I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
The Secret of Safe Passage (Taking Wonderland, #1) by Martin Baynton Series: Taking Wonderland #1
Published by BayntonBooks on June 2, 2023
Genres: Adaptations, Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Goodreads
A Bold Reimagining of Alice in Wonderland for the 21st Century
It is not just a retelling but a reawakening of the classic tale, infused with fresh life, emotion, and adventure.
Step into the shoes of Ali, a troubled teenager with a quick wit, a love of science and zero tolerance for crap. When she stumbles into Wonderland, she refuses to accept it's real – until it starts killing her.
It is not just a retelling but a reawakening of the classic tale, infused with fresh life, emotion, and adventure. Step into the shoes of Ali, a character as formidable as she is intelligent, who finds herself in a Wonderland that's both familiar and astonishingly new. Martin Baynton creates a narrative that connects the past and present, taking readers on a thrilling and emotional adventure.
Unravel Mysteries That Defy From the moment you dive into the prologue, the whirlwind plot ensnares you, refusing to let go.
Meet A quick-witted, science-loving teen who's about to discover that Wonderland is more than just a fairy tale – it's a world teetering on the brink of reality and fantasy, where each step could be her last.
A Fusion of Where classic literature meets cutting-edge science, creating a narrative that leaps off the pages and into your imagination.
"The Secret of Safe Passage" is merely the beginning. Join Ali as she deciphers riddles, navigates dangers, and, perhaps most importantly, discovers her true strength. With two more books on the horizon, the adventure is just getting started. Are you ready to leap down the rabbit hole?
Julie’s Review:
I quite enjoy the feeling when I don’t want to stop reading. And I will admit I stayed up reading this because I wanted to get to the end and did not want to put it down.
I am a fan of Alice in Wonderland reimaginings – I feel the world gives so much opportunity for fun spin offs and interpretations. In The Secret of Safe Passage: Taking Wonderland Book 1, the story follows Ali (short for Alice), a descendant of that Alice. It turns out the women in her family have the ability to cross into the Wonderland realm, but returning is dangerous, and could be deadly.
Ali is a spunky and incredibly bright teenager. Constantly getting into trouble with her attitude and throwing hands is only one of the side effects of her grief over losing her mother at a young age. It’s just her and her scientist Dad, who is always going away on a research project for work. Things take a turn when she gets suspended from her private school, and sent to stay with a family member she didn’t even know existed. There, she stumbles onto the mystery of traveling between the real world and Wonderland. The pull of Wonderland is addictive, and despite each return being more costly to her health, Ali keeps trying. Her ancestor knew the secret of safe passage between the worlds, and she’s determined to find it as well. Except there are evil people ready to kill to find that secret.
What I loved: The pacing was great – the entire story takes place over a week. Each day she uncovers more family secrets and unravels more of herself. She sees herself as a scientist, and what she experiences is other wordly. Despite herself, she makes friends with a local boy and builds a bond with her aunt and uncle. Her witty comments to her family and the staff are enjoyable. The family secrets and slow reveal of how all the connections was what kept me reading and not wanting to put the book down. I very much enjoyed the Uncle and his silly antics. I didn’t know what to make of the Aunt at first, as she seemed most strict but then the pull of the family secret got to her as well. I enjoyed the creativity of the story spin off. In this world, the Alice is who wrote the books, as a code to her future niece. Somehow, she knew this Ali would be there to resume the search.
Some issues I had: It could use a bit of polish and there were times I couldn’t tell who was talking when the dialogue went back and forth. The extended family being kept secret didn’t make sense – why wouldn’t her father let her know she has this additional family who has been paying for her private school? Also, did her father not realize who he was working for, or was he trying to keep Ali safe by keeping all the secrets? Why is this secret agency so obsessed with finding the secret? I realize this is the first book but it would help to get some background on our villain.
The book raises a lot of questions but only answers some. Understanding this is a series and more answers should come, I am very interested to see when the second book will be released.
Leave a Reply