I finished my first RIP Challenge book at lunch yesterday. One down, three to go!
I read Looking Glass War for last year’s RIP challenge and enjoyed it. Since I had the next book in the series, Seeing Redd (be sure to click on the link, it goes to the book’s website which is filled with art and goodies), I figured it would be good to continue with tradition. Redd is Ayss Heart’s evil aunt. Redd was supposed to be a queen of Wonderland but her parents decided that she was not up to the task and gave the right of succession to Redd’s younger sister, Genevieve. In Looking Glass War, Redd gets her revenge at the very beginning, killing the Queen, her sister, and the King. She would have killed seven-year-old Alyss too, but with the help of Hatter Madigan, the Queen’s bodyguard, they escape into the Pool of Tears. Alyss lives on earth for 13 years as Alice Liddell. Eventually she returns to Wonderland to confront Redd. She wins, or does she?
Seeing Redd picks up not long after the first book ends. Alyss is queen, Heart Palace has been rebuilt, and Wonderland is beginning to get back to normal. Of course it doesn’t last long. King Arch of Borderland, the country next to Wonderland, is power hungry and wants to be king of Wonderland too. He attacks Wonderland but makes it so that it appears that Redd has returned. One of my favorite scenes comes during this attack. Alyss and company have retreated to Wondronia, a vacation spot for Wonderlanders that sounds like a cross between a resort spa and Disneyland. I say this because there are rides for the kids, one of which is the T-Cup ride. This made me laugh because I have been on the spinning Teacup ride at Disneyland. But notice it is “T” not “tea.” These are not spinning teacups it turns out, but spinning airplane like things, and of course, one breaks off from the ride and flies across Wondronia.
I also love the caterpillars. They are oracles and one will appear from nowhere, smoking his hookah to blow smoke in Alyss’s face. I can only imagine what they are smoking (magic mushrooms perhaps?) because the smoke sends Alyss or whoever else they’ve puffed on, into a visionary trance.
The book was fun to read in spite of it being very violent. Since most of the characters had already appeared in the first book there was not much in the way of character development. Plot, plot, plot zips along at a fast clip. I kind of wished it would slow down sometimes. One of the characters, Homborg Molly is a “halfer,” half regular Wonderlander and half Milliner (a “race” with special abilities). She carries a big chip on her shoulder because halfers are often scorned and looked down on. She always feels like she has something to prove. There is movement in the book towards her accepting herself but it is not resolved. It is obvious that there will be a third book in which Redd and Alyss have a final showdown. I hope the issue of Molly’s halfer status is sorted out in it too.
I loved Looking Glass Wars, and I plan on reading this one too. Maybe for the R.I.P if I have time to squeeze it in. I’m just worried I’ll have to read Looking again to refresh my memory. Still, I’m looking forward to it!
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EW, I’m so excited! Maybe I will read this for my next R.I.P. book! Thanks for the wonderful review!
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This sounds very good. I’m currently reading a biography of Lewis Carroll, although very slowly. Apparently the Red Queen was based on Alice Liddell’s governess. I’ve been thinking of re-reading the Alice books and now I’ll add these books to my list as well.
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Hmm. Gotta wait till I want a plot book before I start this one.
So Redd really doesn’t make an appearance at all? What about the Cat Assassin?
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Becky, if you loved Looking Glass Wars, you’ll really enjoy this one too. No need to re-read the first one, you get your memory refreshed early on.
Jamie, it’s a fun read. Enjoy!
BooksPlease, Lewis Carroll makes an appearance in both books. How unfortunate for the real Alice if the Red Queen was based on her gverness!
Susan, Redd and the Cat do both eventually appear just in time to take over Arch’s schemes and make them her own.
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After reading your post, I went looking for “The Looking Glass War” this afternoon — just to check it out. As it turns out, one of my colleagues working in the Children’s Books section absolutely loved the book. He has been handselling it to his customers.
So, after reading your post and listening to him, I bought the “The Looking Glass War” today. A whole stack of “Seeing Redd” is there waiting for me when I’m done. π
When I asked him about “The Looking Glass War” his eyes just lit up, and he was so excited, like a little boy, hands fluttering in the air as he talked about the story. I told him someone has read the book and recommend it to me. He wanted to meet this person right away.
So, if you’re ever in the mood, I have an eligible bachelor with good muscle-definition (and shamelessly flirty ways) who is just dying to meet you — he would love to discuss “The Looking Glass War” with you. ;p
Oh, and will you be getting the “Hatter M” graphic novel?
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Wow — I have no idea what to make of this book! I haven’t read Alice in Wonderland, which is probably part of my problem. It sounds like fun, and I’ll have to check it out when I want something different from my usual type of book π
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This sounds great! Definitely like something I would enjoy. I’m making my way through Northanger Abbey at a pretty fast clip – hope to finish it this weekend. By the way, I know this is ridiculous, but did the apple butter in your crock pot turn out? I am going to give applesauce ago this weekend, I think.
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I hate to admit that I really have never read any Lewis Caroll either. This sounds like a fun book, though. Sometimes fast moving books like this are great fun. And of course it’s always nice reading something quickly! Which two new books did you start?
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Dark Orpheus, do you how jealous you’ve made my Bookman? I haven’t decided yet if I will read Hatter M. Hatter is certainly one of the most interesting characters. Maybe I’ll give it a go in a few months, around the holidays when I don’t want to think too much.
Dorothy, I’d say read Alice in Wonderland first. They are great fun. I’m not sure if you would like these books though. Maybe if you are eve in the mood to try something outside your usual fair.
Courtney, the apple butter is fantastic!
Danielle, I think you’d like Lewis Caroll. The two new books I started are The Haunting of Hill House (my next RIP book) and Why We Read What We Read. And I have to start on the Slaves book soon too, probably this weekend so that would make three new starts!
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I’m not 100% certain, but I think my colleague is more likely to hit on your Bookman, than either of us. So, your Bookman has nothing to fear.
But thanks for writing about Frank Beddor. He seems like a good find, and I can discuss “Looking Glass War” with that nice boy at the Children’s Books Department.
As irony and coincidence goes, I think I just made a new friend because of this book. Sheesh.
Have fun with Shirley Jackson.
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Heh, Dark Orpheus, my Bookman is much relieved π
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I read The Looking Glass Wars last year and am going to read Seeing Redd as soon as I can get my hands on a copy. To the library!!!!
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