Alice

Alice

by Christina Henry

Published: Titan Books (2016)

Gripping and original, Alice, marks Christina Henry’s first foray into her astonishing reimagining of the Alice in Wonderland mythos. Tortured by a past she can’t entirely remember, the titular Alice finds herself incarcerated in a mad house; trapped and alone save for the presence of the mysterious Hatcher in the room next door. With no one else to turn to, Hatcher becomes the rock to which she tethers her sanity, even as the medications blur her grip on reality, but when the hospital mysteriously burns down she’ll discover that she is as important to his survival as he is to hers.

Brilliantly disturbing, Christina Henry’s Alice takes a fresh look at the oft told tale of the young girl that fell down the rabbit hole. Emerging in a world better encapsulated by the noun “horror” than “wonder” Alice must survive in an environment that would see women relegated to less than second class citizens. Many of the classic tale’s memorable cast make and appearance, but in vastly unrecognisable roles; each though, once more pushing ‘their’ Alice to uncover her true powers.

As disturbing as the tale gets Christina Henry manages to narrate the story astonishingly well and while some readers might finds passages not to their tastes, it cannot be argued that they are gratuitous. Each action of the key antagonists fits perfectly into the twisted nature of the world she has created, remaining shocking yet believable throughout. Alongside this, that pacing of the novel is excellent, revealing just enough information to keep the reader grasping for more.

If I were to find one mild disappointment about the novel, it would be in the ending. After spinning a haunting tale for over three hundred pages, the novel’s climaxing altercation concludes in a matter paragraphs. It feels at odds with the rest of the book. Throughout, Alice and Hatcher are forced into some pretty grim situations yet the manner in which the climax resolves itself is almost dreamlike. When all hope is lost, so too is the grittiness of the work. In spite of this I’d still recommend giving Alice a read. This is one look at the classic tale that you’re not likely to forget.