This story wasn’t my favorite, for some reason, and maybe because Hatcher is absent for most of it. When Hatcher decides to leave Alice to scout ahead and find shelter, Alice embarks on an unsettling adventure involving a strange boy, a house full of doors, and some very scary creatures. Hatcher must turn into a wolf in order to feed his dark nature, and so it isn’t safe for them to settle down in one place for long. I loved that Henry imbues Elizabeth with plenty of grit and determination to save herself, despite her young age.Īlice and Hatcher are on the move and trying to find a safe place to settle before the winter snows come. We’re also reminded of the world these characters live in: two cities-New City and the Old City-that are separated by mere walls, one where the rich and privileged live, and the other full of desperate and dangerous people. It’s also the story that has the least connection to all the others, although it does give us a nice lead-in to Alice and Hatcher. This is a great introductory story that mentions several familiar characters, like the Jabberwock, the Rabbit, and Cheshire. When she chases after an odd man with a bird’s tail and beak, she finds herself in the Old City, where danger lies around every corner. Elizabeth has some magical abilities and is able to turn rose petals into butterflies, and she’ll need those powers to get herself out of a dangerous situation. Go figure! Here’s a quick recap/breakdown of each story to give you a taste of what you’re in for.Įlizabeth Hargreaves can’t understand why everyone keeps calling her “Alice,” until she goes on an adventure of sorts and learns that she used to have an older sister of that name who went mad. It’s also strange to note that the story which was most grounded in reality was my favorite, and the oddest and most Alice in Wonderland -like tale was my least favorite.

But I have to say, it’s a testament to Christina Henry’s talent that the stories are accessible and enjoyable despite this fact. I personally have not read Red Queen, so some of the references in a couple of stories confused me. Word of warning, however: if you aren’t caught up with both Alice and Red Queen, you may find yourself a little lost at times. Looking Glass is a collection of four interconnected novellas set in Christina Henry’s Alice world and gives readers some new glimpses into the lives of Alice and Hatcher, the main characters in this series.

The nitty-gritty: For fans of Christina Henry’s Alice books, this collection fills in some of the blanks and gives readers a peek into the emotional lives of her characters. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Looking glass by christina henry