Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
371
Description
When Alyss Heart returns to her rightful place on the throne of Wonderland, she is put to the test as enemies, both inside and outside the borders of her queendom, push their own agendas and wield horrific weapons, while she strives to unify them all.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2007
Physical description
371 p.; 8.6 inches
ISBN
0545071771 / 9780545071772
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User reviews
LibraryThing member klarusu
This was a satisfying continuation of the series started with The Looking Glass Wars but much like the first book, it lacked a certain something. I must declare that I have no particular passion for the original Alice stories, just a residual fondness formed from the memories of childhood that they
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inspire, so a 'retelling' of the stories is not something that offends me in any way. However, where I found the first book in the series a fun and innovative diversion into a modern-day view of Alice's world, this second book doesn't have the novely of the first instalment and the characters and storyline aren't strong enough to convince you that you're not just reading more of the same. It's not a bad book (although the writing is a bit ham-fisted on an occasion or several) but neither is it anything special. Show Less
LibraryThing member madmarch
Oh gosh,not another one. The first one was horrible enough. I suppose this one was slightly better. There was one genuinely dark bit and less childish bits. But as usual, Beddor reveals his complete and utter ignorance of Lewis Carroll and the Alice books. Don't read it.
LibraryThing member readingrat
In this sequel, I didn't find much of the subtle charm which so enchanted me in the first book. This book dealt with battle, after battle, after battle, after battle, complete with enough sound effects to make me wonder why the author did not make this a graphic novel instead.
LibraryThing member Ambrosia4
Unlike everyone else it seems, I liked this book more than the first. I thought Beddor did a good job at fleshing out his characters more than in the first book. There was advancement on all of the major plot lines and the addition of several more that made sense in the context of the book and
The complexity of interactions and intrigue really pulled me in more than the first book did. Readers are assumed to already know the characters basically, so Beddor delves directly into their thoughts and gives more background to their actions. Still all in all this is a book about a war in the realm of imagination and as such has fantastical battle scenes and court room intrigue.
I think we need to remember that this is a book written for young adults and as such will not necessarily be as emotionally complex and character driven as a novel written for an adult. This is not the next Harry Potter, but still, this series is highly entertaining to read and exquisite in it's world-building. This is for the late middle school, early high school set and adults who aren't looking for allegorical narratives and deep reflection.
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allowed for a greater history for his characters. While some may find their favorite plot lines stalled, I think each went about as far as it needed to go before the last book in the trilogy. The complexity of interactions and intrigue really pulled me in more than the first book did. Readers are assumed to already know the characters basically, so Beddor delves directly into their thoughts and gives more background to their actions. Still all in all this is a book about a war in the realm of imagination and as such has fantastical battle scenes and court room intrigue.
I think we need to remember that this is a book written for young adults and as such will not necessarily be as emotionally complex and character driven as a novel written for an adult. This is not the next Harry Potter, but still, this series is highly entertaining to read and exquisite in it's world-building. This is for the late middle school, early high school set and adults who aren't looking for allegorical narratives and deep reflection.
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LibraryThing member coffee.is.yum
The second installment of The Looking Glass Wars is disappointingly not about Alyss. Although the plot centers around her destruction, both she and Dodge are hardly even seen in this sequel. Instead we receive perspectives from Molly, Hatter, Arch, a male chauvinist king, Redd and a few other
Redd is a major character, which causes the book to fall flat. It would have been interesting if Redd was perhaps a misunderstood villain, or had more to her character than a typical evil character, but no. She was nothing more than 100% evil; the type aired on Saturday morning cartoons. Boring.
Seeing Red is packed with comic-book-type violence. Don't expect much more than that. Nothing is resolved without overly dramatic action.
Despite my low ranking of the book, I managed to finish it in a day. I think, however, the quick read is more from it being so lightly written rather than having enjoyed it. There's nothing dark, deep or complex about it...so the book is quite a breeze.
