Lacombe's 'Through the Looking Glass' Released

Behold the lovely trailer for Benjamin Lacombe's new book Through the Looking Glass, released the last week of November in France with this lovely promo following a week or so into December afterward.

We do love how he adapt his artwork for animation so delicately.
Wishing you peace, comfort and joy too for the end of the year and leaving you with this hug as we head into holiday mode here at Fairy Tale News Headquarters.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Maguire's "After Alice" Ripe for Optioning/ "Egg & Spoon" Already Picked Up By Universal

'Baba Yaga Houses' by Mahwa Fahmy 2012, 
Located in Museum Park, Aberdeen Street, Northbridge, Perth, WA, Austraia (Photographer unknown)
Update: With breadcrumbs from reader Pat, I found the sculptor-artist and location (but not the photographer of this photo unfortunately. "Now we know where those square eggs came from..."

Oh my goodness! I had completely forgotten this news, since it happened while I was down for the count last year: Baba Yaga and her chicken-legged hut are coming to the movies!! I am both excited and dreading what they will do with her... but honestly, her chicken-legged hut can only be looked forward to. We haven't seen her house in any modern movies yet though interest has been building for a while. Believe it or not, Baba Yaga, and her house, are very popular characters in a variety of role playing games these days - and you'll be glad to know she remains formidable!

 But first, the news about Maguire's soon-to-be-released novel "After Alice" (October 27th, 2015) and then we'll go back to Russian remixes.

I'm not sure if this is a public service announcement or a heads-up for you all, but it's interesting, especially in Alice's anniversary year. I wouldn't be surprised if certain studios have had their eye on Maguire's book, just in case, with certain Alice projects currently in development. I guess we'll know, come October (or September, depending on when the pre-release buzz truly begins).

From The Hollywood Reporter:
'After Alice' by Gregory Maguire (is) ripe for optioning.Universal has been trying to find a way to bring Gregory Maguire's best-selling novel and Broadway hitWicked to the big screen. Now, rival studios can land their own Maguire property with After Alice, a re-interpretation of Alice in Wonderland.
From Cape Cod Times (interview with Maguire):
Maguire: “I don’t try to crack an older story open with dynamite, but to worry a seam that has been left unexplored,” he told me.
 For instance, his upcoming novel, “After Alice,” set for an October release, picks up on Lewis Carroll’s brief mention of Alice’s friend Ada in “Alice in Wonderland.”
 “Alice mentions having two friends, Ada and Mabel… So I thought: who might Ada actually be? And what would she do if she saw Alice falling down the rabbit hole? Jump in after her? What next? …I didn’t invent Ada. I just said to myself, ‘Lewis Carroll left her there for me to find.’”
 “I was very surprised by the success of ‘Wicked.’ I’d always imagined it might have a downstream life as a mini-series or as a movie, but…had not imagined that it might be a stage musical,” he told me.
 His latest book “Egg & Spoon” (2014) has already been optioned for a Hollywood film by Universal Studios, and – who knows? – just may become the Next Big Thing.
 “It’s ‘The Prince and the Pauper’ meets ‘Frozen,’ except the exchanged children are girls, and the story takes place in 1907 pre-Revolutionary Russia. And it features an ice dragon, a dying Firebird, starvation, poverty, global warming and a talking kitten.”

Maguire's "Egg & Spoon" is a "for all ages" novel (that is, you can read it with kids, or give it to kids but also enjoy it as an adult). The book draws on Russian fairy tales of Baba Yaga and the Firebird, along with a melange of other story staples and legendary items, like Fabergé eggs, matryoshka dolls and, yes The Prince and the Pauper tale as well. (A summary and brief review from The Guardian HERE.)

Having recently read Maguire's other Russian tale for all ages "The Dream Stealer", which, by the way I very much enjoyed and will be sharing with my son for bedtime reading soon, it's fairly guaranteed that this will show the gentler, more reasonable side of Baba Yaga, though she's still rather fearsome.

So: now we wait to see a) what Maguire has done with Alice and b) who likes it enough to make (another) Alice movie. (But really, I'll be over here, watching for news of a Firebird or a walking chicken-legged hut, coming out of Universal!)

