L.L. McKinney

"With memorable characters and page-turning thrills, A Blade So Black is the fantasy book I've been waiting for my whole life. Alice is Black Girl Magic personified." —Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Hate U Give In L. L. McKinney's A Dream So Dark, the thrilling sequel to A Blade So Black, Alice goes deeper into a dark version of Wonderland. Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates high school), Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all. But the deeper she ventures into Wonderland, the more topsy-turvy everything becomes. It’s not until she’s at her wits end that she realizes—Wonderland is trying to save her. There’s a new player on the board; a poet capable of using Nightmares to not only influence the living but raise the dead. This Poet is looking to claim the Black Queen’s power—and Alice's budding abilities—as their own. Dreams have never been so dark in Wonderland, and if there is any hope of defeating this mystery poet’s magic, Alice must confront the worst in herself, in the people she loves, and in the very nature of fear itself. An Imprint Book Praise for A Blade So Black: "Mixing elements of Alice in Wonderland and Buffy the Vampire Slayer... a delectable urban twist on beloved fantasy tales." —Entertainment Weekly "This really is Lewis Carroll by way of Buffy, and it makes for a fun, gritty urban fantasy." —NPR

A Dream So Dark

Didi Chanoch

After loving the first book in this series, it took me a bit of time to get into this one. Once it really got going, however, it was an absolute ride to the finish. Twists and turns and secrets and betrayals. We've learned so much, but there's so much left to learn. McKinney has really set this up well for book 3, which I am looking forward to even more than I was to this one.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: A Dream So Dark

Author: L. L. McKinley

Book Series: The Nightmare-Verse Book 2

Diversity: Own voice main character and LGBT rep!

Rating: 4.5/5

Publication Date: September 25, 2019

Publisher: Square Fish

Pages: 416

Recommended Age:15+ (violence, gore)

Synopsis: Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates), Alice must abandon her friends to complete her mission: find The Heart and prevent the Red Lady's rise. But the deeper she ventures into Wonderland, the more topsy-turvy everything becomes. It’s not until she’s at her wits end that she realizes—Wonderland is trying to save her.

There’s a new player on the board; a poet capable of using Nightmares to not only influence the living but raise the dead. This Poet is looking to claim the Black Queen’s power—and Alice's budding abilities—as their own.

Dreams have never been so dark in Wonderland, and if there is any hope of defeating this mystery poet’s magic, Alice must confront the worst in herself, in the people she loves, and in the very nature of fear itself.

Review: For the most part I really liked this sequel. I thought it was well written and the characters are amazingly well developed. The world was very well built and the characters are well developed from the first book. We got a lot more of the characters, especially Alice and her mother, and we got LGBT rep! The author definitely evolved from the first book to this one and I'm excited to see what else she writes!

I still had some issues with pacing and the fight scenes (personal preference), but other than that it was a great read!

Verdict: I love this Alice.

Krystal Campbell 

I read book 1&2 back to back. 

I listened to this audiobook. The narrator was great and this was a super interesting read I couldn't put down. I found myself still rooting for the main character, although I personally didn't find anything about her I liked. 

I found some of the world building and back story was still lacking/missing details so I still feel like there are so many unanswered questions.

Libby Kowitz

For the most part, I really enjoyed this follow-up to A Blade So Black. I think I still prefer ABSB but only marginally.

There was more world-building in this one than there was in the first book, and I really enjoyed the expansiveness of Wonderland. There’s more backstory involved in the wars, and more on Hatta as the Black Knight, The Black Queen, The Red Queen, and the White Queen. 

Okay also Chess emotionally destroyed me. Just. His whole plot. Destroyed me emotionally and no I am not okay. Primarily because of the way it absolutely destroyed Alice and Court. 

Alice and her mom’s relationship was also perfectly done in this book, I think. I said it in my review of book 1, and I’ll say it again, but the way it was written is so refreshing to see in YA fantasy. Honestly I would read a contemporary book full of fluff scenes that just goes into detail about Alice and her mom’s relationship because the tension and love between them is balanced so unbelievably well. Alice’s mom is stern—but she loves Alice. Dearly. And she doesn’t ever want anything bad to happen to her daughter. We need better parents in YA fantasy and they need to be Alice’s mom. 

My biggest issue with this book was the introduction of new characters. This is absolutely a personal preference, but I’m not really a fan of new characters—specifically love interests—being introduced later in the series. When I’m already rooting for one love interest, I have a hard time switching to root for someone new who I’m no longer attached to.

That being said, I do like the development of Alice being bisexual/watching Alice struggle with her feelings for Hatta vs her feelings for Haruka. I am also interested in Hatta and Humphrey’s past—and how it will impact Hatta’s relationship with Alice moving forward. 

I definitely plan to read book 3 when it comes out!!

Jazelle H

Boothby

Satya Nelms

In L. L. McKinney's A Dream So Dark, the thrilling sequel to A Blade So Black, Alice goes deeper into a dark version of Wonderland. Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates), Alice must abandon her friends to complete her mission: find The Heart and prevent the Red Lady's rise. But the deeper she ventures into Wonderland, the more topsy-turvy everything becomes. It’s not until she’s at her wits end that she realizes―Wonderland is trying to save her. There’s a new player on the board; a poet capable of using Nightmares to not only influence the living but raise the dead. This Poet is looking to claim the Black Queen’s power―and Alice's budding abilities―as their own. Dreams have never been so dark in Wonderland, and if there is any hope of defeating this mystery poet’s magic, Alice must confront the worst in herself, in the people she loves, and in the very nature of fear itself.

Jessica

Kirtlyn Hunt

Rayaan Ahmed

"The fantasy series I've been waiting for my whole life." —Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Hate U Give In L.L. McKinney's A Dream So Dark, the thrilling sequel to A Blade So Black, Alice goes deeper into a dark version of Wonderland. Still reeling from her recent battle (and grounded until she graduates high school), Alice must cross the Veil to rescue her friends and stop the Black Knight once and for all. But the further she ventures into Wonderland, the more topsy-turvy everything becomes. It’s not until she’s at her wit's end that she realizes—Wonderland is trying to save her. There’s a new player on the board; someone capable of using Nightmare creatures to not only influence the living but raise the dead. Dreams have never been so dark in Wonderland, and if there is any hope, Alice must confront the worst in herself—and in the people she loves—and face the very nature of fear. An Imprint Book "The Alice I never knew I needed. The Alice I was missing. McKinney conjures a Wonderland for those of us who weren’t given the looking glass." —Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times-bestselling author of The Belles

A Dream So Dark

Reviews