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insignificant characters.Redd is a major character, which causes the book to fall flat. It would have been interesting if Redd was perhaps a misunderstood villain, or had more to her character than a typical evil character, but no. She was nothing more than 100% evil; the type aired on Saturday morning cartoons. Boring.
Seeing Red is packed with comic-book-type violence. Don't expect much more than that. Nothing is resolved without overly dramatic action.
Despite my low ranking of the book, I managed to finish it in a day. I think, however, the quick read is more from it being so lightly written rather than having enjoyed it. There's nothing dark, deep or complex about it...so the book is quite a breeze.
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LibraryThing member theokester
Ah, Alyss and Wonderland. I first jumped down Beddor's rabbit hole with the Hatter M comics and shortly after that with The Looking Glass Wars. I had just finished reading the 'original' Alice stories by Carroll and had that imagery fresh in my head. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and had a
In Seeing Redd, the second book in the Looking Glass saga, I wasn't quite as happily fulfilled. The first book, while it had a handful of issues like most books do, was a tightly woven story with compelling characters and a great story arc. While it obviously left itself open for the potential of a continuing saga, it also tied up most loose ends and left us with a very fulfilling and happy place to leave Alyss and her friends. The second book did not tie things up neatly. Normally that wouldn't be a problem for me. Some of my favorite books have been members of a series and often ended with wildly dramatic cliffhangers.
So what is different about Seeing Redd that leaves me unhappily unsettled? The problem, as I see it, is that the tone and styling of the novel seemed almost ignorant to the fact that it was leaving so much in the air by its end. The writing seemed to believe that everything was going to tie itself off nicely by the end of the final page. Rather than identifying and exposing the suspense of the loose threads, the novel practically disavowed their existence.
In the first book, I found myself turning pages faster and faster as I neared the end and as I did so, I was growing more and more nervous that the author wasn't going to have time to wrap things up. In the first book, the action took on a rip-roaring pace to finish things up neatly in a short amount of time. It moved quickly but didn't become disorienting.
As I neared the end of book two, I was again nervous that things weren't going to wrap up, but I recalled my previous experience and trusted the author to leave me with a satisfactory ending because I had no suggestions from the text that there would be any sort of suspenseful interlude between book 2 and book 3.
As the climax of the final battle wound down, I realized that I was in fact going to have to wait until book 3 for any additional conclusion. I wasn't left with a cliffhanger or any sort of major suspense. Rather, the resulting finish left me in a state of confusion. Most of the major action of book 2 had been nullified completely. There were a few alliances made which could be utilized in future stories. There were some intriguing actions that needed to be re-explored (like the kidnapping of a certain author), but for the most part, I feel like I could probably jump right into book 3 without ever reading book 2 and it's not likely that I would miss anything that a single chapter couldn't recap ("Character X aligns with Character Y. Characters A and B are betrayed and killed by Character X.", etc.).
Still, I am absolutely enjoying this world and the stories and imagination in this new Wonderland. I look forward to the new adventures. Despite my complaints above, I truly did enjoy this book and had a lot of fun with the characters and their struggles and triumphs. I just would have preferred the book to either be more adept in 'wrapping things up' or in adequately portraying a sense of suspense and anticipation for things to come. The current ending left me in a bit of a stupor.
***
2 1/2 stars
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lot of fun with the new and very creative interpretation of the Wonderland world and the characters and interactions found there. Snippets of Beddor's writing style bugged me a little bit, but I got used to them.In Seeing Redd, the second book in the Looking Glass saga, I wasn't quite as happily fulfilled. The first book, while it had a handful of issues like most books do, was a tightly woven story with compelling characters and a great story arc. While it obviously left itself open for the potential of a continuing saga, it also tied up most loose ends and left us with a very fulfilling and happy place to leave Alyss and her friends. The second book did not tie things up neatly. Normally that wouldn't be a problem for me. Some of my favorite books have been members of a series and often ended with wildly dramatic cliffhangers.
