VS Note: This was first published in the Roswell Daily Record…
A famous story ripe for creative retelling is Alice in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll and its sequel Through the Looking Glass (1871). Both are full of tasty details and ideas that modern romance authors have seized upon to provide inspiration for their own characters’ journeys to a fantasyland.
The first one which always comes to my mind is Escaping Wonderland, a standalone novel by the writing duo Tiffany Roberts. The book is rather dark, as are many of these retellings, with a scifi twist but briefly this Alice is put in a futuristic insane asylum, where the patients are forced into a virtual reality world known as Wonderland. Alice tries to wake up numerous times and she knows none of it is real but she’s trapped. It doesn’t help that the Red King of Hearts is after her. Helping her is the mysterious Shadow, who loves chaos and games and seems quite mad. He’s the book’s version of the Cheshire Cat and does try to help Alice gain her freedom. He’s also the romantic interest. The book is a romance so there’s a Happy Ever After ending. AmazonKU AB
Another standalone is Couriouser and Curiouser by Melanie Karsak, who places her Alice character in a steampunk/gaslamp version of London. (Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction combining the Victorian age with modern technology powered by steam. Gaslamp is a subgenre combining fantasy and historical fiction.) Alice, nicknamed Bandersnatch, is somewhat older than Carroll’s character and is a thief who wants out of her life of crime. She doesn’t want to work for the Jabberwocky or make deals with the Queen of Hearts. She doesn’t want to spend any more time at The Mushroom with all the denizens of the underworld. Somehow she gets drawn into a plan to steal a huge diamond, which brings her back into contact with William, aka the Caterpillar, and of course the romance is rekindled while all the other action goes on. Again, the book does contain some dark elements. AmazonKU AB
Alice the Dagger (The Wonderland Court Series Book One) by Ashley McLeo gives us Alice as an assassin nicknamed the Dagger. A shape changer in the form of a white rabbit takes her to the Wonderland Court of Faerie, where she learns some shocking things about her own family backstory, including the fact her mother was the White Queen and the Red Queen killed her and took over. This sad fact is why the place is so dark, violent and depressing. Alice combines forces with Henri Hatter, a gentle hearted, much beloved rebel. There are also two pixies named Dee and Dum who want to help. Reviewers state this book has some humorous moments, along with dark events. The romance is mild and slow burn. There is a second book which expands the world building and continues the story. Amazon AB
To Escape a Wonderland by CeCe Louise is a lighter retelling, with a maid named Aviva who’s a thief and a former knight named Bayne thrown together after they’re captured by outlaws and end up in an enchanted land. There is a Jabberwocky and a rabbit named TeaCup and other nods to the original story. To escape, Avi and Bayne must resolve issues stemming from their earlier, individual lives and must learn to trust each other. This author has several previous books which created some of the world building for this book and a few characters from the earlier books pop up here but this one can be read on its own. The romance is slow burn and described by the blurb as “swoony and sweet.” AmazonKU
Jabberwocky: Tales from Wonderland: An Alice in Wonderland Retelling (Dark Fairy Tales Book 3) by S. Cinders shows us an older Alice who has pretty much removed herself from all of Wonderland’s problems and runs a bakery with her sister. She can’t quite get over her failed romance with a shapeshifter known as the Jabberwocky. When the White Pawn is stolen, possibly by the Red Knight, the fate of the White Kingdom is in peril and the White Rabbit wants Jabberwocky to get involved. He’ll only help if Rabbit can get Alice out of retirement to stand by his side. As one reviewer states, “The story is exciting, sexy, hot, and enjoyable.” AmazonKU
Alice in the Land of Clovers (Alice: Pick a Card Book 1) by B. A. Lovejoy features an Alice more like the original, at least in the beginning, although older. But once she’s in Wonderland she learns each of the card suits has its own kingdom. The White Rabbit is one of the four kings and he’s a very attractive man. All four rulers have a chance to become the King of Cards and each needs a queen. Alice isn’t remotely interested at first and only wants to be able to find her father’s lost watch and return home. There are four more books in the series so she goes through many adventures and of course meets quite a few of the original characters, personified in this book. (The Cheshire Cat is a king named Claude for example.) Reviews were generally favorable and it’s a fresh spin on the classic story. Romance isn’t the foremost element in this series, if at all, although taking a look at reviews for the final book, readers appeared satisfied with how the romance wound up, which is certainly an important factor! But the convoluted and involving plot seems to be the primary focus. AmazonKU
Allison’s Adventures in Underland (Harem of Hearts Book 1) by C. M. Stunich is a dark, why choose (or reverse harem as it’s often known) romance. Allison, the Female Main Character, goes to a party and falls down a hole into a non-wonderland. As the blurb says in part: “This isn’t Wonderland; this is Underland. Violence, romance, hallucinogenic tea, and magic … that’s all there is in this place. There’s me, Allison, and there are the men that want me, the enemies that hunt me, and the darkness that’s quickly rolling in. And only I can stop it.” The White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and other familiar characters are the hot guys who want Allison to be theirs. As one reader said, “Enough is the same that you can anticipate certain events and characters but enough is different that you’re curious about them. Lots of different lore and magic that you’re always left guessing.” This is a three book series. AmazonKU AB
I’ve only scratched the surface of Alice in Wonderland retellings but if that’s the fairy tale you want fractured and made romantic, this post will give you a start and a variety to choose from. Happy reading!