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The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1)
The Looking Glass Wars - Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1
Author: Frank Beddor
The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges the world’s Carrollian Wonderland assumptions of tea parties, dormice, and a curious little blonde girl to reveal an epic, cross-dimensional saga of love, murder, betrayal, revenge, and the endless war for Imagination. Meet the heroic, passionate, monstrous, vengeful denizens of this parallel w...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780142409411
ISBN-10: 0142409413
Publication Date: 8/21/2007
Pages: 364
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 110

4.1 stars, based on 110 ratings
Publisher: Speak
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

GeniusJen avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

I have a confession to make. I have never particularly cared for Lewis Carroll's (aka the Reverend Charles Dodgson's) ALICE IN WONDERLAND and THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS. Although I've read those stories, once, they have never even come close to being one of my favorites. With Frank Beddor's THE LOOKING GLASS WARS, however, I can easily say that I was drawn into the story from the first page--and have found a new book to add to my list of favorites.

THE LOOKING GLASS WARS begins in 1863, in Oxford England, with eleven-year-old Alyss Heart having told her story to the Rev. Charles Dodgson over a matter of months. After four years of living in this world, Alyss is sure her story is about to be told. Unfortunately, the "liberties" that college scholar Dodgson took with her telling of her life in Wonderland have been turned into a parody, a fictional tale that resembles nothing like the life she had previously led. The events that led to her living in England have become nothing but a foolish story, something to be read to privileged children by their pampered parents.

Alyss's story actually begins long before that day she is given a bound copy of ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND by Dodgson. While Alyss was celebrating her seventh birthday in Wonderland, plans were being put into action to overthrow the Queen, Genevieve, Alyss's mother. Genevieve's evil sister, Redd, has grown tired of being exiled from Wonderland--and her powers have grown strong. She stages a coup that begins with the death of the King, Genevieve's husband, Nolan. And it doesn't end until Genevieve is dead, as well, and Alyss is forced to escape through the Pool of Tears.

This is only the beginning of Alyss's toils, and the troubles and woes that come to all Wonderlanders who refuse to recognize the new queen. As the other houses (Spades, Diamonds, and Clubs) take sides, as battles are waged, Wonderland fades from the beautiful, prosperous city that it once was. And Alyss, who was destined to be Queen, is forced to live a life of lies in an alternate world.

Frank Beddor has come up with a wonderful story that draws upon Lewis Carroll's original characters and turns them around to bring them to vivid life. From the Chessboard Desert to the bodyguard Hatter Madigan, from the scholar Bibwit Harte to the young Dodge Anders, from the Generals Doppel and Ganger to The Cat and the Glass Eyes and The Cut, it's all there, in wonderful, splendid glory. This is definitely one story that will stay with you, and have you turning pages long into the night. If you're like me, you'll also be eagerly awaiting the second book in the series, SEEING REDD.
reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 55 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
First off, the edition of this book that I read was beautiful. The cover was glossy, the pages thick, and the little extras like the hearts/diamonds, etc on each page a nice touch. Also included were some beautiful illustrations of Alyss as a child and adult, Hatter, and Bibwit among others.

This book had quite a slow start for me. I really had to make myself keep reading, but once I got about 50 pages in I couldn't put it down. And thank goodness because this was the only book I took with me while in the car today driving back and forth half of Texas and I finished it in just a few hours.

I really enjoyed the plot of the book. I found it imaginative, fast paced, and childlike in it resolution of conflicts. I loved how the characters imagination came to life, and was used in all manner of life. That Wonderland was the origin for so many inventions, thoughts, and theories that they spread throughout the universe.

The characters were wide spread in terms of personality but did hold tightly to some cliques. Especially Hatter and Dodge. One was the typical loyal warrior who can do anything, defeat anyone, and is always in control. The other is the typical man bent on revenge to the exclusion of all else who is proud, relentless, and cold. Alyss seemed to really grow and transform throughout the book from a sweet yet spoiled and naive child, to a cold and resolutely imaginable young woman, to a strong, fighting queen.

My issues with the book though was the rushed pacing. Years pass within chapters with only the smallest of glimpses into what is passing in the lives of the characters. This rushed style of writing also affects the plot in the way situations are easily overcome despite 300+ pages of buildup. I think that this is a reflection of the fact that this book is written for teens possibly. Also, the description were sometimes lacking, especially when it came to technology and weapons used. I have trouble imagining what these weapons, places, and outfits really looked like.

Despite this, I do want to read the next book in the trilogy and find out what the future has in store for Alyss, Dodge, and the Wonderlandians.
raycoli avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 4
Not a bad book in my opinion. Worth a read if you have the time. The premise is great and the author has fun with the original Alice, but maybe too much fun. The book didn't follow the original story like I expected it to, instead only used it as a reference point. Descriptions and visualizations were rather dry, especially for a title wanting to focus on the power of imagination, and with the illustrations and such included in it, seemed like it was written with the sole purpose of it being made into a movie one day.