So what is different about Seeing Redd that leaves me unhappily unsettled? The problem, as I see it, is that the tone and styling of the novel seemed almost ignorant to the fact that it was leaving so much in the air by its end. The writing seemed to believe that everything was going to tie itself off nicely by the end of the final page. Rather than identifying and exposing the suspense of the loose threads, the novel practically disavowed their existence.
In the first book, I found myself turning pages faster and faster as I neared the end and as I did so, I was growing more and more nervous that the author wasn't going to have time to wrap things up. In the first book, the action took on a rip-roaring pace to finish things up neatly in a short amount of time. It moved quickly but didn't become disorienting.
As I neared the end of book two, I was again nervous that things weren't going to wrap up, but I recalled my previous experience and trusted the author to leave me with a satisfactory ending because I had no suggestions from the text that there would be any sort of suspenseful interlude between book 2 and book 3.
As the climax of the final battle wound down, I realized that I was in fact going to have to wait until book 3 for any additional conclusion. I wasn't left with a cliffhanger or any sort of major suspense. Rather, the resulting finish left me in a state of confusion. Most of the major action of book 2 had been nullified completely. There were a few alliances made which could be utilized in future stories. There were some intriguing actions that needed to be re-explored (like the kidnapping of a certain author), but for the most part, I feel like I could probably jump right into book 3 without ever reading book 2 and it's not likely that I would miss anything that a single chapter couldn't recap ("Character X aligns with Character Y. Characters A and B are betrayed and killed by Character X.", etc.).
Still, I am absolutely enjoying this world and the stories and imagination in this new Wonderland. I look forward to the new adventures. Despite my complaints above, I truly did enjoy this book and had a lot of fun with the characters and their struggles and triumphs. I just would have preferred the book to either be more adept in 'wrapping things up' or in adequately portraying a sense of suspense and anticipation for things to come. The current ending left me in a bit of a stupor.
***
2 1/2 stars
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LibraryThing member qarae
Second in the Looking Glass Wars trilogy, we find out where Redd has been sent....Earth. Our Earth. And she's not very happy about it. Sequels are usually difficult and this one is no different. Not as exciting and new as The Looking Glass Wars, but still fun.
LibraryThing member Monica71
I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it but once I did it was pretty good. I wish the characters had more substance. maybe in book three!
LibraryThing member booksandbosox
Very good follow-up to The Looking Glass Wars. I still find some characters a bit too unbelievable, but I enjoy the story and the action is interesting and exciting. I wish that Alyss and Dodge's romance played a bit of a bigger part because I find the interchange between them fascinating. I very
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much look forward to the next book in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member dbhutch
Book two of The Looking Glass Wars takes Queen Alyss to new worries - and expands on other characters in a great way. Alyss has set about to the rebuilding of Heart Palace and Wondropilis, when her new bodyguard, Molly, suddenly disappears. Hatter Maddigan is off on a personal quest - to try to
Intrigues and plot twists run rampant thru Bedoors second book, and leaves the reader stunned in the intracacites and details that he had built in the new land of imagination.
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find a woman he loved named Weaver. He finds a diary, and assuming she is dead, reads/listens to it - only to lean he has a daughter, a halfer - Molly - the Queen's bodyguard. She and Weaver are both being held by King Arch, who is plannign Queen Alyss' demise, before redd returns from her jaunt to earth from the Heart Crystal. Intrigues and plot twists run rampant thru Bedoors second book, and leaves the reader stunned in the intracacites and details that he had built in the new land of imagination.
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LibraryThing member ToxicMasquerade
I tried to compare this book to 'The Looking Glass Wars', but, I couldn't. The are both great in a different way. Well written and fast paced, with some twists that not even I would think about. I loved the twist with Hatter. I would recommend this book to anyone.
LibraryThing member dreamingreader
Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor is the second in the Looking Glass Wars series that follows Alyss Heart and her adventures ruling Wonderland.
The book begins where The Looking Glass Wars leaves off as Alyss is now queen of Wonderland and is working to defend her realm against her neighbor King Arch and
I did not enjoy this book as much as its predecessor as I felt that it was almost a "filler" between the first and the upcoming third book. Still, I could hardly put it down once I had begun it. I did feel that some of the imaginative details that made me so enjoy the first book were missing in this one. I also had a difficult time believing the romantic tension between Alyss and Dodge.