Friday, May 8, 2015

D23 Expo in August to Give Sneak Peek of Live Action "Fairy Tale-Adjacent" Films


Before you ask: NO - there is no official word that anything from Beauty and the Beast will be shown, released or teased BUT they will have to mention it so there's a strong possibility it will be one of those bonus surprise things (like a shot of an enchanted rose, if they follow the Cinderella trend!), on the day for attendees/Gold Members. (We shall see).

Here's the official press announcement:
Opening day of the D23 Expo will feature the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony as well as peeks at Disney and Pixar’s animation slate, including looks at “Zootopia” and “Finding Dory.” Disney’s live-action properties, such as its upcoming take on “The Jungle Book” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” will be previewed on Saturday.
See? Fairy tale adjacent only (but still interesting to us fairy tale folk).

The D23 Expo 2015 will be held during August 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center (Los Angeles). Tickets are available now.

By the way, I found this schedule online, which confirms Disney's animated Jack and the Beanstalk take, Giants, is still happening - and has a firm release date, albeit it very, very far away.
Also a little PSA: on April 30th, 2015 the Disney animated films The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid and Cinderella went back in the vault for the next seven years (sorry folks!).

What's coming out this year to replace them? Well, we have to wait till Fall and then again till February 2016 for more, but for this year:
Aladdin: October 6th, 2015 - first time on Blu-ray

Friday, April 24, 2015

"Storybook" Opens Tomorrow at Modern Eden Gallery

See the whole announcement HERE

While not limited to fairy tales, childhood classics definitely include them so this exhibit which reinterprets childhood favorite stories through an adult lens has more than a few works of interest for us fairy tale folk.

Since most of us won't be able to pop by San Francisco to head into the Modern Eden Gallery and check it out in person, here are some of the fairy tale specific works.
Jack and the Beanstalk by Chris Leib
Where the Wild Things Are by Leilani Bustamente
Thumbelina by Ciou
Alice and the Mushrooms by Brianna Angelakis
James and the Giant Peach by Richard J. Oliver
Beauty and the Beast by Jana Brike
Someone's Been Eating My Porridge (Goldilocks) by Edith LeBeau
Nightsong in the Jungle (The Jungle Book) by Helice Wen
Paper Bag Princess by Megz Majewski
Supper (LRRH - I think) by Erika Sanada
The details on the Goldilocks one are just stunning.

And, yes, I added James and the Giant Peach because it always reminds me of Peach Boy - Momotaro, though it really has very little in common with the folktale, and Where The Wild Things Are because oh-my-goodness-do-you-see-the-Japanese-monsters?! Straight out of Japanese fairy tales... Love it! And a bonus because I heart it:
Ferdinand the Bull by Isabel Samaras

Some surprise interpretations: Are you There God? It's Me Margaret (the scaly girl)
Winnie the Pooh - the bottom left with added Taoist symbology
I am super curious as to what the girl holding the invisible 'something' is, in the upper right corner by Chris Leib - ideas? (I found no clues from the artist anywhere.)

You can see more previews of the pieces at the various article sites below:
Platinum Cheese
Hi-Fructose
Warholian (puts some pieces next to books were inspired by - I would have bet the bunny above was from The Velveteen Rabbit - but I was wrong!)

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Moleskine Releases Limited Edition Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Designs

I'm sort of surprised we haven't seen so much more on the Alice In Wonderland front this year. It's the 150th anniversary of the first publication of the story. (The first time it was told was a couple of years before on that boat on the river...). I know the UK are doing quite a variety of special editions, including stamps and dishware etc but I haven't seen much in the US so far.

But Moleskine - beloved note-n-sketchbook by artists everywhere, and many writers too - are getting in on the act. Having coveted been intrigued by many of their previous special designs, I was expecting something a little more... unique, for the "Alice In Paperland" Limited Edition Series, though I have no doubt they'll be stunning in person. The inside and back flap (unique playing cards!) make up for any lack, even if they're the same in every design.

Here's a little papercut promo complete with actual white rabbit to take you through the... books, and lead you into a creative challenge of your own (details below the video):
Dutch papercut artist Rogier Wieland and his team used a whole host of video-making techniques to create the optical illusions, surreal scenes and trompe l'oeil effects you can see in the 60-second clip. 2D and stop-motion animation combined with papercut art as well as an actual live rabbit make for compelling viewing that will leave you feeling amazed.  
 