That said, I did enjoy the book. It was a relaxing, fun read. The characters were easy to warm up to and the weapons were imaginative. This isn't a book to praise until the end of your days, but its worth opening up if you wish to fill a dull afternoon.
reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I am a die hard wonderlander and I really enjoyed this book. The characters were wonderfully mysterious and mr. Beddor twisted the real story just enough to be amusing. They are however a bit on the dark side so I would not recommend them for children of a very young age.

Can't wait for the next ones!!
mama2timmy-daphne avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 35 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor is an interesting take on the Alice in Wonderland story. This interpretation contends that Alyss Heart, Princess of Wonderland, is the Alice of the Lewis Caroll story. When her evil Aunt Redd attacks and kills her parents, Alyss flees to the outside world. Separated from her escort and bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, Alyss finds herself an orphan in London who is eventually adopted by The Liddells. Her adoptive family dismisses Alyss' stories of her life in Wonderland as flights of fantasy. She gives up her memories of Wonderland when a family friend publishes her stories under the pen name Lewis Carroll. Alyss is hurt and angry because she feels her life has been trivialized and turned into a fairy tale. She becomes determined to be the ideal daughter and truly becomes Alice Liddell. She is set to marry Prince Leopold when a figure from her past arrives and brings her back to the ruins of the Wonderland where she grew up. Redd has destroyed the city and all those who support White Imagination, that of the former King and Queen. She and her followers practice Black Imagination, which is destructive and evil. In order to restore Wonderland to the peaceful land of her childhood, Alyss must learn to hone her imaginative skills and defeat her aunt.

This book took a long time for me to read. I kept getting hung up comparing it to the original story. I was also distracted by the semblance to the real life story of Alice Liddell and the fabricated parts created for the character of Alice Liddell. In fact, at one point, I put the book down and left it for over a month. I read quite a few other books before I came back to finish it. However, I did come back to finish it. I enjoyed the adventure of the story, and the change and development of Alyss' character. It makes an interesting statement about how much is lost when imagination is discouraged. It furthers the statement with the power Alyss has once she begins to hone her imagination as an adult. The characters were interesting, particularly Alyss' childhood friend Dodge, but many of them were weakened by being based on characters in the original story. For example, Hatter Madigan may have appeared as a stronger hero figure if I weren't thinking of him as the Mad Hatter.

I can't even decide if I liked this story or not. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been based on Lewis Carroll's Alice. Of course, being based on the famous work is part of what drew me to the book in the first place. I'll say this--The Looking Glass Wars is an interesting adventure filled with some familiar characters in a familiar land. Will I read the sequel, Seeing Redd: The Looking Glass Wars, Book Two? Probably, if I come across it on a book exchange site, but I won't be paying to download it.

Follow my reviews at readerbarbara.blogspot.com
Read All 34 Book Reviews of "The Looking Glass Wars Looking Glass Wars Bk 1"

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frozen17 avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
I have just finished reading this novel. There are no words to accurately describe how much I loved this book. Frank Beddor has reinvented the world of Wonderland. He has added his own wildly imaginative spin on Lewis Carroll's classic story and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in the trilogy.
skywriter319 avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 784 more book reviews
The evil Redd Heart has disappeared into the Heart Crystal, and Alyss is now the rightful queen of Wonderland. But there is lots yet to be done: buildings to repair, morale to strengthen, relationships to mend... And Alyss is so busy with politics and using her White Imagination to make sure the queendom is running smoothly that she barely has any time to spend with Dodge, her best-friend-turned-true-love guardsman.

But people are not going to make her life as queen easy. King Arch of the neighboring kingdom Boarderland has some sinister plans up his sleeve. First he kidnaps Homburg Molly, Alyss' teenage bodyguard; then he messes with the emotions of the best Milliner in all of history, Hatter Madigan, who is suddenly forced to decide between family and duty as he has never had to do before. All the while, Arch is planning the unleashing of a formidable weapon, one that, if properly completed, can wipe out the entire country of Wonderland and all surrounding countries.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Redd is back, more dangerous and vengeful than ever. She is determined to complete her Looking Glass Maze, achieve the full potential of her imaginative powers, and reclaim Wonderland, destroying Alyss in the process. The giant army that converges upon Wonderland at the command of Redd and Arch seem on the path to the obliteration of Alyss' world as she knows it. Is there anything to be done that can put off the seemingly inevitable end?

