The story is set in Lewis Carroll's world, the Kingdom of Hearts, and it follows our main character Catherine and her secret dream of one day opening a bakery shop. However, this plan becomes even more unattainable as she gets offered courtship by the King of Hearts himself, an airheaded, weak and dense man, someone Catherine despises above all else. Lady Catherine Pinkerton, as they call her, is someone I can see myself in and relatable to a multitude of readers likewise. She wasn't necessarily the bravest hero but she was honest and unique. As the story progresses, we meet the Cheshire Cat, Catherine's loyal companion with a tendency to gossip, the Mad Hatter, the Raven, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's brilliant poem, and eventually Jest, the charming Joker of Hearts. Fate proves to be the true villain of the story, haphazardly crossing the line between what is and what could have been.

With a page-turning plot and memorable characters, Marissa Meyer manages to find the most suitable balance between action and description. What I personally loved most about it was the blend of original Wonderland elements and the author's own ideas. Starting it, I knew of course that the book is a villain origin story and yet it still shattered me. The author's writing style is exceptional, one of a kind, and whimsical. The only criticism I could ever think of is that there is no sequel to this book and it leaves you wondering what could have happened next.

This book will have you grinning like the Cheshire Cat and leave you wide-eyed like the Mad Hatter. The words I have used in writing this review don't do it justice at all which is why I greatly encourage everyone to read this book as soon as possible, it will not disappoint!