Book Review: The Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes



Queen of Hearts
Queen of Hearts Saga #1
Author: Colleen Oakes
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: May 3rd 2016
Review Source: HarperTeen

As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.


OFF WITH HER HEAD!

Princess Dinah is content to wait until she is eighteen to ascend the throne, and rule Wonderland alongside  her unnerving father the King of Hearts, that is until she gets married and can rule alongside her husband. Whom she hopes, against all odds, to wed Wardley, her fathers favorite among all his heart cards, next in line to be the Knave of Hearts (a fancy title meaning commander). However, with Cheshire plotting against her in her fathers ear, feeding his blood lust and paranoia. As well as the newly introduced Duchess of Wonderland, the lovely Vittiore,  the bastard child of the King and half-sibling to the future Queen, might not be at court on her own terms. Will Dinah make it to her coronation with her head atop her shoulders? Or will she flee to the wild Yurkei tribes that threaten the kingdom and who worship the seven black towers where the truly mad reside?

The Queen of Hearts of for the young adult fandom, for fiction and fantasy lovers alike! This story is about the future Queen of Hearts, and I've yet to see any Alice roam about these pages. A young woman who longs for the love and adoration of her father, the King of Wonderland. She finds that things certainly are rotten within the kingdom and no one, not even the King can be trusted. It's not just cloak and dagger within the court, it's so much worse. Dinah will have a lot of growing up to do in the short year before her coronation to realize what role she has been playing, unwittingly, into her fathers madness and into Cheshire's hands. Aside from Dinah and Vittiore, who will wear the crown and who will lose their head?


2 comments:

  1. OOoh nice! I thought this one sounded rather intriguing and it seems like it really is!! I love a good origin story! Alice in Wonderland was a favorite of mine, not a totally beloved one, but still a fave so I might have to get this one too! Great review!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much! I loved the way the future queen of hearts was humanized but still kept the steely gaze with black eyes and hair, I look forward to reading more in this series as they come out.

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