Today’s review is about Curiouser And… by Jillian Maria. It’s a standalone novella that’s a reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

This review is brought to you by my participation in the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”, is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.). I am part of Team Behind the Musings. You can find out more about us here.

Author: Jillian Maria
Series: None
Age Category: Young Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
Publish Date: November 28, 2023
Print Length: 114
Purchase: Amazon

Curiouser And… Synopsis

For sixteen years, Ashlyn Jones has heeded her parents’ warnings and followed their rules. But after taking a tumble in the forest, she awakens in a strange land where there are no rules—where signs lack direction, the sky hovers on the edge of night, and all paths lead to the glittering red palace of a wicked queen. Although she’s told there’s no way home, Ashlyn is determined to find one, enlisting the help of a dreamy girl found sleeping in a tree.

But everyone is a little mad here, from the smiling cat to the whimsical man in the top hat. And the more she interacts with this strange land and its stranger inhabitants, the more Ashlyn questions the life she’s fighting so hard to get back to. Maybe she was just as trapped in her role as the dutiful daughter as she is here.

Unfortunately, she’ll be even more trapped if the queen gets ahold of her…

Curiouser And… Review

CURIOUSER AND… by Jillian Maria is a reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It begins innocuously enough with 16-year-old Ashlyn taking some approved alone time in the forest away from her parents. Instead of reading, a trapped woodland creature distracts her and a misstep sends her down a well and into a mysterious world. She can’t make head nor tail of it and so embarks on an adventure with Azalea to try and find a way back home.

I like that at the start this is told by a storyteller in the library to a circle of children. It sets the tone for wonderment before transitioning to Ashlyn’s point of view. The characters Ashlyn meet are reminiscent of those from the original story. There’s someone who resembles the Mad Hatter, the Hare, and the Cheshire Cat. Later there’s even a reference to the caterpillar.

Although Ashlyn wants to find a way back home, she appreciates her independence in this strange place. She felt stifled by her parents demands and unspoken expectations. Now she can treasure something as simple as picking out clothes. Trying to find a way out, however, is not so simple. The first 60% or so of CURIOUSER AND… are fairly standard story fare. But a twist elevates the stakes and grabbed my attention as the tone shifts more into the macabre. I also want to note there is a sweet LGBTQ+ component amidst the uncertainty and fear that permeates the land. It’s not the main focus of the story, but offers a respite of hope.

Check out CURIOUSER AND… by Jillian Maria if you like quick hits of light horror in a reimagining of a classic.

Rating: withheld
Content warnings: suicide (historical), gore, blood
Reading format: Kindle e-book