The video is an invite to you, dear Moleskine fan, to imagine where your own notebook might take you. What curiosities would one find inside your notebook, what treasures lie between its pages and along its spine? Be inspired to embark on a creative journey like no other with the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Limited Edition Collection. Created in partnership with the British Library, all notebooks feature quotes from Lewis Carroll's literary masterpiece and reproductions of original John Tenniel illustrations on the covers, a page of Carroll's original handwritten manuscriptre produced on the flyleaves, illustrated paperband b-sides as well as Playing Cards stickers in the back pocket. A limited run of 5,000 numbered copies of a fifth design with clothbound cover is exclusively available on official Moleskine ecommerce sites and stores worldwide. 
Creativity Challenge - my Wonderland 
Have you been on an extraordinary journey that you'll treasure forever? We're inviting you to join our new Creativity Challenge. Draw, photograph, sketch or paint your own Wonderland for the chance to get a supply of Moleskine goodies and an exclusive copy of the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Limited Edition notebook delivered right to your door. Tag your images  #M_myWonderland. Tumble down the rabbit hole and discover a world of creativity.
It appears only two are currently available with two more to come. I'm very tempted by at least one of these, ok two... perhaps three..!

"Splintered": Review by Kelly Komm

"Splintered"

Review by Kelly Komm

Editor's Note: The Splintered series is now complete (with three novels and two novellas -the last, Untamed, to be published in January 2016). They all came out in fairly quick succession from January 2013 on, and have been very popular to the point of almost a cult following. Fans post art, write fan fic, hold Splintered parties and events and, of course, cosplay. Once Upon A Blog was asked to review back in 2014 when it was clear the series was a hit, but for multiple reasons I wasn't able to do it. With our new review posse coming together, we decided to revisit the Splintered series and to begin at the beginning, in case you're unfamiliar with it. You've likely seen the gorgeous cover, but there's much more to these books than 'the pretty'. Take it away Kelly!

Jacket description: 

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.
Splintered is the first in A.G. Howard’s dark YA fantasy series, featuring a modern, macabre take on Wonderland. While the controversy on whether or not Alice in Wonderland is a fairy tale continues to rage on, it is always worth discussing — as are excellent novels that pay homage to it. 

In this first installment of the Splintered series, we meet skater Alyssa Gardner and her punk-artist BFF/love interest Jeb. Alyssa is a descendant of Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Carroll’s famous story. The women in Alyssa’s family have been cursed since her ancestor began the Wonderland adventures almost one hundred and fifty years earlier. Her mother has been in an asylum for years and Alyssa herself has heard insects and flowers speaking to her since puberty hit. As Alyssa faces a pivotal decision in her mother’s treatment, the reality of Wonderland is revealed to her, plunging her into a world both foreign and familiar. She must face the deceits that have led to her family’s curse and she is forced to choose between those who matter most. 

Splintered pays tribute to Alice by continuously referencing the original and inserting various “Carrollisms”. However, the author is always careful to remind the reader that this isn’t only a story about Wonderland. Just as the reader snuggles into recognizable Wonderland territory, Howard reveals the latest emotional dilemma for transparent Alyssa. This isn’t just a girl going down a rabbit hole story—this is the girl finding the rabbit hole inside her. Alice is told through the eyes of a little girl, whereas Splintered is through the eyes of a girl on the verge of womanhood. 

There are plenty of fairy tale tropes in Splintered for those who are keen of eye—there’s a list of impossible tasks, a terrible family curse, and a Changeling. Characters’ names having meaning (the Greek origin of Alyssa is loosely “not-insane”). Old friends realize they’ve always loved each other and there’s even a Happily Ever After ending. Splintered ultimately gives readers a neon rendition of Wonderland—complete with nightmarish creatures like the skeletal Rabid White (White Rabbit) and the carnivorous Octobenus (Alice’s Walrus). It balances these otherworldly creatures with predictably heroic protagonists and leaves the reader somewhere between Victorian, Carroll-esque familiarity, and post-Twilight teenage rom-angst. Had little Alice grown up in this time, perhaps she would wear blue hair pieces, thick eyeliner, and black taffeta as well. ;)
Disclosure: A complimentary copy of the book was offered in exchange for an honest review, however the reviewer used her own, previously bought, copy.

Kelly Komm is a Canadian fantasy writer. She continues to question her sanity as she holds a day job and a night job, in addition to her life as a busy mom of two. You can follow her occasional ravings online at kellykomm.blogspot.ca/