A Blade So Black

A contemporary reimagining of Alice in Wonderland, A Blade So Black follows Atlanta teenager Alice Kingston as she discovers a hidden world of magic and monsters. After her father's death at Dragon Con, Alice encounters a Nightmare creature and is pulled into the realm of Wonderland. Alice trains as a warrior under the mysterious Addison Hatta while balancing her regular life of high school, friendship drama, and an overprotective mother. She must protect both Atlanta and Wonderland from dark creatures that feed on human fears and nightmares. The novel merges fantastical elements with real-world issues faced by Black teenagers in the American South. The story incorporates action, romance, and coming-of-age elements within its urban fantasy framework. This fresh take on Carroll's classic tale explores themes of grief, trauma, and empowerment through the lens of African American experience. The narrative challenges traditional fantasy tropes while examining how fear and courage shape identity.

Readers describe this Alice in Wonderland reimagining as fast-paced with compelling action sequences, though many note pacing issues in the first third. The modern Atlanta setting and Black protagonist resonated with many reviewers. Readers highlighted: - Strong combat scenes - Fresh take on Wonderland mythology - Natural incorporation of text messages and social media - Relatable family dynamics Common criticisms: - Slow start before plot gains momentum - Underdeveloped romance elements - Some found the dialogue forced - Several noted confusing worldbuilding Average Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (430+ ratings) BookBrowse: 3.5/5 One frequent reader comment praised "finally seeing a Black girl as the hero in a fantasy novel," while others cited "clunky exposition" as their main issue. Multiple reviews compared the action scenes favorably to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

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🔮 The author created #Pitchwars, a highly successful Twitter mentorship program connecting aspiring writers with agented authors 🐰 Unlike Carroll's original Alice who falls down a rabbit hole, this Alice enters Wonderland through a mirror in the heart of Atlanta 📚 L.L. McKinney drew inspiration from both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Matrix in crafting her version of Alice's story 🗡️ The book's title "A Blade So Black" comes from the poem "The Looking Glass" in Lewis Carroll's original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 🌟 The author specifically wrote this book to show Black girls they can be heroes in fantasy stories, not just sidekicks or supporting characters