Review of Wonder by Evelyn Flood

Evelyn Flood’s Wonder, the third volume in the Forbidden Fairytales series, is an intense, atmospheric, and darkly alluring retelling of Alice in Wonderland with a morally gray twist. Though the books in the series can be read separately, Wonder stands out with its gripping tension, enigmatic antagonist, and a cast of complex characters that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Red tilts her head, a question in her eyes. “He’s quite mad, you know.”
I don’t bother to hide the smirk that stretches my lips, showing her my teeth. “All the best people are.”

I wasn’t expecting to find a man whilst drowning my sorrows and hiding from my responsibilities in the filthiest bar in the city.
Hatter is elusive, beautiful… and sad.
Tempting enough to make me throw my usual caution aside and steal him.
Just for a night.
One night, to help us both forget.
I expected him to leave me. But I didn’t expect the invitation he left behind.
Wonder.
The most exclusive club in the city. Always moving, never discovered, and impossible to enter without permission. So naturally, I stole it. Except Wonder isn’t quite what the whispers say. Once you enter, you can’t leave without permission.

Red runs Wonder with an iron fist, a calculating mind and possession in her gaze. And when I find myself in the middle of Red’s games, I’ll need to use every skill I have to keep me and the men around me alive.

She likes to collect broken things. Maybe I’m the most shattered of them all.
But Hatter, Buck, Aiden, Kayden and Chess won’t let me fall. They shine a light on my nightmares, offering a shield against the grief that haunts me even as I rip theirs apart in return.
Red thinks she’s facing Alyss Lidell.
I’m much, much more than that.

This is a standalone contemporary, why choose retelling of Alice in Wonderland with five morally grey men and an FMC who fights for what she wants.

Opinion

The strongest aspect of Wonder is undoubtedly its suspenseful atmosphere. From the moment our protagonist, Alyss, stumbles into the enigmatic and ever-moving club known as Wonder, I plunged into an intricate game orchestrated by the formidable Red. The uncertainty surrounding Red’s motives and the nature of her twisted games adds a constant undercurrent of unease. The stakes always feel high, and just when I thought I had a grasp on the rules, the narrative shifts, keeping me on edge. This unpredictability is one of the novel’s biggest strengths.

Adding to the intrigue is the rich cast of male characters: Hatter, Chess, Buck, and the twins Aiden and Kayden. Each brings something unique to the dynamic, and their morally ambiguous natures make them both fascinating and dangerous. In classic why choose fashion, Alyss doesn’t have to pick just one, and their relationships unfold with an engaging mix of tension, chemistry, and emotional depth. However, while the romance is certainly dark, the book takes a more restrained approach to explicit scenes compared to many other dark romance titles. This is refreshing in some ways, as it allows the plot and character development to take center stage, but some readers who expect a high heat level may find it lacking.

Alyss herself is a compelling protagonist. She is strong-willed, resourceful, and fully capable of holding her own against both Red’s manipulations and the powerful men in her orbit. Unlike many heroines in dark romance, she isn’t merely a pawn—she fights, strategizes, and carves her own path, making her an easy character to root for.

That being said, while the book is undeniably entertaining, it does have its shortcomings. At times, the pacing feels a bit rushed, and some scenes—particularly toward the climax—could have benefitted from more depth and expansion. Given the intricacies of the plot and the complexity of the character dynamics, a few extra chapters would have allowed the tension to build more organically and the relationships to develop further. Additionally, while the writing is solid, some moments felt slightly underdeveloped, making it difficult to fully immerse in certain emotional beats.

Conclusion

Overall, Wonder by Evelyn Flood is an engaging and well-executed dark romance retelling that kept me on my toes. It delivers an intriguing premise, strong characters, and a sinister yet captivating setting. While it could have benefitted from a bit more length and depth, it still manages to be an enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of dark romance with a psychological edge and a touch of the fantastical, Wonder is well worth a read.

About Evelyn Flood

Evelyn Flood is addicted to books.
She writes in different subgenres including contemporary romance, reverse harem, mafia, fairytales and omegaverse – but you’ll always find a main course of angst with a side dish of uncontrollable sobbing in every book she writes.
She used to be a tea drinker, but developed an addiction to coffee and can now be found at the nearest coffee shop when she should be writing.
On weekends, she likes to dance and drink espresso martinis.
Find her on Facebook in her readers group, The Evelyn Flood Collective.

Goodreads

this review was also published at:

Wonder

Evelyn Flood’s Wonder, the third volume in the Forbidden Fairytales series, is an intense, atmospheric, and darkly alluring retelling of Alice in Wonderland with a morally gray twist.

– RoXXie

Characters

Atmosphere (Setting)

Writing

Plot

Intrigue

Logic

Enjoyment

Summary

Overall, Wonder by Evelyn Flood is an engaging and well-executed dark romance retelling that kept me on my toes. It delivers an intriguing premise, strong characters, and a sinister yet captivating setting.

3.4

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