Hello, bookwyrms! Welcome to the next stop on A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney, hosted by the fabulous Aimee of Aimee, Always!
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A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinneyThe Nightmare-Verse #1
Published by Imprint on September 25, 2018
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Young Adult
The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew.
Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she'll need to use everything she's learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head . . . literally.
NOTE: This post is not a review for A Blade so Black. Instead, this post focuses only on the positive aspects that I enjoyed from the novel. But you can check out my review for my thoughts!
You’ll Like A Blade So Black If You Like…
Alice in Wonderland and Retellings
L.L. McKinney’s debut novel is based on the original classic by Lewis Carroll, set in modern-day Atlanta. Maybe you’re a sucker for retellings of any kind, including Alice In Wonderland, like me. Or Carroll’s tale was a part of your childhood and you could live for that.
POC Protagonist!
Ahhhh #BlackGirlMagic. Plus that cover is gorgeous.
Monster hunting
Seriously, though, a kind of dark and twisted Alice in Wonderland where monsters are formed in a dream realm? Talk about badass.
Buffy vibes
Other than hunting down monsters in Wonderland and getting rid of the Nightmares that plague the land, Alice is just an ordinary girl who deals with all the things a regular girl has. She’s got a huge responsibility to bear on her shoulders and still kicks butt.
About L.L. McKinney
Leatrice “Elle” McKinney, writing as L.L. McKinney, is a poet and active member of the kidlit community. She’s an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, and the creator of the hashtag #WhatWoCWritersHear. She’s spent time in the slush by serving as a reader for agents and participating as a judge in various online writing contests.
Elle’s also a gamer, Blerd, and adamant Hei Hei stan, living in Kansas, surrounded by more nieces and nephews than she knows what to do with. Aside from rockin’ the Favorite Aunt thing, she spends her free time plagued by her cat–Sir Chester Fluffmire Boopsnoot Purrington Wigglebottom Flooferson III, esquire, Baron o’Butterscotch or #SirChester for short–or defending the realm from the enemies of Azeroth. FOR THE HORDE!
Author Links: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram
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I LOVE this cover, and I didn’t realize it was an Alice retelling until recently but that makes me excited!!
Lauren
I’m loving the cover as well! Hope you enjoy reading it when you get the chance, Lauren!
Sounds like an interesting book; Buffy vibes are a way to get me to want to read a book haha
I don’t like Alice unfortunately!!! Just too bad as the blurb is so promising!
I am so glad that you liked A Blade So Black! I have been seeing it around the blogosphere, but I don’t think that it is getting enough attention. I mean, a diverse retelling of Alice in Wonderland with a kickbutt heroine deserves ALL OF THE ATTENTION.
I love retellings, but they tend to stick to the same cis, white characters from the original story. It’s about time that retellings caught up with the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement!
I’ve been seeing this book all over the place, and some of the recent descriptions have made me very interested in reading it! (Including yours.)
Sounds like a cute book! I hadn’t read the description before today.
I really love that cover and the fact that it’s an Alice retelling, that sounds REALLY good! Thank you for sharing!! 😀