SEEING REDD has more sit-and-wait political discourses and emotional chapters than the first book in the trilogy. However, Redd's villainy will be sure to keep fans attracted to this series. All the characters are wonderfully created, the world flawlessly imagined and detailed. This is a tale of high fantasy that you won't want to miss.
thunderweasel avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 147 more book reviews
The untold adventures of Alice - excuse me, Alyss - in Wonderland continue in Frank Beddor's second novel, Seeing Redd, in The Looking Glass Wars series. While Alyss's devilish Aunt Redd was banished to the oblivion found in the Heart Crystal, the reigning queen of Wonderland has begun to reconstruct her fallen land and bring peace to her people once again. However, as with every good-and-evil story, darkness lurks in the corners of light, waiting to pounce at the least expected moment.

But this time, that darkness (I am speaking of Redd here, by the way) is gathering a few comrades to help make a cleaner sweep of the kingdoms.

In attempt to return to her place at Queen of Wonderland (and perhaps pick up a few more lands along the way), Aunt Redd begins seeking an entrance into the Looking Glass Maze, which, upon completion, delivers to the victor a great increase to their imagination's strength. However, unable to access the Maze through her own means, she seeks, and unexpectedly finds, the knowledge she needs to gain the power she seeks.

Meanwhile, the distant droves of Boarderland is being ruled by the devious King Arch, who, in attempt to bring Alyss's former bodyguard Hatter Madigan under his allegiance, kidnaps Madigan's newly-discovered daughter, Molly, who also used to serve as Alyss's protector.

The story takes unexpected turns and twists as Redd recruits Earth residents that possess unusual and plain creepy Black Imagination-powered abilities and techniques, including the control of skeletons and the (and I use this term loosely) art of live autopsies. With a scarily expanded army backing her up, Redd vows her return to the throne, even with Alyss's powerful imagination standing in the way.

Beddor masters the art of suspense in this book, leading the reader through a series of paths that give the reader not one clue to how the book will close. The expanded knowledge on Redd's past and her removal from the inheritance of the throne develops the character to her fullest extent, but not necessarily in her favor. The more developed her character is, the more wicked she becomes. The book ends with a few select, unexpected losses, but on a note of future continuation. But with Beddor currently working on bringing the current books to the silver screen, it may be a while until the war truly sees an end.

- T.C. Robson
myspace.com/tcrobson
esmestohelit avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 109 more book reviews
What a wonderful book! Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my favorite books. For that reason, I put off reading this for a long time. As with all retold stories, the author took some liberties but stayed true to each character. It was truly a joy watching Alyss grow up from a over privileged like brat into someone you could see as a possible queen. I loved all the characters accept the one you were supposed to hate. The world was so very detailed that you could see the everything clearly in your mind. And unlike some authors, Mr. Beddor didn't have to go on for the pages for you to get the picture.

I would argue this being a YA book. While the story that inspired this book was a children's book, this one is not. It's full of politics, blood baths, love, and revenge. It reminds us that even if you are a full grown adult, you have the power to change your life and the world. All you need is a little imagination
frozen17 avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
I have just finished reading this novel. There are no words to accurately describe how much I loved this book. Frank Beddor has reinvented the world of Wonderland. He has added his own wildly imaginative spin on Lewis Carroll's classic story and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in the trilogy.
barbsis avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 1076 more book reviews
A very odd rendition of the Alice in Wonderland story but with a really creative world and interesting characters. Even so, I found this version to be rather boring and really had to force myself to finish reading it. Definitely for the younger set as it just doesn't have enough juice to keep us older people interested.
reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 2 more book reviews
This is the story of "Alice in Wonderland" told from a different slant. Alyss and the Alyssians must save the Queendom from her evil Aunt Redd. This is a very imaginative telling of the story. Even my 14 year old son liked the story as it has a lot of action!
dragoneyes avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 836 more book reviews
I was very excited to read this book after I met the author at the Denver Comic Con. He was very witty, charming and fun. I figured if he put any of that into his books, they have to be awesome. Problem was... I didn't really see any of that in this book.
The book is a different take on Wonderland. Supposedly the truth since Lewis Carroll did a more "disneyesque" version of the story the Alyss told him. According to this booK Looking Glass Wars is Alyss's true account.
The premise was good, the storyline was inventive, the execution was okay. My biggest problem with the book was the characters. There was nothing at all that made me like them or hate them. I felt nothing for them. I couldn't care less about what happened to them. I greatly wanted to like them but, alas, I just couldn't.
To me, that is one of the most important things in a book. Without it, who cares if the bad guys win. I know I didn't. I think stronger characterization would have made this quite an enjoyable read. Hopefully there will be improvements in that are but not sure if and when I'll go to the 2nd book.
crytal avatar reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 155 more book reviews
I wish that this book was better than it was. The premise was a good one, but the story fell short. I held on until the end, waiting for something redeeming, but it never came. It was an ok book, and had many parallels with the most recent Disney live action version of the story, but I don't think it interested me enough to finish the rest of the series.
reviewed The Looking Glass Wars (Looking Glass Wars, Bk 1) on + 4 more book reviews
Very entertaining read, I liked the different take of the story. Hope you have as much fun reading it as I did!

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