Alyce with a Why by Anna James

✦ BLURB ✦

England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the great war. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realises her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different to the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

An enchanting adventure through Wonderland, and featuring new characters as well as old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll’s beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

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✶ PRE-READING ✶

Having read a few of Anna James’ Bookwanderers, I knew she had a deep love for classic literature and a flair for imaginative worldbuilding. The idea of Wonderland revisited post-WWI - with a new generation taking the reins - piqued my interest immediately. I was hoping for a story that honoured the whimsy of Carroll while saying something meaningful about grief, legacy, and change.

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✶ POST-READING ✶

As I thought... The book was full of rich allusions, quirky characters, and that unmistakable Wonderland logic where everything is just a little sideways. Anna James clearly knows her source material inside out and plays with it affectionately, weaving in clever wordplay and visual absurdities that made the setting feel authentic. Alyce’s voice was endearing and modern in just the right way - curious, cautious, and full of quiet determination.

It surprised me by... ...just how poignant it was. Beneath the surreal imagery and fantastical quests is a deep current of loss and recovery. Alyce’s grief for her father mirrors the fractured Wonderland perfectly. The stolen hour isn't just a whimsical plot device - it’s a metaphor for things lost to war, for time taken and never returned. The story’s emotional resonance snuck up on me and stayed with me long after the last page.

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✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦

Book Recommendation: The Lost Girl by Anne Ursu – another thoughtful middle-grade fantasy that deals with identity, grief, and reimagined fairy tale elements.

TV or Movie Recommendation: A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix) – for the theatrical narration, layered storytelling, and mix of melancholy and absurdity.

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✧ VIBE CHECK ✧

A colour palette: Moonlight silver, buttercup yellow, faded tea-rose pink, inkpot black

A soundtrack: Wistful piano melodies with moments of lilting strings and ticking clockwork rhythms

A season: Early spring - chilly winds, blooming violets, and unexpected storms

A mood: Gentle, peculiar, and quietly brave

A scent: Old books and violet pastilles, with a hint of Earl Grey and smoke

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★ TAROT CARD PULLED ★

Page of Cups – Fey Tarot. A young fairy stares into a vast chalice as a fish rises to meet her, fire flickering through her hair. This card captures Alyce’s wonder, bravery, and her open heart as she steps into a world that’s both enchanted and unsettling. Like the Page, she leads with curiosity, and that willingness to feel deeply becomes her greatest strength.

Alyce with a Why publishes on the 19th of June, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.