Curiouser And... by Jillian Maria SFINCs2 Book Review

Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship 2 banner

This review is part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”. This is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.).

To see more information on my team Behind the Musings check out this post!

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Blurb for Curiouser And...

For sixteen years, Ashlyn Jones has heeded her parents’ warnings and followed their rules. But after taking a tumble in the forest, she awakens in a strange land where there are no rules—where signs lack direction, the sky hovers on the edge of night, and all paths lead to the glittering red palace of a wicked queen. Although she’s told there’s no way home, Ashlyn is determined to find one, enlisting the help of a dreamy girl found sleeping in a tree.

But everyone is a little mad here, from the smiling cat to the whimsical man in the top hat. And the more she interacts with this strange land and its stranger inhabitants, the more Ashlyn questions the life she’s fighting so hard to get back to. Maybe she was just as trapped in her role as the dutiful daughter as she is here.

Unfortunately, she’ll be even more trapped if the queen gets ahold of her…

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Curiouser And... by Jillian Maria

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Curiouser And... Book Review

With Curiouser And… Jillian Maria creates an alternative tale to Alice in Wonderland filled with hints of the land many know, yet it harbors a darker secret. As Ashlyn and her newfound friends journey to find a way back home, the darker side of Wonderland will surface. A place where the Queen has devolved to use her subjects as violent entertainment. And when the twist reveals itself to readers they will rethink everything they have encountered. 

At the start of the novella, the stage is quickly set to show how Ashlyn has little choice over her own actions with her parents. As the story progresses, readers will see just how deep the overbearing control went. To be able to choose something as simple as an outfit is a revelation for Ashlyn. Yet with her new sense of control, she will make poor decisions that may harm those she has come to call friends.

As a novella, the writing does a brilliant job of balancing world-building and character development. Curiouser And... is great for those who enjoy retellings and the quest for self-discovery. Ashlyn will encounter such a fantastical world and learn how to become her true self as she becomes one of the few people able to save it.

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