Nevertheless, I look forward to the next book of the series.
The book begins where The Looking Glass Wars leaves off as Alyss is now queen of Wonderland and is working to defend her realm against her neighbor King Arch and
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the dregs of Redd's rule. Throw in a lot of adventure and a little bit of romance and you have quite the compelling read.I did not enjoy this book as much as its predecessor as I felt that it was almost a "filler" between the first and the upcoming third book. Still, I could hardly put it down once I had begun it. I did feel that some of the imaginative details that made me so enjoy the first book were missing in this one. I also had a difficult time believing the romantic tension between Alyss and Dodge.
Nevertheless, I look forward to the next book of the series.
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LibraryThing member knielsen83
The second in a series that is a very strange, yet cool adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. I can't help but love this series. I love the twist it has on Alyss and Wonderland and all the characters involved. This book delves deeper and involves the start of a full scale war in Wonderland. I can't
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wait until the last of the trilogy comes out so I can see what will happen next. This book is full of action, good plot, and great characters. It's a series you don't want to miss. Show Less
LibraryThing member EowynA
Second book in the Looking Glass Wars trilogy. The first book was charming in its re-imagining of a familiar fantasy place. This book follows King Arch, deposed Queen Redd, and the Cat in their war against Queen Alyss, Hatter Madigan, Dodge Anders and others. This book felt a bit less charming,
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perhaps because the wonder had worn off. We have more interaction with Victorian-era Earth, and the problems of young love (Alyss and Dodge), governing a kingdom (Alyss), and dealing with the demise of so many friends and family before. The book is fine, but not compelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member tangential1
This second book was very disappointing compared to the first. Definitely had the feel of an afterthought continuation. While the first book flowed very naturally, this one felt very contrived all the way through and the ending was very unsatisfying (yes, I realize it is now supposed to be a
If you liked the first book, maybe think twice about reading this second one.
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trilogy, but the ending was still really boring and didn't really leave any terribly interesting plot lines for the last book).If you liked the first book, maybe think twice about reading this second one.
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LibraryThing member razzbelly
Not as good as the first one. Waiting for the next one.
LibraryThing member tapestry100
The second installment of The Looking Glass Wars, Seeing Redd opens a mear three months after Alyss Heart reclaimed her throne from her mad Aunt Redd, who along with The Cat flung themselves into the Heart Crystal instead of suffering the humiliation of loosing to her neice. But since the Heart
Finding herself on Earth, Redd discovers a number of Wonderlanders who have taken refuge there, and decides to build her army on Earth, hidden from Alyss, and plans her revenge. Meanwhile back in Wonderland, King Arch, the monarch of Boarderland, is planning his own assault on Wondertropolis, using any means of subterfuge that he finds useful at the moment. Eventually, Redd makes her way back to Wonderland, and finding that she and Arch have similar goals, strike up a precarious alliance. However, Arch has plans of his own that even Redd doesn't know of, in the form of his new weapon WILMA.
Beddor continues to keep the pace fast and exciting in Seeing Redd, just like he did in The Looking Glass Wars. While we've left the similarities of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass behind in the last book, he continues to grow his cast of characters carefully, and each new character is just as imaginative as the last. I continue to be thrilled with this series. It's a fresh take on the Alice mythos and I'll be sad to see the series come to a close with the final volume, ArchEnemy.
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Crystal is the spark of Imagination of the universe, Redd and The Cat find their way back to Earth through rather different means than the usual manner for Wonderlanders, the Pool of Tears.Finding herself on Earth, Redd discovers a number of Wonderlanders who have taken refuge there, and decides to build her army on Earth, hidden from Alyss, and plans her revenge. Meanwhile back in Wonderland, King Arch, the monarch of Boarderland, is planning his own assault on Wondertropolis, using any means of subterfuge that he finds useful at the moment. Eventually, Redd makes her way back to Wonderland, and finding that she and Arch have similar goals, strike up a precarious alliance. However, Arch has plans of his own that even Redd doesn't know of, in the form of his new weapon WILMA.
