The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella is the first book in The Curious Realities series. Alice Liddell is not happy with her life as a Normal in the divided kingdom. She wants more. And she wants answers about her past. Then a mysterious invitation to the sometimes deadly Wonderland Trials appears and she has less than twenty-four hours to find her way there and join Team Heart.
But what begins as a strange and dangerous game soon becomes tangled with missing players, secrets, and questions about whom Alice can trust.
This series was recommended to me by my story-loving daughter, who, even as an adult, loves well-written young adult fantasy. Sara Ella is one of her favorite authors, and now mine too.
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The World & Atmosphere
I have always wanted to love Alice in Wonderland more than I actually do. The idea of Wonderland fascinates me: secret doors, curious gardens, keys, tea parties, talking creatures, and a world where almost anything might happen. It is that same feeling of stepping inside a story that draws me to creating my own Story World celebrations.
But the original tale of Alice has always felt a little too chaotic for me. I want wonder, but I also want there to be meaning and warmth underneath it. Sara Ella’s Alice In Wonderland reimagining gave me what I was looking for.
I love how carefully the author built the world Alice lives in. She vividly contrasts a gloomy, gray, and hostile Normal world and a whimsical world of wonders. But the whimsy exists alongside serious elements, trials, danger, and darkness.
Characters & Relationships
The Wonderland Trials does a good job introducing its cast, from game-loving Alice and her protective sister Charlotte to vibrant Madi Hatter and Chess Shire with his wide grin and riddles. Even with many supporting characters, each one is distinctive enough that I never struggled to remember who was who.
I especially enjoyed trying to figure out the characters’ motives. There were unexpected secrets along the way, and the different relationships and dynamics between the characters added another layer of interest to the story.
The Reading Experience
The richly detailed world-building, clever character names, and wordplay made the story fun and easy to read. I liked that the first book was told from Alice’s perspective, the skeptical and analytical protagonist. It helped keep the Wonderland from becoming too nonsensical or chaotic and gave me a chance to get to know her really well.
The second book, The Looking-Glass Illusion, expands the tale by alternating between Alice and Chess Shire. This was an unexpected shift, but seeing the world through Chess’s eyes gave the story more heart.
The first book ends with a cliffhanger which did not bother me since I already had book 2 waiting.
Why This Story Stayed With Me
Sara Ella took many of the things that have always intrigued me about Wonderland and placed them inside a world that gives me more room to breathe.
The world is still strange and unpredictable, but its mysteries feel like they are leading somewhere. Instead of absurdity simply for the delight of absurdity, there are questions worth answering, relationships that matter, and choices with consequences.
I liked this book a lot, and have read it twice. And I know The Curious Realities series will find its way onto my reading list again.
On the Storybook Cottage Shelf
Stories chosen for how they feel to read.
Storybook Imagination
Childlike Wonder · Whimsical Possibilities · Imaginative World · Darker Undertones
Storybook Imagination is one of the threads that shapes the wider Storybook Cottage philosophy.
A Storybook Note
Thank you for spending time in The Library today. If you enjoy wandering into imaginative worlds and meeting unforgettable characters, I’d love to welcome you to Storybook Cottage as we create a beautiful life one small story at a time.
With warmth and a storybook sprinkle,
Tuula
The Storybook Cottage Grandma
More From The Library
Step into more stories from the Storybook Cottage Library. Stories that carry a little Nordic Calm, Romantic Cottage Warmth, Storybook Imagination, or simply something worth lingering over.
Coming soon..
Wander Through Other Corners of the Storybook Cottage
- Celebration Themes: Lord of the Rings Rivendell-Inspired Birthday Party
- Celebration Themes: Beast’s Library Dinner Party Inspired by The Beauty and the Beast
- Gifts: Cozy Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
- The Cottage: Faded Garden: Romantic Fall Living Room Decor