Beddor continues to keep the pace fast and exciting in Seeing Redd, just like he did in The Looking Glass Wars. While we've left the similarities of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass behind in the last book, he continues to grow his cast of characters carefully, and each new character is just as imaginative as the last. I continue to be thrilled with this series. It's a fresh take on the Alice mythos and I'll be sad to see the series come to a close with the final volume, ArchEnemy.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the second book (out of three) in the Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor. I really wanted to love this series. Somehow I found this book even more boring than the first one. These books just focus too much on strategic war than on what makes Wonderland awesome; imagination.
In this book King
This story was okay. I am a little irked that Alyss only seems to use her Imagination as a weapon, and that she uses it in such limited way. Redd actually seems quite a bit more creative with her Black Imagination. I loved that Beddor tried to expand and give more dimension to the character of the Hatter. Unfortunately it fell short for me; I thought the Hatter's character was actually weakened by the fact that he wandered somewhat aimlessly through his own personal issues.
I guess, just like the first book, the characters seemed more like outlines than actual characters to me. I had trouble reading this book. At points I found it outright boring and skimmed through sections. When the goal of reading a book becomes solely to finish it; I start to say that the book wasn't all that great.
The story was okay, the characters have potential, but the book didn't excite me and I only marginally enjoyed reading it. I am beginning to think that me and Beddor's writing style just don't get along.
This book is not as contained as the first one...it kind of stops in the middle of things. So, I will most likely read the third and final installment, Everqueen, but after that no more Beddor for me.
In this book King
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Arch is plotting to overthrow Wonderland but his plans are interrupted when Redd returns and, once again, causes issues for new Queen of Wonderland, Alyss Heart.This story was okay. I am a little irked that Alyss only seems to use her Imagination as a weapon, and that she uses it in such limited way. Redd actually seems quite a bit more creative with her Black Imagination. I loved that Beddor tried to expand and give more dimension to the character of the Hatter. Unfortunately it fell short for me; I thought the Hatter's character was actually weakened by the fact that he wandered somewhat aimlessly through his own personal issues.
I guess, just like the first book, the characters seemed more like outlines than actual characters to me. I had trouble reading this book. At points I found it outright boring and skimmed through sections. When the goal of reading a book becomes solely to finish it; I start to say that the book wasn't all that great.
The story was okay, the characters have potential, but the book didn't excite me and I only marginally enjoyed reading it. I am beginning to think that me and Beddor's writing style just don't get along.
This book is not as contained as the first one...it kind of stops in the middle of things. So, I will most likely read the third and final installment, Everqueen, but after that no more Beddor for me.
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
The evil Redd Heart has disappeared into the Heart Crystal, and Alyss is now the rightful queen of Wonderland. But there is lots yet to be done: buildings to repair, morale to strengthen, relationships to mend… And Alyss is so busy with politics and using her White Imagination to make sure the
But people are not going to make her life as queen easy. King Arch of the neighboring kingdom Boarderland has some sinister plans up his sleeve. First he kidnaps Homburg Molly, Alyss’ teenage bodyguard; then he messes with the emotions of the best Milliner in all of history, Hatter Madigan, who is suddenly forced to decide between family and duty as he has never had to do before. All the while, Arch is planning the unleashing of a formidable weapon, one that, if properly completed, can wipe out the entire country of Wonderland and all surrounding countries.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Redd is back, more dangerous and vengeful than ever. She is determined to complete her Looking Glass Maze, achieve the full potential of her imaginative powers, and reclaim Wonderland, destroying Alyss in the process. The giant army that converges upon Wonderland at the command of Redd and Arch seem on the path to the obliteration of Alyss’ world as she knows it. Is there anything to be done that can put off the seemingly inevitable end?
SEEING REDD has more sit-and-wait political discourses and emotional chapters than the first book in the trilogy. However, Redd’s villainy will be sure to keep fans attracted to this series. All the characters are wonderfully created, the world flawlessly imagined and detailed. This is a tale of high fantasy that you won’t want to miss.
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queendom is running smoothly that she barely has any time to spend with Dodge, her best-friend-turned-true-love guardsman.But people are not going to make her life as queen easy. King Arch of the neighboring kingdom Boarderland has some sinister plans up his sleeve. First he kidnaps Homburg Molly, Alyss’ teenage bodyguard; then he messes with the emotions of the best Milliner in all of history, Hatter Madigan, who is suddenly forced to decide between family and duty as he has never had to do before. All the while, Arch is planning the unleashing of a formidable weapon, one that, if properly completed, can wipe out the entire country of Wonderland and all surrounding countries.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Redd is back, more dangerous and vengeful than ever. She is determined to complete her Looking Glass Maze, achieve the full potential of her imaginative powers, and reclaim Wonderland, destroying Alyss in the process. The giant army that converges upon Wonderland at the command of Redd and Arch seem on the path to the obliteration of Alyss’ world as she knows it. Is there anything to be done that can put off the seemingly inevitable end?
SEEING REDD has more sit-and-wait political discourses and emotional chapters than the first book in the trilogy. However, Redd’s villainy will be sure to keep fans attracted to this series. All the characters are wonderfully created, the world flawlessly imagined and detailed. This is a tale of high fantasy that you won’t want to miss.
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LibraryThing member teharhynn
This one wasn't as good as the first one, but there were still some great ideas. Frank Beddor is very original and I love the way that he's recreated wonderland.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this second installment in the Looking Glass Wars but I didn't find it as enthralling as many others did. It didn't make me want to find a sequel, but I don't refuse to read it if I happen on it.
However, I didn't really care, the characters are so over the top, so
I suppose that's what annoyed me most, there wasn't enough shown and a lot told about what was going on and by the end of it I didn't care who lived or died. It regularly came across that the author was really trying too hard, and the effort could be seen through the story.
Read the Lewis Carroll story. Write your own fanfic.
However, I didn't really care, the characters are so over the top, so
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silly sometimes that I really wanted to have a chat with the author about editing. Yes Redd Heart is an evil woman, but a lot of evil people don't go around proclaiming it, they just get down to it.I suppose that's what annoyed me most, there wasn't enough shown and a lot told about what was going on and by the end of it I didn't care who lived or died. It regularly came across that the author was really trying too hard, and the effort could be seen through the story.
Read the Lewis Carroll story. Write your own fanfic.
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LibraryThing member DeathsMistress
This is the second book in the Looking Glass Wars series.
Once again we're back in Wonderland with Alyss now Queen.
Redd is on Earth, brought into the world by a painter. She is plotting, again, to rid herself of Alyss. Shes gaining forces on Earth, while in Wonderland, King Arch is gathering his
I really loved this book. I like ll of the characters, even the annoying caterpillars. This is a really imaginative story and I cant wait to get my hands on the next book.
Once again we're back in Wonderland with Alyss now Queen.
Redd is on Earth, brought into the world by a painter. She is plotting, again, to rid herself of Alyss. Shes gaining forces on Earth, while in Wonderland, King Arch is gathering his
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forces to take over.I really loved this book. I like ll of the characters, even the annoying caterpillars. This is a really imaginative story and I cant wait to get my hands on the next book.
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LibraryThing member calmc296
I think this book has a lot of suspense, action, and has an ok plot.
LibraryThing member benuathanasia
I never really cared for Alice In Wonderland, but this has me wanting to go back and re-read it. It's a really great series.
LibraryThing member lizzybeans11
I found the writing to again be a little disjointing, but the story was no less likeable. This parallel Wonderland is a great take on a classic story with more grown-up themes for an older audience. The villains are more wicked, the heroes are tougher, and there is more general chaos that little
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Alice (Alyse) must cope with. Show Less
Subjects
Call number
J4A.Bed